#get ready 4 another member of the undead

[puppetmaster13u]

Been thinkin about Batman & Pokemon crossovers, so have a list-ish of what I think they'd have. Might do Gotham's rogues too later. First ones listed would probably be their starter of sorts, but honestly that can be up for debate too.

Bruce Wayne -Lets be honest as part of his Brucie cover he probably hides the fact he has a few of these lol [1] Absol (Everyone knows he has one & it probably wears a bow-tie to Galas) [2] Jigglypuff (Mostly for his Brucie cover but he loves the attention seeker) [3] Kangaskhan (C'mon mister adoption-issue definitely has one) [4] Noivern (Big dragon-bat for the Batman) [5] Drakloak (Another parenting pokemon, one had by both Bruce & the Bat) [6] Metagross (Very smart armored friend for the Bat) [7] Silvally (Let's be honest with all the labs in Gotham he probably found it) [8] Iron Valiant (Look at it and tell me its not here to steal ur gender) [9] Mareep (It's his therapy sheep that he can hug because fluff) [10] Hisuian Goodra (powerful shy friend for the socially awkward man)

Alfred Pennyworth [1] Dragapult (He deserves a ghostly dragon friend swarmed by lil dragons) [2] Gallade (We know he's good at hand-to-hand combat) [3] Cinccino (C'mon give him a helper in cleaning the manor) [4] Blissey (Let's be honest with how often the bats are hurt he needs help) [5] Solgaleo (If anyone deserves a big intimidating sun lion it's Alfred) [6] Dachsbun (I mean just look at it, he deserves a bread dog as the cook) [7] Drampa (Grandpa dragon, enough said for the grandpa of the batclan) [8] Sylveon (Another healer helper who probably was part of the service) [9] Flabebe (Let's be honest this buddy helps with the garden)

Dick Grayson [1] Staraptor (I mean speedy dark bird friend who starts small & cuddly looking) [2] Lucario (Honestly they probably spar spikes vs escrima sticks lol) [3] Growlithe (Mans worked as a police officer, every one of them has one) [4] Salamence (If you read the lines pokedex you know exactly why this fits) [5] Joltik (A secret tiny electric friend to sit on his shoulder or head)

Barbara Gordon [1] Emolga (C'mon energetic gliding bat friend is totally Batgirl) [2] Herdier (Probably a gift from her dad as a puppy who she raised) [3] Swoobat (Another bat bud to help her in fighting) [4] Deoxys (Who would want to mess with Oracle with a 'mon like this lol) [5] Porygon-2 (Oracle is everywhere & this lil data bird is too)

Jason Todd [1] Talonflame (Speedy red bird who starts tiny & gets huge) [2] Chandelure (I mean ghost friend for the undead boi?) [3] Steelix (Let him pain its head red for vigilante/crime lord work) [4] Corviknight (Let's be honest he got this one while in the League) [5] Decidueye (There's not exactly pokemon with a gun but there's this) [6] Roaring Moon (I mean this looks constantly ready to maul you lol)

Cassandra Cain [1] Weavile (Look at it & look at her backstory, her dad definitely gave her it) [2] Marshadow (I mean it's the pokemon who copies others via shadows) [3] Crobat (Bruce: I don't have favorites; Also Bruce: Gives her one of his bats) [4] Sensu Oricorio (They can dance together for funsies) [5] Kecleon (She's very stealthy & can disappear with a friend)

Harper Row [1] Midnight Lycanroc (She was very angry in the beginning so have friend) [2] Cloyster (This one is straight up from vibes lol) [3] Nidoqueen (Big armored friend for vigilante work & hugs) [4] Shiny Venomoth (A friend to help keep watch over her brother) [5] Pidgeot (Dye the head feathers blue for Bluebird work) [6] Tinktatuff (Tinkering buddies who can build cannons together)

Stephanie Brown [1] Marshadow (She found it on the streets while trying to take out her dad) [2] Gabite (Look at that face & tell me they wouldn't do mischief together) [3] Scrafty (Street kid w/ her equally scrappy pal do battle togethre) [4] Fearow (She'll steal whatever pokemon she likes from Bruce thx) [5] Paldean Wooper (Dead Robin club has a new death-themed member)

Terry McGinnis [1] Zorua (He definitely needs a fluffy friend to hold as a child) [2] Mimikyu (Living shadow pal in matching disguises) [3] Flygon (He got it as a trapinch below their floorboards) [4] Zekrom (This was probably hidden in the Batcave or deeper in the caves) [5] Iron Jugulis (This is definitely the sort of thing that'd be in Neo-Gotham) [6] Iron Treads (Look at it & look at Terry's batsuit, they can match together)

Tim Drake [1] Dragonair (Gifted by his bio-parents because appearances) [2] Milotic (Also given by the Drakes before they left again) [3] Duraludon (Mister CEO deserves a skyscraper dragon for intimidation) [4] Noctowl (Night owl to go vigilantying with him & tries to get him to sleep) [5] Iron Jugulis (Honestly he probably built it, let's be honest)

Duke Thomas [1] Kilowattrel (Glowy bird friend? Glowy bird friend.) [2] Murkrow (Shadowy bird friend? Shadowy bird friend.) [3] Watchog (A friend who goes on patrol & shines like he does) [4] Umbreon (He deserves a dog-cat to help with the trauma) [5] Dedenne (Another squishy friend who helps comfort him) [6] Chi-Yu (Look at this lil fire goldfish, he deserves a fire goldfish)

Cullen Row [1] Cubone (I mean just read the pokedex entry, enough said) [2] Pikachu (I just like to think he carries it around like a big cat) [3] Sobble (Sad friend bois who can both grow together) [4] Eevee (Fluffy fox-dog he plays fetch with as he deserves) [5] Flamigo (It just sort of followed him home & is overprotective now)

Damian Al Ghul [1] Gliscor (Poisonous scorpion bat friend given by his mom probably) [2] Skarmory (Blade bird also trained to be an assassin of sorts) [3] Pawniard (Another blade friend but also a pawn like he was to Ras) [4] Aegislash (A literal blade friend who he can use as a sword) [5] Ceruledge (Ghost knight buddy for the son of the dark knight) [6] Paldean Tauros (BatcowBatcowBatcowBatcowBatcow) [7] Spearow (Angry baby bird to go with an angry baby vigilante) [8] Arcanine (TitusTitusTitusTitus) [9] Poochyena (Tiny puppy that Titus brought back during fetch) [10] Dreepy (Gift from Bruce who got his own dreepy from Alfred as a kid) [11] Ralts (Emotion sensing friend to help him understand social rules) [12] Eternatus (Ever see Goliath, Damian's demon dragon-bat? This. This.)

Mathew McGinnis [1] Murkrow (They're probably everywhere in Neo-Gotham) [2] Iron Moth () [3] Orange Minior () [4] Galarian Farfetch'd () [5] Pupitar ()

Jarro the Starro [1] Starmie (Starfish friends, it likes to hold him on top of its head) [2] Ditto (tiny squishy vigilante pals who are the same size as a batarang) [3] Orthworm (The biggest friend he can ride on the head of) [4] Wishiwashi (Big swarm of friends who can get big like the Starros) [5] Espeon (Psychic cat friend befriends psychic starfish) [6] Tangela (I just think the vibes would fit)

[themuffin2649]

Inspired by the Haunted!AU, Phantom of the Opera AU, and the Corpse Groom AU

PHANTOM MANOR AU

Yes I am taking Phantom Manor lore and tweaking it a bit to make this AU.

In the early 1900s two brothers found gold and became Rich from it. They built a giant mansion where one of the brothers would get married and his wife would give birth to a son named Vincent.

The son lived with his parents and his Uncle, and as he grew up, his wealth and beauty was well known across the land, attracting suitors far and near.

Despite the suitors, Vincent’s Uncle was very picky about who his nephew married. He was so strict, many men and women (he’s not homophobic) were denied before they even met Vincent. However, this didn’t stop 4 suitors from getting close with him.

These 4 suitors were Jack, a famous entertainer, Doe a great sailor who sailed the 7 seas, Alan a brave Explorer, and some blonde guy I guess.

Despite their titles, Vincent’s Uncle didn’t see them as good enough to marry his nephew, so he lead them to misfortune.

Jack was shot and killed by a hitman

Doe was tricked to sail down a waterfall

Alan was lead to an area were a ravage and hungry bear lived

And the Blonde Guy was stupid enough to stand on dynamite. (Really bro?!)

Although Jack was the only suitor to die, the others got the hint to leave Vincent alone, for Doe’s body melted in the water, Alan lost his left arm, and the Blonde guy lost his legs. (ouch)

Vincent, heartbroken that his suitors died or left him, swore to never love another again. To add on to the tragedy, a giant Earthquake hit the mansion while he was out hiking, killing his entire family.

Heartbroken, Vincent attended the funerals of his family, but at that funeral, he met the love of his life. One of the workers of his father and uncle’s company, MC, was the only one who empathized with him during the loss.

MC didn’t go for him for his family’s money he now inherited like the others who came to him after the funeral. MC didn’t even know he was the last surviving member of his family at the time.

Since his family, especially his Uncle, wasn’t there to judge his decision, Vincent started dating the MC. Over time, the two fell deeply in love. Years after the funeral, they would be engaged and would plan a wedding, a decision his family would have never allowed. Vincent didn’t care that MC was a lower class worker, he found love.

Vincent waited for this day to come for a long time. He got ready with great joy and invited his friends and the friends and family of his fiancée to the party at the mansion. Food was on the tables, the guests were talking among themselves, and the room was filled with life again. All he needed now was the groom.

Little did he know, that the groom would never arrive. For the wrath of the dead would soon reach his home.

While preparing for the wedding, a mysterious Phantom came up to MC and lured him into a dark room on a high floor. There, the phantom tied a noose around MC’s neck, then proceeded to hang the poor groom from the roof.

Vincent waited and waited for the groom to come. It’s been hours and there was not a sign of him. The food was all eaten, and the guests have left, leaving Vincent waiting for his fiancée.

Despite all life leaving the house, Vincent still waited as the phantom invited all his undead friends to party where the wedding should have happened. The phantom laughed as the groom mourned for his love through his beautiful singing.

—————

To this day, whether he’s alive or not, Vincent still waits for his love. If he were to be alive, he would be a very old man. He waits as the undead forever parties in his home. The halls still reverberating the song he sings for him as well as the phantom’s laughter.

If you wait outside of the Manor, you might catch a glimpse of Vincent through the windows.

[herapocalyps-a]

                                              it   had   happened   in    an   instant   .    they   had   taken   SWEENY   and   left   her   to   rot   .   No   car   ,   no  phone  ,   and   no   irish  GPS   to   navigate   the   way   .   So   here   she   sits   -   at   a   booth   in   a   gas-station  ,   scoping   out   possible   transportation   candidates   from   behind   heavily   tinted   sunglasses   .    She’s   about   to   give   up   -   to   leave   the  run  down  mini-mart   and   start   hitch-hiking   towards   Shadow’s   light   when  she   spots   a   rag-tag   trio   stumble   forth   from   a   dusty   chevy   .   While   the   other   two   make   their   way   into   the   store   -   one   stays   behind  ,  leaning   against   the   car   door   and   lighting   up   a   bogey   .  

                                                             P E R F E C T  .  

                                              Quickly   and   silently   she   exits   the   store  ,  meanders   over   to   him   with   a   sweet   smile   .   She   may   be   ROTTING   but   she   still  knows  how   to  play   the   game   .   Hell   it   was   just   a   part   of   how   she   was   raised  .   When   she   was   younger   she   practically   fed   both   her   momma   &   herself   on   dinners   scammed   from   men   who   fell   for   the   curl   of   soft   lips   .   

                                          She’s   about  to   ask   him   for   a   cig   when   she   spots   his   collar    ;    there’s   a   moments   pause   as   she   tries   not   to   laugh   at   the   irony   of   it   all   .   If   he   had   seen   what   she’d   seen  .   .   .   but   none   of   that   mattered   now   . 

                            ❛    I  .  .  .  hate  to   be   a   bother   ,   FATHER  .   But  do   you   think  you  could   spare   a   smoke   ?   ❜

                                          /    plotted   thing   with   @praechers

[kym2020]

Depths＊The Beast Laying Hidden Beneath

Bloodthirsty Beast Chapter 4

Rei: ......Fu, today's the first day of shooting but it's a little worrisome.

Not only Adonis-kun, but also Koga stood out?

Koga: Tch, right? Did ya expect it like how live is, to make the tension lower.

Kaoru: Ahaha. As Koga-kun said, it's like live you need to have a higher tension. Have you tried to lower it?

Well, make this an experience♪ There are musicians who also appear in movies and dramas, and Koga-kun might get the hang of it, right?

Rei: Hmm. Kaoru-kun seems to knows how to show it himself, so there are implications.

However, Kaoru-kun lacks concentration of today's shooting.

Kaoru: Eh, me?

Rei: I was glancing at the young lady, did she misunderstood something?

Kaoru: Ahaha, I was glancing at the show producer next to Anzu-chan!

That person was recommended by the director, so I thought I have to live up to an expectation!

Rei: Fumu. Seeing Kaoru-kun's ability, we felt like you could perform better.

Anyways, today's shooting results were bad.

Also, Adonis-kun was lacking from the feild that he was able to practice the missed shootings.

Adonis: ..........

Rei: So I asked the young lady, and she told me that she would help us take off our naive and childish skin off "UNDEAD".

Don't carelessly touch it if you don't want another mistake. That's just the opinion I can give.

Adonis: .....ah I'm sorry, Anzu-san. I'm just feeling down.

Was that really alright? If I couldn't do it, I'll just act as a member of "UNDEAD".

Kaoru: Isn't that ineffective to men? However, I'm going to use to to the actress.

If we do it with our well-known members, it'll become a joke during performance.

But, Anzu-chan would be easy to deal with.et me give you something back, I'll treat you to a dinner later♪

Koga: Oi charao ¹, that's a mixture of self-interest and acting now.

I don't think Adonis would have a weakness. Normally you would feel the sense of closeness to him, but when it comes to acting he's mature.

Adonis: ....that's right, I'm also trying my best.

Even if it's somewhere dangerous, I will still approach them. However, maybe somewhere near my heart I thought "this was an acting".

As a result, my acting was awkward.

Rei: Before that, I'll give you an example. Young lady are you ready?

「Oi, did you see anything else~?

You don't have to look at others, you only need to look at me. Then I won't bother you with anything else.」

Kaoru: .....this feels like, it's imposing. I suddenly remembered the old Rei-kun♪

Koga: Geez. Was that even the same? The old Sakuma-senpai was cooler.

Rei: Fumu. The you're not convinced Koga?

Then, why don't you try kabedon-ing and convincing them yourself?

Koga: So noisy~ I don' wanna make the story more complicated.

And, who will do next? Aside from Sakuma-senpai, all of us are immature.

Adonis: Alright. I'll do it better next time. Originally, its because of my awkward acting.

From now own, I'll act as my role not as Adonis Otogari.

「....I don't to let you go. Can you tell me more about yourself? I feel that if you tell me more, I'll understand your sadness and suffering.」

....after all, it's still awkward.

However, I'm not the one who gives up. By the time of our performance, I'll play my role well.

So we're ready to shoot.

After all, that episode was hard for me. When it comes to acting, I immediately lose sight of kindness.

