#General RWS Stuff

[sparkarrestor]

So we all know that Awdry originally had James as a GSWR Class 403 since it fit the description of an inside-cylinder mogul, but later changed James to be an English design. This post stems off the thought of "What If Awdry kept James Scottish?"

This whole thing was also brought on by @mean-scarlet-deceiver's Tales of the G&SW excerpts.

Beware, my writing of a Scottish accent is terrible, try not to cringe.

What If Scottish James

Written By: SparkArrester

1929

James was in a foul mood. Henry, like usual, failed. Now he was stuck with his coal train. That he had to arrange himself. Apparently the new shunter was busy with something that wasn’t shunting.

“Stupid Trucks, stupid coal, stupid everythingggg”, He moaned as he marshalled his train, “All that time being cleaned was a waste!”

The trucks, sensing an opportunity for mischief, made it their mission to give James the worst morning possible. They jammed their brakes, ran hot axles boxes, and some even derailed in the yard. The breaking point was when an old tippler’s front hatch flew open. Coal poured out onto the rails, and onto James, coating his front end. The trucks all burst out laughing, but they were soon cut off.

“Yee wretched little INGRATES!”, Burst out James in a perfect scottish dialect, “Ye all oor jus’ little devious muckle nuisances that are no fit ta scrape ta scale oof me boiler, ye little wee gobshites!”

This continued for some time, until James heard a familiar whistle, and immediately blanched. Percy rolled in looking gobsmacked.

“Err, uhh, hey James?”

“Wha arr ye -ahem- what are, uh, you doing here Percy?”

“Coming to take over the shunting.”

“Ah, right.”

“...”

“... Percy.”

“Yes?”

“Please don’t tell anyone…”

“James, I’m pretty sure everyone on this side of the island heard you.”

“... Dang it.”

1951

James sat there, covered in tar. His crew had already gone to the station to phone for help, and one of the old Suddery Tanks brought a crane to assist. He was hoping for an engine like Edward or Henry to take him to the works. In the meantime, quietly grumbling to himself was good enough. In fact, he was so absorbed with himself that he forgot his surroundings.

“Stupid wee muckle nuisances…”, he muttered, “Stupid Toby. If ‘e wasnae a huge prat my red coat wouldnae be in ruins. Honestly, those wee branchline engines are nothing but great big pieces ‘o-”

A ring of a bell broke him out of his thoughts. He jumped back as he realized Toby and Percy were right beside him. He prayed they hadn’t heard him. They did.

“Ark ay Percy!”, Chortled Toby in a terrible Scottish accent, “Whatever isnae that dirty object!”

“That isn’t even how you use isnae…”, muttered James, but of course they took no notice.

They continued speaking in terrible accents all the way to the sheds. James didn’t know if he should be angry at their teasing, or their complete butchering of his old dialect (one he had tried his hardest to shake), so he settled for both. 

1959

The Fat Controller had brought a new goods engine to help out. James was glad at first, now someone else could work the pick-up goods while he got more passengers. He had heard that there was something up with the new engine when it had arrived, but he didn’t put much stock into it. Later in the day, he was backing down on what would hopefully be his last pick-up goods in a while when he heard a whistle. A deep-toned whistle that he had not heard in years. James grimaced as a Caledonian steam engine pulled up on the adjacent line, giving him the stink eye.

“Well Well Well…” The Caledonian spat, “A Sou’-West engine. And one of Pee-Wee Drummond’s oven-boxes! Ah hoped we saw the last ‘o ye back ‘ome!”

“The feeling is most certainly mutual!” He replied with vitriol that wasn’t really there. He hoped to leave everything pre-sodor behind. But of course it had found him. At least he still had a slight bad opinion towards the Caledonian, it did him good in this confrontation.

“Ark aye!”, Exclaimed the Caledonian, “Why do ye soond like tha?”

James was taken aback, “Like what?”

“There it is again! Aye Douggie!”

The question of who “Douggie” was got itself answered quickly, when an identical Caledonian  engine pulled up besides the first.

“Aye Donnie. What’s up!”

“Wait wait, just let that Sou’-West engine speak!”

James defiantly shut his mouth, but then his crew chose that exact time to ask him something. He replied as quietly as possible. But not quiet enough.

“O Aye!” Exclaimed “Douggie”, “He soonds like a wee sassenach!”

James went red in the face, “Well! I-I-I-”

“Tha accent is ass!” Chortled “Donnie”, and soon “Dougie” joined in.

They continued until James left, his face matching his paintwork. He put a good few months practicing his accent, and it was hard. He now figured out what exactly was up with the new engine: there were two of them, and they both sucked.

