#transformers: phantasmagoria

[g4zdtechtv]

THE PILE PRESENTS: X-Play - Odin's Looking Spherical | 6/18/07

What a pain in my Phantom Hourglass.

[genderkoolaid]

Part fiction and part documentary, filmmaker Jules Rosskham has created a fascinating hybrid cinema model. It’s a jarring and bizarre mix of mediums that explores real people who deserve to have their stories told and preserved. In the film, an Iranian American trans man named Ahmad (Aden Hakimi) time-travels with the help of a fantastical bathhouse that’s been transformed into an archive of queer experience. He’s on a mission to reveal the daring sexual secrets of his past and to remember the loves and encounters that he’s left behind. It’s an erotic, trans-masc phantasmagoria, a fever dream where he encounters Kieran (Theo Germaine), an archivist of queer memories. Soon, Kieran’s own past and existence become braided into the trans history on display within the more formal documentary segments of the film. [...] [...] The most important facet of the film comes when we are transported back to the late 1980s to witness real footage of trans activist Lou Sullivan, who himself shined a light on the existence of gay trans men when nobody else was. Sullivan was possibly the very first trans man to publically exist as a homosexual, and was responsible for a lot of education and activism surrounding his community. While the entirety of Desire Lines was fascinating to behold, it was the moments I was able to hear and learn directly from Sullivan, who died at 39 from AIDS, that I found to be the most incredible part of this unique journey.

[laplaces-lovecraftian-dick]

There's three categories of incident, I would say

A) We're just being Silly with it

Embodiment of Scarlet Devil (to test the spellcard rules, mostly)

Immaterial and Missing Power (that's literally the entire incident)

The photography series (Shoot the Bullet, Double Spoiler, Impossible Spell Card; VIolet Detector kind of) + Grimoire of Usami

Hisoutensoku (although honorary mention to meiling for introducing the relevance of the dream world into modern touhou games) and Great Fairy Wars as well.

Antinomy of Common Flowers, basically the spiritual successor to IaMP.

Hidden Star in Four Seasons (really, Okina?)

Hundredth Black Market (lmao)

ALL PHANTASMAGORIAS. Dim Dream? Not really an Incident it's just Yumemi being a pain in the ass. Flower View? Not really an Incident either. UDoALG? The whole plot is that There Is No Incident in Ba Gen Sokyo

Bougetsushou, in the sense that it was just a very weird road trip.

B) Gensokyo is in Peril (or maybe just the shrine but... you know)

Perfect Cherry Blossom (goddammit Yukari)

Imperishable Night (if i had a nickel for every genius that made a silly mistake in touhou i'd have two nickels, Eirin and Yachie, but Eirin also got fucked over in bougetsushou so...)

Scarlet Weather Rhapsody (goddammit Tenshi)

Subterranean Animism (goddammit Kanako)

URBAN LEGEND IN LIMBO. (the power of high school chuuni girls)

Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow (goddammit Yuuma)

Wild and Horned Hermit (in a way), Cheating Detective Satori.

notice the involvement of a sage in all of these. and yes, yukari did get involved in IaMP and AoCF but it's not like those incidents were *that* dangerous. shes just being herself god forbid women do anything

C) Essence of Gensokyo (acceptance, self definition, transformation...)

Mountain of Faith (literally Kanako's retirement plan)

Undefined Fantastic Object (Byakuren is Excellent at acceptance)

Ten Desires (we all know and love our transgender hermit celebrity)

Hopeless Masquerade (Koishi and Kokoro really had a moment)

Double Dealing Character (it's THE revolution game, be so for real)

Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom (...well yes there was peril but let's look at junko defining herself as a spirit of fury and hecatia's views on acceptance and all that, okay? it's also another instance of Lunar Capital bashing)

Honorary mentions to WaHH, HSiFS and VD since kasen has a whole thing, okina does need her faith and sumireko gains even more confidence

Wily Beast and Weakest Creature (in the sense that the humans rose up and invoked Keiki more than anything else)

Unconnected Marketeers (Chimata's much more time-sensitive parallel to Kanako. Is it so wrong of her to have hoped in the outside world until the very last moment?)

Forbidden Scrollery (you understand).

[rolloollor]

My new one shot, Phantasmagoria, is out!

Sorry about the delay, but it gave haixindhua enough time to create this wonderful cover art! I think the concept of this fic may be better in a visual medium, so I'm really happy to have an illustration to go along with it! Their insta is here~

This one shot takes place during the bad end timeline of From the Ashes. It's readable on its own, but I reference things that wouldn't mean anything to someone who didn't read Dark Fire/From the Ashes.