...ahh, by the way, that episode I had hard time with. It has nothing to do with the shooting it self, it's because of another reason.

Was it from that time? The "problemc occurred during the shooting site.

The trouble of us not knowing the "beast" gradually made us all suspicious.

t/n: 1. "チャラ男" means playboy/ frivolous man... and I just put it as that

[paperanddice]

Even death doesn't always end a member's oath to the Gray Company. Some are so dedicated and loyal that hours or days after dying in battle they rise again, shuffling back to find commanding officers and report for duty. These fallen heroes are celebrated by their companions for their unwavering faith, though rarely do they last much longer as the dead are more useful absorbing damage for the living in battle. As such, fallen heroes usually blunt enemy attacks, acting as an initial wall before more valuable troops or leading charges to draw enemy fire. Many soldiers in the Gray Company promise to return as such a hero, ready to sacrifice themselves a second time to protect their living comrades, though comparatively few of them manage to follow through on that claim.

Originally from the 4e Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale. 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!

5th Edition

Gray Company Fallen Hero Medium undead, unaligned Armor Class 17 (chain mail, shield) Hit Points 85 (10d8 + 40) Speed 25 ft. Str 16 (+3) Dex 8 (-1) Con 19 (+4) Int 10 (+0) Wis 13 (+1) Cha 10 (+0) Damage Immunities poison Damage Resistances necrotic Condition Immunities poisoned Senses darkvision 60 ft. passive Perception 11 Languages understands Common but can't speak Challenge 2 (450 XP) Grim Solidarity. If the fallen hero starts its turn within 5 feet of a creature that has Grim Solidarity, it can make a saving throw against an effect that would normally allow it to make a save at the end of its turn. Actions Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) slashing damage. Nerath's Vengeance (Recharge 6). The fallen hero makes a longsword attack against each creature within its reach.

13th Age

Gray Company Fallen Hero 2nd level wrecker [undead] Initiative: +3 Vulnerable: Holy Longsword +6 vs. AC - 6 damage Natural 16+: The fallen hero can make another longsword attack against an enemy it hasn’t attacked already this turn. Grim Solidarity: When the fallen hero starts its turn next to an ally with grim solidarity, it can make a saving throw against one effect a save can end. Resist Negative Energy 14+. AC 16 PD 15 MD 12 HP 46

[blossom-hwa]

happy 4 years!! 🎉 can i request hyunjae with a post-apocalyptic au? (only if you're comfy with that!)

I love writing apocalyptic aus, anon :) thank you for requesting this, and I hope you enjoy!

4 year anniversary drabble game: send me a Stray Kids/The Boyz/Golden Child/Ateez member + a prompt (check out the post for ideas) and I’ll write a drabble for you!

~

Title: Goodbye

Pairing: Hyunjae x gender neutral!reader

Word count: 768

Triggers: guns, death, zombies

~

It's been two days since Hyunjae left to try and find more supplies. Either he had to scrounge a lot farther than you usually do, which doesn't make sense because the convenience store halfway through town still had some stock the last time you left it, or something happened to him.

You're willing to bet on the latter.

He wouldn't want you to come after him. He'd rather you stay safe with what food and water you still have left, rather than risk your own life to save him from some unknown danger. But it's him. Hyunjae. Annoying, stupid, horrifically brave Hyunjae. The only person you have left.

You have to find him.

He took the car. It made sense, at the time - he was the one going out, he'd need the protection of the vehicle as well as the speed. But that decision left you with nothing but a bicycle that you can barely ride, what with that leg injury having healed the wrong way, so you make the trek on foot.

The streets are quiet. Silent, even. No undead groans pierce the air, nor do the sight of their pale, unseeing eyes dot the landscape. It feels almost worse, knowing they have to be out there but not being able to see them - they don't move very fast, you know, but the leg dragging along behind you won't do any favors if something pops out of nowhere and you end up having to run.

But you don't. Nothing pops out. Not a single scavenging human or a rotted member of the undead. It's unnerving. You grip your pistol in one hand, but there's nothing to use it on, and even in the silence, you don't dare so much as whisper Hyunjae's name. There's nothing that tells you where he might be. Not tire tracks on the empty road. Not a trail of undead bodies on the sidewalks.

Not even his body lying dead by a building.

Heart in your throat, you finally reach the convenience store. The smashed glass doors look the same as they always used to. Nothing seems amiss, not when you first step through the glass on silent feet...

A hiss hits your ear from a far corner of the store.

A strangled gasp rips from your throat and you whip around, dread filling the pit of your stomach as you raise the gun, ready to shoot - you've done it before, you can do it now -

Hyunjae's eyes glare at you from the floor, glassed over with the sheen of death but still alive in the horrible way that the undead are. Fingernails scrabble on the floor, clicking on the tiles in an effort to reach you, grab you, drag you forward enough for his teeth to sink into your flesh.

But he isn't moving. Not really, anyway. The gun trembles in your hands as you take in the collapsed shelf pinning his legs to the ground. He can't move.

You could leave him, then. He won't be able to chase. You won't have to kill him, not if he can't get to you. You can save yourself the pain of having to be the one to put the bullet through Hyunjae's head, the last person you love in this world, the one who's stayed with you since the start, since the beginning...

But you promised. He did, too. If one of you fell victim to a bite, the other would put them out of their misery as soon as they could.

You're already late. A day late, at least, judging by how the bite wound on his shoulder has festered. You weren't here for him before he turned. You weren't here for him when he needed you.

You have no right to deny him the last mercy that the bullet will bring.

"Hyunjae," you whisper, like a prayer. Maybe if you say his name enough, he'll snap out of it, like the bite in his shoulder never existed. "Hyunjae, please."

He only hisses louder.

Hands shaking, you aim the gun between his snarling, undead eyes. It takes several moments for your fingers to steady, to clench around the handle before it falls out of your grip. "Please," you whisper. "Please."

The bite doesn't disappear. Hyunjae's snarls grow louder. If he keeps going at this rate, someone or something else will find you.

Chances are, that won't be pretty.

You take a deep breath, blinking the tears away. He's dead. He's dead. He's never coming back. Never.

Okay. Another deep breath. Three, two, one...

The bullet fires.

Goodbye, Hyunjae.

[recentanimenews]

Crunchyroll Reveals Fall Anime Dub Plans for Platinum End and More [UPDATED: 10/29]

UPDATE - 10/29: Added an additional role to Platinum End's English cast.

    Crunchyroll has more dubs on the way, this time tackling both recent hits and fan-favorite fall anime. In addition to more dubbed episodes of 86 EIGHTY-SIX, here are some of the series that will soon be available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German, as well as all the details we know so far!

  ODDTAXI

Dub Launch: January 16, 2022

  CAST: 

  Hiroshi Odokawa: Mike McFarland

  Eiji Kakihana: Lucien Dodge

  Taichi Kabasawa: Zeno Robinson

  Ayumu Goriki: Daman Mills

  Miho Shirakawa: Lauren Landa

  Shun Imai: Sean Chiplock

  Taeko Harada: Caitlin Glass

    Voicover Director: Bill Millsap

  DON'T TOY WITH ME, MISS NAGATORO 

Dub Launch: January 11, 2022

    Nagatoro loves teasing and getting a reaction out of her older male classmate, but to what end!?

  Voiceover Director: Julie Maddalena-Kliewer

  Platinum End

Dub Launch: November 18

    From the creators of “Death Note,” a young boy must fight against 12 other humans to become the next god of the world!

  Cast:

  Mirai Kakehashi: Alejandro Saab Nasse: Michaela Murphy Revel: Daman Mills Saki Hanakago: Laura Post

  Voiceover Director: David Walsh

  SAKUGAN

Dub Launch: November 18

    A father and daughter team up to pilot their powerful mech to fight monsters and explore the mysteries of the "the Labyrinth"!

  CAST:  

Memempu: Anne Yatco

  Gagumber: Chris Smith

  Voiceover Director: Kirstie Simone

  Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles

Dub Launch: December 27

    Realizing his mysterious past, one orphan sets out to live a better life attending a prestigious academy for noble children.

  CAST:

  Rio: Kieran Regan Young Rio: Fionn Kinsella Celia Claire: Madeline Dorroh Aishia: Morgan Laure Latifa: Julia Gu Miharu Ayase: Sarah Williams

  Voiceover Director: Michael Schneider

  The Faraway Paladin

Dub Launch: November 27

    A young child raised by three undead ventures out to learn more about the world and become a famed Paladin.

  CAST:

  Will: Erica Mendez Gus: Kirk Thornton Blood: Bill Butts Mary: Veronica Taylor

  Voiceover Director: David Walsh

  The World's Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat

Dub Launch: November 24

    When a great assassin is reborn in another world, he finds himself the heir to a long line of killers from the shadows. With both his modern-day knowledge and experience and the special magic and techniques of this new world, he could very well become the most unstoppable assassin in history! 

  CAST: 

  Lugh: Christian Banas

Dia: Caitlin Glass

Maha: Hayden Bishop

Tarte: Courtney Lin  

Assassin: Mick Lauer

    Voiceover Director: Kirstie Simone

  The 86 EIGHTY-SIX dub continues with Episode 12 on December 4, and new cast members include:

  Kiriya Nouzen: Zeno Robinson

Frederica Rosenfort: Kimberley Anne Campbell Ernst Zimmerman: Keith Silverstein

  There are also a handful of titles the international community can look forward too, including: 

  Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German: 

  That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2

    Rimuru and friends set up to clash against the forces of the Demon Lord Clayman. The series will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.  

  Spanish and Portuguese:

  Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!

    This critically acclaimed anime follows a group of high school students as they create an animation club to realize the “ultimate world” that exists in their minds.

  Laid-Back Camp

    Get ready for comfy camping adventures with Nadeshiko, Rin, and the Outdoor Activities Club! Seasons 1 and 2 will be available in Spanish and Portuguese.

  Beyond all of this, stay tuned for more information on Crunchyroll's upcoming dubs at Anime NYC!

    -------

Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. You can read his comics at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter @Moldilox.

By: Joseph Luster

[romiithebirdie]

Epilogue for the Lost - Chapter 4

Had it been fair to make such a critical assumption about Kacchan? 

Izuku chewed his food slowly, staring deeply into his rice bowl like it was the most fascinating thing in the world. Several children ran past in the hallway beside the kitchen and he lowered his head all the more, praying nobody would try to speak to him.

The previous night had been... Stressful to say the least and it had taken a mental toll on him. He hoped that he wouldn't be shoved back into group therapy after this whole mess.

Child Protective Services and the police had arrived to escort him to a temporary Foster Home while U.A's Principal Nedzu made preparations to move Izuku into U.A High School's dormitory building until his mother recovered.

The dorms were a last resort for students who had a long way to travel or came from working class families who were struggling financially. Izuku's case didn't exactly fit the usual criteria but it was the best option and Izuku had been happy to accept the offer.

He'd already been back at his apartment and packed a few things to take with him to the dorm and he hadn't been eager to hang around the empty home. The silence gave him a feeling of great discomfort and he could barely hold back his emotions upon seeing the signs of struggle during his mother's attack.

As devastated as he was, he was so thankful that she was still here.

The television from the Home's lounge blared in the background, the fuzzy sound system broadcasting what sounded like the news.

They were talking about something that sounded important; Ketsubutsu Academy High School, he thought he'd heard being mentioned. Izuku knew that school all too well, with it being the rival school to U.A during their monthly events that included athletics competitions and literacy contests.

Ketsubutsu, like U.A, was a famous school for their top performing student records. Izuku mused that whatever the reporter was talking about probably had something to do with some kind of major event the school had recently won or something along those lines. The male reporter was blathering on, using all sorts of long words that Izuku didn't care to hear this early in the morning.

His mind was still occupied with trying to get over his late-night visit back to his apartment with the police.

Izuku had truly felt completely numb after walking around his deserted family home. It had physically hurt watching his guardians lock the doors and as they drove away, he had finally allowed himself to break down in the back of the car.

The eerie silence and the lack of the familiar warmth and welcoming air about the apartment gave off a haunting feeling.

It honestly felt to him like somebody had died there.

Thank God that hadn't happened.

Whenever he thought about wandering the apartment's seclusive structure, it gave him a sense of complete uneasiness which wasn't a nice feeling. At all.

He just wanted to go back home and see the warm, welcoming smile of his mother again.

                                                             .-.-.-.-.

 "Hey, you hear the news?"

Izuku glanced up from his phone, attention on Eijiro Kirishima, Denki Kaminari and Hanta Sero talking in the corner of 1-A's classroom.

"Yeah, man. His poor family," Sero acknowledged with a nod of his head.

Kaminari cocked a brow up, "Uh no, I didn't. What happened?"

Both Kirishima and Sero exchanged an uncomfortable glance before Kirishima opened his mouth to answer;

"Yo Shindo's body was found this morning just a few yards away from Ketsubutsu's main gate."

Izuku almost dropped his phone in surprise.

Yo Shindo was a highly intelligent student who always finished in the top three for any event he took part in. His strategic ability had always been something to truly admire. Now the three boys were saying he was dead?

Had that really happened?

The three boys were all friendly members of Izuku's class, there was no way they'd make up something so horrible.

"It's not looking good," Sero shook his head. "Can't imagine what they're going through."

"Yeah, real messed up stuff," Kirishima frowned, digging both hands in his blazer pockets. "Whoever did this was so unmanly. Shindo never hurt anybody in his life."

Which was a true statement; Shindo did have a cocky side to him and he schemed a lot during their school competitions...But it was never malicious, he just liked to have strategies to win. Nobody could fault him for that.

Odd how his mother had been attacked yesterday and now a new body had been discovered. Though they hadn't been friends, he was student from a different school that Izuku had been familiar with. Could there be a connection?

"Was anything mentioned about strange writing carved into the skin?" Izuku stood up to face them before his brain could even process what he was doing.

All three boys turned on him, all looking puzzled by the quiet boy's question. Izuku immediately felt his cheeks flare up when he realised how loud he'd been. Several other classmates glanced in his direction and he suddenly wanted the ground to swallow him whole.

"Uh, don't think so," Sero answered with a shrug, thankfully noticing Izuku's nervous disposition and choosing to ignore it with a sympathetic smile.

"Yeah, same with me," Kirishima agreed before his face morphed into an expression of concern. "How have you been doing, Midoriya? We know you're going through a lot right now but we're all here for you if you ever needed to talk."

As nervous as Izuku had been with his new classmates on their first day, he was relieved that they were nothing like the students from Aldera Junior High. He was mainly ignored by everybody in Aldera, due to most of the kids being freaked out by his random outbursts in the past. Meanwhile, the U.A students were all friendly faces which felt...surreal to the green-haired teen if he had to be truly honest with himself.

Despite this, he had gotten quite close with all of the members of 1-A. However, he wasn't in the best mood to start socialising due to the evening prior.

"I-I appreciate it," Izuku gave the three boys a wobbly smile before returning back to his phone. He hoped he had sounded as grateful as he felt, the other teens seemed to understand and went back to their own conversation which was a godsend to Izuku.

Allowing himself to let out a tiny sigh in relief, he then quickly logged into his phone internet and immediately began searching for the latest news stories. With a few clicks, he found what he was searching for;

BODY FOUND OUTSIDE MUSUTAFU SCHOOL GROUNDS

There were a lot more articles listed below the top search.