[cioror]

damn... its been so long my apologies

[alexander-norkat]

"Here lies a strange energy"

More shenanigans of things that doesn't exist, a complete amalgamation of my feelings from rainworld (I was just fooling around with the brushes)

[mebis-rain-world-corner]

On The Prince's awakening, and enlightenment through echoes

While the throne has probably existed for eons, and something was starting to coalesce at its peak, it is pretty openly stated that it is watcher's precense in the throne what acted as catalyst for the birth of the prince's selfhood

Ahh! To move! To breathe free!

Never again... STARVING, pressing, grinding, SQUEEZING

against... us? But now... I? A... SELF And... an OTHER.

Oh the joy! The incomparable JOY!

Ahhh hah... familiar.

There was... such discomfort... and hunger. Endless hunger! And then... a presence!

A light! A scent! A tunnel! To freedom! How beautiful, FREEDOM!

A scent. Familiar. So familiar.

The watcher is probably the first living thing to be to the throne proper in an eternity

But I think there's more to this

4 karma "murals", 4 karma upgrades

4 visits, 4 warp points

Watcher's visits brought enlightenment like visiting echoes would do for a slugcat

"The highest enlightenment, achieved by the hardest path. A feat even guardians must respect" This achievement requires the player to raise their maximum karma to the highest level without visiting Five Pebbles. To do this, the player must find 4 out of the 6 Echoes, each of which raise the player's maximum karma by a small amount. All 4 Echoes must be found before visiting Five Pebbles. The achievement is earned as soon as the last Echo raises the player's karma level to the maximum of 10.

And is not as simple as just visiting 4 times either: for this awakening to properly progress you must make it to the top, eat the karma flower, then make it to a previously sealed chamber to open a warp point there

almost as if you're opening new pathways in its brain (tree)

A light! A scent! A tunnel! To freedom! How beautiful, FREEDOM!

These paths you weave. Through them I have expanded my kingdom. I have tasted and I have become. It is my true purpose I believe. Perhaps the only purpose!

Enlightenment is gaining knowledge, understanding, insight

Perhaps Echoes don't just give you more karma merely by merit of being extraplanar beings with influence over karma itself, or by the insight behind their anecdotes

Perhaps Echoes give you a glimpse into what lies beyond, a window to the fractal layers of reality

Perhaps what is happening here is something similar, the watcher showing the throne other worlds through the paths

the karma flowers though, thats harder to understand

perhaps the one at the very top represents the little death that is sleep ("like sleep like death")

Echoes always send you back to sleep after all

[lucabyte]

Nah, I'm sure it's still Dante if I try hard enough.

part one - (link) part two - (link)

Bonus:

[maryymaruu]

I've been feeling very artistically paralyzed (due to stress) so all I have to share are some traditional scribbles of my slugcats-

The Listener, the one with funky ears, was adopted, the one with 6 limbs is new though! I'm still working on them, but the idea is quite basic; am extra set of limbs at the front, equipped with big claws. No idea how to call them tho-

I might digitalize the sleeping sketches if I make it before my internship begins ;w; (Monday)

[ask-the-pioneer]

"Yes, I am now heading towards Five Pebbles, the local iterator. I find it funny how I was born and spent my first cycles in the shadow of his superstructure, while being completely oblivious to the existence of this demi-god. And now that I came back here... it feels even more uncanny."

"Though, I really... I really wish Hunter did not abandon me like that. I thought we were meant to go on that mission together? I'm not blind, I know something is wrong with him. We used to go on expeditions in the past, but now that he has a very important payload to deliver and could use some help, he suddenly doesn't need it? I don't understand... I'm more than capable in combat, we make a good team, I thought he was happy with my company?"

"We separated earlier at Farm Arrays. Hunter kept insisting he has to do it alone, despite my pleading. Instead, I was told to head straight to Five Pebbles. I thought we had to visit there anyway? Iterators often use slugcats as messengers, I've learned..."

"Sigh... I feel a little lost all on my own. I miss Hunter already. I hope that, despite everything, he's okay and we will return to NSH soon. But first, I need to pay the local iterator a visit. I'm hoping for some guidance in regards to... ahem... rot, yeah. I heard they've been affected by the disease, too. Maybe they've got an idea on how to manage it? It doesn't hurt to try. Maybe I'll hang around this area for a while to collect as many pearls as possible, then have Five Pebbles read them to me? One of those has to have some kind of instruction on how to treat rot, it has to... I refuse to believe that the disease which plagued iterators for countless cycles is untreatable."

"Uh... the Red One?"

