#me: this is a dark campaign with horror themes

[marmett]

whatever. i'll make my OWN dark fantasy masterpiece w/ my dnd campaign. as soon as i stop putting goofy shit in.

[blujayonthewing]

myrkul: hi I'm an unambiguously evil death god of cruelty and suffering who has never had anything to do with you until right this moment, would you like to align yourself with me in exchange for the power to win this midtier combat you're already in the middle of winning and no other clear benefits whatsoever

eachthighern: um hey hi it's me your current patron, you know, the good god of protection and light who has only ever given you unwavering strength and hope and support through all your darkest hours and also extraordinarily powerful magic powers and the ability to heal? I am still here and have never stopped being here and I love you very specifically and personally? remember?

the warlock: hmm..... hmmmmmmm

[glitter-stained]

A fun, happy dc story for a change

Look I can be very critical of Winick's writing because I'm so ambivalent about it but damn if it isn't, on a meta level, a really satisfying spite story.

At the core of this story, there is Jim Starlin. Now Starlin's writing has many flaws, not least of all the blatant racism and sexism. And if there's one thing Jim hates, it's Robin. He wants to kill that little boy so bad, oh how he hates that bright coloured child in tights that's just holding Batman back from reaching his true potential as an absolute badass... And hey, good news! Dc, in trying to bring a second Robin after the first got a new identity, has dropped the ball, and the new boy is unpopular amongst the fans who miss the previous iteration! This is his opportunity to kill Robin, definitely!

But how? People may not have voted him dead yet, but Jim is already planning, setting up plots and trying his damndest to get him killed. And the thing about Jim- the thing that makes him a good writer, you see, the thing that separates him from those losers who fail to see Batman's true potential, is that his writing is gritty. He's not afraid to write a true dark knight facing the grimdark horrors of a town laden with crime, to shy away from the real dark, gritty topic that are mature and dark like rape. And uh, sexual violence against women. And uh, serial raping and killing women. (I'm kidding, of course, I didn't forget the native american cult leader who bathes in blood to prolongate his life. Or about the kgb agent Batman straight-up kills after he tries to kill Reagan. Or about the suicides, god I haven't forgotten about that. Don't worry.) But anyway, sexual abuse in general is a big theme for Jim. It shows how serious and dark and gritty he can be. So he has an idea: why not make Robin a child sexual abuse victim and give him AIDS? That way that's a justification to write Robin unlikeable (by making him emotional when exposed to situations of sexual abuse, unable to restrain his anger when defending a prostitute...) and at the same time it's the perfect way to kill Robin! DC has been considering giving a character AIDS, it's perfect! It will show everyone how dark and gritty Jim's writing is, he can make Robin even more unlikeable on top of how people are upset about the transition between Robins, and then he can finally kill Robin! It's perfect! Jim is a genius!!!

Now, of course, we know that plan failed: first because dc rejected Starlin's idea for Jason to die of AIDS, and second because as soon as Jason (as a character, which is what DC apparently had a problem with) died, they fired Starlin as a Batman writer and introduced a new Robin, making Starlin's vehement campaign against a fictional fifteen years old completely vain.

So that's it, right? Crisis avoided, we almost had some even worst writing that what already was, everyone sigh in relief and go home?

Enter Judd Winick stage left.

Now, remember how DC wanted to give a character AIDS? In 2003, Green Arrow #43 reveals that Mia Dearden, Oliver Queen's ward and a csa survivor of underage prostitution, is HIV positive, and in #45, she takes on the mantle of the second Speedy, becoming, according to Wikipedia, the most prominent HIV-positive superhero to star in an ongoing comic book. (And also one of my favourite comics characters, but that's unrelated.) An important thing about Winick, who wrote those issues, is that he is personally invested in education about AIDS, continuing his friend Pedro Zamora's educational work after his death of AIDS-related progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. (He also wrote a graphic novel about it, called Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss and What I've Learned). So kudos! We finally got someone who has done research and actually holds respect for HIV+ people writing HIV+ characters. And Mia is so cool, man- but not only is she a really interesting character, she is, first and foremost, a survivor. That's how she characterizes herself, sees what happened to her: she did what she had to do to survive, and now she's a fucking superhero and she's here to help others and you know what she's not gonna do? Die "of AIDS."

Yeah, I haven't forgotten Starlin's terrible writing. And, if Winick's writing is any identification, it seems like he hasn't either. The idea of making the second Speedy a parallel with the second Robin isn't groundbreaking, but it's cool that it's there (and also, incidentally, a reminder that parallels are interesting and fun and backstories are not a finite resource characters can run out of or steal from eachother.) Anyway, this includes Winick altering Mia's backstory and making her a street kid to make it more similar to Jason's, as well as Mia's on-screen murder offering a nice parallel to Jason's ambiguous murder in Starlin's Diplomat Son (a parallel I can't help but regard with vindicative snark, because that's how you handle a teenager who has just caused, directly or not, a man's death out of hopelessness in a situation that felt impossible. A little snark of See? Now this is how it's done. Yeah, Starlin's Bruce isn't winning any parenting against Winick's Ollie, that's for sure.) So there it is! Our fun spite story, Winick taking on Starlin's terrible ideas, a teen vigilante and survivor taking on a hero identity to mirror a teen vigilant's loss and death, a good old fashioned schooling. Cool? Cool!

And then, in 2005, Winick buries Starlin's last remaining impact on DC by bringing back Jason Todd, in a move so audacious in the back-then landscape it would be kinda akin to bringing Ben Parker back to life in Spiderman's life as a villain (please don't tell me this happens in the comics I don't read Marvel and if someone wrote that I would honestly prefer not to know). Now, of course, the impact of Jason's death on the narrative can't and shouldn't be undone by that move, but that's not important, because that's not what Starlin wanted when killing Jason - he wanted to kill Jason/Robin, not give everyone grief-induced hallucinations where Jason/Robin had an incredibly salient place in the narrative, so he didn't get what he wanted anyway.

Personally, my view on Winick's writing of Jason is contrasted (and the fact that there are some elements of Starlin's characterization of Jason that I prefer to Winick's deeply amazes me, incredibly ironic situation. Which only serves to point that even Starlin' goal of making us hate his version of robin failed drastically, as me and my jaybin fan mutuals can attest. Sucks to suck!). But as much as some of the decisions frustrate me, do you understand how much of a power move it is to take this child, this victim who has been victim-blamed for years, and bring him back to life with a vengeance and a demand that his life mattered, that his death was a bad thing that shouldn't be tolerated? Do you know how good that story feels, especially to victims when reading it and see that indignation validated, that rebellion against the status quo and victim-blaming, how good it feels to see a "bad victim" that refuses to stay down ? And in the context of Starlin's intent to write Jason a CSA victim, Winick writing Mia, the HIV+ plot for them both- do you understand the genuine and violent glee I feel, that it's Winick that wrote Jason coming back to life and hunting down the narrative with a machine gun?

So yeah. This is the context in which I talk about acknowledging the csa subtext in Green Arrow: Seeing Red, but this post isn't about lecturing you to accept it as canon or imply that you're bad for not sharing that interpretation. It's about spite -towards Jim Starlin specifically. And it's about that interpretation, but the context in which it was written in general, is not just a victory against Starlin, that guy lost long ago, but the narrative equivalent of that Green Arrow meme about taking a funny selfie over a gravestone. In Seeing Red (specifically in the line that's discussed when questioning the csa headcanon), Jason tells Mia they are similar because of what they had to do to survive, framing the sexual trauma on Mia's part (and thus allegedly also on Jason's) again firmly on the side of survival rather than victimhood. Whether it's by becoming a villain or a hero, there's this rebellion against being an object to the violence, which is at the core of Starlin's treatment of sexual violence. This is fun. We're having fun. I'm repeating myself, but do you understand how satisfying, electrifying it is? I'm filled with unreasonable amounts of glee. You don't always need the context in which a story was written to enjoy it but in this case, doesn't this make it so much more enjoyable? (And on top of that, kudos to Winick for killing Captain Nazi, I hope it was as satisfying to write as it looked.) Anyway, Mia Dearden and Jason Todd, the characters that you are. I love them so much.

[mysticstarlightduck]

Late Writeblr Intro!

Hello, friends!

I figured it was about time I made an actual blog intro of my own since I forgot to make one when I started this blog last year. Better late than never, lmao!

Pls, reblog, like, and/or reply to help boost the blog! 💕

Let's get started:

Personal Stuff! 💜🩶🖤

My name is Anna/Anya but you can call me Mystic, Ducky, or just Anya on this blog! My personal nickname is Ani and I adore it (:

I am an Asexual woman (my pronouns are she/her!) and I'm also personally an atheist who puts my faith in the spirits of Mother Nature, though I respect all other religions equally!

I'm Gen Z and Latina (Brazilian). I was raised bilingual (Brazilian Portuguese + English) and I love learning languages - currently, I'm working on learning French and Spanish! Career-wise I am studying in college to become a character designer and hopefully animator, as I want to pursue a career as an artist and writer! I also wish to have my WIPs published in the near future (:

Some fun facts about me!

My favorite shows are Critical Role, Game of Thrones, Castlevania, The Legend of Vox Machina (animated series), Star Wars, Voltron, The Dragon Prince, Avatar the Last Airbender, Legend of Korra, and DC Comics content, as well as many more lmao. I love watching movies and series!

My favorite Vox Machina characters are Vax'ildan and Percy (:

I am a younger sister 💖

My hair is short and curly (pixie style, similar to the haircut Rapunzel has at the end of the Tangled movie!)

I adore listening to music, especially songs that can inspire me to write my WIPs! Playlists are a huge part of my writing process and something I really enjoy making.

I'm currently rereading Shadow and Bone (+ Six of Crows) and I am always looking for more good dark fantasy/historical fantasy books to read so book recs are always welcome! I also am a huge fan of the Percy Jackson series and Trials of Apollo (by Rick Riordan), though I'm usually more of a gritty/dark fantasy fan (like Game of Thrones)!

I have three dogs and two cats!😺🐶

I know how to play the piano, though I haven't done that in a while because things have been chaotic for me, but I'd like to start playing regularly again in my winter vacation.

I have worn glasses since I was 5 years old and have terrible eyesight without them (and some days with them, lol, so bear with me).

My friends and I are doing a DnD campaign every Sunday, where I play as a half-elf rogue named Aeryn (he/him). I'm adoring this adventure so far, it's so fun!!!