HIGH SCHOOL SET TO CLOSE WHILE INVESTIGATION GOES UNDERWAY

KETSUBUTSU HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT  IDENTIFIED AS SECOND YEAR

Izuku clicked on the third article that identified the victim's name. Scrolling down, he noticed a part of the document that made him feel slightly queasy upon reading it.

The teen was pronounced dead on sight. Along with various stab wounds, a large slash-wound was found across his neck which authorities have confirmed to be the cause of this tragic outcome. Our thoughts and prayers are with this boy's family.

Izuku chewed on his bottom lip, a nagging thought in the back of the head about whether or not these two major incidents had been connected or not. It was just weird that both attacks happened around the same areas and had occurred several hours after one another.

Maybe he should stop looking into it and leave the investigation to the police. After all, he still had the undead clamouring for his attention so he had enough to deal with as it was.

Still… Izuku glanced at the news article one last time before closing it completely and placing his phone back into his bag.

Perhaps it would be best to not look further into these things.

His phone buzzed from inside the back and he let out a small sigh, deciding whether or not to check it. From the singular motion, he'd probably either received a notification from the device or a text message.

It'd make sense to leave it until after class but then again…

What if it was his mother checking in on him?

With that in mind, Izuku immediately snatched his bag from the ground and rummaged around inside the front pockets until his fingers stroked the familiar plastic phone case.

It was a text message, judging from the little blinking envelope icon. Izuku unlocked the device with an apology ready to write to explain that his teacher would be arriving shortly.

However, the message wasn't from his mother.

Frowning slightly at the UNKNOWN NUMBER across his phone screen, Izuku hovered his finger over the touchpad before quickly pressing on the Read button.

Hi Deku.

Izuku froze in his seat, his entire body going rigid.

What the hell was this?

The only person that had ever called him Deku was...

He winced at the memory, knowing that he should've probably just ignored the mystery texter but his fingers acted before his brain could catch up.

  Who is this? 

How did you get this number?

Another message immediately appeared under the first one;

 You'll see soon enough.

 Was that supposed to be some kind of threat? 

Swallowing thickly, Izuku stared at the screen completely frozen in place. What on earth did you say in response to something like that? 

Oh one more thing. You know what happened with your mother?

The teen inhaled slowly. Three dots appeared, indicating the person was typing.

Should he switch the phone off?

But then it buzzed for the final time and he bit down on his bottom lip, dreading whatever was about to be said. 

And he was right to feel anxious about it; 

  That bitch had it coming.

[tazmuir]

GET READY FOR...

SEABOUND! A LOCKED TOMB UNIVERSE SURVIVAL ADVENTURE AND HOUSE IDENTIFICATION TOOL

You and a couple of your friends, if you have any, are on a boat in the ocean. Why are you here? Is this even relevant in the universe? Who cares. This ocean’s purpose is to help you pick… your true House identity.

Luckily, on this magical survival journey you have the opportunity to pick items to help you. You may salvage five items of the fifteen I am about to list under the cut. These items will be the key to who you are, secretly, on the inside. You’re probably going to die, but at least you will know who you are, which has to be some kind of comfort, right

These items will score you points with one or more Houses. Once you have made your selection, read the guide, tally your points, and discover… Yourself!!!!

PICK YOUR TOP FIVE OUT OF...

A sack  of mandibles

A sack  of fresh human hands

A  rolled-up flag of the Cohort, soldiers of the blessed Necrolord Prime

Pen and  flimsy

A bottle  of 160 proof rum   

A  waterproof portrait of the Emperor, here portrayed as the Merciful Resurrector

An empty  bottle with a lid to seal it

An ancient flare gun of curious make

A book  of antiquated Ninth House prayers

A 25 litre container of BLOOD

A single  sharp rapier

A  shaving mirror

A case  of absolutely disgusting army rations, hard and bad

A case  of extremely glamorous luxe rations, but poisoned

A  tinier, leakier fold-out raft, with a dubious motor

What’s that, you want it in image format??? 

WRITE YOUR TOP FIVE DOWN...........

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

It may be helpful to organise a tally sheet, like so.....

Don’t scroll down until you have made your choices...

No peeking past this point....

I mean it..............

DO NOT LOOK BELOW UNTIL YOU HAVE SETTLED YOUR CHOICES, UNLESS YOU ARE A HUGE CHEATER, IN WHICH CASE GIVE YOURSELF AN EXTRA +10 THIRD HOUSE POINTS

*****************

ITEM GUIDE

*****************

A SACK OF OLD OSSICLES

+15 Ninth House points

Only a Ninth House necromancer would want this. Not even a bone necromancer would look in joy on a sack of ossicles. If it was a more useful bone or even a fresher bone, sure, or let’s say a whole skeleton, that would be arguably useful, but in the hands of most bone adepts the ossicle is simply an ossicle. You’re from the Ninth House if you ranked this highly, which means odds are good that you are 90+ and have kidney and bladder problems.

A SACK OF FRESH HUMAN HANDS

+10 Third House points +7 Seventh House points +6 Second House points +5 Third House points +5 Fourth House points +5 Fifth House points +5 Sixth House points +5 Ninth House points

Fresh human hands are generally useful. Fresh flesh (say that five times fast) will carry a goodly amount of thanergy (death energy) and thalergy (life energy), which in the hands of a necromancer might be put to good purpose. Extra points to the Third and Seventh houses, places where you’re likely to find very talented flesh magicians; five points to the other houses as flesh magic is quite generally used, and if not, there’s a whole articulating hand in there for the bone magicians. The Ninth House don’t rate this quite as highly as the sack of ossicles because you have to get the flesh off first. The Eighth House does not want your sack of fresh human hands.

The Second House gets an extra point because we could always eat those hands. We’ve eaten worse.

A ROLLED-UP FLAG OF THE COHORT, SOLDIERS OF THE BLESSED NECROLORD PRIME

+15 Second House points +5 Seventh House points +1 point for every other House

Only a Second House denizen would think this was a must-have. It doesn’t even have a pole. You can’t fly it. You can just look at it and think patriotic thoughts about the Cohort. The only reason you get +1 from any other House is because you could maybe use it as shade. The Seventh House scores a cool five points off this one because it would be a very Seventh House thought to be found dead and draped in the Cohort flag. Symbolic… aesthetic…. Raw

PEN AND FLIMSY

+15 Sixth House points +10 Fifth House points +10 Seventh House points +10 Eighth House points

Reaching for the pen and flimsy first is a very Sixth House thing to do, because you’re going to immediately try to form a committee, have a huge argument, split off on your own and do some kind of brainstorm of ideas, then maybe you’re going to write down a bunch of bullshit equations and jot notes on the back about ways in which this might contribute to your research. The Fifth House also may well reach for this, but it’s to write down everyone on the boat’s memoirs, and perhaps a group letter expressing regret at what a bish they’ve made of it and perhaps a small measure of buttoned-up, restrained feeling for their lovers back home.

The Seventh House have written a single, very beautiful and oblique sentence about the water. The Eighth House have written down a list of any moral crimes committed on the boat.

A BOTTLE OF 160 PROOF RUM

+15 Third House points +5 Fourth House points +1 Second House points

CUP OF ACE, CUP OF GOOSE, CUP OF CRIS

The good Third House citizen has resigned themselves to death, but to not go gentle into that good night. The Fourth House thinks they could light this on fire, or something? Who knows

The Second House citizen will surprise you by doing a generous shot of this before everyone starts playing Mercy Stab The Weakest Members Of The Boat So They Won’t Have To Suffer.

A WATERPROOF PORTRAIT OF THE EMPEROR

+15 Eighth House points +5 Seventh House points +5 Ninth House points

The Eighth House citizen will pray at this grimly until they die. The Ninth House citizen will also do a certain amount of praying at this grimly until they die, but get less points because they’ll also be praying to other things.

The Seventh House citizen may hope to drape the Cohort flag over one of their dead bodies, and this to be held by another, and then they’ve got a tableau so symbolic that their rescuers will set it up as an art installation.

AN EMPTY BOTTLE WITH A LID TO SEAL IT

+9 Sixth House points +9 Fifth House points +9 Eighth House points

There’s no water around, so what are you going to do with this EXCEPT use it to put your rolled-up memoirs, thought crimes, or the useful rebuttal to that one article you just thought up and hope someone will rescue and publish?

AN ANTIQUE FLARE GUN OF CURIOUS MAKE

+15 Fourth House points +5 Fifth House points +5 Sixth House points

This thing will blow your head off. It’s a gun. Don’t – don’t fucking fire it here (NOISE OF BODY PARTS HITTING WATER)

It is intensely Fourth House to take an unbelievably dangerous piece of kit you barely understand and bravely fire it in the hope of getting rescued. It is also intensely Fifth and Sixth house just to keep a museum piece around so you can look at it and admire it. How interesting our antecedents were, to be sure

A BOOK OF ANTIQUATED NINTH HOUSE PRAYERS

+15 Ninth House points +5 Sixth House points +5 Seventh House points +1 Fifth House points ‘Nuff said.

The other points reflects different desperations in the Sixth and Fifth houses are for reading material, and the Seventh House might add this to the tableau as an Enigma.

A TWENTY-FIVE LITRE CONTAINER OF BLOOD!!!!

+9 Fifth House points

Nobody wants this and very few people are talented enough to separate the toxic iron stew from some drinkable plasma, or something. The Fifth House in its boundless optimism may take this thinking they might call a ghost, but otherwise, yuk

A SINGLE SHARP RAPIER

+10 Second House points +9 Fourth House points +9 Seventh House points +2 Third House points

The Second House knows that the death of a colleague neatly stabbing you is better than a death by drowning. The Fourth House is going to fuck up an octopus. The Seventh House is going to have it present, centrally, on the boat, and cast down glances through their eyelashes at it but otherwise never mention its presence, tortured. The Third House just wants a sword for the delicious drama. Delicious, delicious drama

A SHAVING MIRROR

+6 Fourth House points +2 Third House points

A mirror can reflect the sun, generating up to seven million candlepower in light. A mirror would be a very Fourth House idea: something that sounds unrealistic and stupid on first blush, but turns out to be a one in a million incredible idea that may even save your life.

The Third House just want to check their mascara, and also see over their shoulder before one of their boat colleagues sticks the single sharp rapier inside them. Drama

A CASE OF ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING ARMY RATIONS, HARD AND BAD

+9 Second House points +1 to every other House

We can’t fault you for practicality.

A CASE OF EXTREMELY GLAMOROUS LUXE RATIONS, BUT POISONED

+8 Third House points +5 Eighth House points

Fuck this noise and pass me the caviar, darling

The Eighth House are also ready to receive the poison, but they will try their damndest not to enjoy it.

A TINIER, LEAKIER FOLD-OUT RAFT, WITH A DUBIOUS MOTOR

+5 Fourth House points

This is not going to get you five yards on a free ticket, which is why hopping into it and getting that dusty, wheezy motor going, then sailing for help as the rest of the boat watches you sink into the ocean and get snapped up by a giant undead squid is the most Fourth House thing you could’ve done.

  **************

FAQ

**************

 WHAT DO I DO IN CASE OF A TIE?

Pick the House descriptor most like yourself, or most like the person you secretly wish you were, or with the colours you like best.

WHAT DO I DO IF I DON’T LIKE THE ANSWER?

We all have to live with pain. I have gotten sorted into Slytherin House every Sorting test I have ever taken. This is not correct. I am a muggle, and demand to be treated as such.

BUT I REALLY HATE MY ANSWER.

Then you’re a Firebender. Everyone loves being a Firebender.

CAN I BE IN THE FIRST HOUSE?

No, you cursed grandpa.

ARE YOUR HOUSES REALLY MADE UP OF NARROW STEREOTYPES?

No. You are just as likely to find a party-loving Second House member as you are to find a Fourth House deep thinker who always looks before they leap. These are simply the crude crystallizations, such as those used for soap operas and toothpaste advertisements.

SOMETHING ELSE?

Whatever your problem, you can always make up your own House, with the rider that you would have to make it up as though you were ten years old and were basing it heavily around whatever you were into at the time, which would mean that my House would be inspired entirely by the Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual

  **************

COUNT UP YOUR POINTS, DIVINE YOUR HOUSE, AND THEN…

Congratulations, dullard/poser/fool/stodge/nerd/drip/zealot/weirdo! You’re in the Second/Third/Fourth/Fifth/Sixth/Seventh/Eighth/Ninth House!!!

[mega-knight-of-breath]

Wizard and Paladin

Catalina the Paladin and Anne the Wizard (specializing in illusions).

They started travelling together after Anne knocked out some guy trying to rob Catalina, who was new to the city. They spend their days with playful banter and helping the needy, while of course getting some compensation.

(This takes place before Part 1)

[Part 1]   [Part 3] [Part 4] [Part 5]

“This is our most boring job yet,” Anne hissed at her companion as they trudged through the sewers, “Why do you insist on taking every single quest given to us?”

Catalina idly twirled her spear, her eyes darting about, “We need the gold if we’re ever to get that Little Cottage you want. Or to travel as you want. Or to pay for your ingredients. Or to buy us gear. Or to-”

“I get it!” the smaller woman rolled her eyes, leaning on her weapon as they walked, “It’s just... isn’t there something cooler, that pays better?”

“Mmmm, not with only two of us,” Catalina explained, “The agency limits quests based on ability and party members. You and I are fairly capable, but there are only two of use and I haven’t mastered any healing skills... Which is eating up our potion supply.” She sighed and then gagged, covering her mouth, “Oh by the gods, what is that smell?”

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we’re in a sewer,” Anne rolled her eyes, “It’s not going to smell like daisies.”

“Not that,” she coughed, “It smells like...rotting flesh.”

“Then that would be our target,” Anne huffed, “You did read the mission statement, yes?”

“Um...”

“Dreygur, we’re being sent to dispatch the undead. It’s why the agency wanted you to take this quest,” Anne told her companion gently.

“... Do your illusions even work on the undead?”

“Yes, but not very well. Luckily I also have a few other tricks up my sleeves.”

“Is that why your sleeves are so big?”

“Lina, don’t get off topic. As usual, you’ll be the main damage dealer here and I’ll provide support,” Anne told her, leaving no room for argument, “Maybe after this we can get you some proper armor instead of that... thing.”

“Hey! I’ll have you know that my sister made me this,” the taller woman gestured to her leather armor which only covered half of her chest.

“I’m sorry to tell you this-again-but it’s not proper for one of your...you’re a danger magnet, ok? You need something better. Besides, it’s ugly, who wears green leather?”

“How dare you?! Besides, you wear green, we match.”

“We do not match, this is emerald, that’s like... seaweed.” Anne told her before freezing, “Wait, shut up.”

“Don’t tell me to-”

“No, seriously,” Anne held a hand up, “Listen.” 

After a couple seconds of silence, the Paladin heard it. There was a soft groaning sound, it sounded close, “Is that our target?”

“Sounds like,” Anne started moving again with quicker strides, Catalina hadn’t even noticed that they stopped, “Not to be cocky, but this should be easy. I can hear about three maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“Maybe. Weapons at the ready Aragon.”

They soon came upon a wooden door leading into the wall, the sounds were much louder behind it. Catalina tightly gripped her spear, kicking the door down while Anne stood close behind her.