[kelocitta]

In honor of the @rw-ship-showdown I wanted to write about Artihunter as someone who jokingly slapped them together pre-downpour and still thinks they are actually very compelling. Just not in the super soft love wins kinda way (Although I get why people like that more) And the only way I know how to do that is talking too much so heres a far too long slug essay-

Obviously the slugcats don't offer a ton of characterization but theres not nothing to work with. Their stories, whether by their roles in it or the overarching themes do provide a backbone to work with. Even gameplay itself can provide a bit. (for some more than others) Hunter, to me, is ultimately a story about selflessness. The goal is to revive Moon, which is very much an act of kindness from both Hunter and NSH. But the weight of that action is much more significant for Hunter- Hunter is deeply sick. They're on the clock, and for all their skill in combat none of that will ultimately help them to survive longer than their body can hold out. Moon is a close friend of NSH but that means little Hunter- Hunter really gets next to nothing out of helping them, and ultimately pays quiet a bit spending their limited time alive fighting to deliver that neuron so that someone else can live.

To spend ones limited days on helping another, in a game that very much stresses the unwavering cruelty of the world and nature- is pretty notable. (And you could even say that Hunter being the Hardmode of Rain World adds another layer to this)

And then we have Artificer. A storyline that very much stands out to people as more… villainous (so to speak) than the other slugcats. Artificer's story covers a lot of things. Trauma, violence, revenge, etc. Revenge is a bit of a selfish desire- That need to see someone hurt as they have hurt you. A punishment that ultimately does not fix whatever harm was done- but feels good to see because you were hurt and now those responsible share that pain.

Artificer's actions are founded in that need for revenge, their pups killed for overstepping boundaries they didn't know existed. Is it not fair for them to be angry at that, to punish the scavengers for their violence with their own? Why should the scavengers ever be forgiven when they and their pups were not? And that's how you get that loop- Harm for harm over and over.

The original action has been lost in a spiral of violence for violence. And here stands Artificer- their very spirit scarred. Not just because they sought revenge, but because they never ceased trying to scratch that itch for violence as an answer. Artificer only has two paths for their story- killing the scavenger king (Someone who, really, has little to do with the original 'crime' of the scavengers, but represents an important individual to them- as did the slugpups to Artificer), locking themselves as karma one for good and spending the rest of their life chasing creatures that no longer even fight back in a warped sense of closure- or to dissolve themselves in the acids of the void sea because they're too far gone to find any real peace.

They can't meaningfully recover from that state, not alone, twisting in on themselves. Even if they halt their actions, they've been using violence as a feeble defense against their own pain- violence that no longer has any real direction or basis. Artificer gets no real closure from killing the scavenger king. All they can do is continue the cycle, or try to scrub it away. No real peace in a prison of their own making. So you have a creature, who even with a strict timer on their life- a body that will crumble to disease, spends its last bit of time on saving another. And another who was so caught up in the pain of loss that were eaten alive by their own anger, poisoned their own soul on such a deep level even self-proclaimed gods have no solution for them. What peace can they offer each other? For Hunter, its only a fleeting moment of happiness- of selfish love, before their own body fails them. A bit of indulgence in something for themself. For Artificer, its a single, comforting thread to ground them again, something tangible to protect and care about again. But thats a thread that will ultimately be snapped under the cruel indifference of the world. Hunters timer will tick down regardless of if it takes another with it. Its a tragedy- its doomed to end badly. Whatever good it offers to either of them to find each other will only provide the fleeting comfort of a band-aid that will be ripped away too early. But all that can be worth indulging in anyway, if only for the moment. It doesn't change the ending, but the ending was never going to be happy. Its can so yuri

[destroyusall]

✦ ✶ ✷ THE PRIESTESS

Borne in the unforgiving frost of Saint's time, what the Priestess seeks is known to her and her alone. Two pairs of wings allow her to soar considerable distances out of harm's way, and her large, albiet older frame is a good deterrent when paired with her threat display. One thing is certain; she may be no killing machine, but she will not be made a victim—not when there is work yet to be done.

[piscean-dragon]

Doodle dump from the last ~3 months of learning procreate !!

[sparkarrestor]

Tied Up!

Written By: SparkArrester

With thanks to @lswro2-222 and @kujakisser for some good ol' inspiration.

Toad the Brake-van is a well known sight along the Little Western. He's probably the best at keeping the trucks in line. Despite this, he’s seen by most non-railway folk as “Just another wagon”, though he doesn’t mind one bit. 

 One day, however, Donald clanked into the Top Station of the Little Western, where he saw the most peculiar sight!

“Lor Sakes Laddie!” He exclaimed.

Toad was sitting in a siding, wearing, under his chin, a sleek black bowtie!

“Hello Mista Donald! How do you like my new look?”

“It looks great on ye! But where on earth did ye find it? In that size nonetheless?”

Just then, Oliver pulled up with some empty wagons.