I love to bake and am rather good at it, but am a painfully average cook lmao (some specific recipes I make are actually rlly good, but it depends a lot on my mood and the 'alignment of the stars' lol)

I want to learn how to knit/crochet! 🧶

I'm a theater nerd and love musicals (:

About my Writing!🏹⌛

I write fictional works mostly in the genre of fantasy (high fantasy/epic fantasy/dark fantasy/historical fantasy/urban fantasy, etc. You name it!) and science fiction (space opera/cyberpunk/superhero, etc).

My works usually revolve around themes such as epic quests, secrets, adventure, rebels fighting an oppressive system, sibling bonds, acceptance/respect, outcasts, and much, much more! I love fluff and whump equally, and though my stories tend to focus on serious topics (or at least darker/heavier themes) within a fantasy/sci-fi setting, I like to have a good bit of humor, lighthearted fun, and comedy to my stories to lighten up the mood!

My main WIPs:

Song of Thorns

🌹WIP Intro: (here)🌹

Genre: dark fantasy, medieval fantasy, adventure/mystery, dark fairytale, eldritch horror (mild)

Style: Standalone (possible Trilogy)

Tags: #wip song of thorns #song of thorns

Short Summary/About: "A peasant girl moves with her siblings from her struggling seaside village to the kingdom's glittering floating capital, but after her older brother is kidnapped, she ends up discovering the dark, bloody secrets hiding behind the long-lasting royal family of the town and must team up with a young dhampir thief, the exiled prince, and a lonely druid girl to save the dying kingdom from this web of lies".

Supernova Initiative

🎇WIP Intro: (here) 🎇

Genre: space opera, adventure, exploration, laboratory whump, heist, thriller/mystery

Style: Episodic book series with an overarching plot (each chapter/group of chapters equivalent to an episode in a TV series)

Tags: #wip supernova initiative #supernova initiative

Short Summary/About: "A young intergalactic thief and his crew are captured after a heist gone wrong and forced to accept a strange deal - complete a mission for the Junction, retrieve important missing files, and get their freedom back. All the while that is happening, Jack Tithus, the protagonist, finds himself trapped as a test subject to an immoral, and elusive, man known as the Director."

Enchanted Illusions

💀 WIP Intro: (here)💀

Genre: Victorian fantasy, adventure, mystery, gothic fantasy, dark fantasy, crime-solving

Style: Possibly a trilogy

Tags: #wip enchanted illusions, #enchanted illusions

Short Summary/About: "On a magical setting inspired by Victorian times, a group of strangers and outcasts must work together to thwart a powerful secret organization and stop a murder spree that could lead to another civil war between myths and humans."

Of Starlight and Beasts

✨⚔️WIP Intro: (here)⚔️✨

Genre: medieval fantasy, epic fantasy, adventure/quest, dark fairytale, sword and sorcery, prophecies

Style: Book Series

Tags: #wip of starlight and beasts, #enchanted illusions

Short Summary/About: "A young knight in training and an amnesiac star mage embark on a quest to prevent an ancient prophecy from coming to fruition as a vengeful sorceress queen's army marches relentlessly onto their land with the intent to destroy all their kingdom has built."

The Last Wrath

🔥⚔️WIP Intro: to be made...⚔️🔥

Genre: dark fantasy, warfare, political intrigue, espionage, adventure/quest, medieval fantasy, whump

Style: Book Series (currently on hiatus)

Tags: #wip the last wrath, #the last wrath

Short Summary/About: "In a land torn by an ancient war between two sides of a continent, a mageborn girl finds herself trapped amid the bloodshed after her past comes back to haunt her and her family. Now, stopping the war may be the only chance she still has to survive."

Tales of Wilted Flowers

🥀WIP Intro: to be made...🪻

Genre: RPG-inspired fantasy, high fantasy, adventure, fairytale, epic quest, heist story, whump, light fantasy

Style: Trilogy (currently on hiatus)

Tags: #wip tales of wilted flowers #tales of wilted flowers

Short Summary/About - "A group of youths rejected and betrayed by society in many different ways come together due to unexpected circumstances and must rely on each other to prevent the kingdom's corrupt Head Sorcerer and the King from reviving an ancient evil."

Realms of Loss

🍂WIP Intro: (here)🍂

Genre: dark fantasy, warfare, medieval fantasy, high fantasy, ancient times fantasy, Viking-inspired, prophecies & curses

Style: Book Series (currently on hiatus)

Tags: #wip realms of loss #realms of loss

Short Summary/About - "In a continent destroyed by the fall of the Old Gods, and trapped in an endless toil for survival, a cocky young prince discovers his role in an ancient prophecy after his brother, the King, is murdered and assassins come for him too. Running away into the forsaken land beyond the walls of his kingdom, he'll have to learn to be a leader and save his people as a dead, murderous God awakens."

Mutant Inquiries/Open Secret Files

🤖 WIP Intro: to be made..🤖

Genre: superhero, cyberpunk, futuristic, dystopian, science fiction, urban fantasy

Style: Episodic Series, still in development

Tags: #wip mutant inquiries #wip open secret files #mutant inquiries #open secret files

Short Summary/About: "In a dystopian, high-tech future, a group of mutant teenagers become vigilantes and crime fighters to rebel against the oppressive government regime and survive their crime-ridden city."

I have a few other smaller-scale WIPs I occasionally, less frequently work on, such as Lies Untold and Jade Ruins, but those up above are the main ones that I wish to publish. I've also got a big, secret extra WIP I'm working on for fun and will share it with you guys soon!

[porcelainseashore]

Into the Ether (14)

Series Masterlist

Pairing: Vampire! Toreador! Leon Kennedy x Fem! Reader

Summary: At the all-night events cafe you run, you’ve become acquainted with an elusive patron, Leon, though you can never remember the last moments of your interactions together. After a harrowing encounter, a love-hate relationship develops between the two of you as you grapple with your newfound status in a world of darkness and investigate the reasons behind the untimely attacks.

Content & Warnings: 18+ Resident Evil x Vampire: The Masquerade crossover, horror, mystery, romance, slow burn, strangers to enemies to lovers, angst, fluff, eventual smut, swearing, smoking, alcohol, drug references, non consensual blood drinking, blood bond, vampire turning, violence, injury, mild gore, torture, religious themes, minor character death, RE ensemble, VtM concepts.

Author's Note: Drug and mild gore references ahead. I’m back from sailing around the Norwegian islands, which made me realise how much I missed outdoor activities, especially in the summer! As I’ll be engaging in more of that and playing in two VtM campaigns, I have less time for writing overall. So, I won't be able to update this fic regularly, though I intend to finish the story. For everyone who has been following me this far, thanks a million for your support! I hope you continue to enjoy my writings, however spontaneous they may be ❤️

Taglist: @admirxation @angelstargel @miss-oranje-disco-dancer @delulusimps @g0thesqe ✨

AO3 Link

Chapter 14: Renegade

It was the first time you’d jolted violently awake, no sweat, your body frigid and gray. Your eyes snapped to the digital clock by the bedside, its angry red numericals burning white spots into your retina. The sun had already set, but it was still early. Leon hadn’t moved a muscle.

Quick steps along the stairs, your feet were light and hurried, as you peered around the apartment to check if everything was in order. It was. 

You fiddled with the remote, opening the shutters so that you could view the night sky. Was it intact too? Shades of lavender spread across the horizon, merging with rich indigos in the encroaching darkness. You could already spot a multitude of faint stars emerging in the background. A pale crescent moon hung overhead. 

Nothing seemed out of place, but you couldn't shake the uneasiness that had plagued you since rising from your slumber. No, wait, that wasn’t right. You remembered dreaming, but you couldn’t recall what about. It wasn’t normal for corpses to dream, was it? You were sure it wasn’t the Abyss or the Beast speaking to you, so were there other causes that Leon hadn’t known and informed you about?

Instead of pursuing it any further, you grabbed a blood bag from the fridge and emptied its contents into your mouth, not even bothering to use a glass. You would’ve hunted tonight, but Rebecca had required both of you to be present in advance to prepare the ritual chamber before the prisoner would be brought in.

You heard him lumbering down the stairwell, lethargic and sluggish, like he’d willed himself to wake up before his usual time because of you. Leaning his weight against your back, he snaked his arms around your waist, mumbling incoherently into the crook of your neck, “Nervous about the appointment?”

Placing one hand over his grasp and the other around his head, you massaged his scalp languidly as he hummed with satisfaction. “Just a bad dream,” you sighed, downplaying the pervasive, ominous feeling that had lingered.

He twitched, an obvious sign of his concern about what you had revealed. “Hmm, that doesn’t usually happen; not that I’ve heard of anyway.” His voice was nonchalant, but you could detect an uneven stammer at its edges.

Turning you around to face him, he tilted your chin towards him, his eyes veiled with worry. “Do you wanna talk about it?”

“I would, but my mind’s coming up blank,” you admitted in frustration. “It just feels like something’s gonna go wrong.”

He drew you in, clinging to you staunchly as he whispered against your chilled skin, “I’ll keep you safe, I promise.”

“I know,” you whispered back, your crisp breath tickling his collarbone. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I know,” he echoed.

You allowed yourself to melt fully into him, savoring a moment of peace where time seemed to be suspended. Both of you understood they were rare and hard to come by in these nights, especially with your journey ahead. 

When you breathed again, he hoisted you up effortlessly, carrying you in his arms as he returned to where you came from. He excused it as “snoozing for a bit longer” in bed, though you did anything but. 

And all too soon, it was time to go, but his scent and mark on you still remained.

━━━━━━━━━━━

“Oh, I’ll handle that,” Rebecca said, taking the unusual apparatus out of your hands as she set them aside. “No offense, but they’re kinda delicate.”

She handed you a bunch of trinkets and a musty cloth with occult sigils imprinted on it. “Maybe you could lay these out instead? Just follow the shape in this diagram.”

You studied details on the page she was pointing at a leather bound manuscript, attempting to replicate the same design on the floor. Leon was busy speaking with Jill, placating her as she grumbled about not being allowed to be present at the scene when the ritual took place. 

Rebecca had insisted on you being her guide and for Leon to keep watch outside, so there would be no interference. After all, it was the two of you who were personally assigned by the Prince to take on this task, and not the Sheriff. The fewer people around in the ritual chamber, the better chance Rebecca had of completing it successfully.

“I actually learnt this ritual from a Tremere Thinblood, well, I guess they’re all just Thinbloods to the Prince,” she revealed, smiling wistfully as she mixed the contents within an apparatus. “I just tweaked it a bit so that you could focus on specific memories, piecing them together, rather than relying on the whims and fancies of what the Kindred deemed as important.”