There were not three Dreygur, there were five, and two skeletons. Luckily the skeletons weren’t undead, they were just skeletons lying lifeless on the floor..

Catalina stabbed the closest abomination with holy light, killing it instantly, before they could even turn towards her and her companion. One towards the back caught on fire, courtesy of Anne. 

She smashed the next rotting body over the head with the shaft of her spear while she waited for her Lord to allow her another smite. It fell to the ground and met her boot without mercy, another down. Anne froze the next as it lunged towards her partner, allowing the taller woman to shatter the living corpse with a single blow.

The Paladin shouted in pain as she felt teeth plant themselves in her upper arm and was pleased when the connected head swiftly met Anne’s quarter staff. Once it was knocked loose she stabbed with all of her might repeatedly while Anne whittled down the other with her damage spells and an equally merciless beating with that staff of hers. 

As soon as she was sure that everything in the room was staying dead, Catalina fell to her knees panting. Anne grabbed her uninjured arm gently, “Hey. you ok?”

“Tired,” she panted. It was always like this after she channeled her Lord’s holiness when emotional, it wore on her reserves.

“Can I see?” Catalina grunted, shivering a bit when elegant fingers traced over her injury, “Ah. It’ll need stitches. I’ll have to do that and disinfect it when we return home. I can give you painlessness for now, if you want?”

“No, I’m... I’ll be fine,” the taller woman grunted again, “Check the bodies. I just want to leave.” When Anne did as ordered, Lina spoke up again, “Maybe some better armor won’t kill me.”

“And?”

“And maybe I should better vent the quests I accept.”

“Good girl,” Anne kissed Catalina’s cheek when she had looted everything useful from the area. She helped the taller girl stand and allowed her to lean on her, “Come on. Let’s get you home you softy.”

[somuchcolour]

WIP fic rec list

So I have a shit ton of important things to do so I was like, so what better time to make a WIP rec list of fics that are currently (hopefully) updating.

I know wips get a bad rap but I personally enjoy feeling like I’m in 1830s paris waiting for the next chapter of illusions perdues to drop. Also these authors are giving us sweet sweet entertainment and they deserve the hype. All stories deserve love no matter their completion status.

In no particular order:

A Brief History of Sex by Letzi

Never let it be said that Castiel Novak is not a passionate man. He doesn’t seem like he is at first glance, he’s willing to admit that. But what he does in life, everything that he does, in fact, in life, has been in the pursuit of passion.

He’s not sure how it landed him night after night sitting inside a cramped closet in a brothel’s bedroom, watching a prostitute get fucked from behind by one of her clients through a peephole, but that’s where he finds himself these days.

He has to make do with what he has.

--

ABO AU based on the TV Show Masters of Sex and the life and work of Virginia Johnson and William Masters, the pioneers of sex therapy.

A Priori by K_K_TiBal, whelvenwings   

Dean Winchester and Castiel Novak are headed to Hogwarts.

Castiel, as a member of the old Novak wizarding family, is fully expected to be sorted into Ravenclaw, like all of his ancestors before him. Dean, as a Muggle-born, has no idea what the Houses even are. With a surprise sorting and classes starting soon afterwards, they're both pitched headfirst into the unknown - and they find themselves in competition with each other almost at once, both of them needing to prove themselves to the people they left at home, and the people with them at Hogwarts.

Over the course of their seven years at Hogwarts, Dean and Cas learn what it means to prove yourself, what it takes to discover who you are, what it feels like to fall in love, and what it is they'll fight for - what matters most of all.

And Death Shall Have No Dominion by ForeverShippingJohnlock    

Castiel Novak is a zombie. Or rather, a "partially deceased syndrome sufferer." Treated and on medication, Castiel is deemed fit to return to living society. Whether society is ready to accept him or not is another matter entirely.

Dean Winchester is an active member of the Human Volunteer Force, a group determined to eliminate the undead. With his father as the leader of the HVF, Dean has spent years learning that PDS sufferers are scum, treated or not, and Dean wants nothing more than to make his dad proud.

Against all odds, the two boys form an unlikely friendship that makes Dean question everything he knows and believes, while Castiel thinks that maybe his second life isn't such a curse after all.

A story of love and loss, life and death, and everything in between.

Beyond Our Waking Eyes by abbythebollix    

Dean Winchester is troubled, Sam Winchester is growing up and Castiel Milton is too fucking hot for his own good.

Cupid's Fiery Shaft by ChasingRabbits               

When Gabriel Milton is forced into working on the school's annual Shakespeare play, he finds himself drawn to one person in particular--a techie named Sam Winchester.

While waiting on numerous universities to dictate the next major step in his life, Sam has been blowing off steam with his friend, lab partner, and (unknowingly) Gabriel's stepbrother, Castiel Novak.

Castiel Novak: a swimmer and one of the school's resident oddballs, who finds himself in a quandary upon meeting Sam's older brother, Dean.

Dean Winchester: gruff-voiced automechanic by day and culinary genius/MegaNerd by night, who might not be as heterosexual as he lets everybody believe.

If it sounds complicated, that's only because it is.

Now That's Comedy by CaptainMercy42     

Comedy. It's what Winchester's did. Winchester's, and about a million other dumb fucks with an iPhone and 140 character witticisms about their first world problems. It was not supposed to bug him when no-talent "wordsmiths" got highlighted in a bit on Ellen or Bob and Tom. But it did.

His dad, well he was great at it. It was dark comedy. It came from a dark place; the loss of a wife and the life of a morally bankrupt single dad, almost innocent in how thoroughly unprepared he was for fatherhood.  Substance abuse in itself provided jokes for days. The material actually outlasted his dear old dad. This surprised no one. What was surprising was Sam's decision to ditch college and do his own act, despite his lingering bitterness.

The first night Dean saw Sam perform was also the first night Dean saw Castiel perform.

Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by linoresearch   

The year is 1722 and across the oceans merchant ships are hounded by pirates. Killing and stealing their way to infamy, the Winchesters plague the trade-routes to the New World, leaving a trail of death and devastation across the Spanish Main. They are villains, and every ship that sails under the colours of the Royal Navy has been tasked with bringing them to justice; sentenced to hang by the neck until dead.

When the lookout of the navy frigate, the Lady Mary, calls ship-ahoy from the crow’s nest, first-mate Lieutenant Castiel Novak has no idea how his life is about to change. In a swash-buckling adventure across the high-seas, Castiel faces sea-monsters, ghost-ships, and much more, in the race to secure a valuable and dangerous prize. Thrown in among the pirates aboard the Black Impala, he also learns that Captain Dean Winchester can be hard to resist.

Number 1 Crush by Duckyboos                

Dean, Benny, Charlie, Garth, and Cas are old college buddies. In their thirties now, they meet up once a year to shed their adult responsibilities for a week. This year it's Garth's turn to choose where they go and he's still as obsessed with horror and weird shit as he was back in college. He ends up picking a supposedly deserted hotel in the friggin' mountains. The place is creepy as hell and as night falls, two things become increasingly apparent. One: the place isn’t as deserted as they first thought, and two: Dean’s college stalker is back from the dead.

Dial 'M' For Monster by Duckyboos    

By day, Dean Winchester bakes cupcakes. He owns his own bakery (Stairway to Leaven) and people come from all over state to try his delicious vegan red velvet. By night, he’s a fighter of supernatural evil.

Castiel Novak owns the small town's only motel (The Resting Place). He has a problem; he thinks rooms 6 & 11 are haunted.  It’s not like he can just look up a local ghost hunter in the phone book though, now is it?

Oh, he can? Sweet.

All The Other Places by Englandwouldfall                

As is usually the way with this crap, nothing is that simple. Part 4 of Beach House       

Shades of Mediocrity by Englandwouldfall               

Dean needs to rearrange his life all over again, regroup, restart and work out what the hell to do next.Castiel needs to learn where to channel his heart break, among other things.   Part 4 of Home            

The Taming of the Dudes by Englandwouldfall  

They've been doing this long enough and successfully enough that Dean kind of feels they shouldn't be arguing over something as serious as the mortgage. Part 5 of As you like it       

Two and a Half Sheets to the Wind by Englandwouldfall        

The whole point of working on a cruise ship was to escape everything, so the last thing he needs is to run into a guy who makes him a little too honest on the first day of a month long stint around Europe.

With Interest by everandanon     

In which sought-after bad boy Castiel Novak agrees to make awkward, nerdy sophomore Dean Winchester fall in love with him for a bet, and quickly finds himself in over his head — but by the time he realizes his mistake, it’s too little, too late . . .

Fast-forward 11 years, and as guilty as Cas still feels, he has bigger problems to deal with. Grieving his twin brother and struggling to provide the care his niece deserves, Cas finally sucks it up and moves back home in an effort to hold things together.

Of course, it's only a matter of time before he runs into Dean - Dean, who's all grown up and even more beautiful than Cas always suspected he'd be. Dean, who says he wants to be friends, and is clearly much better at a game Cas hasn't played since he broke Dean's heart.

Dean, who might not be the forgive-and-forget type, after all . . .

Quarantension by everandanon  

In which Dean and Cas weather quarantine together like any Good Friends would — by developing outstanding skills in self-deception and providing all the casual affection and strictly platonic* orgasms the other could possibly need to make it through.** *Really not platonic **Spoiler: They need a lot.

Fortress by imogenbynight         

Five years ago, a malignant mass removed from John Winchester's temporal lobe left behind a quietly ticking bomb that nobody noticed until it decimated everything. Five years ago, John dragged Dean away from everything he'd ever known, hellbent on rescuing him from an imagined threat that felt more real to him than the blood on his hands. Five years ago, Castiel let Dean's hand slip through his fingers as he rescued Sam from what he'd thought was a more immediate threat.

For five years, Castiel has wondered if there was some way he could have saved Dean, too.

Now, with a phone call that he'd all but given up hoping for, Castiel has a chance to try again.

It's Kind of a Funny Story by deathsteel    

After an aborted suicide attempt lands Castiel Shurley in the hospital, he meets Dean Winchester, a charming damaged young man who is much more than first meets the eye.  Not being able to deal with the stress of growing up may have gotten him here and being hopelessly in love with his best friend's girlfriend probably didn't help, but Castiel soon learns that sometimes it takes  going a little crazy to find the path you were always meant to be on.

Loosely based on the movie/book by Ned Vizzini 'It's Kind of a Funny Story'.

Just A Schoolboy Crush by Zombiecat    

Castiel has a cliche crush on the highschool football all-star, Michael Ashton. Even though he's fully aware he's doomed to longing looks and pining in silence, it wouldn't be so bad if his best friend, Charlie, hadn't told Dean. Dean Winchester never seemed to miss a chance to get under his skin but for some reason he starts acting odd when he hears about Castiel's big secret.

God, Make Small by komodobits               

The last plane into McMurdo before the six-month winter brings a new face, an astronomer on transfer from one of the inland observatories. Truthfully, Dean doesn't know shit about neutrino particles; he's just the guy who gets paid to move the equipment from A to B and tries to keep it from getting broken and/or frozen solid. Castiel Novak's awkward, endearing smile is an additional bonus. However, the relentless blue night is brewing coldly for a storm, and it's starting to look like Dean and Castiel might be the only ones left out on the ice.\

Legacies by vanishingact    

Castiel Milton's uneventful life as a Massachusetts lawyer gets a little strange in the fall of 1887 when he is assigned to handle the late Henry Winchester's estate and his client's distractingly handsome grandson arrives to take up residence in the old manor house. As an unlikely friendship (with a side of pining) develops, the house slowly coughs up its secrets and reveals a whole world of trouble that Dean never knew his grandfather kept hidden.

The Game of God by seperis           

You can't win a war for humanity by sacrificing all of your own. Part 4 of Down to Agincourt        

Sequins and Spirals by euphemology  

Dean Winchester is a world-renowned figure skater who hails from the “good old U.S. of A.” He is well on his way to the 2014 Winter Olympics, but there’s one small problem: so is his arch-rival, Polish skater Castiel Novak. Competition is definitely not going to be easy, but it gets even harder when the two men get assigned to the same room in the Olympic Village.

Show Me How To Love by universalromance    

A new family of kids at Lawrence High School brings a new perspective to Dean's life, especially when he becomes inexplicably drawn to the youngest of the siblings, a severely autistic boy who has never spoken or touched anybody in his entire life. Rating will possibly go up later. Possibly upsetting psychological subject matter.

The Process by Soupernabturel           

“Dean, hands to yourself please.”

The man in question straightens up in his chair, turns his flirty smile from the man two seats from him and onto officer Novak. “Sorry, Cas.”

“Cas?” Hannah asks.

“We get some regulars. They come to know a few of the officers, the patrol officers, especially.” Novak explains, the look on his face, almost slightly bored, slips a little. “As you know, I’m usually the one monitoring the Strip.”

 Police!Officer Cas is being filmed at work (A-la: Jail Las Vegas) for a reality TV show. Meanwhile Dean is a sex worker, not only familiar with the Strip’s booking process, but with a certain blue-eyed officer.

Start With a Name by cumberbellins, frickenapplepie (cumberbellins)    

Waking up in a stranger's living room with a blue eyed man staring down at you isn't the most pleasant experience ever. Dean Winchester can tell you that. Another thing Dean Winchester can tell you is that whenever you have to break into your brother's apartment, you should make sure that you got the right window.

starving in your gravity by alullabytoleaveby   

Dean has enough on his plate. Really.

There's his job as a paramedic for the local hospital and, while he loves it, loves getting to help people, the hours are long and the pay leaves much to be desired. There's his definitely-not-a-relationship with Castiel, the hot ER doctor, where's he's completely out of his depth emotionally. And then there's his brother, who's just dropped out of law school and has no idea what he's going to do now.

So what he definitely does not need is his alcoholic deadbeat dad stumbling back into his life.

Make Damn Sure by SurlyCat      

Dean Winchester is not thrilled about taking an office job at one the most powerful media corporations in the country. His work has always been hands on, but when Charlie tells him about the job opening and its comfortable salary, the temptation is just too great to turn down. And really, it wouldn't be too bad if it weren't for the blue-eyed man that also works there.

Castiel Novak and Dean Winchester have crossed paths far too often over the last 12 years, with an unsavory outcome nearly every time. This time though, walking away is just not an option as they're forced to collaborate on a project and learn to navigate each other like civilized human beings. For Dean and Cas though, nothing ever goes quite according to plan.

...In Bed by SurlyCat                

Dean Winchester and Castiel Milton met on a rainy summer day over a broken down car. Even though Castiel is nosy and seems to have no filter, Dean still finds himself drawn to the man. Over time they become friends, and over time, Dean falls for Cas, certain that Cas is uninterested. What Dean doesn't know is that his friend hasn't always been quite so tame, and Cas is careful to keep it that way. Who would've thought that a fortune cookie and a childish game would be responsible for bringing out the truth?

Tag, You're It! by Kitmistry   

Five months after the case that almost claimed their lives, what started as blowing off some steam during a high-pressure situation and continued as a mutually-beneficial arrangement is getting out of Special Agent Castiel Novak’s control. Falling in love with his partner is doomed to end in disaster, especially when said partner is Special Agent Dean Winchester—cocky, infuriating, and the biggest playboy Castiel has ever met.

Still on medical leave, Dean is bored out of his mind, and worst of all - once Castiel gets sucked into the investigation of a new case - without enough distractions from his inner demons. When he stumbles upon a small, seemingly risk-free case, Dean jumps at the chance to get involved, but the lies he has to tell could be catastrophic for the already shaky foundations of his relationship with Castiel.