“The Fat Controller sourced some!” He answered, “Great Western originals too! We ‘ave a whole box of these things in the shed!”

“Great Western Originals?”

“Yes Mister Donald! We used to have these back on the Great Western. Coal Trucks and Goods Vans were expected to be dirty, but everything else, including us Brake-Vans, had to look as put together and high class as possible! This was management's way of making us look the part!”

“Then why didn’t ye have one when ye first came ‘ere?”

Toad sighed, “When BR took over, they got rid of them. They said it was an unneeded expense…”

“Aye, that’s just like yon snakes, draining the soul oot the railways. Well, I’m glad tah see ye got yours back. Really fits ye!”

Douglas wasn’t the only one who thought so! The summer season brought many tourists and holidaymakers to the railway, and they all took notice! Even passengers who usually took no notice of Toad raised their heads as he passed by. Toad had many different bow-ties in many different colors, and each day he wore a different one. The tourists certainly ate it up, and fellow engines complimented Toad on them. Well, all but one…

“Gawd he looks adorable!” Exclaimed a tourist in a thick accent as Toad passed by the Big Station, trailing after Douglas and his ballast hoppers.

“I say!” grunted Gordon, “Little Toad is making quite the impression!”

“I can see that…” growled James, trying and failing to sound calm.

“You aren’t jealous, are you, James?”

“Me, jealous of a filthy brake-van? Pah!”

And without another word, he snorted off.

But he was jealous, and, failing to hide it, he made his grievances known at the sheds that night.

“I take great pains in keeping my resplendent paintwork spotless!” He proclaimed, ignoring the dirty looks he got from the cleaners, “But no, they all take to some filthy brake-van with second rate accessories! Honestly, the nerve!”

“The nerve indeed…” Yawned Emily, “Now quiet you, I’ve got an early train tomorrow…”

And that was that.

James was still making a fuss the next morning.

“They want accessories?”, he ranted, “I’ll show them accessories! I’ll accessorize so much they can’t take their eyes off me!”

But by doing that, he took his eyes off of one very important thing: watching where he was going.

“Horrors!” He cried, as he slammed into a goods van. It’s contents flew out and landed all over James. As he opened his eyes, he gaped. He had crashed into a van full of clothing. Blazers, Jackets, Dress pants, and cufflinks covered him from chimney to wheels. But that wasn’t all! Tied around his lamp irons were bow-ties of every shape and color. James was about to lose it when laughter erupted on his left. He had crashed next to the station, and the passengers (and engines too!) all took proper notice of him now!

“Well!”, said Toad, who heard on the grapevine about James’ behavior, “Now that’s what you call accessorizing!”

[theartist-june]

[Flirting in the scug daycare]

Sigs re-charging before going to his job. Moon is a little shy but lets him anyway as long as the scugs don't see it (they see it).

[ Artist Support ]

Commission Info | Ko-fi

[comvi]

Do u8 like my ideas. my asainted my ideas. nmy tumblr. i like to speak. hi

did a certain black slug-creature by the name of “mole” who looks suspiciously like a black lizard from hit game rain world and who likes to munch on flesh send me this ask…..

[eeveekitti]

since i never ended up finishing rw x wc art month [and didn't get to the day i MEANT to post these] hi here's gourmand's slugpups as wc apprentices!!

these were actually done like a month ago but again never got posted lol

^ their kit drawing for reference

snailpaw is raincloud [surv]'s apprentice, and bugpaw is amberspark [arti]'s :3

[ladychandraofthemoone]

That one Twitter Meme from Mhyuo but with Stankyle/OrangeChai: What do you meant this isn’t what happened? Kyle was totally Stanley’s very first crush & bi awakening even though he was unaware but he shook enough to drop his cigarette Kyle’s driver gave him-btw.

Flagless/Non Blurry Ver & Longer Explanation Below:

Wdym that you were only a year old after gaining your first crush after being immediately sent overseas and staying in the workshops in Europe for a month and then you met this cool engine while working on the front who’s a couple of months older than you yet already had crow’s feet’s and eyebags but the biggest smile and he had more experience who then takes you underneath his wing and taught you everything he knew and he didn’t get mad at you even you made mistakes that you couldn’t help yourself that you end up being labeled as a jinx and derailed every single day unlike the others including him who was considered to be “lucky” but he gives you advice, defends you and keeps you company and you didn’t even know what exactly love is until it was explained to you but you still had a vague perception on it until you come to this realization when you constantly think of him and his smile and his attempts to cheer you up and makes you laugh you love hearing him laugh and just around him ..

Yeah that couldn’t be me.

[rain-world-headcanons]

Hello, other headcanons blog! It's good to see you again.

o/ queue will probably run out in a few days though (extra thoughts in tag i suppose)