The summary is under the cut:

Rollo leads an ideal life. His brother is still alive, he lives with Malleus in Fleur City, and he has adopted three darling children. But, as he goes about his day, he can't shake the feeling that something isn't right... and Malleus' looming presence does not soften his unease.

[interstyx]

YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE - Ch 1

In the twilight zone between dead and living, Serial Designation J glimpses a memory she was never meant to relive. This delusion, this phantasmagoria, it reveals in her a corruption she can't stand, failure beyond measure. In the numb, dark aftermath, plunged into an abyss without sights or sounds, she makes the only choice she can -- to fulfill her mission. Only there is someone out there, a name she doesn't know, yet somehow remembers so fondly.

TWs -- Hallucination, attempted self-memory-wipe, self-loathing, body horror

Trying out a little bit of Jessa. Maybe. It's complicated.

[ilikereadingactually]

The West Passage

The West Passage by Jared Pechaček

i went into this book knowing nothing except that it appealed to me months ago when i requested the galley, and could not have imagined the ride i was in for!! in a way it's a very classic fantasy about seemingly insignificant people battling power and holding the fate of the world in their hands, but those bones are so spectacularly fleshed out with wonders and horrors, it's an absolute phantasmagoria. for me it brought back old favorites like Abarat and Labyrinth and a little bit of Steven Universe, and even older favorites like Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz, where you might encounter anything, and your assumptions are likely to be wrong.

i adored the two alternating protagonists, Pell and Kew, and the ways in which their transformational journeys paralleled and diverged from each other, and the ways in which they demonstrated how much a person can change and yet still be recognizable when they come home. there's something juicy and gendery in there, allegorically and literally in the text (the way gender works in this world is wicked cool), but it also rang broadly to me with truths about obligation, and taking responsibility, and persevering in the face of overwhelming opposing power. and honestly there were no characters i didn't like, even the ones i maybe wasn't supposed to like, and especially the ones with bodies so unusual i almost couldn't picture them.

and then there's the art!! so i read this as an e-galley, which did not have the illustrations in it, but when i saw the physical hardcover i was so DELIGHTED by the artwork. every chapter has a header that looks like it came out of a medieval bestiary or some other illuminated manuscript, finally giving me some visual references for what a hollowman looks like or what's going on with the Ladies' weird heads full of crenellations and eyes. i wish it was in color!! but it's delightful as it is.

i genuinely laughed and cried and almost skipped out on a social event i had promised to show up to in order to finish reading it, and the ending felt totally right and still took me by surprise!

the deets

how i read it: an e-galley from NetGalley, as i've said. still slowly catching up, even though i say that every time!

try this if you: really dig when the visuals of a book push the limits of weirdness, love stories about journeys and self-discovery and trying to dismantle/escape oppressive systems, or are a fan of endings that leave questions.

some lines i really liked: extremely relatable moments, and some words of wisdom

Pell did not need to be told, but it suited Yarrow to order and be obeyed, and it suited Pell to please Yarrow.

___

A Guardian must protect, but a Guardian must also know how to read a fucking situation. Hawthorn herself had said that one day, when Kew had tried to protect another child from bullies and had been soundly beaten for his trouble.

___

Could a person boarding a train take any seat they wanted? Did you just...sit down wherever? "Keep moving," said the brother. There was an empty bench near the center of the coach. Yarrow sat down and scooted over to the window. ... A pale-skinned person edged into the seat next to her, their head and upper body entirely covered with an upside-down red flower, their lower body bare. The petal nearest Yarrow brushed up against her and her bag, and she compressed herself into the side of the train.

___

"Don't you even—" said the flower, but the crying had stopped. A warm, wet cavity had swallowed Yarrow's thumb. Two sharp hands like grasshopper legs had latched onto her hand. When she turned the Lady the right way up, she saw that the base of the spire opened like a hinge, and inside was dark maroon flesh. The Lady's eyes swiveled to meet hers. "I hate this," said Yarrow.

___

No dynasty, however or whyever it arose, had ever withstood the temptations of power.

pub date: July 16, 2024! It's out there, it's beautiful, pick it up!

[nocturneworld6]

A new chapter of Phantasmagoria posted. You can read it here:

[my-so-called-euphoria]

Rewatching Twin Peaks and again I don't think it's all that good, but was good in comparison to the dreck it was surrounded by. There was not enough Lynch in it, he directed a few episodes and even when he was directing there's something off about it, nowhere near his best work. But by the final episode of the original series, then Fire Walk with Me, and then The Return, that is what makes Twin Peaks Twin Peaks, and The Return his crowning achievement. You need the original series as the source material, almost like the mundane events of waking life that than get transformed into the phantasmagoria later on.