With a new threat trying to take over the underworld of DC, Castiel and Dean have to find a way to work past their problems or risk losing each other forever.

Part 2 of The H Files       

The Supernatural Edification of Dean Winchester by OverlordoftheBees   

Based on TV Series “Afterlife”. Professor Castiel Novak (MA Berkeley, PhD Harvard) is an academic who has staked his credibility upon his ability to decompress and deconstruct the mythology surrounding mediums, clairvoyants and all things "new age spiritualist". That is, until a routine trip with a graduate class brings him into contact with medium Dean Winchester: uniquely gifted, supremely abrasive and desperate for a way out. When Dean touches on the tragedy marring Castiel’s past, his neatly constructed worldview is decimated. There is only a veil between life and death, as both well know. And as Castiel finds himself increasingly drawn to Dean, the fragility of that barrier is strained to its limit.

These Are the Nights by vintagenoise         

After a sudden tragedy, Castiel Milton and Dean Winchester reflect back on their youth in the beachside town of Sileas, Oregon, and all the lessons they learned on the path that led them to each other.In the Winter of 2008, Castiel visits his boyfriend, Dean, for Christmas. Despite all the big issues he and Dean have dealt with in the past, they've never had the chance to sort through the little things. Castiel is sure that their plans, from embarking on a road trip together, to spending time with the Winchesters, can only be good for their relationship. There's just one little problem that needs to finally be confronted: sex, and Castiel's difficulty with it.In the Summer of 2009, Dean and Sam visit their estranged father and his new family, who reluctantly allow Castiel to visit through Independence Day. All Dean wants is for his family and his boyfriend to get along, but between John's struggle to accept his son's sexuality, and his wife Kate's strange attitude towards Castiel, he's not sure he'll be able to make it work. Part 7 of Young Volcanoes                

[nightingaletrash]

ESO: Riften Rewrite

Because I don’t particularly care for the Rift storyline in ESO, I decided to completely overhaul it and do something completely different because I can :)

It’s a very long post, so under the cut it goes. Mobile Users, you have my sincere apologies.

No Reachmen

We have enough zones featuring ‘evil Reachmen’ so the Rift won’t feature them. Taking their place is the Daggerfall Covenant, namely soldiers who had served under General Serien and had escaped the taking of Fort Virak by fleeing north into the Rift. They hid out there undetected, and were later discovered by the Worm Cult. The two groups formed an alliance, and began to make plans on how to topple the Pact presence in the region.

Officially the Covenant has declared them deserters and will officially have nothing to do with them, but the soldiers are (mostly) convinced that they're acting in the interest of the Covenant.

No Companions either

I’m not a huge fan of how the Companions are handled in the Rift, or of Ysgramor’s whole deal so the Companions are no longer a major faction in the Rift. That also means no Wuuthrad and no Sinmur; the whole story is being reworked.

Major/Returning Characters

1. Naryu. Obviously.

In my Pact Rewrite, Naryu remains involved with Eastmarch’s storyline after Fort Amol, using her knowledge of alchemy to help stabilise King Jorunn after he’s poisoned, and taking down Fildgor. In the Rift, Naryu - who is now responsible for a positive boost in the Tong’s reputation - has been sent to hunt down and eliminate key figures within the Covenant-Cult Alliance to further improve the Tong’s reputation, helping to facilitate their formal return in Morrowind.

2. Holgunn One-Eye

After finding a suitable successor for leading the defence of Stonefalls, Holgunn is reassigned to oversee the defence of the Rift as he has prior experience with the Covenant and necromancers. He thinks its funny that the last time he saw you, he was your Commanding Officer, and now you’re the Champion of both a Living Goddess and the Skald King.

3. Walks-in-Ash

Walks is also reassigned to the Rift given her experience with the Covenant and necromancers, though she notes that she would have gone with Holgunn regardless. She's a main quest giver, and often provides the Player with direction, and oversees the Pact mages in the Rift.

4. Aera Earth-Turner

She serves a similar role as she does in the in-game questline, serving as a Tracker for the Pact and an inside agent for the Worm Cult, as they promised they could bring back her dead family members. The Player has different options for how they handle Aera throughout the zone up until her betrayal is discovered; they can be cold and dismissive over her struggle, or they can be kind and reassuring.

Depending on how Aera is treated, she will either surrender herself willingly to Pact custody when she is confronted, or she will attack and the Player will be forced to kill her. If she surrenders, there are three options on how to deal with her:

Execute her

Exile her

Pardon her

If she is pardoned, she will be present for the rest of the zone; otherwise she will be absent.

5. The Vanos Siblings

Rather than showing up in one side quest, the Vanos Siblings serve a more major role in the storyline. Kireth sometimes accompanies the Player on missions, while Raynor offers a Researcher role, and both siblings end up attaching themselves to Naryu. She pretends to be exasperated, but she does genuinely like the two of them, and tells the Player that they remind her of some people she knows.

Story Quests

1. Shor’s Stone

Upon arriving in the Rift, the Player arrives at Shor’s Stone and finds it under attack by zombies. Walks-in-Ash is leading the defence; she explains that the undead came from the woods, and that the scouts she sent to investigate haven’t returned. She asks the player to search for them, and discover the source of the zombies.

After battling through the woods and following the trail, the Player will discover Covenant Soldiers murdering and resurrecting the scouts as zombies. Only one survivor is left, and the Player manages to save them by slaying the necromancers. The scout explains that the Covenant has been abducting travellers and the like for some time to accumulate enough bodies to make an army. This ritual site is simply one of many hidden in the region, and the attack on Shor’s Stone was part of some kind of experiment.

After sending the Scout back to Shor’s Stone to report to Walks, the bodies need to be burned and the ritual site destroyed (breaking stones, burning ritual components etc) so that it can’t be used again.

After doing so, the Player returns to Walks who then sends them with one of her mages to capture a zombie. Her reasoning for doing so is that only some of the zombies fell after the ritual site was destroyed, and that some must have been raised at other sites - using a ritual, she could trace the magic and discover the location of another ritual site.

Walks performs the ritual and it succeeds, and the zombie is destroyed. Walks then informs the Player that the next site is close to Riften, beneath Fort Greenwall.

2. Fort Greenwall

Walks sends the Player to Fort Greenwall and sends word to Holgunn, who is overseeing the Rift’s defence from Riften and will be able to send soldiers to help clear out the Fort before the necromancers can launch an attack on the city.

The Player heads south to the Fort, only to find that the soldiers are struggling to get inside. It is evident that the Fort’s entrance has been magically sealed and the gates only open to periodically unleash the undead from within - it is uncertain where the necromancers are getting the bodies they are using as they aren’t collecting the bodies of Pact soldiers.

The Player begins to search for an alternate way inside when they are approached by Naryu Virian; she has been sent to improve the Tong’s relationship with the Pact and bolster their reputation further. She then explains that the Covenant aren’t working alone and are in fact allied with the Worm Cult. She has been given a list of targets to eliminate - officers and high ranking cultists - and she’s tracked one of them to Fort Greenwall. She’s found an alternative way inside, but needs a distraction or else she’ll be discovered too quickly. The Player proposes that the soldiers launch an assault on the Fort to serve as a distraction, and that they’ll join her inside. She agrees that its a good idea, and she’ll wait until the battle is underway before she heads inside.

The Player returns to the Pact camp and explains their plan to the Officer in charge. Some of Walks’ mages have arrived in the meantime, and they have an idea for overcoming the Fort’s magical defences. When the assault begins, the Player needs to protect the mages as they perform their rituals - once complete, the wards keeping the Pact out will break, and the assault force is able to enter the Fort.

After passing the first level of Fort Greenwall’s interior, the Player will catch up to Naryu just as they reach the Falmer Ruins that the Fort was built on top of. The ritual site is clearly situated here, and it becomes apparent where the necromancers are getting their corpses from.

Naryu will now join you as a follower.

Upon reaching the ritual site, you will find Naryu’s mark, a Covenant Officer who served directly under General Serien and swears revenge for his death. The Vestige and Naryu then kill them and destroy the ritual site.

After exiting the Fort, Walks-in-Ash arrives; she explains that the rest of the undead attacking Shor’s Stone have fallen. Though you report your success in taking down the ritual site, she is pleased by expresses concern that the threat to Riften has not yet passed and that she has heard rumours of strange happenings. She asks you to go to Riften and discover if there is any truth to the rumours, as well as report the retaking of the Fort to Holgunn.

3. Riften

(Honestly, the original premise for the Riften quest fits pretty well with my rewrite, so I’m keeping it.)

When reporting to Holgunn, he’s relieved to have you there, as having Fort Greenwall back will ensure Riften is better protected. He will confirm, however, that there are rumours of missing people and he shares Walks’ concerns that they’re not safe yet. He asks the Player to look into the rumours, and indicates that you should speak with Aera Earth-Turner, as she’ll have some idea of who to talk to.

Aera is pleased to see the Player again, and reveals that she had a breakdown after the deaths of her family members in Bal Foyen. She now works for the Pact, and has been trying to investigate the disappearances with little success. People are either unwilling to talk or don’t know anything. She points them to Captain Viveka, as she might have some new leads since Aera last spoke to her.

Captain Viveka informs the Player that her cousin, Yiri, supposedly saw something the previous evening when her father disappeared, but won’t speak. The Player then goes to visit Yiri, where they can choose how they encourage her to talk.

Purchase White Moon Tea from a trader in the market.

or

Use [Persuasion] to gently coerce Yiri into speaking (because you don’t slap traumatised people zos)

Yiri will then confess that she saw her father being dragged under the water and that whatever grabbed him was purposefully drowning him. She has refused to go near the water ever since.

The Player goes to investigate the canal and finds a trail of wet footprints leading into the Ratway. Following the trail through the sewers eventually leads the Player to another ritual site where the necromancers are resurrecting the bodies of the missing people. After killing the Necromancers, the Player discovers that the zombies are lurking in the canals and Lake Honrich, ready to attack at any moment. Additionally, there is a force to the east of Riften that is preparing to attack.

The Player is then attacked and knocked out from behind by a Worm Cultist.

Upon awakening in a cell, the Player is rescued by Naryu who teases them for being caught off guard. She then reveals that Riften is under attack and that the dead are rising from the water. The Player then tells her that another force is coming from the east. She goes on ahead to inform Holgunn while the Player fights their way out of the sewers to help repel the undead at the docks.

After repelling the initial attack, the Player is informed that Holgunn has mustered a defence at the Eastern Wall. The Player arrives to find Holgunn, Walks, and Naryu readying for the assault; Holgunn can send a warrior with the Player, Walks can send a healer, or Naryu can send an archer.

The C-C Alliance’s force arrives and the battle begins. The Player has to survive three waves of undead monsters and cultists before facing off against Naryu’s next target, a high ranking member of the Worm Cult. After killing them, the C-C Alliance force scatters and Riften rejoices their survival. However Walks is still concerned and her instincts tell her that something is still amiss. She goes into the city, determined to discover what they have missed.

Upon rejoining her, Holgunn, and Naryu at the Jarl’s Keep, it transpires that the attack was a ruse. An artefact was stolen from the Jarl’s vault: a Dragon Priest Mask.

The Jarl explains that the Mask is a relatively new addition to their collection, and explains that the masks of Dragon Priests are said to possess powers, with each being unique to their owner, and that the power of this particular Mask must be why the C-C Alliance wanted it so badly. The Jarl, however, has no idea what the Mask’s power might be and hadn’t even identified which Priest it belonged to yet.

Holgunn and Walks agree that they must track down the Mask before its too late. Naryu disagrees and decides that its more important to hunt down the cultists and officers leading the C-C Alliance, and that their deaths will cause it to crumble. She then departs to hunt her next target. 

Holgunn will thank the Player for their efforts, and decides to have people try to track down the Mask. In the meantime, Walks will focus on locating more ritual sites and destroying them, and that she’ll need your help.

4. Nightingale Hall

Walks will direct the Player to the west, as her students have determined that there is another ritual site in that direction. However, she explains, there is something interfering with their magic that prevents them from directly locating the site and she is concerned that the interference is Daedric in nature.

The Player heads west and tracks where the undead came from, and eventually tracks the trail to a jet-black standing stone. There, they are approached by a Stranger dressed in black armour who accuses the Player of being with the cultists who have taken the Hall from them. The Player explains that they are tracking the C-C Alliance and trying to destroy a necromantic ritual site. The Stranger then apologises and explains that the C-C Alliance has usurped their ‘home’ and they haven’t been able to drive them out.

The Player offers to help the Stranger, as they both stand to gain, and the Stranger first needs to be fully convinced that you can be trusted.

[Persuade] the Stranger into believing you.

or

Eliminate a Deserter Officer and retrieve their signet ring

After convincing the Stranger to trust you, they will reveal Nightingale Hall on the terms that you never tell anyone about it. They then lead the way inside.

The Stranger will fight alongside the Player, and you will have to fight your way through to the chamber at the back of the Hall. There the Player and the Stranger take down the cultist leading this cell of the C-C Alliance and destroy the ritual site. Nocturnal will then appear and congratulate the Stranger, her agent, on finally clearing out the filth. She will then ask to speak with the Player.

The Player discovers that the Stranger is in fact a Nightingale, and has been struggling to retake Nightingale Hall for some time. Nocturnal doesn’t thank the Player, but does inform them that she knows of a much larger, more powerful ritual site in Vernim Woods and indicates that they should head that way. She also warns that they will be betrayed, but refuses to identify who.

The Nightingale will then thank the Player for their help and asks that they maintain their discretion, as the Nightingales are a secret order. They will not explain much about what it is they do, but when asked why Nocturnal didn’t just explain herself, they state that she’s simply ‘like that’ and that she was grateful, or else she wouldn’t have appeared. They then thank the Player before resealing Nightingale Hall, rendering it inaccessible.

5. Vernim Wood

Upon arriving at Vernim Wood, the Player reunites with Aera who is now working together with Naryu to hunt down the cultists who stole the Dragon Priest Mask. The Player can reveal that they learned of a larger, more powerful ritual site, and Aera agrees that Walks has confirmed that something strange is going on. Naryu complains about standing around, but Aera gently berates her and insist that they need to do things properly.

First, the Player has to locate any survivors in the woods which leads them to discovering the Kireth Vanos. She’s grateful for the help, but is insistent on finding Raynor, as he was dragged off by the cultists instead of killed like everyone else. The Player sends Kireth back to Aera and Naryu, and goes to search for Raynor themselves.

The Player comes across Lieutenant Belron, a Pact mage who went undercover inside the Worm Cult. He saw Raynor’s abduction and has deduced that they want to have the young scholar activate the powers of the Dragon Priest Mask. The Player - if they have assisted the Vanos siblings previously - points out that Raynor specialises in the Dwemer, not Ancient Nord history, and Belron rationalises that when the C-C Alliance realises this, they’ll kill him.

Belron then explains that it’s not currently possible to free Raynor, as he is trapped behind a magical Shroud in the barrow, and that they’ll need the knowledge of the Worm Cult to cross it and rescue him. In the meantime, Raynor will have to play things smart and keep himself alive. 