“You’re not called an expert for nothing,” you pointed out, smiling back at her while you worked. “What happened to the Thinblood anyway?”

You weren’t optimistic, after all, the Thinbloods or Duskborn were those whose blood were too diluted from Caine to be considered as part of ‘normal’ Kindred society. They were the weakest, but also the most lifelike of all vampires. Jealousy and fear made them direct targets of everyone else, particularly the Camarilla.

She heaved an audible sigh, pausing her intricate preparations for a moment. “Destroyed by the Scourge, along with his sire.” 

Though she could not voice her opinion on the matter, you could tell that she did not agree with the outcome the Prince had dictated. From what Leon had told you, the Scourge reported directly to Wesker and was somewhat regarded as his personal executioner. It was also a backup option in case Jill ever strayed from her loyalty. In this case, weeding out the Thinbloods was one of their duties, and that made your disdain for the Prince grow.

“It’s a shame, since he was so talented,” she added quietly, just loud enough for you to hear. 

You threw her a sympathetic glance, mouthing an apology which she acknowledged gratefully. Then, she walked over to check on how you were getting on before asking, “You ever been on a drug trip before?”

“What?” you choked, slightly taken aback by the sudden change in subject. “Um, sure, yeah…?”

“Great, well, this is something like that,” she continued as if it were part of everyday conversation. “I’ll be incapacitated, so you’ll need to make sure that I’m where I’m supposed to be while in Memoriam. As you’re my only link to the tangible world, I’ll need your reassurances every now and then through voice and touch. That’ll prevent me from slipping away.”

You nodded. It sounded easy enough.

“And, uh, you’ll have to watch the timer,” she instructed, handing over an analogue alarm clock to you. “It is absolutely crucial that I’m back and awake by the 15-minute mark, otherwise weird shit starts to happen.”

“Like what?”

She shrugged indifferently. “Mental trauma at the very least.”

You guffawed in disbelief, realizing this was no joking matter. “And at the very worst?”

“Permanent torpor.”

“Jesus!” you blurted out. “Rebecca, are you—”

“I’ll be fine.” She squeezed your shoulder, seemingly still in good spirits. “Just remember to start reviving me a few minutes in advance.”

“Everything alright back there?” Leon called out, eyeing your discussion curiously. Jill had disappeared.

“Yeah, we’re good to go,” Rebecca commented with a thumbs up sign.

Eventually, Jill returned with the prisoner in tow, scarred and dragged around by the chains. He was no longer thrashing about like what you had witnessed in the video recording, but mute, as his will had been broken. You could see it in his listless eyes; he was a slave who had accepted whatever fate befell him. It sickened you to the core that Jill had tortured him to the extent that Final Death was considered the most peaceful option. However, if what Rebecca had promised was correct, you knew you had made the right decision.

“Hunnigan and I will be watching from the monitors,” Jill commented gruffly as she bolted the prisoner in place to a reinforced anchor on the floor, positioned just in the middle of the markings you had made with the materials provided to you earlier. “So you better not try anything funny, usurper.”

It was a pointed remark aimed at Rebecca, but the Tremere took it in her stride, offering nothing but a polite wave as Jill exited the room.

“Ladies,” Leon nodded to the both of you courteously. “I’ll be on the other end of this door. Stay safe, please.” The last word was drawn out, almost pleading, as the blue of his irises flickered, holding your gaze.

“We will,” you asserted, as he tore his eyes away from you, reluctantly closing the door behind him with a secure click.

You followed Rebecca, making sure you stayed by her side every step of the way. Lighting a row of candles on the altar table, she held out the apparatus containing the liquid she had prepared, chanting in a language that sounded ancient and otherworldly — none that you could recognize. The liquid thickened and congealed, sizzling as she clutched the apparatus close to her heart, using her fingers to stir the contents as the black concoction clung to her skin like tar. Steam rose from it, and though it appeared to be scalding hot, she was not affected. She did not burn nor yelp in pain. Her eyes glazed over white, glowing like a jackal’s at night.

The captive mourned aloud as she drew symbols on his face, as if he were crying for the loss of his unlife and knew that his Final Death was near. You felt terrible for him then, but you suppressed the urge to stop the ritual, knowing that whatever awaited him at Jill's hands instead would be far worse.

Finally, Rebecca took a lit candle, dousing its fire into the liquid which sparked a brilliant white flame, so dazzling that it hurt to look at it. There was a deafening whoosh and smash as she flung the apparatus to the ground in front of the captive, and he lit up like a bonfire, just like the one you had seen the night you died. However, there were no smoke or screams. Like an illusory magic trick, the Kindred had vanished into thin air, leaving only pale gray ashes in his wake.

She looked at you knowingly before sinking to her knees as you accompanied her. Feeding the ashes hungrily into her mouth, she devoured them whole as though it were her last meal. Powered dust swirled around the room, glittering under the dim sources of light. The more she stuffed into her mouth, the more she coughed and gagged, but she didn’t let up. The ashes decorated her chin like parched chalk and the rot of death, flaking and peeling off as others took their place. 

Soon, she slackened, her movements stuttering like a malfunctioning machine as her body turned rigid. Her eyes rolled towards the back of her head as she slumped into your outstretched arms. Gently, you laid her down within the marked out area where the Kindred had been confined earlier.

“I’m here,” you murmured, holding her hand as you kept an eye on the clock.

There was no response. If you didn’t know better, you would have thought she was a mummified carcass, a relic waiting to be found and entombed in some museum halfway across the world. You reassured yourself that this was just the beginning, and you didn’t need to worry yet.

Time seemed to pass by excruciatingly slowly, like the fluid from an IV drip gradually entering the body through a network of catheters and needles, the effects of which you could never feel until it was too late. Every so often, you stroked Rebecca’s hand, verbally reminding her she had a place to return to. However, you were met with blank silence, and it seemed as though you had gone crazy and were talking to yourself.

By now, the ten-minute mark had been reached and there was still no sign of her coming back. At the moment, there was enough buffer time for you to revive her, and you prayed that this wouldn’t end up any worse. 

Tapping her cheek lightly, you called out, “Rebecca? Can you hear me? There’s only five minutes left, you need to start waking up.”

At first, you merely coaxed her, but as each minute passed, your taps and voice grew more urgent. However, she remained out cold. Why was she taking so long? What was holding her back?

Three minutes remaining. Not good.

You broke out into short, rapid little breaths. “Come on, Rebecca?” You were shaking her lifeless body now. “If you can’t find the rest of them, just leave it!”

Two minutes. Shit!

Your heart raced in fear and your nerves fired up as you doubled down on your efforts to bring her back into the real world. Nothing was going to stop you from doing so.

Meanwhile, Leon had been waiting patiently outside the chamber. So far, things were mind numbingly boring and quiet, which was good. Why Rebecca had requested him to physically stand watch at the location baffled him. There wasn’t anything the cameras wouldn’t be able to catch, and not to mention, the security systems in Elysium were top-notch. However, she seemed to trust Kindred instincts more.

Then, he heard some noises coming from inside the room. Focusing his senses, he heard your frantic voice yelling at Rebecca, trying to rouse her from her comatose state. Before he could head in to help you, the light beams flickered, as if the power had been cut for a split second. 

He glanced up, noticing that someone had killed the cameras. They weren’t blinking red anymore. His muscles tensed, instinctively shifting into a combat stance as he readied himself for the incoming intruder. 

Just as he predicted, a blurred figure from the corner of his eye whizzed past. Sharpening his reflexes, he timed his move, reaching out to grab the culprit by their arm. All at once, he came face-to-face with the last person he wanted to be stuck in a corridor with.

“Ada? What the hell?” he snarled, finally piecing together the last parts of the puzzle. “I should’ve known…”

“You never should’ve underestimated your sire,” she tutted coyly, running her other hand up his chest provocatively.

He recoiled from her touch in disgust, throwing the hand he had seized back at her. “The Prince will have your head for this!” he hissed.

“Resorting to threats now, are we?” she laughed derisively. “Well, don’t worry, I can always counter with my own.”

Grazing a stiletto fingernail along the pulse point of his neck, she leaned in and whispered suggestively, “If you and your childe want to live to see another night, you better listen to what I have to say.” 

She cocked her head, peering behind Leon at the door as she narrowed her eyes. “And from the sounds of it, she doesn’t have much time…”

“We should go in,” she decided, stepping forward, only for him to block her path.

“Ada, I don’t know what fucking mind game you’re playing, but I swear to god, if you so much as lay a finger on her, I will—”

She sighed in vexation, interrupting him as she patted his chest condescendingly. “Relax, big boy.”

Taking his hand, she pressed it against the touchpad, and the door slid open. Instantly, they were greeted by the sore sight of you desperately trying to revive Rebecca. There was only one minute left before she would be in trouble.

“For fuck’s sake—”

And that’s when you looked up, your eyes darting between the two Kindred in a mixture of complete shock and confusion.

“Ada?” you exclaimed. “Leon? The fuck—”

“Ada!” A voice next to you screeched, choking and sputtering as if she was recovering from nearly drowning underwater. “You… Heisenberg… the Baker boy… you’re planning a coup. But why?”

30 seconds. You shut off the timer. That was close, way too close.

Despite the chaos and her accusations, you’d never been more relieved to see Rebecca back to life. You pulled her in hastily for a quick hug, before turning to the rest for a much-warranted explanation.

“We only have a few minutes until Jill storms in. Hunnigan is stalling her, so I’ll make this quick.” Ada sauntered towards you with cat-like grace, while Leon trailed behind watching her suspiciously. “The Prince is getting too big for his own shoes. Even I know that the benefits of working with the Anarchs, as long as they’re kept at an arm’s length, outweigh the cons. Unfortunately for Wesker, greed will be his downfall.”

Squatting down beside you and Rebecca, she stated, “You see, I just happened to stumble upon his plans to exterminate every single one of the Anarchs here in Raccoon City, so that he can rule uncontested.”

Nodding in Leon’s direction, she addressed him, “All the time you spent with them, along with his sending you as his emissary, allowed him to gather valuable information about your friends from you.”

He shook his head in abhorrence, huffing, “You’re saying, he used me as a spy?”

Instead of responding directly, she mentioned, “Of course, to keep up appearances, he couldn’t actually have you defecting to them. Though with the increase in SI presence recently, he sensed an opportunity to redirect the threat towards Heisenberg and his crew.”