[kicksnscribs]

Adding onto this by my chest still hurts and I have nothing else better to do anyway:

I’m still trying to get a good grasp on scale in this story, but for the most part the guidelines I’m currently using are

Casettebots and (Minimus) are around 6 to 7 ft and are capable of mass displacement due to their smaller size,

Minibots are around 10 to 12 ft tall with Rung being somewhere in between a Minibot and Scout class in terms of height, pushing about 13 ft

Scout class bots (Rodimus, Skids, Prowl etc.) range anywhere from 14 to 18 ft tall

“Leader” Class bots ( Megatron, Ultra Magnus) range anywhere from 25 to 30ft, Whirl is nestled neatly between Scout and Leader at about 24 ft tall (though this may change in the future) Megatron can mass displace to about Cassettebot size if needed but it takes a ton of energy to do so.

===*

Capsize is a neutral bot in service to the Galactic Railroad, serving as a ferryman between the space elevators in his sector to the massive space-faring vessel that serves as a distribution center to the universe. He is a kind soul, taking the time to console Leigh when she first arrives at the space elevator with Leo Prime in tow before realizing that she has to part ways with her traveling companion.

At first I was planning on space pirate adventures with him, but I’m not sure if I can find a way to fit that into the storyline yet…

===*

Sunder’s abilities can affect more than just Cybertronians. Thankfully, the unlikely friendship Leigh has apparently formed with Ravage comes to bail her out of a horrifying situation.

===*

The Rodimus is just there for practice, but besides that I have a running joke that human appendixes are considered a delicacy in some alien cultures and Leigh has long since offered hers up for a bit of coin when she was down on her luck (she was severely underpaid she would later find out, only adding to her dour and distrusting nature at the beginning of the story) The aliens here are just some funky little dudes I drew on a whim that somehow turned out to be a pretty fun concept to play with. I like their funky eyebrow anatomy lol

===*

The Sauroids are just a fun species to draw in general that I created out of nowhere. I just love the idea of space dinos developing tech that’s just huge mechanical arms 😊

Exploratory concepts for Phantasmagoria that i did earlier this year, trying to slowly work on all of my storylines and this one has been fighting for a while to get back into the spotlight

Edit: forgor a pic

[redtriangle]

Didn’t think a Cosmic Horror can come in a small size? So, this here is just the first part of a larger set I’ve been working on. So why not I show it to you?

By the way, the tentacles are hard to do. Now then.

Kwami: Kluulu, Kwami of Imagination Jewelry Type: Mask Transformation Phrase: “Kluulu, Let’s get Weird!” Transformation Phrase: “Get Real!” Power Activation Phrase: “Phantasmagoria!” Tool: Puzzle Cube Power: “Phantasmagoria” - With the power of Imagination, the user can conjure anything the user imagine through mere thought. - These imaginations look and feel as real as the user imagines and more. - User can create living and even sentient imaginary beings, such as imaginary friends. Can even a whole environment and landscape as far as the user can see or know; creating an entire fantasy world or “Mindscape”. - User creates their own rules in their fantasy world and imaginary beings and objects; having fully control over them. - The Octopus Miraculous can read the user’s minds down to the deepest subconsciousness; automatically and randomly conjuring imagination based on the user’s deep inner thoughts, emotions, and desires. - Similar to the Prodigious, the user can still see and communicate with Kluulu after being transformed and only the user can see, hear, and feel him. - Time dilation; time pass differently in the imaginary reality; usually slower compare the Real World. Possible for days to even years passed in the mind while seconds to few days passed in the Real World. - When creating imaginations into the Real World, they are invisible and intangible; has no physical effect in the Real World; only the user can see and feel them. - Other people can only experience these imaginations if the user allow them; by projecting “Phantasmagoria” into their minds with the user’s mind. - User can telepathically communicating with other people. - One of two ways. These affected people can see and feel the user’s imaginations in the Real World through hallucinations. Or they enter a trance or dreamlike state where they are unable to move their bodies. - “Phantasmagoria” can be used in combat conjuring imaginary/psychic attacks; inflicting pain or mental damages to their enemies even their physical bodies are unaffected; causing them to go through into a shock which they will suffer from psychological trauma, psychosis, seizure, catatonia, coma, and rarely but possibly even death such as heart attack or stroke.

Sub-powers: - Hallucination: Cause people see and feel things that are not there physically; including pain and injury. - Insanity Inducement: Victims can become irrational even if they stare at the user too long. - Mental Invisibility; people cannot see the user through mind trickery. - Shapeshifting; user can impersonate anyone through mind trickery. - Glamour/Quantum Masking; the user can change their appearance in anyway they imagine; making themselves unrecognizable by other people despite resembling to their civilian forms. - Power Mimicry: copy almost any powers from enemies by imagining themselves have the same powers; though imperfect imitations.