Belron has the Player gather the hearts of three particular Worm Cultists to discover how the Shroud works so that they can bypass it. Notably, each Cultist is found at a ritual site, and together each site forms a sort of circle within the woods, which the Player can note to Belron. He notes it as something of interest, but is more interested in finding a way past the Shroud.

Once that is done, Belron explains that they have two options; 

Gather three ritual ingredients (bone meal, zombie flesh, and a cultist’s heart) to create a potion that will render the drinker ‘undead’ for a short time

or

Track down and kill an elusive Cultist Assassin and take the charm that enables the living to pass through the Shroud

If the latter option is taken, the Player can talk to Naryu and Aera for advice on hunting down the Assassin. 

After creating the potion or obtaining the charm, the Player is able to pass through the Shroud and ‘deactivate’ it. Naryu, Aera, Kireth, and Belron will then join the Player in entering the barrow to rescue Raynor and put an end to the ritual.

As you venture further inside, however, you discover information about the experiments the C-C Alliance has been performing. Shor’s Stone was to experiment with distance, and Vernim Wood is to experiment with ritual scale. Another unspecified experiment will take place once the Mask is confirmed to be the one they seek. 

Upon reaching the central burial chamber, the Cultists have realised that Raynor doesn’t know anything about the Mask and has been bluffing the entire time. Belnor sacrifices himself to protect Raynor, and Kireth gets her brother away from the fighting. The Player, Aera, and Naryu then take on the Cultists - one of them escapes with the Mask however.

Kireth is relieved that Raynor is safe, and he admits that he was terrified that they were going to call his bluff before help arrived. He’s somewhat in shock over a complete stranger giving his life to save him, though Aera admits that Belron’s time undercover with the Cult must have left him with regrets that he felt the need to redeem himself. Kireth and Raynor are escorted to the surface by Aera, while the Player discusses their next step with Naryu.

She admits that the Mask might be a problem after all if the C-C Alliance are experimenting with their rituals, and that they were lucky that they didn’t get to complete their experiment in Vernim. She then tells the Player that she will be heading to Taarengrav. Another Covenant Officer is apparently operating in the area, and needs to be taken out. Aera, on the other hand, is headed after a Worm Cultist in Nimalten. 

Naryu then confides that she has concerns about Aera and recommends that the Player looks out for her as sometimes she seems like she’s ‘somewhere else.’ 

6. Nimalten

Upon arrival, one of Aera’s soldiers approaches the Player and informs them that there has been an attempted assassination on the Thane and Aera suspects the Worm Cult. The Player is then directed to talk to Aera, who is glad to have the extra help.

First the Player speaks with the Thane about the attack and asks about her Housecarl, the one who attacked her. The Thane is dismissive of the Player and Aera’s efforts and insists she can protect herself. She does inform you that her Court Mage and her Advisor are investigating the Worm Cult presence in the town.

The Player investigates the Housecarl’s home and finds a Worm Cult missive. The contract details that there is an archive under the town that should help them to identify the Mask, but the Thane needs to be removed as there isn’t enough of the ‘potion’ that they purchased to also replace her, and she won’t join the Cult.

The Advisor is dismissive of the threat but incorrectly identifies the Court Mage. When called out, he grows defensive and sends the Player away. The Player then goes to investigate his home and finds the bodies of the Advisor and the Housecarl and empty bottles. Provided Shadowfen has been completed, the Player can also identify an unusual cut on their chests and recognise that the Housecarl and Advisor were both replaced by Skin Stealers. Otherwise the Player will simply recognised that the Advisor and Housecarl have been replaced.

Upon returning to the Thane’s Manor, Aera reports that the Court Mage has been assassinated and is uncertain how the Cultists got inside in the first place. The Player goes to investigate and discovers a magical trinket the Mage was trying to hide at the time of his death and finds his final message.

The Mage discovered that the traitors were inside the walls and were trying to identify an Ancient Nordic Artefact of some kind by making use of the archives beneath Nimalten. The Player descends into the archive, only to be attacked by the ‘Advisor’ who accuses them of being a Worm Cultist. The Player says they know the truth about the Advisor and Housecarl, and, if Shadowfen was completed, that the Cult purchased whatever was left of the Skin Stealing potion from the Dominion Deserters.

The ‘Advisor’, knowing he stands no chance against the Player, teleports them deeper into the archives. The Player fights their way out and kills the Skin Stealer, before returning to the Manor where they find the Thane recovering from a new attack - she claims that Aera attacked her. The Player reports that her Advisor and Housecarl had been replaced by Skin Stealers, and that Aera probably has been as well. 

The Player goes after Aera and pursues her back into the archives. However, Aera confirms that she’s no Skin Stealer and was indeed working for the Cult out of a desperate hope of having her family back. She will also reveal that the Mask has been identified as having belonged to Vosis, a Dragon Priest that had been buried in Forelhost. However, she doesn’t know what his Mask does.

Aera will then either engage the Player in combat if they treated her poorly, or will turn herself over for her betrayal. She is brought before the Thane, who then asks for the Player’s advice in how Aera should be sentenced (see above).

Regardless of the choice made, the Thane is grateful to the Player for ending the threat to her life and for restoring her Housecarl’s honour. 

If Aera is alive and is allowed to continue working as a Tracker for the Pact, she will thank you for giving her another chance and she swears to learn as much as she can about Vosis.

7. Taarengrav

Upon arriving at Taarengrav, you will encounter the Vanos siblings. Raynor is still anxious after his abduction, but feels much better with the Player and Kireth around. The twins tell you that Naryu has been trying to find the Covenant Officer leading the operation in the ruins, but hasn’t come back yet. In the meantime, they ask you to help rescue the dig team who were investigating the ruins, as some of them are friends of their’s.

The Player goes to rescue the dig team survivors and kill some of the Covenant Deserters. After the Player clears the way, Holgunn arrives with reinforcements to help retake the ruins. However, the Covenant have sealed themselves inside and now the Player needs to find a way inside.

Raynor and Kireth ask the Player to gather up the dig team’s research notes, as they believe that they can figure out the way inside from those. The Player searches the dig site and delivers the notes to Raynor who works out the means of opening the doors. He is reluctant to go into the ruins, and a choice must be made:

Convince Raynor to accompany the group

or

Allow Raynor to remain outside with the soldiers

If Raynor remains outside, the Player can ask him to look into the Dragon Priest, Vosis, which he is happy to do if he can stay out of the ruin.

Kireth will accompany the Player either way, either to look out for Raynor or because she trusts that he’ll be safe with the soldiers. She wants to explore and to ensure that Naryu is okay. 

The group venture further inside and come across Naryu battling the Covenant Officer in possession of Vosis’ mask. The Officer then raises three Bone Colossuses at once and the group joins in the battle. The Officer is slain and the Player retrieves Vosis.

If Raynor is present, then he will note that the Mask’s power seemed to amplify the ritual’s power, allowing the Officer to summon multiple creatures at once. He will then discover a tome belonging to the Officer, and learns that Vosis was a necromancer.

If he stayed outside, he reveals that Vosis was an unusually powerful necromancer. When informed that the Officer wearing the Mask summoned three Bone Colossuses at once, he theorises that Vosis amplifies necromantic magic.

The Player then talks to Holgunn and reveals what they have learned of Vosis:

He was buried at Forelhost

He was a necromancer

His mask makes necromantic magic stronger

Holgunn is concerned and informs the Player that the Jarl has been doing their own research but made little progress and instructs the Player to speak with them.

8. Forelhost

The Player returns to Riften and tells the Jarl what they have learned. The Jarl decides to look up Forelhost and realises that Vosis is not the only Dragon Priest who was buried at Forelhost. Another, Rahgot, was entombed there and the C-C Alliance must be trying to obtain his Mask as well.

The Jarl decides that they need to march on Forelhost and stop the C-C Alliance from obtaining Rahgot’s Mask. Holgunn accepts the order, and goes to rally the troops.

The Player arrives to find Holgunn, Walks, Raynor, and Riften’s Jarl preparing for the assault.

The Jarl is relieved to know that the Player has secured Vosis’ mask, though is concerned about bringing it to Forelhost if it really does amplify the effects of necromantic magic. They then explain that Raynor has discovered that Rahgot’s mask boosts the wearer’s endurance to an inhuman level, and is unsure why the C-C Alliance wants it so badly.

Naryu, Kireth and Aera (if she is alive and not in exile) have gone to scout ahead and the Player is sent to catch up. There is an optional objective of disrupting the C-C Alliance’s operations by burning supplies and such.

After catching up to Naryu, Kireth, and Aera, they reveal that the C-C Alliance isn’t after Rahgot’s Mask, but rather they’re after the Dragon Priests themselves and plan to resurrect them both. As Vosis was already slain by the adventurers who sold his Mask to the Jarl, the C-C Alliance is in the process of resurrecting and binding him, but they have yet to reach Rahgot.

They and the Player then go to disrupt the ritual and prevent Vosis’ return. However the ritual goes wrong and Vosis returns unbound. He engages the Player in dialogue, but he proves impossible to talk down and he attacks them, taking back his stolen Mask.

If Aera is alive, then she saves Kireth from being killed and heals her off to one side, leaving Naryu free to fight alongside the Player. 

However if Aera is dead or in exile, Naryu saves Kireth and the Player has to fight alone.

Once Vosis is defeated and killed for good, the Player recovers his Mask and returns to Holgunn whilst Aera/Naryu takes Kireth to safety.

Upon returning, however, the Jarl informs the Player that Holgunn and Walks have already gone to try and stop the Cultists who are trying to reach Rahgot. The Player then informs her that the Cultists are trying to resurrect Rahgot, not obtain his Mask. The Jarl is horrified, as Holgunn and Walks have no idea that they could end up facing off against a bound Dragon Priest.

The Player, Naryu, and Aera pursue Holgunn and Walks who have already chased after the necromancers who have successfully accessed Rahgot’s tomb.

However navigating the tomb proves difficult, as Rahgot had several passages collapsed when the tomb was besieged by enemies. The cultists have established portals to link parts of the tomb in order to navigate it, and the Player has to follow the path they left behind.

Eventually they reach Holgunn and Walks just as they are taken down by the final remaining Commanders of the C-C Alliance; recognising that the Player is carrying Vosis, they try to bind Rahgot as he is rather than slaying him first. The proximity of the Mask indeed makes the process easier, and so the Player must stop the ritual before the binding is complete.

If Aera is present, she will tend to Holgunn and Walks while Naryu and the Player engage in battle

If Aera is dead or in exile, Naryu will tend to Holgunn and Walks and the Player is forced to fight alone

The ritual is stopped either way, finally putting an end to the threat of the C-C Alliance and the revived Dragon Priests. 

Rahgot, in spirit form, speaks with the Player and is ungrateful to them as their bringing Vosis’ Mask with them nearly made his binding possible, but he acknowledges that they rectified their mistake and for that he won’t annihilate them or their companions. He then returns to his rest, needing to re-accumulate the strength he lost fighting the binding ritual.

Walks and Holgunn are grateful for the timely rescue. Walks opens a portal and returns everyone to the base of the mountain.

The Jarl is grateful to the Player for their actions and decides that Vosis would be safest with the Player, as it is unlikely to fall into the wrong hands while they possess it, adding the Vosis Memento to the Player’s Collections.

Naryu is happy to have helped save the Rift, not in the least because it really helps the Morag Tong get back on the up and up, and could lead to the group making a comeback.

The Vanos siblings decide to take a break from adventuring for a short while, as they’ve had a lot of excitement recently and could use a break.

If Aera is alive and not in exile, she decides to look up her surviving family for a rain check, as she needs to remember what it is she has and not just what she’s lost.

Holgunn and Walks thank the Player for their efforts and state that when they get around to making things ‘official’ you’ll be at the top of the guest list. 

The storyline ends, which begins Messages Across Tamriel.

[deathsmallcaps]

PJO TV Plans

So before even the first little HINT about the PJO Disney+ show, I was making plans for a Riordan-verse tv show.

So each season would have twenty episodes, with 8-9 episodes per book and in the middle, two episodes based on short stories or myths. This would allow for the actors, who would obviously be age-matching kids, to grow and still be the appropriate ages for each story. 

As we would eventually run out of actual Riordan books, we would move on to Riordan Presents books. Here’s my plans! Let me know what you think and if/how i should clarify!

(Bold is Season, italic is middle/short story episodes, and strikethrough is book. I often show the extents of each episode through chapter titles or quotes found on the wiki plot summaries of each book. If using chapter title, that means it uses every chapter until the next mentioned one.)

Season 1

The Lightning Thief Field Trip

Going to Camp

Claiming + Getting Ready For A Quest

Starting the Quest 

Going Further West

Las Vegas + Reaching the Underworld (until Charon is bribed. We catch a glimpse of Nico and Bianca in Las Vegas)

Cerberus part + Fighting Ares

The End

The Demigod Diaries: Diary of Luke Castellan

Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods: Parts 1-4

Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods: Part 5

Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods: Part 6-7

The Sea of Monsters Meriwether College Prep

Returning to Camp

The Quest Begins

The Hydra + The Sea of Monsters

C.C.’s Spa and Resort + The Sirens (first paragraph as denouement for episode.)

The rest of The Sirens (expands Annabeth’s flashback)

Polyphemus

Ending

Season 2

The Titan’s Curse Westover Hall + The Hunters + Thalia Attempts to Drive 

Percy’s Latest Dreams (Expands Capture the Flag a bit maybe)

The Hunters, A Demigod, and a Satyr Team Up

The Smithsonian

Junkyard of the Gods

The Hoover Dam

Percy Takes the Titan’s Curse

The Council of the Gods

The Demigod Files: Percy Jackson and the Stolen Chariot

Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods: Parts 8-9 (9 is more like an ending plot, a quick one.)

The Battle of the Labyrinth Orientation

Arriving at Camp

Into the Labyrinth

The Triple G Ranch + To Hephaestus’ Forges

Calypso

Back Into the Labyrinth

The Lost God

Return to Camp

The Demigod Files: Percy Jackson and the Bronze Dragon

The Demigod Files: Percy Jackson and the Sword of Hades

Season 3

The Last Olympian Blowing Up the Princess Andromeda

Poseidon’s Kingdom + The War Council and the Great Prophecy (3rd paragraph as the denouement/end of episode)

The War Council and the Great Prophecy (the rest) + The Last Olympian

Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods: Parts 10-11 

The Underworld

Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods: Part 12 

A Visit from the God of Messengers

The Battle Begins

Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods: Parts 13-14 

Percy’s Dreams + Prometheus Visits the Campers

Hyperion, The Flying Pigs, and the Party Ponies

Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods: Parts 15-16 

Dionysus, Old Friends, Drakons, and the Spy

Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods: Parts 17-18

Back to Olympus

The Cursed Blade

Everyone Receives a Gift

Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods: Parts 19-21

Percy Jackson and The Singer of Apollo

The Demigod Diaries: The Staff of Hermes

Season 4

The Lost Hero The Grand Canyon

Camp Half-Blood 

A Quest is Given

The North Wind

Detroit + The Sorceress and the Gold King (3rd Paragraph) (This is a 2-parter with the next episode)

The Sorceress and the Gold King

The Hunters of Artemis + Aeolus and the Real Enemy (First 2 paragraphs)

Aeolus and the Real Enemy + Mount Diablo

The Wolf House

A Change of Power and Bunker 9 + Mysteries are Unveiled

The Demigod Diaries: Leo Valdez and the Quest for Buford

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes: Parts 1-2

The Red Pyramid Beginning to the Blowing up incident

Rest of the Second Paragraph

First 2 sentences of 3rd Paragraph, maybe mixed up more with the latter half of the second paragraph

Book Heist

Graceland + Learn about Feather of Truth

Duat + Sobek attack

Fourth Paragraph

Fifth Paragraph

Season 5

The Throne of Fire First Paragraph

2nd Paragraph until they mention the birthday; that’s introduced at the end of the episode.