Idly inspecting the apparatus that Rebecca had dropped when she fell unconscious, she chucked it aside when she found nothing of interest. “Foolish and reckless,” she criticized. “So we’ll give him a taste of his own medicine.”

“And you expect us to trust you?” Leon spat, his jaw clenching and unclenching as he glanced between the door and Ada.

“No,” she replied simply. “But you still have a boon to pay, and your missing vessel.” She flashed you a malevolent smile as Leon drew closer, situating himself between you and his sire defensively. 

Before Rebecca could speak her mind, Ada cut in, “Your Primogen is ready to finish what Glenn started if you decide to take matters into your own hands.” That caused her to shut her mouth and sink back in defeat.

So, there were others in the Camarilla who were in on this as well, you figured. In spite of the odds, you pushed back, detesting the woman’s methods from the start. “Let me guess, you have something to threaten me with too?” you jeered.

Leaning in, she sniffed your neck deliberately and simpered, “Mmm, I can smell him on you. How wonderful it must be to still enjoy such humanly pleasures…”

“Ada…” Leon warned, but she waved him off dismissively.

“With you, my dear, I wouldn’t need to lift a finger,” she gloated confidently. “No one’s going to believe a fledgling, especially without proof. And even if they do, would you really choose to endanger your beloved sire for lying?”

She was relentless, refusing to wait for your answer as she questioned rhetorically, “Or are you particularly fond of Wesker? Seeing as you know what he’s capable of.”

It was true that you held nothing but disdain for the man, given how he had treated you from day one, setting you up to fail with his ‘tests’ and what he had done to Leon with Sherry. Maybe it was time for him to go, you found yourself agreeing with Ada, in somewhat abject horror. But were there really any better candidates to take his place?

“Think about it,” she said, getting up as she ambled towards the side of the room. Fishing out a device from her pocket, she aimed at a metal grill in the ceiling and fired a shot. A grapple hook attached itself to the grill and she yanked it down.

“What’s in it for you?” you asked.

She gave you one final smirk as she turned towards Leon, winking at him. “I’ll be in touch very soon.”

With that, she clung onto the grill, blinking up into the crawl space above as she secured it back into its original position.

At that very moment, Jill burst into the room with her Doberman in tow, growling ferociously at the three of you. Her hand had morphed into a monstrous claw, sharp enough to dice anyone into pieces and ready to tear the place apart. “Someone had better tell me what the fuck is going on!”

Rebecca was the first to respond, “I had some difficulties in Memoriam. Leon had to assist his childe in getting me back safely.”

“The cameras were cut,” Jill fumed, not backing down as she scanned your reactions for answers. “Hunnigan seemed to have a rough time bringing them back online.”

“We were kinda busy down here,” Leon claimed, already well-versed in the art of omission and partial information when it came to any form of interrogation.

“You better watch your step, smartass,” she cautioned, still not fully buying Leon’s half-truth. Her eyes gleamed dangerously. “I’m going to investigate this matter myself, and if I trace anything back to you… Carlos here is gonna have a field day ripping your goddamn balls out every night for the rest of your unlife.”

At this, her Doberman let out a series of sharp, piercing barks as it wagged its tail enthusiastically. You bristled at her threat as something within you snapped. Without thinking, you sprang up, shielding Leon with your body, almost hissing in defiance. However, Leon reined you in, his face plastered with alarm as he grasped your arm, knocking some sense into you.

“Oh, so the little diva wants to play, huh?” Jill grinned viciously, her claw twitching with anticipation.

“She meant no offense,” Leon said calmly, attempting to relieve the tension between the two of you. “Besides, you wanted the report from Rebecca?”

A diversion. He had always been a clever one.

Leon exchanged cursory looks with the Tremere, who got the hint and cleared her throat before piping up, “I know who’s behind it. They’re all Sabbat members.”

“Bella, Cassandra and Daniela,” she rattled off the top of her head.

Whatever tall tale Rebecca had come up with seemed to work as Jill relaxed her stance, quirking an eyebrow at her. “Lady Dimitrescu’s childer?”

“Yes,” Rebecca affirmed. “Beneviento’s involved too.”

“That Ugly-Ass Psycho Doll?” Jill remarked, shifting uneasily. “Hm, explains the Dementation, I suppose.”

She straightened up, her feral eyes sweeping across the room one more time before issuing a set of commands. “Right, clean this mess up, and then you and I are gonna have a talk with Hunnigan to see if the info checks out,” she directed to Rebecca.

“As for pretty boy and his harlot here, the Prince wants to see you, stat.”

Your temper flared at the insult, but you bit your tongue in an effort to suppress it. With that, Jill turned to leave. Once she was a safe distance away, you whispered to Rebecca, “Did you just lie about all those Kindred? How did you come up with that?”

Her blue-eyed gaze met yours. “Because it wasn’t exactly a lie,” she explained carefully. “They appeared in his memories too.”

━━━━━━━━━━━

It turned out that your meeting with the Prince this time was more of a private affair, so instead of the greenhouse, you found him lounging on an opulent and richly-textured couch in the presentation room. He sat there regally, sipping on an artisanally crafted chalice with feigned indifference, not even bothering to acknowledge your presence when you and Leon walked in. 

The Scourge stood diagonally across from him, monitoring your actions intently. He was keeping watch while Jill was busy with the previous technical hiccup and questioning Rebecca. You didn’t have a clue as to why the Prince had requested this meeting, but nothing he wanted could be good news.

The man in question bided his time, draining the chalice to the last drop at a leisurely pace, making you and your sire stand around and wait like idiots in utter silence. Finally, he spoke up, his voice laced with sarcasm, “Ah, not maimed yet, I see. Congratulations are in order.”

It took you a moment before you realized he was talking about you.

Before you could react, Leon had stepped forward, crossing his hand over his heart as he bowed in veneration. “My honorable Prince, how may we—”

However, Wesker saw through his bullshit. His patience waned at Leon’s obvious attempts at sweet-talking his way out of the situation. Brandishing the empty chalice in your direction accusingly, he remarked, “Your fledgling seems to be making quite a name for herself.”

Your mouth ran dry. What Leon had warned you about during your big fight with him came rushing back. 

“I don’t want to be ordered by the Prince to destroy you.”

“If you step out of line, he will ask me to.”

You had been too careless in your dalliances with the Anarchs, and naturally, word had gotten around, as well as back into the viper’s nest.

Leon hung his head low in submission, averting his gaze. “Prince, I can assure you, I have put a stop to the issue at hand.”

Ignoring him, Wesker smirked, “Like sire, like childe.”

“Do you have any idea what I do to traitors of the Camarilla?” he asked as the Scourge shifted slightly, his dual curved blades glinting under the fluorescent lights.

A mere glance from Wesker at the Scourge caused him to back down. “Go on, why don’t you take a guess?” he beckoned you.

Although an immobilizing fear rippled through your body, you still managed to cough out, “Final Death?”

At this, Wesker bellowed with laughter. “Oh, no, no… that would be far too merciful for the likes of such filth.” 

“Wouldn’t it be more appropriate and resourceful for me to have my scientists conduct their work on them?” he suggested, tapping on his chin thoughtfully. “Or perhaps I should string them up in a cellar somewhere with their limbs chopped off, and have them bleed out into my waiting cup, hmm?”

You noticed the way he had emphasized ‘them’ sounded more like he meant ‘you’.

Placing his chalice on the side table, he leaned forward with his hands in a steepled position and grinned deviously. “I mean, all these marvelous reviews have left me wanting to have a taste…”

You gulped at his insinuation, your hands trembling as you tried to conceal them from his sight. Then, you felt Leon nudging you protectively behind him.

The amber of Wesker’s eyes glowered through his shades. “And why do I get the feeling you’re not telling me everything, Leon?”

“My trusted Sheriff has her suspicions that you’ve not been fully cooperative on the case,” he alleged, looking to your sire for an answer.

“The information turned out to be more difficult to acquire than expected,” Leon explained guardedly. “But I have provided Jill with everything I know, and so has Rebecca.”

Truth be told, you were in two minds when Ada had approached you with her request. However, the way this meeting had unfolded caused the hatred you harbored for Wesker to grow exponentially — so much so that you said nothing when Leon was lying through his teeth. You had taken your stance.

There was a long, agonizing pause as Wesker considered his words. “Very well, you’ve made your bed, Leon. Just be aware, we will find out whatever it is you’re hiding…” he trailed off before stating in a deliberate tone, “You of all Kindred should know how much I love personally gutting traitors.”

Angling his head towards you, he warned, “One more misstep and we’ll see about that drink I am dying to have…”

You nodded feebly, preparing to take your leave with Leon who was ushering you out hurriedly.

It was only when you had reached the door of the room that Wesker tutted, “I’m not quite done with you yet.”

Like a sly predator toying with its prey, he had lulled you into a false sense of security, only to yank it away at the last minute. Whirling around, you caught a glimpse of the diabolical uptick in his lips as a side door slid open. 

A slender blonde woman with a layered, cropped haircut walked in apathetically, seemingly oblivious to the tense atmosphere that permeated the space. She was dressed in a fitted beige blouse, olive khaki pants, and lace-up utility boots. An arctic blue scarf adorned her neck even though the temperatures within Elysium were well-regulated.

You heard Leon's breath hitch as he suddenly gripped your hand with a vice-like hold. The woman smiled placidly at the two of you, and it was then that you could see the blank stare in her glassy blue eyes. Was she—?

Wesker flung his arms open dramatically, as if unveiling a prized possession. “Ah, Sherry! How nice of you to join us.”

[stuck-writing-sickos]

Lucid (prologue)

(Yandere reader insert)

[Series Link]

[A/n: can be a standalone series. Mermaid (?) AU for In Poor Taste. I dont... know if I'm gonna include Lukas. But dw, that means there will be rooms for new characters.]

If you want to run away, why not come into his arms?

You didn't know how to stay away from water. Something about its shimmer reeled you in. You particularly loved the ocean - cool and blue like liquid diamond, its depth called for you like an aching lullaby. Your intrigue was barey cocealed, so it came as a surprise for no one that you took diving lessons the moment you moved to your seaside apartment. Sure, it was hard work for your body who took the brunt of your day job as a bankteller, but your pursuit for the deep was restless.

You weren't by any mean a natural, but you were a resilient learner. Silent like a stone, you geared up and followed the elegant movements of your teacher. You were clumsy at first, taken by surprise upon the strength of the water, but once you got the hang of it your heart beat in a melody unheard. The cold water, the coral, the bustling marine life... you were enchanted beyond saving. Abandoning your social life and any prospect of romance, you let yourself be entranced by the ocean's glamor.