Bonus Abilities (without activating its primary power): - Low-Level Telepathy: the user can read minds of another person but only what the person is currently thinking; not like deep-dive telepathy that can see or read people’s memories or deep thoughts. Though the user can sense a person’s thought or emotion if stronger than the person’s can hold. With telepathic ability, the user can sense presence of people and other living things with complex minds through brainwaves, brain activity, or psionic energy. - Empathy; sense emotions of other complex living beings. - Increased creativity and artistic skills and some level of intelligence. - Good at swimming and staying underwater.

Weaknesses/Limitations: - Time limit is 5 minutes after power activation until detransformation for young and inexperienced wearer. - Cannot sense anything without a complex mind or consciousness, such as plants, some small invertebrate animals, or even nonsentient robots and AIs. - Enemies with strong will can withstand most form of imaginary/psychic attacks and could defeat the user in their own imaginative reality  and even overcome the “Phantasmagoria”. - User is vulnerable from attacks by those unaffected by the user’s “Phantasmagoria.” - If the user has suppressed/repressed deep negative thoughts and emotions, those dark aspects could leaked into the user imaginary world and turn it into a nightmarish reality; becoming out of control. If the user and their victims stayed in the nightmare reality too long, they are likely to become permanently insane.

History of Kluulu and the Octopus Miraculous: Not much is known with Kluulu’s early history. Only that Kluulu was born from a concept like all Kwamis born from concepts, only that it is likely that Kluulu was born when the first being in the Universe learned to imagine. Neither was the Octopus Miraculous of Imagination is much known, only that it is constructed from a strange green stone that cannot be found on Earth and it is believed to be made by someone or somebody other than the Mage, the creator of all the Miraculouses, or at least the Miraculous belonging to the Chinese Miracle Box. 

Kluulu and the Octopus Miraculous’ story truly began in the early 20th Century when a group of travelers landed on a strange uninhabited rocky island in the South Pacific Ocean, one of the travelers who found the Octopus Miraculous and later discovered Kluulu was Howard Phillips Lovecraft (or H.P. Lovecraft for short). In a way, Lovecraft was Kluulu’s holder of the Octopus Miraculous and wrote stories inspired by Kluulu, Octopus Miraculous, and the existence of Kwamis. For reasons unknown or too many, the ownership of the Octopus Miraculous are short-lived and frequently changed between hands over the years, giving them the inspiration for their writing careers and the power to wield their imagination.

Kluulu’s Personality: Kluulu is calm, curious, and playful but cold, careless, and arrogant toward other beings. Being a Kwami, he view most beings as inferior and insignificant to that of germs. Love to be worshipped by others. Kluulu connects to people as long they treat him well and if he believe they can satisfy his curiosity about Humans, life, existence, and nature of the Universe. Kluulu does not care if his powers being used for bad as long he sees what Humans are capable. Kluulu could use “Phantasmagoria” power without a holder but prefer not to; finds it “boring” and waste of his emmense power for little results. Kluulu’s favorite food is fish, preferably small and whole and/or raw, say sardines or anchovies.

Notes: Kwami: Obviously inspired by Cthulhu from H.P. Lovecraft. “Kluulu” is one of various ‘right’ pronunciation for “Cthulhu”, however, there are no truly right pronunciation in Human speech. Also inspired by Kyubey from Madoka Magica hence the ‘cute’ empty staring red eyes. Though Kluulu tentacled-face look more like Zoidberg from Futurama.

Miraculous: I admit a mask for a Miraculous is kind of redundant but so as a crown for a Miraculous. But a mask seems like a perfect choice as it gives a mysterious theme as it cover the user’s face.

I want it to be a simple design with blank expression, to look like those white porcelain mask with tentacles. Made various tries. Inspired by a Cthulhu cultist mask and Cthulhu’s face but also inspired by The Mask. I like to think of it as a magical VR-AR headset. The mask is carved from a strange rare green stone that is not of Earth, much like the small stone statues of Cthulhu in Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos.

Tool: A cube is often used as some ominous object and yet simply-looking. Mainly inspired by the Soul Cube from Doom 3, the Lament Configuration from Clive Barker’s Hellraiser and the Rubik’s Cube. Tried to give a more occult aesthetic. The Cube has somewhat a mind of its own and can change into virtually any shape the user desire and can float.