Birthday Adventure

3rd paragraph

4th paragraph

5th paragraph

6th Paragraph

7th + 8th Paragraphs

9th + 10th Paragraphs

The Demigod Diaries: Son of Magic

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes: Part 3

The Son of Neptune Going to Camp Jupiter

War Games and Receiving a Quest (may spill over into next due to long backstories)

Meeting with Phineas

Meeting the Amazons

Learning the Family Gift

Arriving in the Land Beyond the Gods

Fighting Alcyoneus and Freeing Thanatos

Joining the Defensive

Promotion, Revelations, and Reunions

Season 6

The Mark of Athena Uniting the Camps until the toast

Uniting the Camps

On the Run (until “Just after the god leaves”)

“She shows on the tour” 

“Once docked in the harbor” 

Entering the Mediterranean Sea

The man introduces himself as Chrysaor

As Annabeth gets Deeper under the city

The three quickly arrive at their lair

Reuniting + Ending

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes: Parts 4 + 8

The House of Hades First 2 paragraphs

Paragraphs 3-4 + First 2 sentences of 5th paragraph

Paragraphs 5- “he is turned into a plant.” 

“he is turned into a plant.” to Paragraph 8

Paragraphs 9-11

Paragraphs 12-14

Paragraphs 15-17

Paragraph 18 to “Doors of Death, which vanish.” 

Remainder

Season 7

The Blood Of Olympus The Suitors

Earthen Ghosts

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes: Part 5

Subduing Nike

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes: Part 6

Lycaon

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes: Part 7

Unleashing the Makhai

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes: Part 9

Orion

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes: Part 10

Kymopoleia + Pegasus

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes: Part 11

Meeting Asclepius

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes: Part 12 (part A)

Thwarting the Giants + Orion Defeat (to “Tyson shows up”)

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes: Part 12 (part B)

The rest of Orion Defeat

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes: Parts 13-14

Defeating Gaea + The Ending

Season 8

The Serpent’s Shadow First half of first Paragraph

Second half of first Paragraph

Paragraph 2

Paragraph 3 to Paragraph 4’s second sentence

The rest of Paragraph 4 to Paragraph 5’s first sentence + Paragraph 6

The remainder of Paragraph 5 + Paragraph 6’s first sentence

Paragraph 7 except for last sentence.

Last sentence of paragraph 7 to end

Son of Sobek

The Staff of Serapis

The Crown of Ptolemy

The Sword of Summer A Homeless Death (first four paragraphs)

Remainder of A Homeless Death + Reborn as an Einherji (first 2 paragraphs)

Remainder of Reborn as an Einherji

Retrieving Sumarbrander (first 2 paragraphs)

Remainder of Retrieving Sumarbrander

The Craftmanship Duel

Information from Thor

Versus Fenris Wolf and Surt (first 2 paragraphs)

Remainder of Story

Season 9

The Hidden Oracle A God Made Human Again (First 3 Paragraphs)

Remainder of A God Made Human Again 

Time at Camp Half-Blood 

The Three-Legged Death Race 

Into The Woods 

Calming the Grove (First 3 paragraphs)

Remainder of Calming the Grove + Fighting the Colossus Neronis (first paragraph)

Fighting the Colossus Neronis (second paragraph)

Remainder of story

Camp Half-Blood Confidential Part 1 - Apollo’s Version

Camp Half-Blood Confidential Part 2 - First half of Percy’s Version

Camp Half-Blood Confidential Part 3 - Second half of Percy’s Version

The Hammer of Thor Training with a New Roommate (first and second paragraph)

Remainder of Training with a New Roommate

An Undead Trap

Paying Off Hearthstone’s Debt

Meeting Heimdall + Giant Bowling (First 2 sentences)

Giant Bowling

The Wedding (up until Despite Magnus trying to pull him back up)

Remainder of the story

Season 10

The Dark Prophecy Welcome to Waystation (First 2 paragraphs)

Remainder of Welcome to Waystation + Liberating the Griffins (first paragraph)

Remainder of Liberating the Griffins

Obtaining the Throne of Memory to “like at the Camp Half-blood forest”

“like at the Camp Half-blood forest” to end of the second paragraph

Obtaining the Throne of Memory (Last paragraph to Into the Oracle “that she may be Apollo’s daughter.”)

Into the Oracle (Remainder of first paragraph)

Remainder of story

9 from the Nine Worlds: Just Another Decapitated Head (it would be ambiguously set so at this point, people wouldn’t be able to tell this was set after they save the world.)

The Burning Maze Wandering the Maze

Finding Hedge at Macro’s Military Madness to “immobilizes the Praetor.”

Remainder of Finding Hedge at Macro’s Military Madness

Recruiting Piper McLean

Battling Medea to “knocking her out.”

Remainder of Battling Medea to Meeting up with Jason Grace (First paragraph)

Remainder of Meeting up with Jason Grace

Tragedy on the Julia Drusilla Yachts to “by and for horses.” 

Remainder of Tragedy on the Julia Drusilla Yachts

Puzzles in the Burning Maze to “prophecy is complete.”

Remainder of Story

Season 11

The Ship of The Dead Meeting Percy, Traveling to the Chase Mansion + Leaving Valhalla

This Is Why I Hate Clothes Shopping+ Goal Achieved! Sort of...

Aegir’s Court + The Chat with Njord + Crew Members’ Background History

This Little Light of Mine, I’m Gonna Let It Shine

More Tormenting Dreams + Meeting Hrungnir

Creating Pottery Barn + Daily (Nightly?) Dreams

Speaking of Trolls...

Fighting Hrungnir

Slaying Alderman + Retrieving the Whetstone of Bolverk

My Eighth-Grade Physics Actually Comes in Handy

Meeting Frigg in Flam

Nice Doggy

Fighting the Thralls of Baugi + Meeting Gunlod and Obtaining Kvasir’s Mead

So’s Your Face!

Fighting Suttung and Baugi + Journey to the Fortress of Skadi + Meeting Skadi to "can elaborate further."

Well, That was Surprising

Remainder of Meeting Skadi + The Battle on the Naglfar

I Play with Fire 

The Flyting + Escape from the Naglfar + Party with the Gods (first paragraph)

Remainder of Story

Season 12

The Tyrant’s Tomb Landing in San Francisco and Airborne Attacks

Arriving at Camp Jupiter 

A New Prophecy … Senate Meeting

Heading To the Tomb … and Second Thoughts (“Frank calls for a war game”)

Dreams of Destruction (“As Apollo, Meg and”) … Journey to the Soundless God (“ravens to retreat”)

Journey to the Soundless God (“They reach the platform”) … The Second Wave Begins (“to the ground below”)

The Second Wave Begins (“The next thing Apollo”) … Two-on-Two Fight to the Death (“takes on Apollo”)

Two-on-Two Fight to the Death (“the fight starts”) … Second Encounter With Tarquin (“more of his hoard”)

Second Encounter With Tarquin (“Only nothing happens”) … Remainder

Son of Magic

Demigods of Olympus, like those Minecraft choose your adventure episodes on Netflix. When showing on TV they pick the most popular route probably. 

Aru Shah and the End of Time Unleashing the Sleeper

Traveling to the Otherworld

Claiming

The Sprig of Youth

Night Bazaar

Library

Kingdom of Death

Back to the Museum

The End?

(I am writing this as of May 21, 2020, and only prepared for the books I’ve read so far. I’m working on it. And there may be more additional content later to fill in as the mid-season changes, but I don’t have it as of this minute. I will update in a reblog later.)

Season 13 Aru Shah and the Song of Death AND The Tower of Nero (Camp Jupiter Classified: A Probatio’s Journal)

Season 14 Aru Shah and the Tree Of Wishes AND The Storm Runner (Brooklyn House Magician’s Manual)

Season 15 The Fire Keeper AND Aru Shah And the City of Gold (Hotel Valhalla: Guide to the Norse Worlds)

Season 16 The Shadow Crosser AND Aru Shah Book 5

Season 17 

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe I want them to go first for spacing but I 

haven’t read these books yet. I have read the first Tristan Strong book at 

the moment.

space

space

space

space

space

space

space

space

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky Chapters 1-5

Chapters 6-12

Chapters 13-18

Chapters 19-25

Chapters 26-31

Chapters 32-36

Chapters 37-41

Chapters 42-46

Chapters 47-51

Season 18 Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe AND Tristan Strong Destroys the World

Season 19 Paola Santiago and the River of Tears AND City of the Plague God

Season 20 Paola Santiago Book 2 AND The Last Fallen Star

Season 21 Dragon Pearl AND Race to The Sun

And that’s what I have so far lol

[aion-rsa]

The Latest and Greatest Funko Items To Purchase Now

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When it comes to fashion, everyone needs to try out a different look on occasion. In the normal world, that might mean a haircut or shift in style. But in the fantastic world of pop culture, a costume change does wonders in conveying new powers, evolution, or a shift from good to bad (or bad to worse).

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The post The Latest and Greatest Funko Items To Purchase Now appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3cg5otW

[jennifercrowart]

D&D Diary - The Yawning Rodent, 4

Refresher: Our adventurers Lugs (grung barbarian), Lurk (grung rogue), Aelia (tiefling cleric), Valas (drow sorcerer), and tagalong Meepo (kobold) were able to unlock a series of rooms in the citadel that had been left untouched for ages, and defeated a starved troll that had once been entombed alive inside. Amazed by the party's strength, Meepo began leading them towards the Goblin Gang's territory to find the Kobold Gang's stolen dragon, but after a small splitting of the party to explore some adjacent rooms and dungeon cells, Lugs stumbled into the main nest of the giant spiders and their giant spider mother. Aelia was surrounded by the spiders, and Meepo chugged his potion of fire breath as her ran forward to help her...

Sunless Citadel spoilers!

Although the giant spider mother doesn't go down easily, the party regroups and are able to dispatch her spider children and not get caught in the sticky web attacks. While she bears down on Lugs, Meepo surprisingly deals the finishing blow, sending an arc of fire breath towards her from over the grung and ending the fight after Valas weakens her attacks with a Frostbite spell.

Aelia, not hurt too badly, immediately begins scouring through the large spider nest now that no one's home. She finds some gems and coins from the decaying corpses amongst the webs - mostly kobolds and goblins who had ended up as the spiders' dinners, but one of the bodies is that of a human. They're dressed in fancy, flashy boutique rogue armour that looks more for show than for use, but her backpack is full of adventuring gear, and she bears a gold ring on her finger. Aelia, concerned it's the Hucrele daughter the party were hired to find, inspects the ring but finds that it's engraved with a different name: Reignbow. More importantly, the ring isn't worth nearly as much as the Hucrele's signet rings should be.

As they'd found with the magic dragon-shaped fountain that flowed with the potion of fire breath earlier, the party notices another similar fountain in this area, too. Valas asks Meepo to translate and read out the Draconic inscription on it like he's done before, and he reads, "Let there be death." Suddenly, a dark red mist sprays out from the dragon statue's mouth, and while Valas is able to get out of the area just in time to not suffer any harmful effects, Meepo is left clutching at his burning and itching throat while his eyelids swell from the poison. Lugs is able to pull him out as he's immune to poison by virtue of being a grung, and offers Meepo the potion of healing the group had looted from Reignbow's bag. Meepo goes to gladly take it, but Valas stays Lugs' hand, assessing Meepo's condition to not be that bad and the little kobold just needing a rest to feel much better.

The adventurers are weary after the fight, and feel in need of a long rest soon anyway, as they've been exploring for about 8 hours now. It's hard to tell the time of day or night it is inside the Sunless Citadel beneath the earth, but it should be morning now, and - having begun their dungeon diving last night - they sorely need to sleep. Lugs is keen to return to the Rats' Nest and the Yawning Rodent for a hot meal and a  proper bed, but the rest of the group agrees to save the travel time and just camp out in the nearby dungeon cells instead, now that they're clear of spiders. While taking watches in shifts - Lugs and Lurk using their watch to sit in the barrel of water Lugs carries around on his back, to refresh their moist grung skin - the group is able to sleep peacefully through the daytime hours, with seemingly nothing left in this part of the citadel to disturb them. The party becomes level 2!

After waking, they go back the way Lurk had tried exploring before Lugs had stumbled about the giant spider mother's nest. Nothing had previously come of triggering the bell on the door, and the steel tooth traps he'd laid out were untouched. He's able to slowly open the door without ringing it this time and edge around it to disarm the trap, although not without being noticed by goblins that are on guard in this new hallway, ready with bows behind a short wall. Meepo cowers behind Valas as he sees some of the Goblin Gang members who have given the Kobold Gang so much trouble.

The bandits start shooting, and one of them lands a critical hit on Lurk, the arrow embedding itself in his shoulder! Lugs flies into a fury, recklessly charging after them and ignoring the five caltrops scattered pathetically along the hallway as the goblins turn tail and flee deeper into their territory. Lurk is next in line, chasing after them with his two short swords, while Lugs yells in Grung that the goblins have messed up big time by hurting his brother. Although they regroup with a second defensive wall with more goblins at the ready behind it, Lugs swats each one with his club like he's swatting flies, blind with rage. The chase runs through a training hall and into a new corridor, Lugs killing the last of the guards on watch just feet away from what turns out to be a guard room.

The reinforcements from the guard room get the drop on the party, but still don't prove to be much trouble, especially when Aelia, Valas, and Meepo are able to catch up and deal some ranged attacks. One last goblin guard is left cowering in the corner, badly hurt and pleading that he'll tell them anything they want in exchange for his life. Valas asks where the Goblin Gang is keeping the dragon they stole from the Kobold Gang, and he says it's just in a room down the end of the nearby corridor. With that information, Lugs knocks the goblin out cold, and they leave him there. With the fight over, Lugs asks if Lurk is ok. Although he's very badly hurt and about to pass out, bleeding from arrow and scimitar wounds, Lurk says he's ok. When no one else believes him, Aelia is at last reminded to use some of her cleric healing magic on him.

Suddenly, Meepo calls the adventurers over from the training hall, saying he can hear several people yelling for help in Common and Draconic from one of the adjacent rooms. Already having looted some of the bodies, Aelia produces the key needed to unlock it, and they find that it's been used as a dungeon cell; three starving kobolds are chained up with manacles to benches lining the dank room, and in the back is a small cage with an even smaller ratfolk inside it!