Something that your instructor neglected to tell you, though, was the call of the deep. She likely assumed that you were too serious and cautious to do deep dives. After all, you were not one of much words. You didn't even realize that you were swimming downward. You saw blue, and you saw darkness. You felt air bubble floating against your momentum. Yet, a gear in your head still turned to push you forward. You remembered the unprecedented euphoria you felt before the strong arm of your fellow diver, Jung, caught you mid-torso and pulled you backward. In a trance, you were blindsided as air hit your face. Jung's voice sounded far away when he cussed out "fuck, you scared me bad with that one".

You didn't dive for a while after as per his recommendation. The ocean was going nowhere, Jung said, but you might. To distract you, he took you to art galleries and painted with you in your free time. He was a poor painter, but he would do it for your sake. You asked if he wanted you to write prose with him in return, to which he laughed and said there was no need, and that you ought not to peruse his manuscript anyway. Plus, he liked being around you when you painted - he affirmed - your shades of blue were haunting, in a good way. You asked what he meant, but all you got back was "it's good inspiration for my novel".

Jung wasn't vocal about his works. He never let you know his pen name. You tried to respect his privacy, but your curiosity got the better of you. During your time spent away from the ocean you dug for his works. It was only by chance that you managed to get your hand on them. In secret you snooped around his apartment when he invited you over for dinner and found his own signature in a book. His pen name was Haiyang. You supposed that was within reasons - he too loved the sea. Purchasing a physical copy behind his back, you decided to read it to get your mind going. Then, you understood the secrecy: he was still in the closet. His writing, dealing with themes of body horror and doppelganger, betrayed an exasperated effort to overcome self-hatred.

You wanted to let him know that he had your support, but instead you didn't say anything - you breached his trust by reading his novels. Quietly sticking by his side, you tried to find the right time or the right word, but before you could, he had vanished into the sea.

The news spread like wildfire, and with that came the uncovering of his identity. His readers pieced together that the missing person whose body never resurfaced was the author of their beloved books. Online you saw thinkpieces, video essays, and truecrime podcast episodes on the matter. His face splattered across billboards and campaigns for a search. The mystery manifested, flooding the internet for months before a documentary on his disappearance dropped.

Chaos.

Letters from his fans. Invitations to interviews. Emails from news broadcasts. You got them all. Who was Jung? Who was Haiyang? What was he like in real life? The global sensation sent tsunamis of attention your way - you, a friend from his diving classes. People scoured for a glimpse of Jung's shadow in you. They put your face in conspiracy theories as well as juvenile video edits. Their morbid curiosity drove them to flood your town like packs of bloodhounds searching for rabbits. You refused to entertain their psychotic thirst for "the truth behind it all", sealing yourself up in masks and sunglasses whenever you needed to get out. You grew to resent their narcissistic needs to insert themselves into Jung's narrative - complete strangers clawing through his doorway crying as if they knew him, as if they ever spent their Sundays on his motorbike rides down the coast or get piss drunk at the beach while hanging on his shoulder. He never walked them home when it got dark. He never bought them canvases when they would tear up their painting in a fit of painter's rage. You grew colder and harder, turning to hate the world.

Everyone was stupid and selfish.

You grinded your teeth through it alone. Your paintings grew from blue to black and red. You locked them away, unable to look at them once done, unable to throw them away. Stuck, you tried to find solace in the ocean view from your apartment.

That was until your job fired you. You were bad PR, you knew, even when they danced around it. You didn't bother to hear their excuses. That morning, you packed everything on your table into a carton box, your head feeling emptier than ever.

You were supposed to drive home, but instead you found yourself going down the coastline with your window down, salty ocean wind going through your sleeves and collar. You couldn't tell what it was that you felt. You only knew your insides felt hollow enough to manifest an illusion of freedom, yet your corporeal body was heavy and sluggish. Driving all the way up the cliffside where you braked to watch the glimmering blue sea, you found yourself hopping out of the car and walked toward the edge.

The dizzying view downward made your stomach churn. You felt the hypnotic pull of the water even from way above. Your eyes were fixed on the foam that licked at the rocky edges, your heart drumming to fight against the sublime temptation. You thought about how if Jung had been near, he would have told you to stop being silly and driven you to the local grocery store for a strawberry cream pop. Upon that thought, you felt your cheeks wet from tears.

He would have wanted you to live.

You were staring at the rocky beachside transfixed when something hooked your attention. You thought you saw a person at first, half naked , sprawling against the wet rock. Knowing how deep the water went there, you felt your chest twisting into a knot as you stared in horror seeing them lying their motionless. Yet, something was not quite right about the scene. Even in disarray, you couldn't help but took notes of their abnormal size - they were much bigger than the average human. The rocks looked ... small against their form. Squinting to get a clearer picture, you failed to figure out what they were wearing. Something like a frilly white dress with a translucent veil draping over them? A runaway bride? - you wondered to yourself, trying to make sense of what you were seeing but couldn't.

For the life of you, you could not see their legs.

Your head spun. You stood in silence, trying to calculate the fastest route you could take to get to that beach. It was not private property, that you knew, but it was secluded, which guaranteed a long walk from where your car would be. From your estimation, you could reach them in at least one and a half hour, which was better than nothing, you supposed. Adrenaline pumped through youe veins as you rushed back to your car, your feet barely touching the ground. Your car's engine reeved atop concrete as you drove down the coast again, your heart thumping in your chest. You knew you were doing something impulsive and stupid. You knew that it was the self-serving part in you that wanted to be a part of something important and unusual to take your mind off reality. Still, you drove on in silence and felt the winds against your skin.

[blottyink]

Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat (book 1 spoilers)

Right away, so many terrible things are happening. One after the other, the horrors are persisting, and I’m thinking…. Didn’t Pacat say whatever happened between Sarcean and Anaharion was worse than Damen and Laurent?  💀

Because how? How does a situation get worse than this?

It took me a while to read because there were so many parts where I had to put the book down and take a break. The story is great, but there were some super heavy themes.

Damen is so precious for not being able to understand how evil the people around him can be. Even when his brother betrayed him, he wanted to understand why because it was hard for him to accept. He’s so precious he’s not catching on to the very obvious hints of what The Regent has done to Laurent (his own nephew). Because Damen would have trouble understanding such a horrifying concept—it hasn’t even crossed his mind yet. Damen, who wanted to make sure the Akielos slaves were treated well would never understand the actions of The Regent. It’s crazy too, The Regent going around on his campaign to smear Laurent and promote his own flavor of moral superiority and virtue signaling. I hate The Regent so much.  

Speaking of which, it’s amazing how Pacat has used Nicaise’s character to develop Laurent’s character. Because Nicaise is living through the horrors Laurent did as a child, and it makes sense that despite everything Laurent has a soft spot for Nicaise. The amount of empathy for Nicaise outweighs any of his behavior, because someone as vulnerable as Nicaise would want to hold on to any amount of power he can get. Especially while navigating life through this pit full of monsters.

I can’t even imagine how healing it was for Laurent when Damen refused Nicaise. There must have been a shift in his entire world view to take in the concept everyone isn’t a monster. And Damen’s constant chipping away at Laurent’s defenses by showing him not everyone is trash. When Damen consistently shows up for Laurent and defends him out of just Damen’s inherit goodness. It makes me want to sob. And I know Damen’s not a saint, but that’s the point. Damen is generally decent and even decency isn’t available to Laurent in his current situation.

It’s going to be rough watching Damen have to learn how to navigate these types of horrors, but at least it will be heartwarming to hopefully see Laurent change for the better because Damen helped show him a slightly improved world view. Hopefully.

Overall, I like the writing itself (the line work) in the Dark Rise series better, but I am more invested in the characters for this series. I also feel like every time a side character is explored in Captive Prince, it’s more interesting than it is in the Dark Rise series.  And I like the narrative in Captive Prince better too; I’m not a fan of how many POVs the Dark Rise series has going.

But yeah. Quick mentions, Ancel sucks (pun intended), but Erasmus is adorable.

Time for Prince's Gambit! :D

[theresattrpgforthat]

I'm a TTRPG designer, and also a big fan of the video game Terraria. I'm stuck on fun ways to handle material gathering and crafting. Send me some inspiration! Thanks!

THEME: Gathering and Crafting

Hello friend! Putting this one together was very fun. I hope you enjoy it!

Stoneburner, by Fari RPGs.

Stoneburner is a sci-fantasy solo-friendly demon-hunting community-building tabletop role-playing game.Inspired by the new school revolution movement, players take on the role of a group of dwarves who must assume control of a demon haunted mine, along with its accompanying settlement, which they inherited after the death of their distant relative.The game focuses on the dwarves' journey as they navigate the challenges of their new responsibilities, rebuild a new thriving community, and clear the mine of its fire spitting monsters.

A techno-fantasy game of exploration and survival. You’ll be delving into a mine to extract resources and attempting to maintain and protect your community not just from magical beasts, but also greedy and plotting rivals. The system is built on Breathless, which is pretty rules-lite on the face but has a lot of possibility to expand, borrowing quite a bit from the NSR but giving the GM specific cues where they have a license to complicate the story. You’ll find a lot of familiar pieces here, with character classes, special abilities, and loot tables. Stoneburner isn’t fully ready to be published quite yet, but in the meantime you can check out the free preview!

Hostile (Rules and Setting), by Zozer Games.

Welcome to the gritty, retro-future universe of HOSTILE. Based on the Cepheus Engine, these rules add in realistic combat rules as well as setting-specific rules from some of the eighteen HOSTILE supplements. When combined with its companion book, the HOSTILE Setting, you will have a complete, stand-alone, retro-future sci-fi game. HOSTILE is a gritty, near future roleplaying setting that is inspired by movies like Outland, Bladerunner and Alien. It is a universe of mining installations, harsh moons, industrial facilities, hostile planets and brutal, utilitarian spacecraft.

When I looked up info about this game, HOSTILE was described as not an ALIEN RPG, but rather an RPG that you could plug Alien into. It’s a space horror setting, but what kind of space horror is up to you. The Rulebook has rules on trade, salvaging, and other pieces of resource management, while the setting book contains construction rules for your own mega-ton spaceship. There’s also plenty of colonies, survival rules, campaign advice and encounter tables. If this is interesting to you, I’d recommend checking out the Double Shift Bundle, which offers both the Rulebook and the Setting Book for 20% off.

Forbidden Lands, by Free League Publishing.

