#they asked her to be a spy

[blorbologist]

Y'know, I think I figured out why the Hells still feel like a new low-level party to me, even though they're level 13 and almost 100 episodes in.

I don't quite think it's the lack of conversations, or the fact half the party's plot hooks are big ties to past campaigns - though that definitely plays a part.

... Bell's Hells still primarily rely on quest givers.

Most of their goals are given to them and do not feel organic to the party, and constantly remind us that the Hells are pretty much never the most powerful people in the room. Which is usually something you see with a low-level party.

NPCs offering jobs is not a bad thing; it's a very common plot hook. Matt has been extremely skilled with using NPC quest givers in those two campaigns. Not only do they provide an obvious plot thread, but they can put the party in the path of others (say, the Nein running into the Iron Shepherds while doing a job for the Gentleman and everything that came of that). And the Hells had a solid start with it too - Eshteross was an excellent quest giver!

The problem is that Bell's Hells have never really not had a quest giver.

Maybe it's a byproduct of the more plot-heavy structure of this campaign? But while prior parties have felt like they decided on their course of action and what they prioritized, Bell's Hells feels less like level 13 (13! Level 13!) experienced adventurers and more like an MMO group clicking on the exclamation point over an NPC's head. Where does the plot demand we go next? Who do we report back to?

They're level 13.

At level 13, Vox Machina had just defeated a necromantic city-state to clear their name and Percy's conscience. And, you know, the Conclave just destroyed Emon. No one was explicitly telling the group to gather Vestiges and save the world (though Matt guided them there), and they were usually among the most powerful people in the room. They chose which Vestiges to prioritize, which dragons to tackle when, even if the over-all plot was pretty clear.

At level 13, the Mighty Nein were celebrating Traveler Con (another PC goal, I'll note) after brokering peace between two nations, accidentally becoming pirates and heroes of the Dynasty. The Nein regularly chose what to do based on personal goals, not grand ones. Though definitely smaller fish than Vox Machina at this level, they were very independent and gaining solid political clout.

While we're at it: level 13 is one level lower than the Ring of Brass, who had a huge amount of sway over Avalir. They ended the world, and also saved it, while in the grand scheme of things being only a smidge more powerful than Bell's Hells are now.

Can you really see the Hells wielding that amount of influence, when they're constantly being told what to do next?

The god-eater might be unleashed, so Bell's Hells have no time to do anything but what is asked of them. No time for therapy unless stolen from Feywild time, no travel on foot and late-night watches. They haven't even had time to grieve FCG. Percy was grieved in the middle of the Conclave arc. Molly was grieved when half the party was still in irons.

Matt is in the very unfortunate spot of not being able to give the Hells the same agency as the other two parties. Not only because of the world-ending plot introduced so early on; they are surrounded by characters they know (and the cast knows) are stronger and wiser than them - the familiarity of the past PCs and NPCs is to their disadvantage.

Why would the party reasonably ignore Keyleth's task that will help save the world and go off on a romp? Why would the cast when they know well Keyleth has to be sensible and with the best intentions in mind? The stakes are just too high.

It means that the Hells still feel like they're running errands instead of pursuing their own destiny. Their accomplishments are diminished as just being parts of a to-do list, and any stakes feel padded by several level 20 PCs/NPCs standing 5 steps away ready to catch them.

This isn't Bell's Hell's fault, nor is it Matt's. It could be amended, I think, if the Hells are really left to their own devices for a long period of time without support and shortcuts (like during the party split)... which would be really tricky to pull off at this point in the campaign.

They're level 13. They're big fish, but they're stuck in a pond full of friendly sharks, so they don't feel big at all.

[1alchemistart]

i literally never do this but idk i was just drawing and they happened SDFKLSDKL

my girls do not yet have names bc i am cosmically bad at coming up with names and also inexplicably picky about it but def feel free to suggest some DSLKFSDKL

also for why damian is even involved,

[wistfulwatcher]

in a n o t h e r life

[fox-guardian]

I’m sorry but . Your butch Celia is fucking everything to me I think . She’s so <3 the everything .