The other kobolds recognise Meepo, surprised that, out of everyone, he's the one who's managed to save them - although, he does have help! They're other members of the Kobold Gang who had been captured by the Goblin Gang to hold for ransom. Lugs, with a crowbar in each hand, bends open the cage bars so the small, frail ratfolk boy can hop out. He introduces himself as Deku, the missing brother the blacksmith asked the party to find. Aelia is thrilled, exclaiming that Big Oak was going to pay them in return for Deku's rescue. Despite this, Deku is cheerful, and grateful that they've helped him break free, though he needs to find his belongings that the goblins confiscated from him. He explains that, although he'd promised Boak that he wouldn't go further than the cavern at the top of the Sunless Citadel's gorge, he'd been too eager to explore and had poked around inside the citadel's entrance. He was captured by a group of goblin bandits lead by a hobgoblin who said they could ransom him back to the Rat's Nest for a good price, so he was stripped of his gear and locked up in this cell a few days ago. Being born chronically ill, he really needs his stuff back so he can access his regular medicines again, as well as needing his holy symbol so he can use his magic as a cleric of the Life Domain.

Fortunately, the party had come across a pile of confiscated equipment in the Goblin Gang guard room they'd been to already, remembering seeing a backpack on top of the pile. After Lugs smashes the manacles on the other prisoners so they can return to the Kobold Gang territory, the group backtracks so Deku can pick up his stuff. Rooting around in his backpack, he starts to panic when he realises that his library book - Cults Around The World, which he was using as a reference point to study the Sunless Citadel and the cult it previously housed - is missing from it. At least reassured that his rescuers are strong enough to help him find it, he takes his medicines, retrieves his quarterstaff which he also uses as a walking aid, and puts on a breastplate that looks much too large and heavy for his tiny frame. He shows the group that, yes, it may be a bit big and slow down his walking speed with its weight, but he can slip inside it like a turtle!

Resuming their search for the Kobold Gang's dragon next, with Meepo mentioning that her name is Calcryx, they approach the room the now-unconscious goblin guard told them about. Deku, reunited with his Rat King holy symbol, casts Detect Evil and Good, but doesn't sense anything such as undead, elementals, aberrations, fiends, or celestials behind the door, as well as no consecrated or desecrated objects. The wooden door is locked, and when Lugs tries to break it in, he's unable to because it's been reinforced with tacked-on steel to strengthen it.

Lurk is able to pick the lock, and when they step inside, they find that the dark room is in disarray, with furniture and tacky trophies knocked over and strewn about the floor. Out from behind a tipped-over table stalks the white dragon wyrmling, her eyes glinting with hostility as she's about to pounce on our adventurers...

[the-big-nope]

Mighty Nein vs. Ripley Swap

Soldiering on through the Vox Machina rewatch, and thanks to @damienchickenspawn, I’ve spent the entirety of “Cloak and Dagger” taking notes for another Party-swap What-If comparison, with the Mighty Nein vs. the Ripley encounter this time. Same rules apply: setting the M9 at an equivalent level (15), ignoring the variability of dice rolls, and accounting for the fact that they had time to prepare spells in advance of the encounter, although less was known about the situation this time, so the spell choice couldn’t be as specific as it was with the Kevdak fight. Fair warning: it gets very long under the cut. Ready? Let’s go.

First off, I have to admit this encounter comparison is much harder to map, because it had two minor combat sections leading up to it (sinking Ripley’s ship and the air elementals on the Glintshore beach). I’m going to assume a similar outcome in combat time and hit points lost, but the resources spent on them is harder to predict due to the differences in characters. At the very least, I’ll assume either Jester, Caduceus, or Caleb has spent their eighth level slot to cast Control Weather like Keyleth did to speed up the airship’s travel, and since they wouldn’t have access to the Keyteor option, the M9 might have just left it up to the airship and basic ranged attacks (maybe a Fireball or two) to take out the boat. However, I will note that following these encounters, since Caduceus often has Prayer of Healing prepped, the M9 would have been able to get a quick bit of healing in with only ten minutes spent. If they aren’t in an immediate chase scenario, this is what they often do between a chain of encounters. 

Now, the meat of this episode is the skirmish with Ripley and her crew on the island. From what I remembered of this fight from the first time I watched it, I recall it being messy as hell and very rough, especially with the giant burst of damage at the start and Ripley popping in and out of combat for most of it. That memory wasn’t incorrect, and I’d forgotten a few elements, like the high level wizard henchman and Orthax joining the fight near the end. With VM, BY FAR the biggest MVPs in this fight were Keyleth and Scanlan. They were the most able to spread damage across multiple targets, Keyleth did some significant damage to the enemy wizard, Scanlan fucked up the whole enemy side with a Reverse Gravity, and they were responsible for keeping their teammates awake and in the fight. The DPSers did their best, but they weren’t focusing fire enough to whittle the numbers down, and Ripley was off the field the majority of the battle and so couldn’t be taken out in order to break the ranks like with Kevdak. Keeping that in mind, let’s first take a look at what the M9 would bring to this encounter as a 15th level party, ranked in order of “Here To Fuck Up Anna Ripley’s Shit.”

1) HOLY SHIT Y’ALL, THE CLERICS. If VM had had their cleric available, it probably would have meant a significant tide turn. The M9 have two, and at 15th level they have so much available to them. At their level, Battle Mercy Jester has access to some wicked damage spells like Blade Barrier, Harm, and Fire Storm, and they both have access to some very powerful support spells: Heal, Heroes’ Feast, Antimagic Field, and (this one I think is particularly up Caduceus/Taliesin’s alley, since it provides major buff and debuff benefits, as well as being one of those spells that would particularly piss off the DM) Holy Aura. Advantage on all saving throws to party members, disadvantage on all attacks against affected party members, and if any fiend or undead (like say, Orthax) hits an affected target, they have to make a Con save or be blinded until the spell ends. Yikes. Even if it was one of the clerics who expended their eighth level slot for Control Weather, they still have a spare who can pull out some powerful tricks along with everything else they already have access to, and thus would probably end up carrying this fight the most.

2) Caleb. While not quite as pivotal as the clerics in terms of MVPing this battle, ol’ Widogast is still scraping in at only two levels below archmage at this point, and he could have some nasty shit available to him, depending on what he takes. 15th level wizards could pick such beauties as Delayed Blast Fireball, Crown of Stars, Prismatic Spray, Reverse Gravity, Forcecage, Antimagic Field, Feeblemind, and Sunburst. Again, accounting for those possible options alongside everything else he already has access to, he could do some absolutely monstrous damage to the enemy team. Of course, aside from all of the fancy new toys, the other part that puts Caleb at second place in terms of enemy hazard is the good old classic, Counterspell. I’ll get into more detail below, but that’s a big one. 

3) Fjord. Our sailor boy will be nine levels into warlock and six levels into paladin at this point, with a paladin oath picked out, Aura of Protection (both Fjord and any ally within 10 feet automatically gains a bonus to a saving throw equal to Fjord’s CHA modifier, which would be a big help against that gunpowder trap at the start), and access to second level paladin spells. Like I said in my last party-swap, Fjord’s just super unpredictable as a fighter. He’s got melee capabilities, arcane spells from both himself and Star Razor, and now a fair reserve of divine casting as well. He’ll have a good bit more Lay on Hands to spread around (30 hp!) as a backup to the clerics, as well as proper healing spells if needed, AND he’ll have access to two Channel Divinity options once he picks an oath. He’s going to have a lot of tools at his disposal to attack or support in whatever way is needed.

4) While the spellcasters really were the pillars of this battle for VM and that would probably hold true for the M9, our DPS girls still deserve some love. Veth would be dealing a Fireball’s worth of sneak attack damage, would have access to 3rd level spells, and could use her mage hand to give herself advantage against a target (if Sam remembers it XD). Beau will have proficiency in ALL saving throws and will likely have bumped up her WIS to boost her Stunning Strike DC. And at this point, Yasha will basically be unkillable; with access to Relentless Rage, Persistent Rage, and Rage Beyond Death, she would need to take her hit point maximum worth of damage in a single hit to be killed outright even at 0 hp. If it’s true that she has recently won her wings back as well, Yasha is going to be a terrifying Valkyrie of unstoppable force.

So, with that summed up, let’s take all that and measure it against the primary factors that made this fight so challenging and memorable for Vox Machina. 

The Gunpowder Trap

Before initiative even started, VM took a big chunk of damage from the gunpowder trap, which I don’t think the M9 would have been able to see coming either. Alarm spells were set up so there would have been no surprising them except on the off chance Caduceus popped a Detect Magic on approach and noticed them; possible, but unlikely. So odds are placed on the M9 taking the initial damage as well. Beau and Nott have a good chance of escaping with no damage, since they have Evasion, Caleb can automatically halve damage with his Ring of Evasion, and Yasha has advantage on Dex saves so she has a better chance as well. However, Fjord, Jester, and Caduceus have no benefits in this situation and aren’t particularly dextrous, so they’re likely taking full damage at the outset. Fjord has Aura of Protection which would give him a +5 bonus to any save, as well as any allies within 10ft, but this trio is still the most likely to get hit hardest. Luckily, they’re on the upper half of the M9′s hardiness scale, so while the damage isn’t small, it doesn’t put them in danger yet. Then combat begins properly.

Ripley

Probably the most problematic feature of this combat was Ripley’s Blink spell and VM’s inability to pin her down or figure out what was going on with her. Her crew were mercenaries, so if Ripley had gone down they likely wouldn’t have continued to fight, but as long as she was up, the fight continued. Watching the episode again, it seems like Matt lingered over the moment where Ripley cast the spell, as if waiting to see if someone was going to counter it. Scanlan was the only one capable of doing it in VM, and whether Sam was distracted, Scanlan didn’t want to burn the spell slot, or some other reason, he didn’t counter it. I feel like the M9 is more trigger happy with the counterspells; they can afford to be, since both Caleb and Fjord can do it, and potentially even Veth if she takes it as one of her 3rd level spells, making the chance of the Blink getting countered much higher. However, even if Ripley had managed to get it off, the M9 have knowledge VM didn’t. Both Jester and Fjord can cast Blink themselves and might be able to recognize it much sooner. That would mean fewer turns wasted hunting for an invisible Ripley and more time concentrating on her allies, or else clustering up near where she would reappear and holding actions ala the Inevitable End fight. Still a difficult element to work around, but better for their action economy and it makes Ripley more predictable. She does have Cabal’s Ruin (the awakened version I think), so she would be able to halve damage on one spell and boost her damage, but that’s only once per short rest. She could manage one huge damage burst if she used her turn, action surge, and the cloak charges all in one go, which could be pretty bad for a single party member. 

The Adds

There aren’t nearly as many mooks involved in this fight as in the Kevdak one, but they pack plenty of punch to make up for it. The mage was by far the biggest threat out of all of them, being capable of casting up to 7th level spells. Both his Prismatic Spray and Chain Lightning did significant damage to Scanlan, Percy, and Keyleth, making the situation more frantic with VM constantly trying to stay on top of their low HP. The Goliath fighter ended up being a non-entity because she didn’t even get a hit off. The gunners did their share of damage, but were probably the lowest threat on the field. As with the Kevdak fight, Caleb would be highly beneficial in doing collective damage to groups at a time (Fireball, Web of Fire, maybe a high level spell like Prismatic Spray or Delayed Blast Fireball if he wanted to clear them quick), similar to how Scanlan used his wand of fireballs to hit the gunners. The ability to counterspell or otherwise incapacitate the mage is also vital, since he dealt out a good portion of the damage, so I could see Caleb’s attention being split there. The big damage spells the mage dished out did require Dex saves though, so the same likelihood of success rules from the gunpowder trap still apply. Like Grog, I could see Yasha focusing on the goliath fighter, while Beau and Nott could get up on the gunners. How well this all goes depends on how well they can shrink the damage from the mage, while making sure the clerics are up and in the right position to heal and support.

Kynan

Kynan is a unique but significant factor in this fight. He did a fair bit of damage, knocked out Keyleth once, and kept Vax distracted for a number of rounds trying to talk to him. In the big picture, I question whether Kynan would have become a factor at all if this was the M9. He ended up with Ripley because Vox Machina, or primarily Vax, rejected him, a little harshly but not maliciously or without reason. The M9 can be blunt and even rude with NPCs, but I don’t see any of them taking a similar approach in that situation. They toted baby Kiri around with them through several dangerous locations and gave her a knife. They had Calianna sign a gag waiver and said they weren’t responsible for her dying if she tagged along with them, and generally they’re inclined to make friends at the drop of a hat. Even if someone like Kynan did approach them, they probably wouldn’t respond in the same way Vax did. However, since I’m using the battle scenario as it happened, we’ll say Kynan is there regardless. Of all the M9, Caleb or Jester seem like the most likely people to pause and try to talk him down. On the one hand, Caleb has a higher charisma than Vax and Jester is Jester, so they’re more likely to persuade him sooner to stand down. On the other hand, they’re also less likely to sacrifice their whole turns to devote their attention to him, so that might hurt their chances. If they fail, he plays the same role in the fight, with perhaps a higher chance of being more ruthlessly targeted by Yasha and Fjord, who don’t think favorably of betrayal. 

The Terrain

This was a relatively minor factor in comparison to those above, but the rough terrain, the big crater, and the damage taken from the glass did eat through movement and HP. Unavoidable in most cases, but can be mitigated by most of the members to whom it would matter. Beau’s a zippy girl, so she can reach any point on the battlefield at the cost of some HP. If Yasha has her wings, it becomes almost a non-factor for her. Poor Veth is the only one really stuck with it, but she’s ranged, so even then it wouldn’t hamper her too much. 

Orthax

Funnily enough, Orthax was probably the least significant factor in this fight, at least on a broad scale. He came out a few rounds in, the sunlight lowered his AC and put his attacks at disadvantage, and he didn’t get many shots in at VM. He has the ability to cause PCs to attack each other, but it’s a rechargeable ability, seems to only affect melee attacks, and doesn’t sustain. He did take two death saves off of Percy and made him waste his last bullet on friendly fire that might otherwise have gone to Ripley, but in a macro scale he wasn’t much of a threat. Against a party with two clerics and a padlock, he’d probably have an even harder time. Just flick a Banishment his way, or a solid 5th level divine smite, and he ceases to be a problem. 

Conclusion

I think the most important factor of the M9 coming off well in this fight would be the ability to focus fire in the right places, ensure the mage can’t deal major group damage, and to protect their clerics. They’ve shown a reasonable ability to pull that off if they’re on a straight battlefield and all together, and as long as their rolls for saves and counters aren’t abysmal, I could again see the M9 coming out of this encounter much more smoothly than VM, their higher percentage of spellcasters being the biggest factor in tipping the scales. Not to mention, even if someone dies, the M9 are almost always ready for that situation. VM had just come from Ank’Harel, a large city, and the M9 make it a point to get stocked on diamonds whenever they have some downtime. Plus, at this level, they would have three party members capable of resurrecting a fallen teammate, with Caleb using his 14th level Transmuter’s Stone ability. The fight against Ripley and her crew would definitely require more brainpower, and depending on their luck could be just as difficult if not more so than it was for VM, but with the right rolls on their side, their wide variety of unpredictable tools, and plenty of healing available to keep the team up, the M9 would probably have this fight in the bag too. 

(Side note: I wonder if the outcomes of these two party-swaps I’ve done have more to do with the players being more experienced and accustomed to working as a unit after all their time playing together, or if it has to do with party composition and how Matt constructs the encounters to challenge them personally. I’m sure both factor in at least a little, but I might have to do VM in one of the M9′s fights at some point just to see. There’s a lot fewer to pick from, since the M9 are still just catching up to the levels we met VM in, and projecting forward is easier than taking levels off of the characters, but I guess we’ll see. If you read through this chonk, I hope it was worth it!)