Forbidden Lands is a new take on classic fantasy roleplaying. In this open-world survival roleplaying game, you’re not heroes sent on missions dictated by others - instead, you are raiders and rogues bent on making your own mark on a cursed world. You will discover lost tombs, fight terrible monsters, wander the wild lands and, if you live long enough, build your own stronghold to defend.

As raiders and rogues, in Forbidden Lands you will need to scavenge to survive. Built on Free League’s Year Zero Engine, this game uses an abstract resource called consumables which your characters will have to find regularly, because food goes bad and you can only carry so many things. The game focuses on the dangers of the road, although not all dangers are terrifying - you’re not fighting orcs all the time - sometimes you’re just battling mosquitoes and cold weather. There’s also rules about building, maintaining, and defending a stronghold, which sounds kind of similar to building and defending your house in Terraria. There’s a lot to keep track of in Forbidden Lands, and as long as you don’t mind playing characters with a somewhat loose moral compass, this game might be for you!

A Fistful of Darkness, by monkeyEcho.

A Fistful of Darkness is a Weird West Fantasy hack of Blades in the Dark with heavy emphasis on the fantasy part. It’s not intended to be an accurate history lesson or a simulation of past times. It is designed to be a cinematic game which lets you play all those Weird West tropes towards the end of the world.

Imagine a world with the magic and mystery of the frontier: wide open plains of the Old Wild West in all its beauty and madness, where violence and sacrifice dominate every single day. Now add the Hellstone rush, underground mayhem in mines and brand new sciences & machines. Don’t forget immigration, injustice, vigilante justice, outlaws, gunslingers, slick talkers and setting suns. This all in the face of an impending doom: Demons and the four riders bringing the end of the world as you know it. How do you make it to the top of this powder keg, which side will you take in the impending war and how much will your soul suffer? Let’s play to find out!

Forged in the Dark games abstract your resources a bit, but the Hellstone of A Fistful of Darkness is so important to the setting that you’ll find yourselves doing whatever you can to get your hands on it. It’s a crafting material, it’s currency, and it’s the bringer of mutations and curses, what with it being a demonic material and all. Because you’ll be running a group playbook alongside your own characters, you’ll be working together to improve your tools, allies, abilities and home base, especially if you choose the Scavengers Posse. If you like action and suspense as much as you like inventory and communal goals, then this game is for you.

LOOT, by Gila RPGs.

Do you love loot? Then you're in the right place.

Go on quests, find loot, do it all over again. Your character is entirely defined by the loot they wear and carry. Loot is generated and passed out at the end of each quest with a dynamic loot pool system.

This is an application of the LUMEN system that eschews dice. Players have a number of uses for each of their approaches, which can be spent to overcome obstacles. Complications arise when you have to cobble together a solution using a different approach, or when you avoid marking an approach at all. This is a game still in a free playtest, so the designer is happy to hear feedback if you decide to give it a whirl!

[prpfz]

There might be a long shot but who knows? Maybe this will catch the interest of someone else! This will be MxM.

I’m looking for someone who can do a literate rp with me, full of world building. I have the basic idea for a plot in mind and a I would love to find someone who’s willing to expand on the world and chat OOC about things with me! The tone that I’m looking for is a dark fantasy tone, with an emphasis on the gritty details and political maneuvering that tends to happen. I don’t want to overload this ad so I’ll keep most of the details for if anyone likes this! But this will likely involve 🕊️ themes such as genocide, violence, survival horror (freezing, starvation), slavery, prostitution, and other things in that line.

With that all being said, here’s the plot that I’m hoping to do!

YC is the disgraced prince of a kingdom in the south, sent away where he could hope to regain his honor on the battlefield. That was five years ago. For five years YC had been fighting in a frozen wasteland of a rebellious colony to the north, no closer to ending this than he was five years ago. He’s earned a reputation for being a clever commander and good on the battlefield, quickly earning himself the title of scourge of the realm and blight of the north. But it’s been five years of freezing cold winds and meager company.

One day, after a raid on a rebel camp, he comes back to a gift left for him in his tent, a captured Northerner that the soldiers claims is just a whore, and would be a fine slave to keep their commanders bedroll warm at night and draw him a bath after a long battle. Knowing that worse would happen to the whore if he handed him back, he decides to keep him. What YC doesn’t know is that the whore is actually a prince of his own, thought to be dead but now helping the rebellion. He let himself be captured in order to get close to YC, and plans to strike when the time is right and kill him once and for all.

But the worst winter in a century is coming in quickly, and soon surviving until the next day may become the only concern of importance. The prince makes a promise to himself that once spring comes he’ll kill YC, but who can say how much can change over those long cold months?

Basically I want to do a plot where my character pretends to be a simple slave to your character, while secretly plotting to kill him when the time is right. Your character on the other hand is just glad to have an eager body in bed with him and someone to talk to that he doesn’t have to worry about causing a mutiny. The two of them would grow closer through the brutal war campaign and the harsh winter. Exactly what happens after that can be discussed! If this sounded interesting at all then leave a like and I’ll get back to you! ❄️

give a like and anon will get back to you

[boyrobott]

i fully get it bc i know what u mean about original astro boy manga being silly with it vs pluto being relentlessly sad. but i do think it's really important to say that pluto's themes draw on a LOT LOT LOT of stuff present in the original manga! like, the stuff about hate making a robot closer to a human/allowing them to kill a human despite most robots being physically unable to is pulled directly from the blue knight story. the original greatest robot on earth story that pluto is based off is about pluto struggling with not wanting to be a robot made only for killing bc he had a nice time hanging out with uran and doesn't wanna make her sad. epsilon still dies saving his adopted human son, and atom ends the story mourning for all the robots who got killed for goji to prove a point. the moral (which multiple characters say) is that what makes a robot OR a person strong is their love and humanity not their killing power, and it is both stupid and perpetuating the cycle of violence to force robots to hurt each other. the robot hate group man in pluto is inspired by the villain of a segment in astro boy tales part 2&3 where he literally is in a group wearing kkk hoods and does a whole pr attack about robots killing his son because he is campaigning to remove their rights.

and it's not just the stories pluto references! hell, in basically half the stories at minimum a robot is forced by a human to do a crime, the police go 'dang i guess we gotta take the rights of all robots away and destroy them for scrap :(' and atom has to find the human responsible so that doesn't happen (the third magician, electro, and his highness deadcross are some good examples). the plot of the story robot land is atom struggling with wanting to save a bunch of robots being beaten up and worked to the bone by their creator, but he can't because robots are still technically property and helping them escape would be stealing and therefore illegal. in the little intro comics tezuka drew in the collection, he literally says 'yeah this is about the vietnam war being awful' about like fully three different stories. and that's just off the top of my head!!

'what makes a person, where is our empathy, why do we quest for vengeance when it only sucks us into a cycle, have we lost our humanity' are literally the most important core themes of astro boy, which is why it's so so impressive for kids comics that are still broadly super super cute and funny!

legitimately sorry for putting a huge wall of text in ur inbox because i know it's unsolicited and probably uncool. but astro boy is super important to me and so is the idea that a story can be goofy silly child adventures and also explore dark and serious themes? so i had like. a moment when i saw ur post lol. i get it if u dont wanna read all this etc but i wanted to i guess encourage u to give the manga a second pass even if u aren't into pluto at all. there's an insane amount of stuff there that really really legitimately is that deep

Okay, may I just say, I'm absolutely loving your impassioned defense of the manga here. You're bringing so much ride-or-die energy to the table right now, and I'm loving it. But I've been slowly reading through the manga over the past few years, so I... kind of already know all this??? That's pretty much the whole reason I made the joke in the first place -- because there are so many similar storylines and themes between the original manga and the Pluto series, but the individual tones literally could not be more different. The fact that a grim dystopian anime about the horrors of war and the true meaning of humanity is saying the same exact things as a fun, lighthearted, campy manga series?? Sorry, but that's just hilarious to me.

I can definitely see where the misunderstanding came from, but I promise, you do not need to defend the manga to me, LMAO.

[envihellbender]

The Dungeonmaster!Eddie meeting Vecna

Rating: Mature themes (horror)

Fandom: Stranger Things x Dead by Daylight

Characters: Eddie Munson, Vecna

Content: Killer!Eddie, questioning reality, philosophical I guess

Summary: Eddie had been avoiding Vecna, until he was forced to face him.

—

Eddie had first seen Vecna a week before they finally spoke. At first he didn’t believe it was him at all. He had a great deal of experience working with him in campaigns but he had always imagined and described him differently. He tended to focus on the otherworldly aspect not the skeletal corpse element, and he was far taller than expected. Plus, he never took into account how oppressive his presence was, his descriptions truly paled in comparison. He had been avoiding being alone with the dark wizard the entire time, or even near him at all. He’d been keeping his distance for so long that when he left the trial to discover him reading awaiting to go to one of his own he was taken aback. He stumbled a little, his hands becoming fists and twitching up and down.

“Dungeon Master,” Vecna croaked with a smug laugh when he saw Eddie. “What a title.”

“You- Lord Vecna,” he responded, his voice a mumble as he was unsure of what else he could say.

“To think, the one who tells the tales of the heroes is here alongside me.” Unexpectedly, judging by Vecna’s body language - bowing his head and his relaxed shoulders - he seemed to hold some reverence towards Eddie. The Dungeon Master had no idea how to respond to that, he was fixating on the implications more than anything else. He didn’t want this to be anything more than a coma dream, and if it was then he was a benevolent Dungeon Master. He was crafting stories, he wasn’t evil… But if here he was on the same side as Vecna, the Dark Wizard, the Lich then that complicated things.

“I- You’re not real. You’re something my brains made up, that’s all,” Eddie eventually spluttered, more for himself than anything else. Vecna didn’t cackle, like Eddie expected, instead he looked at him curiously.

“Am I truly the most unbelievable thing here, Dungeon Master?” He asked.

“I- I suppose not.” Eddie had to admit that, he was here with aliens, robots, urban legends… Vecna being a real thing was not actually that surprising. If this wasn’t a coma dream, which Eddie was not completely convinced of.

“You seem troubled.” Upon hearing Vecna, the Lich, the dark wizard, evil incarnate, show concern for Eddie, he let out a humourless laugh. If Vecna was concerned for him, then seems he was the bad guy after all.

“I don’t- don’t kill them for it,” Eddie said suddenly, trying to convince someone to something. “The Entity. I roll the dice. And they- I let fate decide. I just tell the story.”

“Hm. Is that right.” When Vecna said this he didn’t look like he believed Eddie, but he also didn’t look like he thought otherwise. Vecna was infuriatingly stoic.

“I’ve written stories with you in them,” Eddie said staring at his feet, the tic in his ankles causing them to crack. “As a game. For a campaign. You were the villain. Feels strange now.”

“Did they kill me?” The question caused Eddie’s neck to snap up, he wasn’t expecting interest nor was he anticipating Vecna asking if they killed him like if he was asking for the results of a football game.

“I- Huh?” Was all Eddie could respond with, feeling like a foolish child.

“The heroes in the stories, did they kill me?” Vecna spoke so respectfully, more so than actual humans Eddie had known, that he started to question … A lot. Everything even. Plus, did Vecna realise how powerful he was?

“No. Of course not. You’re too strong. They couldn’t attack you directly,” Eddie answered, his thick, black eyebrows were furrowed. It was making his temples hurt thinking about this, and he felt like his mind was being blown open into a thousand bits of brain matter trying to think of the implications.

“Do you not control the story?”

“I setup the map, and they decide where they want to go.”

“Hm. Is that how the trials work?”

“Yeah. It- it’s not like they’re real people. They’re elves, orcs, gnomes-”

“Curious. I consider all of those real,” Vecna interrupted. Eddie was thrown by this, he hadn’t even considered that.

“I- Oh. Yeah, I suppose-”

“And they are usually human with one or two elves.” Vecna pointed this out like they were on a debate team in high school, Eddie did not feel equipped for this conversation and he was baffled as to why Vecna thought he was.

“Well, maybe it’s different for each of us.” Eddie found himself responding as if he was waiting for some validation, which made his stomach twist in confusion.

“Perhaps,” Vecna began sagely as if Eddie had said something wise rather than what he thought was scrambling of something to say. “Personally, Dungeon Master, I wish to understand the Entity, control it and force it to submit to me. Is that not what you are doing in each trial?”

“I don’t choose what people do. The dice choose,” Eddie said this a final certainty. Even if he wasn’t clear on anything else, the dice he knew. Vecna stared at him as if he was piercing through his skull into his brain for a moment before replying.

“It makes you feel better to see it that way, does it not?”

“I… Suppose so.”

“It is curious how the Entity manifests for you, for each of us. Do you truly trust it with your mind?” Vecna asked and Eddie was thrown again, because it wasn’t something he had even considered.

“I- I don’t have much choice.” Eddie stared into the distance thoughtfully, his brows furrowed and a frown spreading across his face.

“But if you were given one? If you could serve someone else. Would you?” Vecna was starting to probe a little deeper than Eddie was comfortable with. He squirmed as his jaw ticced from left to right.

“Would they make me kill people?” Eddie asked with a forced laugh at the end.

“It would depend on the situation.”

“I- well- I don’t know. Would they let me go?”

“Perhaps I could be persuaded.”

“Then… I need to think,” Eddie ended simply. He turned away, trying to ignore the tightening in his chest. He tried not to run from Vecna, he forced his pace to remain slow and steady, he was done running even when what was in front of, or behind, him terrified him.

[grayintogreen]

Pinned Post 3: The Threequel

New year, new pinned post.

My blog contains multitudes. Main fandoms right now are Critical Role, Dimension 20, Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss, and Bleach, but I will also go unhinged and start reblogging stuff from things like Inuyasha/Yashahime, Pokemon, Steven Universe, Gravity Falls, Yellowjackets, Guardians of the Galaxy, LOST, Alias, and Wicked. Maybe I even have opinions on them. They're generally positive.

This is a chill blog. If you want negative opinions/critical opinions, go elsewhere. For the most part. If something makes me mad enough to even rant about it a LITTLE BIT, then it definitely fucked up somewhere, but I try really hard to not be a little hater on main.

I'm a multishipper who does not care what you ship, just don't be a little dick about it. I won't come to your house if I don't like your ship. You don't have to come to mine.

I love redemption arcs and people figuring out their shit and turning over a new leaf. This is a theme you will see a lot in my writing.

I also like body horror, dark themes, and weirdly? Happy endings. But I also like tragedies. I just love stories, guys. All stories are valid.

I work in retail management for a popular chain and knowing that gives you full perspective on how done with all petty bullshit I am. I'm also very old, very autistic, and very tired.

I write A LOT. My AO3 is also grayintogreen.

I talk A LOT about my writing and fics, especially my two big series life in the margins of redemption (LitMoR) and red roses and dead things (Roseverse). It's a sickness. More information below.

life in the margins of redemption: a For Want of a Nail Critical Role Campaign Two Canon Divergent series, is a duology (with additional side stories) that takes the alternate path outlined in the Harvest’s Close session notes- Cree rescuing the Nein from the Gentleman’s wrath should they betray him- and takes it a step further with Cree reviving Molly on the Glory Run Road and traveling with the Nein in the hopes of finding a way to bring Lucien back. It is extremely Canon Divergent, but does feature CR2 plots under radically different circumstances and with additional characters. It’s worldbuilding heavy, character-driven, often dark, but has a guaranteed happy ending. You may heard of it as “that 1.5 million word fanfic series.”

It is not canon compliant with TNEOL as I had finished OUADYA before TNEOL came out. While I use some elements from the novel, the backstory presented for Lucien and the Tombtakers in the series is entirely different.

character sheet.

tumblr tag.

LitMoR Vibes (vibe tag)

Voice Claims

red roses and dead things: A canon divergent (sensing a pattern here) AU of Hazbin Hotel/Helluva Boss that goes AU after Hazbin Hotel 1x06: Welcome to Heaven and Helluva Boss 2x10: Ghostfuckers. It is an ensemble series that focuses on the conflict between Heaven and Hell and the sordid history therein, Alastor's deal, various interpersonal drama, and Charlie growing into her power as a leader.

character sheet.

tumblr tag

this too is Roseverse (vibe tag #1)

Roseverse vibes (vibe tag #2)

Voice Claims

[caustic-caffeine]

Helpful Blog Guide (or, what you’ll find here)

this post updates from time to time | last update: november 1, 2024

『 Important Disclaimers! 』

Please read this if you aren’t already familiar with me and my work.

BYI ➥

This blog features dark themes, including but not limited to: gore*, toxic relationships, various forms of horror, violence, drug abuse, etc. There’s also the occasional eyestrainy post. Basically, I like to explore angst through my art and lore. I am not my characters, they are not me; I do not condone hurting yourself or other people.

*Gore is drawn and not of real life people.

I am a minor, and aroace, so sex isn’t mentioned (and especially not depicted) to any level here. What I choose to depict may change in the future, though. The general takeaway you should have is this:

This blog overall is a 16+ space. If you’re younger than 16, I won’t block you, but tread carefully. If any of you find any of the above topics to be upsetting, I recommend not following my page.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

DNI ➥

I don’t really have a DNI list. Respect me as I’ll respect you and we’ll be chill. That being said, I’m not afraid to use the block button.

I’d prefer people older than 30 or younger than 13 not trying to befriend me. Keep things art related! If I already know you/we’ve been mutuals for a while then don’t stress about this, though, you’re chill!

Also, if you’re pro generative ai, you’ll be blocked immediately.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Other Boundaries ➥

Or, “block conditions” if you will. If you do any of this stuff repetitively or severely I will block you. Also, this applies to you if you aren’t a friend: https://nohello.net/en/

Do not repost my work without my explicit permission. Reblog instead!

As a general rule, don’t use slurs around me. In certain circumstances I’m chill with it, but don’t push the envelope. (I use “queer” and sometimes “crippled” to describe myself, but don’t refer to me with those terms unless you’re lgbtq+ or disabled, respectively.)

Don’t draw porn of my characters or sona. Don’t send me porn, either. I will block (and possibly report) you.

Don’t draw gore of my sona and don’t send me real life/nonfictional gore.

Don’t ask me invasive questions.

Don’t vent in asks or dms unless I explicitly said you can. I understand needing help and seeking out support, but you don’t know me and I don’t know you. There are better resources to seek out than a random teenager on tumblr. /lh

I’d like to think all of this goes without saying, but yanno. It’s the internet.

『 Navigation! 』

Here are my links and tags in a handy dandy list for convenient stalking! (/lh)

Links ➥

Main blog: you are here!

Side blog: @vesuvian-vampire

Other links: see my linktree!

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Tags ➥

My stuff!

#art: #oc art, #oc ref sheet, #illustration, #doodle, #art fight (and #art fight 2024), #art trade, #art commission, #gift art (for specifics)

#just thoughts: #asks open, #answered asks (for specifics)

#writing; #oc lore, #worldbuilding (for specifics)

Others’ Stuff!

#reblogs: #others’ art, #others’ projects, #campaigns and fundraisers, #misc (for specifics)

『 About The Blogger! 』

Soo, what’s this page and who’s the person running it?

Hi! I’m Casey, an artist and worldbuilder with a love for dark fantasy and sci-fi settings. I primarily draw digitally using the program Procreate on my Ipad. In the future, I also want to branch out into programs like Live2D, Aseprite, and Blender. Perhaps I’ll even learn to code for visual novels and other games based on the stories floating around in my head. I dunno. I’m a mixed bag, really, both stylistically and in what I like to depict.

I’m disabled and neurodivergent (AuDHD). I deal with a lot of chronic fatigue and pain in my day to day so my post frequency is very sporadic.

I’m also queer. Aroace, agender, transmasc. I primarily use he/him but don’t really care about pronouns; just don’t use she/her on me.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Some things that inspire me ➥

The Arcana (visual novel game)

My awesome friends, mutuals, and artists I follow

Amulet (graphic novel series)

Slay The Spire (roguelike deckbuilder game)

Dead Cells (roguelike metroidvania game)

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Other General Likes ➥

My special interests (generally, art and writing)

Metal and hard rock music

Dogs (the bigger the better)

Baking

Kayaking and rafting

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

I post random shit on this account. Lots of art, but really whatever I feel like posting. It’s called “Casey’s Mystery Grab Bag” for a reason!

『 Other Info! 』

In the format of a q&a just because it’s fun.

“Who’s that one vampire(?) oc I see so frequently on this page?”

Francis! They use they/them pronouns exclusively and are a main character in one of my storylines, “Cecie’s Lament”. For more about Francis, check out their Toyhouse page!

“What’s your commission/art trade/art collab status?”

My commissions are closed.

Art trades are open (dm me if you’re interested)!

Art collabs are open to friends and mutuals.

If my status changes, I’ll update this post alongside announcing the status change.

“Who are the people whose names are bracketed?”

Those are whichever characters are being featured in a given post! Most are mine but some aren’t; the ones who belong to others are hyperlinked.

[blazehedgehog]

You mentioned on this Tumblr once about suggestions that SA2 upended its production near release but I can’t find the posts. I think it was to do with the E3 trailer only showing Sonic, Eggman and…Knuckles. It sounds believable given this is what happened to Frontiers.

A lot of the information I once believed about Sonic Adventure 2 has been thrown into question in recent years (largely because I think I kept bringing it up and that sent ripples out into the community where it ended up being treated like a secret fact.)

A lot of that information came from the old Sonic HQ news board, which wasn't strictly moderated. Some of it also came from semi-official sources but is generally believed to be debunked now, even though it's more just a lot of he-said-she-said. It's just in this case, one of the parties is a literal employee of Sega versus people who were a few rungs down the ladder.

That information included:

A Gamestop employee attending a retailers conference, giving us our first confirmation of SA2's "good versus evil" theme. Concept art was described of "Dark Sonic" and "Nails the Bat" (Shadow and Rouge). Art mentioned "Dark Sonic" was missing an eye in some art, and missing an arm in others. We have some of that art now. Other art we've never seen featured "an angel" (Maria?), a "goblin with a big nose" (Gerald?), and a creature made out of hundreds of eyes (an early Biolizard?) Interesting when you consider the art of Shadow missing an eye.

Early information focused only on Sonic, Knuckles and Eggman as playable characters, making it seem like they were the only ones available. A whole campaign and petition was created by upset Sonic fans over the absence of Tails in the story. A delay was announced by Sonic Team to "add more familiar faces" to the game, and a few months later, a revamped Sonic Adventure 2 with a new, more colorful logo was shown featuring Shadow, Rouge, and Tails. It's easy to think Shadow, Rouge and Tails were added to the playable roster later, but data for them exists all the way back in the PSO "SA2: The Trial" demo from Christmas 2000.

To my own specific memory, in addition to the "revamp" delay, I recall Sonic Adventure 2 being slated for February 2001 and getting delayed to June. In my teenager brain, I thought they were removing Adventure Fields. I have found absolutely no evidence to back this up, so I generally don't believe it, but I still have curiosity about why I remember it that way. This was nearly 25 years ago, though.

A North American issue of Official Dreamcast Magazine supposedly interviewed members of Sega about Sonic Adventure 2 and notably talked about a branching story system that did not make it into the final game. An entire scene was described featuring Sonic trapped in a submarine; the player was given the option to either make Sonic try piloting the sub or to pop the hatch and take his chances in the water. No such sequence or system appears in the final game, but a branching story system did make it into Shadow the Hedgehog in 2005. This magazine was officially endorsed and approved of by Sega at the time, so you would think the information would be as close to the horse's mouth as you can get. When asked at a convention a few years ago, Takashi Iizuka denied anything like this was ever considered for Sonic Adventure 2.

Generally speaking, Sonic Adventure 2 was originally unveiled as a darker, scarier, more serious game. You go back and watch the trailer included with SA2: The Trial and parts of it are almost presented like a horror movie.

SA2's tone did seem to go through a bit of a shift at some point during development. That scary, mysterious, adult-oriented tone became more like a Hollywood action movie, either internally or externally.

If I had to guess, part of the "familiar faces" delay was more likely to add Tikal, Chaos, Metal Sonic and Amy Rose to multiplayer. Probably Big, too, and it wouldn't surprise me if Big the Cat's secret cameos came around this time as well. How much things changed beyond that is very unknown unless we get lucky and somehow see what very early builds of the game look like.

The only thing I'm truly curious about anymore is the branching story system. Takashi Iizuka might deny it, but it obviously came from somewhere official, and the feature literally ended up in the game generally considered to be "Sonic Adventure 2 Part 2." He could be forgetting something or even straight up covering for someone.

[tomb-of-flora]

Introduction Post (V2)

I did an introduction post 7-8 months ago and it's really bad, so I wanted to do a new one.

Hello! I am relatively new to tumblr, but I've been here for over six months now, and it's the only social media I've been able to stick with for this long. It feels like I've officially put down roots with this blog, so I wanted to give myself a proper introduction.

A little about me: I'm a writer with a particular emphasis on poetry and fiction that angsts about identity. I'm a Dungeon Master who has been playing D&D (and occasionally other ttrpgs) since I was 12-13. I'm in my mid twenties (and am going to post accordingly so I don't want to see any minors interacting). I'm a lesbian, and ngl pretty much everything I say or do has an undertone of sapphic yearning. If i had to define my taste in general I love anything that is super feminine, pink, and princessy, and also anything that is gothic, rotted, and miserable. Anything that could combine the vibes of like Princess Peach/Sailor Moon and Edgar Allan Poe would be a dream come true for me. I also have a deep love on run down apocalyptic settings (especially if they include a theme park).

This blog will mainly be reblogs, fandom posts, and random things about myself and what I'm thinking. It's just kind of a personal haven to express myself and show my friends cool stuff I saw. I was originally going to make this a place where I posted about my writing/D&D, but all of that stuff kept getting buried, so I decided to delete those posts and make a couple dedicated sideblogs.

If you want to see my original posts i use the hashtag #entombedpost and for reblogs where I remembered to say something I use #entombedreblog

Follow @myovergrowngarden if you want to read/hear about my writing

Follow @yeehaw-in-magic-space if you want to hear about the adventures that take place in my space western/fantasy horror D&D campaign. I recap every session and drop random bits of lore on this account.

Some of my favorite books/short stories include: The Locked Tomb series, The Poet X, Clap When You Land, Family Lore, Any Other City, The Honey Month, This Is How You Lose the Time War, An Education in Malice, The Fall of the House of Usher, Mexican Gothic, The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, Why Don't We Just Kill the Kid In the Omelas Hole, Orientation, White Smoke, The Iliad/Odyssey.

Some of my favorite shows include: Supernatural, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Midnight Mass, Black Sails, Game of Thrones (seasons 1-4), House of the Dragon, Breaking Bad, Chernobyl.

Some of my favorite cartoons/anime include: Steven Universe, Over the Garden Wall, Arcane, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Cowboy Bebop, Delicious in Dungeon, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Noragami, Hunter X Hunter, Simoun, Chainsaw Man, the old DCAU (Batman TAS, Superman TAS, Batman Beyond, Justice League, Static Shock, JLU), Teen Titans, Star Wars Rebels, High Guardian Spice, Gravity Falls, Amphibia.

Some of my favorite video games include: The Last of Us PT II, Get in the Car, Loser, Hades/Hades II, Darkest Dungeon, Fallout: New Vegas, Celeste, Ace Attorney, Dark Souls, Epic Mickey, We Know the Devil, Slay the Princess, Long Live the Queen, Monster Prom/Camp/Road Trip. I also love a lot of board games, but I think that would push us over the text limit so I'm just going to mention that briefly.

Some of my favorite movies include: I Saw the TV Glow, Star Wars (particularly VI, VIII, IV, V), Lord of the Rings, Whisper of the Heart, Kiki's Delivery Service, Birds of Prey, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snowpiercer, Annihilation, Sorry to Bother You, the Fear Street Trilogy, a bunch of the Saw movies, Us, Nosferatu (1922).

[overfedvenison]

There's a wargame called Turnip 28, which is rooted in the Blanchitsu art movement and is about customizing your minis under a specific theme of essentially... Napoleonics but sorta Mad God-y, and with a turnip theme

(Source: Knucklebone Minis, Patreon: Patreon.com/knucklebonesminis Art posted publicly on Reddit)

(Source: https://gardensofhecate.com/blog/miniature/turnip28-fodder) Within Turnip 28, the apocalypse has happened long ago, and things have stagnated and fallen to ruin as the world has mutated with tuberous vegetation. Those that live fight on serving cults to the vegetables, as the lands have been churned to swamps. It's a dark setting, but in a way which is inherently unrealistic and evokes to me things like Mad God and the wackier portions of Dark Souls. It has a 'sister game' called Sludge, played with the same genre of minis and thus another way to use your guys

...This is cool. I'd like to try it, perhaps as a small army

But it also occurs to me. There is another, similar thing I was interested in a while back - the Red Steel D&D campaign setting:

This was a rather obscure D&D setting which happens to have a Musketeer-era France equivalent, Renardie. Renardie is not the focus of the setting, but it is a place which is of interest to me as it is the area with french wolf-men...

Red Steel, as written, has a bit of an odd identity crisis. There's not a lot of art of the setting, and it pulls in a few directions. The ideas like the French Wolf Dog-People having swashbuckling adventures is quite a cute concept. And in other areas, you have odd references to cowboy movies, fantasy Texas, and animal people. Yet, it's paired with a certain horror of the setting, as what defines it is the Red Curse which pollutes the land in a red haze and dyes all around a shade of red. The Red Steel setting is an area of Mystara set upon by a red haze. With the curse, comes Legacies - degenerative mutations of the body and mind, paired with magical powers. Those mages and warriors skilled in Legacy Magic, and who control the movement of Cinnabryl - that precious metal which can keep it's worst effect abated - are called Inheritors, and research the curse. Those without access to Cinnabryl gradually decay and mutate heavily - And if you die from it, you rise as a Cursed One, a sort of hollow skeleton who wanders the land in search of Cinnabryl, only for it to never be enough.

So it's a little odd. Is this a swashbuckling adventure? Or is it Elden Ring? Yet, it lives on in my mind as something quite compelling.

Now, don't get me wrong - I don't think Red Steel is meant to be read as a Grimdark, Blanchitsu-esque world. And yet...

(Source: Me) ...I always thought a campaign set in Renardie during a French Revolution/Reign of Terror type of setting would be fun. The book goes into great detail about the inner politics of Renardie - and how the nobles often keep the Cinnabryl supplies, how the afflicted gather in squalour, and how the bourgeoise are emerging as a separate class of people famed for their vineyards. That could be emphasized into something very cool, and very dark

So... What if we sorta, combine those two?

Turnip 28 is Napoleonic, where everything is dyed with dirt and mud and swampland and all the life is mutated with tubers. Red Steel is just pre-napoleonic, where everything is dyed red with vermeil and red steel, and where life is mutated with the touch of legacies...

Perhaps I could go Blanchitsu, but with many shades of red.

And then I could have some minis which serve a quadruple purpose - As minis for Turnip 28, as minis for Sludge, as minis for the Red Steel setting, and as minis for my homebrew setting of Angelpoint which I have imported some Red Steel rules into