Power: Originally wanted a power that is versatile and equivalent to reality-warping, but since Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculouses combined to warp reality, I chose the power of Imagination which instead warps one’s perception of reality, such as through hallucination and mindscape/mental world. I borrow from many fictional media which all based on H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos. I’ll admit even I’m still confused with Miraculous Power of Imagination. Basically, its hallucination, it ‘tricks’ people what user want them to see, hear, and feel when nothing there. As for the imaginary fantasy world. Think of as The Matrix except the user’s mind is the Matrix, though more The Evil Within. Only the user can control their personal reality and their victims cannot, except for strong-minded few.

Theories: Kluulu visited various alien planets and civilizations long before Earth, one of among them is where the Octopus Miraculous was construct where the mysterious green stone come from. Why it was created and what happened remained a mystery. Only that Octopus Miraculous with Kluulu inhabits it fell to Earth a long time ago, perhaps even before Mankind, perhaps when the Earth was far more ocean than land than today. You probably wonder if the Octopus Miraculous was made on an alien planet and yet the octopus is an Earth animal. Maybe that planet had octopuses or cephalopods, perhaps related to Earth’s cephalopods. Here is where things get wacky even in Real-Life, the octopuses and other cephalopods (squids, cuttlefishes, and nautiluses) on Earth is believed to be aliens. The coordinates of island where Octopus Miraculous was found is 47°9′S 126°43′W, exactly where the city of R’lyeh is located where Cthulhu sleeps in H.P. Lovecraft’s The Call of Cthulhu. I want to put other famous artists and writers who had used the Octopus Miraculous besides H.P. Lovecraft. - Aleister Crowley - Tomoyuki Tanaka (Creator of Godzilla. His first monster idea was a giant octopus) - H.R. Giger (Artist for Alien) - Clive Barker (Creator of Hellraiser) - Wes Craven (Creator of Nightmare on Elm Street and others) - John Carpenter (Creator of The Thing) - Stephen King (It and others) - Guillermo del Toro? Only Kluulu who were his owners were.

The last and current holder of the Octopus Miraculous is going to be a surprise.

Miraculous Ladybug made by Thomas Astruc & Zagtoon

Cthulhu, The Call of Cthulhu, and Cthulhu Mythos made by H.P. Lovecraft Kluulu and the Octopus Miraculous of Imagination made by Redtriangle (me) Drawn by Redtriangle (me)

[glitchpalantir]

**Exploring the Narrative Depth of *Phantasmagoria* (1995): A Journey into Horror and Innovation**

**Introduction: Revisiting the Horrific Masterpiece of 1995**

In 1995, *Phantasmagoria* captivated players with its bold storytelling, immersive atmosphere, and pioneering use of live-action actors in a video game. Created by Sierra On-Line and designed by Roberta Williams, *Phantasmagoria* stood out as one of the most memorable and controversial point-and-click horror games of its time. For game and narrative designers today, revisiting this title offers rich lessons in immersive storytelling, pacing, and player engagement. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the game’s narrative structure, its use of FMV (full motion video), and how its eerie atmosphere was crafted to unsettle players.

**1. A Groundbreaking Narrative for Its Time**

*Phantasmagoria* was ambitious in its storytelling. It blended psychological horror with supernatural elements, taking inspiration from gothic literature and classic horror films. The story follows Adrienne Delaney, a writer who moves into a mansion with her husband, only to uncover a dark history of murder, possession, and madness. As the game progresses, Adrienne experiences increasingly terrifying events, with the narrative slowly unraveling the sinister history of the mansion's previous owners.

For narrative designers, *Phantasmagoria* serves as an early example of integrating real-world psychological horror with a supernatural plot. The game’s slow build of tension, use of foreshadowing, and shocking twists (such as Don’s transformation into a villain) demonstrate how effective pacing and character development can immerse players in a game’s world.

*Key Narrative Design Insights:*

- **Pacing and Foreshadowing:** The gradual escalation of horror keeps players invested. Narrative designers can take note of how subtle environmental cues and dialogue hint at the mansion's dark past before the horror fully reveals itself.

- **Character Transformation:** The transformation of Don, Adrienne's husband, into a menacing force showcases the power of gradual character development, creating emotional tension as players see a loved one turned into a villain.

- **Blending Genres:** The fusion of psychological horror with supernatural horror allows for a multi-layered narrative, giving players more depth to explore. Narrative designers today can experiment with similar genre fusions to add complexity to their stories.

**2. FMV and the Immersive Power of Live-Action Performance**

One of *Phantasmagoria’s* most notable features was its use of FMV to bring the game to life. Full-motion video was a cutting-edge technology in the mid-'90s, and *Phantasmagoria* took advantage of it by filming live actors in real sets to blend with pre-rendered backgrounds. While FMV has been criticized for looking dated in modern times, the technique added a unique cinematic quality to the game, making players feel as though they were interacting with a horror film.