[ID: Digital drawings of Celia Ripley from The Magnus Protocol on a gray background. She is a slim, muscular Korean woman with pale skin, short black hair, dark brown eyes, dimples, body hair, and eyebags. In all drawings, she is wearing black rectangular glasses, and snakebite piercings, industrials, and x-shaped stud earrings, all gold. The top two drawings are of her in casual wear, with a light green t-shirt with the short sleeves cuffed, purple cuffed jeans, light green socks, dark green Doc Marten boots with gold laces, and a green belt with gold hardware. The upper left drawing is of her from the shoulders up, holding a purple mug with both hands and taking a sip while looking up, and to the right is a full-body of her sitting holding the mug with one hand and leaning slightly on the other, smiling at the viewer. There is a note that says "casual mode" pointing to both of them. The last drawing on the bottom left is much smaller and is of her wearing a light green button down, dark green trousers, light green socks, dress shoes, a belt, wrist cuffs, and shoulder holsters, all purple, and a black necktie. She is kneeling and aiming a golden pistol with a serious expression, and she has a second gold pistol in her other holster. This drawing is labelled as "spy!Celia theory/au" and "(I'm gay let me have this)" end ID]

~~~~

never apologize she is everything to me also <3

[morganbritton132]

Eddie, posting to TikTok: Look, I love my husband. I adore this man and I have for the majority of my life. He is the shining star in my sky.

Eddie: And I know. I know he wants to read more this year. And I know that when you’re dyslexic, it can be really difficult and I’m happy every time he accomplishes what he wants but…

*Flips camera to show Steve reading on the other side of the couch*

Eddie, gesturing: What kind of demented book handling is this? That book is bent in half. It’s a hardback!

[aerequets]

community discussion, do you view Yor's eyes as reddish brown or just red

[symphonypikachu]

You should draw Anya holding Damian bridal style.

𓁹‿𓁹

heh.

[bugnoirelahiffe]

post indentity reveal twiyor would definitely get married (for real) during a battle pirates of the caribbean style

[a-scary-lack-of-common-sense]

Falls on my face. Explodes. Screams. Cries. I'm disabled and use a cane. I LOVE YOUR DISABLED MERC STUFF. IM ACTUALLY SOBBING AND CRYING IM JUST SO AHWHEAUUEUEEUIWIWIRTUEI HAPPY!!!!!!! i actually headcanon Spy to have EDS and fibromyalgia (I'm not projecting whaaaaat) and Sniper to have chronic back, knee, and shoulder pain. And I have other hcs but sniperspy are my blorbos

Anyway i just wanted to say that I really really like your stuff. Made my day tbh

Chronic pain and shitty joints aside, Spy would forever continue to slay and serve absolute cunt

"You better not be slaying cunt when I come back"

Spy:

[blimbo-buddy]

ooh… mayhaps princess?

Peasant

A huge grey-and-white she-cat with distinctive long, pale tabby fur on her chest, paws, and tail. She has folded ears and red eyes.

Unlike canon, she holds a special kind of hate for the Clans and what they stand for. When happily reunited with "Rusty", he lied about being a stray, which did fool her for some time. During this time, her Twolegs adopted a white kit named Cloud, Peasant growing fond of him quickly. She let Cloud visit "Uncle Rusty" but grew concerned when he stopped coming back as often, until he stopped showing up completely.

Upon learning that "Rusty" was actually FireHeart of Thunderclan, and that Cloud had been made a member of the Clan under the name CloudKit/Paw, Peasant was furious. After failing a solo rescue mission, she turned to Bloodclan for help, prompting a raid on the Clan. Cloud wasn't found, and later it was learnt that he had been taken by Twolegs; It was to the dismay of Thunderclan & relief of Peasant. She became a spy for Bloodclan up until Scourge's death. When the Clans fled the forest, she felt a surge of joy, but her heart ached. She wished for Cloud's safety, where ever he was, and wondered what became of the cat she used to call brother

[thatcatangelwriter]

annabeth doesn't talk about what luke said when he came to her house asking her to run away with him and no matter how hard the others try she won't say anything.

[ask-starlight-anya]

[rius-cave]

I remember that one post saying Alastor would purposely ask Niffty to clean Adam's room the most bc he is still pissy about getting his ass beaten by Lucifers boytoy. So imagine this: Lucifer and Adam sleeping peacefully together after one night- until fucking Niffty bursts into the door

Niffty: TIME TO CLEAN YOUR BEDS YOU GAY-GAY MEN!!

And Alastor would literally have a win-win situation for himself bc he gets to annoy Lucifer and Adam at the same time.

I'm sure that Lucifer would tell Charlie and she'd have to tell Alastor to stop harassing her dad and his bbg..😔

You know? Now that I think about it, Nifty likes bad boys, right? So she is lowkey into Lucifer and Adam. I think my girl would also enjoy seeing them together tremendously. Nifty here be representing us adamsapple shippers huh.

Also yes, we have small omega Lucy here having to protect his big omega from the radio demon, cause he's his property

[thephoenixcave]

“Edgar Steals a Book” (the sequel to “Edgar Wants Attention”

Whereupon the King meets his untimely (but much deserved) end 💀

Was it all part of some master plan? Or did he just see the opportunity in the moment and go for it? We will never know. No Fenix Downs for you buddy, you best stay down and think about your life choices 😆

More comics ’n’ stuff here (link)

[non-plutonian-druid]

[ID: a comic in the TUA paranatural au, depicting Patch recruiting Lila to spy on the Activity Club for her. Both of them are about twelve. The first three panels are a flashback of an argument between Diego and Patch.

Flashback, Panel 1: A younger Patch shouts at a younger Diego, "WHAT is the Activity Club!" Diego growls "None of your business."

Panel 2: Patch says, teary-eyed, "You've been so different since you joined."

Panel 3: Diego looks guilty while Patch continues, "It's like it ate your brain! Why won't you talk to me anymore?"

Present Day, Panel 1: Patch is leaning on a desk while Lila sits on it. Patch says, "So, yeah. That's why I want to know what the Activity Club does."

Panel 2: Lila kicks her feet and says " And that's why you want me to join YOUR club. So I can spy on them for you." Patch smiles, embarrassed, and says "Yeah, basically."

Panel 3: Patch hunches her shoulders, saying, "It sounds bad when you say it like that."

Panel 4: She looks beseechingly up at Lila. "But I'm really worried about him. He won't talk to any of his friends. What the hell did they do to him!"

Panel 5: Lila waves her hand reassuringly. "No, I totally get it!"

Panel 6: Lila holds out her hand to Patch, smiling. "I'll tell you everything I learn."

Panel 7: She continues, "Trust me." Meanwhile, she writes a list in a notebook, headed with "Lies for Patch". End ID]

[chloeapplepi]

spending time with uncle yuri