*Key Game Design Insights:*

- **Cinematic Presentation:** The use of FMV helped heighten the game’s horror elements by making the performances of the actors more visceral. Modern developers can draw on this by using cinematic techniques—whether through motion capture or realistic animations—to deliver emotional, immersive narratives.

- **Interactive Cinema:** *Phantasmagoria* allowed players to feel like they were in control of a horror movie. Designers can use this sense of player agency within a cinematic framework to deepen immersion, a technique seen in modern games like *Until Dawn* or *The Dark Pictures Anthology*.

**3. Atmosphere and Art Direction: A Visual Feast of Horror**

The game's art direction heavily relied on creating a gothic, atmospheric setting. The mansion, with its decaying grandeur and unsettling details (e.g., bloodstains, occult symbols), sets the tone for the horror that unfolds. The environmental storytelling is key here, as the game's visual design subtly informs the player about the mansion’s dark history.

*Key Visual and Art Design Insights:*

- **Environmental Storytelling:** Much of *Phantasmagoria’s* story is told through the environment. The design of the mansion itself—its eerie rooms, grotesque statues, and hidden chambers—plays a crucial role in building suspense. Modern designers can focus on how the art direction of a game can convey narrative details without relying on explicit dialogue.

- **Use of Color and Lighting:** The game’s heavy use of shadows, muted colors, and flickering lights created a sense of dread and unease. Designers today can explore how color palettes and lighting can evoke emotions in players, deepening their connection to the narrative.

- **Macabre Symbolism:** From occult books to mysterious artifacts, the game’s art direction incorporates symbolic elements that hint at the mansion’s cursed history. Using visual symbolism to foreshadow story elements is a powerful narrative tool that designers can incorporate into their games.

**4. Lessons for Modern Designers: Embracing Narrative Risk**

Despite its success, *Phantasmagoria* was not without controversy. Its graphic depictions of violence and sexual assault shocked many players and critics at the time. However, its willingness to take narrative risks is something game designers today can still learn from. While not every risk pays off, bold storytelling can set a game apart from its competitors. Designers must carefully balance pushing boundaries with sensitivity to the player’s experience.

*Key Lessons in Narrative Risk:*

- **Pushing Boundaries:** Games like *Phantasmagoria* challenge conventions and take risks that can provoke strong reactions, but these risks can also lead to innovative storytelling.

- **Ethical Considerations:** While taking risks, it’s essential to be mindful of the player’s emotional experience. Narrative designers should carefully consider the impact of difficult themes and how they’re presented.

**Conclusion: The Legacy of *Phantasmagoria* and Its Lessons for Today’s Designers**

For narrative and game designers, *Phantasmagoria* remains a significant case study in interactive storytelling. Its blend of psychological and supernatural horror, its pioneering use of FMV, and its haunting atmosphere make it a game that continues to inspire. By studying its successes—and its risks—modern designers can learn how to craft immersive, emotionally charged narratives that captivate players long after the game is over.

[the-whatcherof-89]

Ghostbur Aka Manberg friendly ghost.

CR 16 N Incorporeal undead Humanoid

XP 76,800 (if used as npc for encounter)Human Ghost Arcanist (Unlettered Arcanist)15

Neutral Medium humanoid Incorporal undead Init +6; Senses Perception +34

AC 22, touch 22, flat-footed 22 (+2 Dex, +5 Deflection, +1 Intuition, +4 Armor) hp 135 (16d6+75)

Fort +10, Ref +12, Will +17

Speed 30 ft. Flying Melee Adamantine Quarterstaff+10/+13 1d6+1/1d6+4 RangedRanged Spell+11

Racial Bonus feat (Eschew materials), +1skill point per level, Channel resistance+4, Darkvision 60ft, Incorporeal undead, Rejuvenation, Fly speed 30ft, Frightful moan, Malevolence, Telekinesis, Draining touch, Phantasmagoria.

Traits Carefully hidden, Haunting regret.

Class features Figment Archetype Familiar(Sheep +3 Perception in non-dark areas), Witch spells, Arcane reservoir, Consume spells, Arcanist exploits x8 (Arcane weapon, Arcane barrier, Counterspell, Dimensional slide, Potent magic, Metamagic knowledge-Maximize spell, Spell tinkerer, Spell disruption), Greater exploits x3 (Alter enhancements, Greater metamagic knowledge-Quicken spell, Siphon spell).

Spellcasting CL16 DC15 spells per day 4/4/4/4/4/4/4/2

Str -, Dex 14, Con -, Int 20, Wis 14, Cha 20

Base Atk +8/3; CMB +9; CMD +21

Feats Brew potions, Extend spell, Defensive training, Craft wondrous magic items, Improved initiative, Merciful spell, Silent spell, Still spell.

Skills Appraise +10, Craft(Alchemy) +10, Disguise +10, Fly +11, Escape artist +11, Intimidate +10, Knowledge (arcana, dungeoneering, engineering, nature, geography, history, local, nobility, the planes, religion) +14, Linguistics +1, Perception +24, Perform(sing) +10, Sense motive +7, Spellcraft +19, Stealth +14, Use magic device +10.

Languages Common, Draconic, Necril.

Combat gear Living steel quarterstaff+1Ghost touch/+4 Courageous, Tome of clear thoughts+2(used), Tome of leadership and influence+2(used), Ioun stones: Dusty rose prism, Deep red sphere, Scarlet and blue sphere, Pink and green sphere, Pearly white spindle, Orange prism, Bracers of armor+1(on familiar).

Spells known 0- All 1- Burning hands, Charm person, Command, Cure light wounds, Forced quiet, Frostbite, Identify, Long arms, Mage armor. 2- Apport object, Blindness/deafness, Cure moderate wounds, Enthrall. 3- Call the void, Countless eyes, Dispel magic, Earth tremor.  4- Cape of wasps, Confusion, Cure serious wounds, Inflict serious wounds. 5- Break enchantment, Cure critical wounds, Duplicate familiar, Spellsteal. 6- Cone of cold, Dispel magic greater, Heroism, Transformation. 7-Harm, Heal, Regenerate, Teleport greater.

Background Wilbur Soot died. His symphony unfinished forever unfinished. He was sundered, him, his madness, and what was left. What was left was gone from the afterlife and he manifested as a new persona: Ghostbur, a ghostly friendly apparition that tried his best to become a friendly figure and to repair the damage done. He appeared aimlessly across the land in various places helping those around as peacefully as he could. Ghostbur was abandoned by many including his son Fundy and friend Niki. And when Philza blew up L’mamberg it was like the last nail in the coffin, he was broken, twice, thrice. Ghostbur, still stood up for Tommy when he was exiled and even helped him to enter the prison to attempt to kill Dream. And yet, that was for naught. Tommy selfishness trapped him with the Green man in the cell of Pandora’s box. As Tommy was forced away, Ghostbur was killed and Wilbur returned among the living. Now trapped in the limbo he cries silent tears, alone. However, at one point a sound was heard in the distance: a train arrived at the station and stopped, his doors opened. Ghostbur, looked inside, empty. As he entered, the doors closed behind him and the train started his journey. He sat and waited, the light of the train illuminated the dark tunnel with no end in sight but the travel never ended. “At least… it is not deafening like that station.” He thought. Suddenly a speaker activated and a voice was heard: “Greetings, o fragment of a lost soul. Do you feel betrayed? Broken? Alone? Then, this the opportunity you were waiting for.” Ghostbur was a bit speechless but still held his ground: “Why did you took me from that station? Do i have to suffer more?” The voice chuckled a little. “Nay, i just want to give you an opportunity. I have plans for some of the people of the world you are from. And you my friend, are THE bridge i need to set things in motion. If you accept, i will give you a new life, a new meaning, a clean slate. While this offer IS limited, i am willing to put in a little incentive…” One of the wagon doors slides and a blue color sheep came through, greeting Ghotsbur. “Friend? Is that you?” The ghostly man reached his pet/BFF and hugged him with his all. “This is my gift of goodwill. If you accept, you will also be gifted much more. All i ask in return is simple: Keep yourself away from trouble and from me. Simple as.” Ghostbur stood up as he looked in the next cart and saw a silhouette beyond the next door. “If you want to accept, then cross the door.” Ghostbur was hesitant at first, but if he refused he could lose it all, again. At the thought of losing the only thing that mattered to him, made him shiver. He received nothing from the others except suffering, so it did beat the alternatives. He opened the door. It took a second but he was in a different place, in a similar form, with Friend. Equipped with knowledge and tools never seen before, he stood atop a grassy plateau surrounded by majestic mountains. “This is your new existence. Leave me be, find me, cross me, it matters not, the choice is yours.” Ghostbur, floated and contemplated the view and felt something new: “I am free.” And he left with his Blue fluffy companion to places unknown. But for how long?

The image does NOT belong to me.

Link for the image: https://twitter.com/kohhekuu/status/1349025243252338688?t=IAG7dfjguWfkDWrzS8o4Dw&s=19

[possibility-left]

Good Omens fic recs #25

Phantasmagoria by drawlight - A/C, 11k words.  The Night at Crowley's Flat, drawlight's version.  I never get tired of this concept and fandom has blessed me with so many.  In this one, Aziraphale is terrified to kiss Crowley in case there is enough holy water in the angel's body to hurt the demon.  This is gentle, desperate, and romantic, the current day story interspersed with beautiful historical love letters and poetry.

Feathers by lyricwritesprose - A/C, 11k words.  After Armageddidn't, Aziraphale and Crowley start shedding their feathers and worry that they are dying, cut off from their former sides.  There is a great deal of Comfort to go with this Hurt fortunately.  I don't really want to spoil the full concept because I find it very delightful as they discover what happens.  But I will say there is some fabulous wing grooming in here.

it had to be you by curtaincall - A/C, 22k words.  A retelling of their relationship as a fusion with When Harry Met Sally.  They spend less time on Earth than in canon and constantly manage to rub each other wrong when they do, without being absolutely cruel to each other (it's a careful balance!), which builds into a friendship and of course from there.  I love how the author didn't just retread the known parts of their history together and made something new that feels like it could fit into canon.

the last test and proof by lagaudiere - A/C, 36k words.  Their summary is actually perfect so here it is: "Crowley goes on a road trip across America to delay the Second Coming. Aziraphale tries to teach angels about humanity. In between, they talk."  I say it's a perfect summary but honestly, it's so full of love of all kinds, and poetry, and really hard conversations that Aziraphale and Crowley needed to have, and a great S3 plot and resolution.  The writer has a real gift for language and it's a very rich text.

Screw Deontology by Poetry - The Good Place crossover, Chidi/Eleanor and A/C, 2k words.  Lord I would read like, 10k more words of this at least, because it's so so fun.  Spoilers for S3 of TGP.  The Soul Squad decide to talk with the angel and demon regularly assigned to Earth (post S1 Crowley and Aziraphale) to try to understand how saving souls work.  This leads to headaches all around.  Very funny.

[takjoo]

MUSE I

A collaboration of @Takjoo and @x1smind on @foundation

Seventy-seven rhythmic pulsating visual loops emerge from the deep well of the subconscious, each a muse whispering of transformation and transcendence. Joyous inanimate objects and broken relics dialogue with time. Here, the odd and archaic waltz with the eerily delightful in a digital phantasmagoria where inspiration's ethereal touch kindles the fire of emergence and randomness.

[patricedumonde]

Just curious what is the second version of nutcracker by mariinsky about? Just saw some videos on Instagram and it honestly look like a witchcraft version of the usual nutcracker HAHAH

HA. It actually does. It premiered in 2001, so very new by ballet standards. I guess they just wanted to change things up but I do agree, very very witchy. I don't know but I kind of like it(?)

At least I heavily prefer this reinvention over ABT's lmao.

Here's the short synopsis from the Mariiinsky website:

The world of this Nutcracker was created by the designer Mihail Chemiakin. Chemiakin not only produced the sketches for the costumes and sets, he also conceived the images of the characters, dictating to the choreographer the nature of the movements, and all of the miraculous transformations in this theatrical tale are the fruits of his imagination. In the colourful phantasmagoria of Chemiakin's production, adorned with masks with long noses – neither people nor mice – the dramatism and unease of Tchaikovsky's score is enhanced. In this ballet, inspired by Hoffmann's incredible imagination, there is no room for peaceful domestic comfort or the typical harmony of classical dance – in the pre-festive chaos in the kitchen rats are discovered, tasting the cheeses and sausages that have been prepared for Christmas dinner, while flies and bees swarm around the sweet shop. The designer has presented "the circumstances of enduring, comfortable and 'tasty' bourgeois life" with the meticulousness of an eager documentary-maker – not a single detail of the kitchen, be it the perforated spoons or ladles, wreaths of garlic or ribs hanging among other carcass parts, have escaped the designer's attention. Neither is the audience left bored for a single second – when looking at the touching details of the props, sets and costumes children will be charmed with the readily recognisable everyday items, while adults will smile at their - at times - unexpected use in a children's tale. "The task of the new production of The Nutcracker," Chemiakin says, "was to restore the spirit of Hoffmann to the tale with its elements of grotesque humour, peculiarities and transformations; to combine the graphic elements with Tchaikovsky's musical dramatism. And in a way to revive the original libretto by Petipa, which over the years had become contracted and semi-forgotten. As a rule, the velvety mice in numerous productions have been unable to instil either fear or sympathy in children today. Already in the 1920s the mice had been replaced by rats (in particular, with Fyodor Lopukhov, Hoffmann's Mouse Queen and her son were transformed into rats), as their behaviour in both the tale and the ballet more closely resembles the behaviour of rats, those strange and mysterious creatures. In my production I decided to 'humanise' them. They are a royal family, a rat aristocracy, the military and the common people." Olga Makarova

[nocturneworld6]

A new chapter of Phantasmagoria has been updated! You can read it here: