ladala99

[ladala99]

Wolvden - Thabo

Nathanael was trying to get Sonja, trapped in a small area of the den by a fairy ring, to eat when Norayr and Berit entered.

“We have a problem,” Norayr said to Nathanael, only giving Sonja a glance. “One of the pack, Thabo, in an anti-Fae-wolf crusade, killed Faedust, Klym, and Black Ice, and almost got Berit. For now, he’s in Berit’s den in an enchanted sleep.”

Nathanael stared at him, wide-eyed, glancing between him and the bloodied Berit. “Um. Who is Thabo?”

“Right, he was born while you were under entrancement,” Berit grunted. “You know Inga and Georgo?”

Nathanael thought, then nodded. They were young wolves when he was last aware.

“He’s one of their pups,” Berit said. “He’s the one who sounded the alarm that something was wrong with Sonja, which prompted us telling the pack about how much of a threat the Fae-wolves were, the vote to fight them, and Norayr’s election as temporary leader.”

“Okay,” Nathanael said, processing this information. “And he was targeting Fae-wolves. That’s the motivation. He blames you for what the Faelcu did.”

“He never really liked the Fae-wolves,” Norayr said. “He’s wanted to kill Berit for some time.”

“That is not okay,” Nathanael said. “Why hasn’t he been banished?”

“Or turned into a Changeling?” Sonja piped in. Berit glared at her.

“Until now, he hasn’t actually done anything,” Norayr said. “He only expressed his wish to kill Berit because she entranced him to say what was on his mind, and for all anyone else knew, she could have made him say it without it being true. Besides, having a desire to kill someone in the moment doesn’t mean you’d actually try it. We were keeping him away from the Fae-wolves, and that had been enough until last night.”

“Well, it seems clear we need to banish him now,” Nathanael said. “Unless there’s some other reason not to?”

“Leaving him alive means he could still be lurking in the woods. He could attack Berit while she is on a hunt, or perhaps Fae-wolf pups who wander,” Sonja said. “You cannot just let him leave, not now that he can resist our powers.”

“I hate to admit you have a point,” Norayr said. “But making him a Changeling isn’t an option, either. Not only is it wrong, but it would also give the Faelcu another warrior inside the pack when they decide to attack.”

“Kill him, then,” Sonja said.

“No,” Norayr said firmly.

“I don’t think there’s any chance for reform,” Berit said, staring in a corner. She was clearly still shaken from the encounter.

“What do you want to do, Berit?” Norayr asked.

She shook her head. “I can’t keep a clear mind about this. I want to put him on the front lines and let the Faelcu tear him apart. I want to personally use the Shadow on him, while he’s conscious and afraid, and feel his panic as his soul fades away. I want to be that monster he thinks I am. Klym did nothing wrong. Faedust wanted to help protect the pack, even though he struggled to keep his powers to himself. And Thabo used Faedust’s own discovery to kill him.”

The room was silent. Berit was normally the levelheaded one, from what the others had explained, so for her to break like this was unthinkable.

“Maybe we should let the pack decide?” Nathanael suggested.

Norayr shook his head. “I feel that something like that would only split the pack apart. Friends of his and wolves unsympathetic to Fae-wolves wouldn’t vote any more rationally than Berit and the others of her family.”

“We don’t have to say it’s about him, we could—” Nathanael cut off as he spotted a light blue wolf entering the den, his movements strangely fluid.

“Get a crown on him,” Sonja said. “Something’s up.”

Norayr turned to see the new wolf and did so. “Eligio?” he asked.

The blue wolf, Eligio, blinked as the mushroom crown evidently cleared him of some sort of control. “I. . . I think I was sent to get you guys. Um. There’s a Faelcu out there, but only one.”

“A scout, probably,” Sonja said. “Between the mushrooms and Thabo, I think you finally got their attention.”

“Last time, the leadership was drawn out before the pack was attacked,” Norayr said. “We’d better be prepared. Berit, you should stay here, just in case.”

Berit nodded. “Put a crown on me, even. Just in case.”

Nathanael got one for her, and also for Sonja. He looked at the untouched carcass at Sonja’s feet. “You’d better eat something later,” he said.

“Maybe,” Sonja said, before accepting the mushrooms and freezing in place.

Eligio led them into the main gathering grounds, where the Faelcu sat upon the speaking rock. “Quite interesting,” the Faelcu remarked, looking at Nathanael. “The true king is himself again. I heard the Shadow ate you.”

“Apparently not,” Nathanael said. “What do you want?”

The Faelcu looked around. All of the wolves gathered had put on mushroom crowns of their own. “I am here to inquire about what happened last night. It has been rather difficult to view your activities as of late.”

Norayr responded, though his fur was a little bristled. “One of our wolves went rogue and killed some of his packmates. We’re dealing with it.”

“Ah, but do I understand that all of the wolves he killed were Fae-wolves?” the Faelcu asked.

“Two were, one wasn’t,” Norayr said shortly. “They were all family, trying to protect each other.”

“How did one regular wolf manage to kill two Fae-wolves?” the Faelcu inquired.

“He acted alone if you’re trying to imply something,” Norayr said.

“How many Fae-wolves are left in the pack? I notice none have come to greet me.” The Faelcu’s tail swished back and forth aggressively.

“Three, and they know they can’t be safe around you.” Norayr said.

“Take me to them,” the Faelcu hissed. It looked around, seemingly trying to find even one wolf who it could control.

Norayr looked at Nathanael. “Do you want to risk it?” he asked quietly.

“I don’t know what’s at stake here,” Nathanael said. “If it controls one of them. . . like if we take it to the den, it takes Berit, Sonja goes free? That’s not—” He realized he shouldn’t have said it aloud as the Faelcu hopped down and started towards the den.

“Hey!” Nathanael shouted without thinking, trying to cut the Faelcu off. It simply went around him, slipping into the den itself.

Once Nathanael and Norayr cuaght up to it, it was still, seemingly processing what it was seeing. Berit and Sonja frozen as statues.

“What did you do to them?” the Faelcu hissed, glaring back at the approaching wolves.

“They’re okay,” Nathanael said. He knew it didn’t look good. He gave Norayr a quick look and indicated to Sonja, trying to convey that he wanted to let her go since she at least had the fairy ring around her and probably couldn’t leave. Norayr nodded.

Nathanael took the crown off of Sonja. She blinked a couple of times, then cocked her head at the Faelcu.

“They let you in?” Sonja asked.

“What did they do to you?” the Faelcu demanded, sounding a little horrified.

Sonja’s fur relaxed. “They weren’t too happy with what happened last time we came for them. When word of you being here arrived, Berit there willingly froze herself so you couldn’t entrance her. I’m being kept prisoner since they know who I really am now, but that’s unrelated.”

“Where is the last Fae-wolf?” the Faelcu asked.

“Probably hiding now that you’re here. I don’t know. Last I heard, he was wallowing in guilt because he hid while his family was being murdered,” Sonja said bluntly.

“I must see him,” the Faelcu declared.

“You actually seem worried,” Nathanael noted. The others described the Faelcu as malicious, soulless creatures, but that didn’t seem to be the case here.

The Faelcu’s ear twitched, but it said nothing aloud.

“I think it needs to know you aren’t declaring war on all Fae-wolves,” Sonja said. “It’s probably safe to show it Appletree.” She turned to the Faelcu.

“‘Probably safe.’ Coming from you,” Norayr said.

“I think it’s genuinely worried,” Nathanael said. “I trust it.”

“You haven’t seen what they do,” Norayr said.

“What I see is exactly what I saw when I was a pup,” Nathanael argued. “I see a wolf blinded by fear thinking the worst.”

“May I remind you that you ended up entranced for three years?” Norayr said.

“May I remind you that you said it was an accident?” Nathanael retorted. “We outnumber it, even if it does try to do something to Appletree. Let’s let it see him.”

Norayr huffed. “Fine.” He looked at the Faelcu. “I’ll take you to him.”

“Appletree?” Norayr called into the den that had belonged to Klym. “We need to speak with you.”

Nathanael heard the adolescent whimpering, but he didn’t say anything.

The Faelcu didn’t wait for an invitation, entering the den itself. Nathanael and Norayr had no choice but to follow.

While a lot had been cleaned up since last night, there were still bloodstains visible in some areas, and the bodies, covered in grasses and leaves in a deeper room awaiting proper burial, could still be smelled. Even the Faelcu wrinkled its nose.

Appletree poked his nose out of the hall, then tried to retreat.

“So you are not frozen,” the Faelcu said. Nathanael could sense relief. “Come out, Fae-wolf, and tell me what happened.”

Appletree poked out again, looking questioningly at Nathanael and Norayr. Nathanael nodded, and the adolescent Fae-wolf entered the room. His fur was completely fluffed. “What. . . happened?”

“Last night,” the Faelcu clarified. “Some wolves were killed?”

“My family,” Appletree said. It was clear he was in shock still, and he was shaking. “I don’t know. . . I heard barking, and then I saw another wolf attacking Faedust and I. . . I was scared. I hid, while Black Ice tried to protect him. The sounds. . .” He whined. “Then Dad came and even he tried to do something, and he died, too.”

“It was a physical scuffle,” the Faelcu said. “No magic?”

“The other wolf, he was wearing the mushrooms so we couldn’t entrance him. We’re not supposed to do that to other wolves, anyway. Just prey.” Appletree shuddered. “Maybe three could have beat him. I don’t know why he didn’t look for me, too. He just left.”

“You and Berit, Thabo’s targets, both use their powers on other wolves at times,” Norayr said. “Appletree doesn’t. I think that is why.”

Appletree whimpered. “I should have died, too. I should have tried. Done something, anything.”

“You shouldn’t have died,” Nathanael said. He lay down next to Appletree, who, after hesitating a moment, leaned into him “None of you should have. You are not to blame for anything that happened.”

“That’s what Mom says,” Appletree said softly. “But I can’t help feel it.”

His mother, Erin, was currently in the healing den. She had attempted to fight off Thabo as well, and was injured. She had survived.

“The attacker still lives?” the Faelcu asked.

“Yes,” Nathanael said without even hesitating to look to Norayr. “Berit captured him when he attacked her.”

“How did she win?” The Faelcu tilted its head.

“Consalvo removed the mushrooms from Thabo’s head, and Berit entranced him,” Nathanael answered.

“Yes, tell the Faelcu how it works,” Norayr commented.

“Consalvo must be a normal wolf,” the Faelcu said, ignoring Norayr. “Because no Fae-wolf can move the mushrooms once they are in place. I sense I cannot get close to them. What will be the attacker’s punishment?”

“That’s our concern, not yours,” Norayr said before Nathanael could speak. “Have you seen what you came to see?”

The Faelcu nodded. “I have. I suppose you wish to dismiss me?”

“No need to stay longer than you need to,” Norayr said.

The Faelcu nodded, and headed out. Before it left completely, though, it turned its head back and said, “Expect more of us to pay you a visit, soon,” before continuing on its way.

Nathanael felt a chill. Were they really prepared?

[ladala99]

One Spyro Level a Month Until the Next Spyro Game Releases - July 2025 - Beast Makers Home

Intro/Rules

Previous Level

Next Level

Out of the mountains and into the swamp - it's time to head to Beast Makers!

Here's Your Stop

The entrance to Beast Makers isn't some grand entryway, but instead just the side of the land, between two torches. Such a welcoming place!

There's a stump ahead with some stairs leading up to it, but it's full of deadly goo. Great start. Where's our welcome? I'm feeling like this is the wrong stop or something.

Looking to the left (and following the electricity noise) we find some gnorcs zapping the floor. At least there's some direction.

Bruno

We don't talk about Bruno is just past the panels, guarding the portal to Terrace village. He tells us Gnasty Gnorc's minions have turned the swamp into "an electified junk heap!" And that it used to be "so beautiful," which Spyro actually sounds unusually sympathetic about. Unlike the other level greeter dragons, he doesn't tell us what our goal is here. That may be because our goal is a repeat this time.

The Hogs

There's a log spanning the swamp water past Bruno, leading to a series of islands with winged hogs on them. These hogs cannot be charged, despite looking similar to the rams in Stone Hill. They must be flamed as they get close. Which is generally my instinct anyway. The portal to Misty Bog is here.

Cleetus

There's a couple of ways to go from the hogs, and one of them has a dragon. Cleetus has places to be, though, and doesn't say anything remarkable. Or perhaps he needs to use the bathroom.

Secret Level

So you know how we were trained not to enter these stumps at the start of the level? Enter the one by Cleetus. It actually has something at the bottom.

A flight level, to be exact! And some gems.

The Tree

After gathering the gems and defeating the sneaky hog on Cleetus' island, it's time to head the other way, towards a giant tree! Gems litter the roots and the portal to Tree Tops is behind it.

The Temple Grounds

Past the tree is an archway to the most notable part of Beast Makers which has been paved, has a temple behind it, and of course there's more gnorcs electrifying floors. There's also a locked chest in the corner.

The Temple

After climbing up the stairs of the temple and following the line of gems, we can see some stumps out in the distance. These have the last few loose gems, and the key to the locked chest.

Cray the Balloonist

Cray won't help us until we rescue 50 dragons, and we aren't quite there yet. Which is fine, because we're going to spend the rest of 2025 clearing the swamp. Not draining it, though. The dragons who live here wouldn't like that.

With this level complete, we're at 58% - 3% more than last time.

Lore Talk

Beast Makers seems to be the least welcoming homeworld. At least of the ones populated by dragons. Their export is beasts, after all, and from what we've seen, what likely came from these guys? Maybe the big yellow guys in Alpine Ridge? Perhaps the Rams in Stone Hill? Other dragon species likely don't interact with these guys much. They don't constantly need new species running around.

This homeworld is more for the convenience of the inhabitants than for tourism. They aren't showing off at all.

The sections of the homeworld are very indicative of the levels contained, much like Artisans, so I'll discuss the lore implications of those sorts of things with each level.

Next Stop

We'll see what Bruno was guarding - Terrace Village.

[ladala99]

Wolvden Updates - Fungal Crown Arc

Too much happening too fast so here's a bullet point update for the story. Might flesh out some of it today if I have the time, but I just need it down for now:

Faedust and Appletree are Klym's Fae-eyed pups, Berit's grandpups

While all the Fae-wolves were kept in one den, Faelcu Sonja taught them to use their powers, particularly on their brother Black Ice, who sometimes visited

After the Fae-wolves aside from Sonja were cleared to come out, Faedust was having trouble refraining from using his powers on other wolves.

While the siblings were playing with Decor, Faedust noticed that he could not entrance Black Ice when the regular wolf had a mushroom crown on. The siblings realized that they worked like individual fairy rings - Fae powers couldn't affect those wearing them, and Fae-wolves who wore them froze in place as if entranced themselves.

They brought this news to Norayr. Trying it himself, he realized it freed him from the constant entrancement that he was under (which Berit controlled and let him control his own body anyway), though it resumed if he took it off.

Norayr and Berit decided it would be good to try it on Sonja. After a brief struggle, they succeeded. Nathanael snapped out of his permanent trance, not remembering anything between when he first was put under as a pup and the present day.

Narayr and Berit explained to Nathanael what happened to him and the present situation. Nathanael had been campaigning for leadership when he was entranced, and he still wanted to be Leader now, though understood that he still had a lot to catch up on. He got his own mushroom crown and they took Sonja's off so that he could talk to her. Faelcu Sonja refused to let original Sonja speak, so she was re-frozen without a satisfying conclusion.

Norayr announced to the pack their findings about the mushroom crowns and that Nathanael was back and wanted to resume leadership. The pack would have their vote once Nathanael felt ready.

Thabo tries out the mushroom crown himself. Emboldened by being unable to be entranced, he decides to start dealing with Fae matters himself. He ambushes and kills Faedust, and Black Ice is an accidental casualty as he tried to defend his brother. Their father, Klym, attempted to take revenge but was killed, too.

Thabo turned his efforts on Berit, but Consalvo swiped the mushroom crown from Thabo's head and Berit was able to entrance him. As much as she hated doing so, she trapped him in a root-structure sleep like Sonja had before and went to Norayr for solutions.

[ladala99]

So close to a Bingo. I possibly could count the Pokemon Sleep Entei/Raikou/Suicune rerun for Johto spotlight, but I was mainly looking out for new announcements/releases for the Johto/Unova spotlight squares.

As for my full thoughts on the Presents:

Not too much to be excited about, but I was coming in with low expectations despite all the spinoff stuff I put on my Bingo board. Summer Pokemon Presents are rarely too too exciting - they're mainly for trailers for already-announced games.

Pokemon Championships In-Life Bonuses

Not really relevant to me since I'm not going.

Pokemon Concierge

Cute! I watched the first season when it was on YouTube. I hope they put this one up there too at some point, since I no longer have Netflix access.

The Misadventures of Sirfetch'd and Pichu

Not sure where this will be watchable, but a collaboration with the Wallace and Gromit people is certainly surreal!

Pokepark Kanto

Might be something to see at some point in my life. What they showed doesn't seem that exciting, though. Pokemon statues in a forest and in a small town-like area? But this is what the plush in the back were hinting at, so it got me a bingo thing crossed off, I guess.

Pokemon Go - Eternatus

I haven't been active enough to get anything good Dynamax-wise. I'll probably be sitting this one out.

Pokemon Masters Ex

I haven't played this game in a long time, and I don't intend to go back yet.

Pokemon Cafe Remix - Captain and Crew Outfits

I haven't played this game in a long time, and I don't intend to go back yet.

Pokemon Sleep - Johto Beast Re-run and Amber Canyon

I do play this game, and I love Flygon! I already have the Johto Beasts from the first run, but maybe I can get the Sleep Styles I missed the first go-around.

Unfortunately for me, I'm going to be stuck in Old Gold Power Plant for the foreseeable future, because they just released Plusle/Minun, there's a Ribbon in this game, and it is my contractual duty to get a Shiny Minun to act as a surrogate for my main-series Shiny Minun and obtain that Ribbon.

Pokemon Unite

I don't play this game and don't intend to start.

Pokemon TCG

As always, neat art!

Pokemon Friends

Hey, new Mobile Spinoff! I wasn't sold on the simple puzzle gameplay, but I WAS sold on placing plushies around a virtual room, so I'll check this out.

Pokemon Scarlet/Violet - Shiny Treasures of Ruin Tera Raids

I'm going to have to participate in these! Chien-Pao is one of my top favorite Pokemon from Scarlet/Violet, and Chi-Yu is up there, too, so getting the Shinies will be neat!

Pokemon Champions

Yep, it's a battle sim alright. I expected some way to train EVs/IVs/Moves in this game, and it looks like it straight-up uses in-game currency, probably obtained through both grinding and microtransactions if you don't want to grind. Or, you know, just sending from main series.

Sounds like there isn't any single-player campaign, though, which is a slight disappointment.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A

I probably missed some when I spaced out while they were talking about the story, because I don't want to know the story.

Mega Dragonite, though! As expected, we have new Megas. And like a lot of the Megas that exist already, it just looks goofy. Looking forward to seeing some others.

EMMA! So we're really not that far into the future.

And Mable! That's one of Team Flare's Scientists, I believe. She left very little impression on me during the main game, like all of the scientists other than Xerosic, so here we have another chance to get to know her, as a good guy this time, it seems.

Overall

Some mildly interesting announcements. Nothing has me hyped, but a summer Presents is rarely all that interesting.

[ladala99]

Just so I've posted it somewhere before the Pokemon Presents tomorrow.

[ladala99]

Wolvden - Lunar Revelations (Final Part: Sonja)

Finally, it was Sonja’s turn. Norayr entered the den, saying “Sonja.”

She snarled. She’d gotten a lot more violent lately.

“It’s not that bad,” Berit said. “The truth comes out, just like me with me.”

“Choose someone else,” Sonja said like a warning.

“It is your turn tonight,” Norayr said, expending some Lunar Energy to lull her to sleep.

Except that only enraged her more. She snarled and jumped up, locking her flashing eyes with Norayr’s two normal eyes. He felt her try to soothe him, but he focused on his mission, trying to use his power to get her to sleep. His paws froze, and the sensation rose through his body.

“Norayr, at me!” Berit called, and he looked at her instead. Her eyes also flashed, but she wasn’t pulling as hard. Somehow, he felt more drawn in, though, and he found himself letting go, his thoughts getting foggy.

Next he knew, he was in a mind realm. Sonja sat across from him, ears flat, but Berit was there, too, beside him.

He blinked. “What happened?”

“Sonja has no control and was not going to stop until you were under her command,” Berit said. “I figured it would be safer if you were under mine. Once I had you, I was able to calm Sonja down, and in the process I silently ordered you to use your power on her. It seems to have brought me in, too.”

“Berit, put him under again,” Sonja said. “I don’t think I can.”

“This is his domain, Sonja,” Berit said. You will do what he says.

Norayr looked around. He knew he was in a mind realm, but he felt so drained. He could hardly remember why he wanted to be in Sonja’s in particular.

“Something’s wrong,” Norayr said. “I. . . I don’t know.”

“Sonja, what happened from your perspective?” Berit asked.

“I tried to control him,” Sonja said.

“Show us,” Berit said.

Sonja looked at Norayr. “Make me.”

He pushed her with his power, and the land changed to the den just minutes before.

Sonja was so full of fear and hatred when Norayr came in. That feeling focused on him, and when he tried to make her sleep, she leaped and tried to take him.

But he resisted. Big mistake. She reached out with the power of the Shadow to drain his life, only to be interrupted by Berit.

He fell under her power while the Shadow was still draining. Sonja pushed it to drain more, faster.

“Sonja, it’s okay.” Berit said. “I have him. You can back away.”

Sonja backed away, but kept the Shadow draining. But she felt so tired. She tried to keep her eyes open, but soon found herself drifting off.

Norayr felt he should have some emotional response, but felt nothing. Exhausted.

“Sonja!” Berit growled. “You used the Shadow?”

“He resisted,” Sonja said. “He shouldn’t be in charge. Now, he can be ours.”

“Who even are you?” Berit’s ears were flat. “What happened to my sister?”

“I think you already know,” Sonja said.

“Is she still alive?” Berit pressed.

“Why don’t you use the Lunar Wolf to ask that?”

Berit looked to him, then moved to his side. “Is she still draining you?”

He looked at her dully. His mind was so sluggish he could hardly think.

She looked so concerned, then her eyes flashed. “Can you answer now?”

Somehow, he felt a little clearer. “I don’t know. I don’t know what’s happening in the real world.”

Berit grit her teeth. “We need out. I’m sorry you got no answers.”

“That’s okay. I don’t remember. . . much of anything.” He pulled them out and into the real world.

He couldn’t move his body. He was lying on the floor, and his body wasn’t moving. But he could see, feel, experience.

“Norayr?” Berit asked, nosing under his head.

He couldn’t respond.

“He’s breathing,” Berit said. “Heart’s beating. No response.” She glared in a direction he couldn’t see. “Did you seriously drain him of his will completely?”

“He is ours now,” Sonja repeated. “Go on, take him. I have Nathanael.”

“He was on our side!” Berit complained.

“Just take him,” Klym spoke up. “Before one of the pups decide to. You can yell at her later.”

Berit huffed and stared at Norayr’s eyes, her own flashing. He let what remained of his will be absorbed in hers.

“Can you get up?” Her voice felt so important. He tried, but couldn’t. He still couldn’t move.

“Tell me,” she said.

“I can’t move,” he replied, not even consciously. His mind drifted back to what Dicun had described. Not controlling the body—commanding it. And the real Dicun was helpless.

But he couldn’t even get his mouth open without a question.

“Can you think, at least?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he replied. Dicun. He needed to mention Dicun.

“What about remembering?”

“I can remember now. Better than earlier.”

He heard a sniff. “Too bad,” Sonja said.

“Sonja, I need you to stop,” Berit barked. “I wish I could tell you to leave.” Softer, she said, “Norayr, I’m sorry, but I think I can’t just ask. Get up.”

His body obeyed, but still his expression was blank.

“Act like yourself,” Berit said.

Wrong command. The body’s posture changed to his, but he still wasn’t in control. He couldn’t open his mouth to mention Dicun. If she’d even understand it.

Berit still seemed unsure of what to do.

“Command him to get us out of here,” Sonja suggested.

“I think we aren’t done,” Berit said. He felt a silent command ‘bring her back into the dream world.’

He agreed. Maybe he could talk there. His body obeyed, and Sonja drowsed again. She growled but fell asleep.

So there they were again, this time with Norayr feeling a lot better.

“Dicun!” he blurted. “Okay, good, I can talk again.”

Both Fae-wolves looked at him curiously.

“I’m like Dicun,” he explained. He looked at Berit. “You need to tell the body to listen to me, not just act like me.”

Berit nodded sharply. “Got it.” Her expression softened. “You’re okay, then? Back to normal, aside from that?”

“I think so,” Norayr said. He turned his attention to Sonja. “Now this begins in earnest. I can force matters if you don’t behave.”

“Boo,” Sonja said.

“Now, who are you? Where is the real Sonja?” he demanded.

“I don’t have any other name, but the one you call Sonja is here,” she said. Like with Dicun before, an identical wolf stepped out of Sonja’s side. The original one morphed into a Faelcu, looking over at them maliciously. Lines of green energy flowed from the Faelcu to Sonja, and she looked scared.

“Berit!” the real Sonja cried, sprinting over, only to be yanked back by the Faelcu.

“She is mine,” the Faelcu said.

The scene faded into the Fae realm, where several Faelcu surrounded Sonja, who was attempting to look brave, but her tail was fluffed. Norayr noted that he could feel the satisfaction of the Faelcu - it was its memory.

“So, you want to make a deal,” one of the Faelcu said.

Sonja nodded. “I don’t want the pack destroyed. We need to return home. If I need to make a deal with you to do that, I guess I have to.”

“Do you understand that you have failed us?” a Faelcu asked.

“That seems to be what you believe,” Sonja said. “I made one conscious choice, not to favor my Fae-wolf son over his stronger siblings, and it didn’t even matter in the end. Everything else. . . I don’t know what anyone could have done differently.”

“Your failure, your direct defiance, is enough,” a Faelcu said. “Disobeying the Fae after one has given you a gift is reason enough to take everything from you. If you want it back, you must give something equally precious.”

“What do you want?” Sonja asked.

“You,” one said, with a gleaming eye. “Give me your name, your life, and everything will be restored. Your pack will be free again.”

Sonja froze. “That’s the only way.”

“Yes,” a different Faelcu said. “That is the only possible equal exchange. Your identity or your pack.”

Sonja tried to back away, but there was nowhere to go; she was surrounded.

“If I must,” she whimpered, and one of the Faelcu stared at her, putting her into a trance. The memory ended.

Berit growled at the Faelcu. “You took my sister. Give her back.”

“What will you offer in exchange?” the Faelcu asked mockingly.

“We’ll leave you in peace,” Berit snarled. “If you won’t be satisfied reasonably, then we will find a way to kill you.”

The Faelcu scoffed. “Good luck with that. My friends will see your defiance and reclaim you soon.”

“I think I’ve seen enough,” Norayr said. He gave Sonja a sympathetic look. “I think it’s time to awaken.”

He removed himself and Berit from the dream world, but left Sonja sleeping.

After Berit remembered to give him control of his body again, Norayr said, “She’ll wake in the morning, but she’ll remain in her own mind for now.”

Berit nodded.

“You guys look a bit better,” Klym commented. “What happened?”

“Sonja is being controlled by a Faelcu, and we can’t do anything about it,” Berit said.

“We’ll find something to do about it,” Norayr said.

[ladala99]

Wolvden - Lunar Revelations (Part 3: Berit)

The next night, he decided to go with Berit, who was perfectly willing.

“It’s a little weird having someone else in my head,” Berit commented as they arrived in the mind realm. “Your power isn’t quite like mine, however. I might be powerless to wake, but you’re not really controlling me.

“I would not compare our powers,” Norayr said.

“Why not?” Berit asked. “They both incapacitate the target and draw out information, willing or not. Yours is just limited to night during a Lunar event. Perhaps we should try fighting Faelcu then.”

“If they don’t get me first,” Norayr shuddered. “Consalvo showed me his memories of the Faelcu.”

“Oh, that’s why I’m next,” Berit said, “I was wondering. I thought Sonja would be of more interest. What’s on the agenda?”

“I primarily want to know what you’re doing to Consalvo,” Norayr said. “Perhaps we can visit your perspective on the mind-control.”

Berit shifted on her feet. “You do realize that we are mates, right?”

“Do you control him when you breed?”

“If he wants to,” Berit says. “Never without permission, and not every time or the entire time. He doesn’t remember being under, after all, and I want him to enjoy himself as much as possible, so I often will put him under several times the same night.”

“Have you repeatedly put him under in any other circumstances?” Norayr asked. He didn’t need to see such private acts.

Berit tilted her head, thinking. “Let’s see. . . I can think of a couple of times off the top of my head, but it’s all flirting.”

Norayr wrinkled his nose. Even the one Consalvo had shown was like that, though. “I need to see what you are doing,” he said. “See if it’s changing him.”

Berit huffed. “You’ll be disappointed. But let’s go.”

The scene changed to the den Berit and Consalvo shared. Consalvo was on his back, looking at Berit upside-down.

“Trance?” he asked.

“If you insist,” Berit said. She locked eyes with him and activated her power. Norayr felt what she had—her mind locking around Consalvo’s, his will slipping away.

As his eyes unfocused, she let go, and he looked at her adoringly. “Again!” His tail wagged.

She repeated the process.

“I’m still in the same spot!” Consalvo whined as he came to again. “Trance me like you mean it. Like you need me somewhere else.”

“Where?” she asked.

“You decide!” Consalvo said.

Berit locked on his mind again, but this time didn’t let go. The sensation of moving Consalvo was surreal to Norayr; it was less a simple mental command as full instruction, where to put each leg and how. No wonder entranced wolves were so slow.

After he got upright, she commanded aloud, with the mental command to respond truthfully, “Are you thinking around the room or in the woods?”

“I am not thinking,” Consalvo said slowly.

Berit snorted with laughter. “Which would you prefer?”

“In the woods, like when we met.”

“Fair enough,” Berit said. Listening for observers, she backed out of her den, leading him along. Doing this felt good—like she was leading an unsuspecting wolf into her trap, even though she meant no harm. She never got to lead around anyone else.

Every now and then she momentarily let go, so he could become conscious of the experience, and then she grabbed him again. She led him in a circle around their den before letting go completely.

As he became conscious, he looked around. “We’re still at the den,” he observed.

“Yes,” she said in a mock-scary voice, “I captured you, little wolf, and brought you to my home.”

He wagged his tail. “Oh,” he said, his thoughts still obviously sluggish. He got up. “Well, I’mgonnaescapenowbye!” He ran into the woods, and she, after a moment’s delay, followed, barking in laughter.

He mock-ran from her, and she followed at full speed as he dodged through the trees. She was faster, though she let him run for a while before she sped up and cut him off.

He gazed into her eyes. “Come on, you’re supposed to catch me.”

“Only when you say so,” she replied, and locked him in. She let go after a moment. “Are you done, or do you want to be led home?”

“Lead me,” he said, and she did just that.

The memory ended as they reached the den, and Consalvo snuggled up to her after she let him go.

After taking a moment to come back to himself, Norayr asked, “It’s not always so consensual, is it?”

“With him, it is,” Berit said. “Even when I first met him, he was begging to be hypnotized to see what it feels like. Even after I threatened to eat him.” She wagged her tail at the memory, and bits and pieces of it flashed by, proving its truth.

“So he really was always like that,” Norayr said. “His will wasn’t damaged into craving it.”

“He is a weird one, but he’s my weird one.”

“But with others?” Norayr pried. “How about we see someone who really didn’t want to be controlled?”

“Wake us up and you can see both perspectives,” Berit said with an impish wag of her tail. At his unamused look, she said, “Or we can go with this one.”

She was in the woods, but Norayr could sense this was her home. She was younger here, before they had moved out and into the main territory.

And there was a stranger in her territory.

Her father was hunting. Her mother was in her Shadow-induced muddled state, and so it was just her and her younger sister.

The stranger was coming right at them, jaws flashing.

As scared as she was, she had no choice. She met the eyes of her assailant, putting her all into stopping him. She was clumsy and unpracticed and scared she’d accidentally use the Shadow, which she was not to use on wolves.

But it worked. Her glomp of power overwhelmed the enemy, and she was able to grab hold of his violent, kicking mind, using her power to soothe it, until the wolf, teeth inches from her head, looked at her blankly, awaiting orders.

She didn’t know what to do with him, so she just held him. It was much easier now that he wasn’t conscious. Her dad would know what to do.

“Berit! Sonja!” He exclaimed, panicked, as he arrived with prey.

“What do I do with him?” Berit asked.

He rushed over and surveyed the situation. Sonja was too young to understand what was happening. The intruder was still frozen as he was—Berit hadn’t moved him.

“He came alone?” Her dad asked.

“I think so,” Berit said.

“No one was hurt?”

“He almost got us but I froze him. I didn’t even use the Shadow!”

Her dad huffed. “Good girl. I’ll take care of him. Order him to stand still and obey me.”

She did so, and her dad took over. He led the wolf outside the territory, and the memory ended.

“Maybe that wasn’t the best example,” Berit said. “I think my father did end up using the Shadow on him, since we never saw him again. This sort of thing happened often, but that was the time I had to step up. Otherwise, the worst is this one.”

A new wolf, nervous, joined the hunting group. It was Thabo, someone Norayr knew was no fan of Fae wolves.

He could feel Berit’s apprehension upon seeing him.

“Have you been informed of the drill?” Berit asked.

He growled slightly. “Don’t.”

Berit paused, then said. “Then you’re not on the hunting team.”

They glared at one another for a moment, but he recognized she was his senior. “Fine. Make it quick.”

Berit nodded, then used her power. He was resistant for a moment, but as she pumped in the soothing feeling, his fur lowered and she had him.

“Thabo,” she said. “I already know you don’t like me. Do you have any hidden intentions? Will you hurt or kill me, or any of the team, if you have the chance?”

“I want you and all Fae-wolves out of the pack,” Thabo said in monotone. “If I had the opportunity, then yes, I would kill you, but only without witnesses.”

The others on the hunting team murmured.

“I suppose you didn’t realize this would come out,” Berit said.

“You are not our leader. I don’t care what you know.”

Berit was breathing more heavily now, her ears flattened. “My team respects me. You will not be a hunter. And I should tell you that while you’re awake.”

She let go and backed away from him, though others were there so she would be safe. They all stared at him.

“If given the chance, you will kill me,” Berit said, eyes narrow.

Thabo looked confused. He looked around to the others. “Of course I wouldn’t! She made me say that. She doesn’t like me, so she wanted to stop me from being a hunter!”

This seemed to sway some of the other hunters, but not the majority. Many still stared.

He saw he was outnumbered, and turned back. “Let’s see what Norayr has to say.”

The memory faded, and Berit looked at Norayr expectantly.

Norayr sighed. “I took him at his word, yes. I suppose you wanted to show me that.”

Berit nodded. “I wish I had mind-altering powers to make wolves like me. It would make things so much easier. Luckily he hasn’t had the chance, but largely because you locked me and the other Fae-wolves away.”

Understood. There was a problem to be fixed, but locking them away might still be the best course of action. Thabo should not be guard, though.

“Has Thabo bothered you when he was on guard duty?” Norayr asked.

“He’s not done anything yet,” Berit said. “I would request, though—”

“He won’t be guarding you after tonight,” Norayr said.

“Thank you.” Berit bowed. “Is there anything else you would like to see?”

“Not tonight,” Norayr said. “Thank you for sharing.”

[ladala99]

7/19/25-7/20/25

Updated older wolf data types to be consistent with newer ones

Built code to assign Independent wolves to their closest Parties, as well as re-assign the Parties to wolves after being influence by Best Friends

7/20 - Major success: Built generic voting code that will simulate instant runoff regardless of how many rounds it takes to find a winner

Didn't have to implement it into already-existing sytems - it just works on its own

And this covers August Voting as well, obviously, so all initial goals complete!

New goals:

Build code to do a one-sided Influence to use with parents of the same personality as their pups and with mentors

Adjust Leader Voting to detract points from disliked traits

Build code to automatically run Primaries - filter voters by Party to choose their representative

Make generic voting code a little more efficient by having it check whether multiple choices should be eliminated at once

Make Leader Voting code that automatically revotes (generic one doesn't work for Leader Voting since it's a more complex process)

Wolvden Democracy Calculators - Progress

Keeping a log for myself for what progress I've made with the personality generators this generation, and my goals.

Goals

Manually add Focus Stats to data for existing wolves

Build August voting before August

Build generic voting code that will simulate instant runoff regardless of how many rounds it takes to find a winner

Implement above generic voting code into already-existing voting systems

Build code to assign Independant wolves to their closest Parties

Accomplishments

Successfully implemented Focus Stats into Personality Generator

Fixed bugs in existing voting systems so they point to the right file again

Removed rank check in the mate finder because I don't remember why I had that criteria

[ladala99]

Wolvden - Lunar Revelations (Part 2: Consalvo)

The next night, Consalvo looked disappointed as Norayr entered his mind realm.

“I was kind of hoping there’s be that. . . You know, that feeling. That gentle head pressing on yours to hush, and relax, as you drift off and you know you can trust them and you hand off your body and whole self and. . .” He shuddered in pleasure of the memory. “Your power’s too normal.”

“Is that how you feel when Berit entrances you?” Norayr asked.

“When anyone does, I think, but especially her. I felt that way with the Faelcu too, even though they weren’t trustworthy.”

Norayr looked distant. He didn’t let Berit restore his memory of the Faelcu, since he didn’t even trust Berit.

“Do you mind if we revisit that memory of the Faelcu?” Norayr asked.

“Whatever you need,” Consalvo said.

The land around them shifted from the blue-tinted den paralleling the one in the real world, into the land outside the den. Faelcu darted around, entrancing the wolves who tried to resist them.

Consalvo was frozen in place, watching the chaos unfold. Norayr himself was somewhere off to the side, attempting to attack a Faelcu, but stopping in his tracks and relaxing, looking peaceful, as another caught his eye.

Eventually, just as Berit and the others were rushing in, Consalvo found his feet and started trying to get to his mate. But before he could, a Faelcu stood in front of him and stared.

Norayr felt what Consalvo had felt—that feeling of peace, of sleepiness, of acceptance, as Consalvo of the past became entranced. The memory fogged over into an impenetrable white.

But it wasn’t over. Consalvo had become conscious again in the Fae realm, where an ambient mist kept him feeling good and compliant.

“I think many others were disturbed,” the Consalvo of now said, “but for me, as long as I feel good, I’m fine.”

Faelcu took them one by one. Norayr saw his past self be led away with an unreadable expression.

“How far do you want to go?” The current Consalvo asked. “They did some awful stuff to me, and unlike a lot of us, I just let them, so they never knocked me out.”

“I need to see it,” Norayr said. “I don’t want Berit in my head, so I won’t get my own memories back. But if I can view yours, I will.”

A Faelcu came and beckoned for the Consalvo of the past, and he, feeling wonderful and trusting, followed.

By the end, Norayr regretted watching. Even the euphoric feeling could not mask the pain Consalvo had been in. Norayr didn’t even understand what the Faelcu were trying to accomplish, except, perhaps, to see the limits of will on a wolf like Consalvo.

As the torture ended, one of the Faelcu stared at Consalvo for a moment, who blinked in confusion.

“It’s erasing my memory,” the current Consalvo explained. “Nobody remembered any of that until Berit found it buried.”

“So what was the point?” Norayr asked.

“No clue,” Consalvo said. “Probably just fun. I think they were trying us out like toys, but before they started distributing us, Ziad and Sonja got us freed.”

Following the torture, the wolves were held in some sort of magical pen. None seemed aware of their surroundings, even Consalvo, at this point. And then, one by one, they were led out, before returning to the real world.

Norayr took a bit to take it all in.

“You want to feel Berit?” Consalvo asked. “Much less traumatizing.”

“I can feel Berit myself if I want,” Norayr said.

“Yeah, but you don’t want to be controlled by her. This is a memory.”

Norayr didn’t feel like it’d flush away the horror, but he nodded.

The scene changed to a hunt in the woods. Berit was going around the hunting team, putting them under her control, asking a couple of questions, then leaving. She got to Consalvo.

“I can trust you,” she teased.

“Please?” Consalvo asked. “Just like the others?”

Berit snorted, and looked him in the eyes. Her Fae eyes flashed, but she was looking at him with such affection. Norayr felt through the memory exactly what Consalvo had described at the start, a warm, safe sensation, similar to the Faelcu but genuine, that prompted him to let go, feeling her will sliding over his as the memory faded to fog.

It did feel oddly cleansing after all the Faelcu stuff.

“Thank you for sharing,” Norayr said.

“You’re welcome!” Consalvo’s tail wagged. “Does it help?”

He was a little weird, liking being entranced so much, but it didn’t seem as sinister as Norayr had thought. He’d have to see things from Berit’s perspective to be sure Consalvo wasn’t under some more permanent spell from the repeated control, though.

[ladala99]

Wolvden - Lunar Revelations (Part 1: Dicun)

Wolvden narrative

Norayr stared at Nathanael’s blank expression. Norayr, voted temporary leader, had ordered the Fae-wolves and their mates be separated—the Fae-wolves in the original Leader’s den, while the mates were kept in a new structure.

Nathanael seemed to be in a constant trance anyway.

“What did Sonja do to him?” Norayr muttered. “How do we cure it?”

“It’s been too late for him for a long time,” Consalvo said from nearby. “From what I’ve gathered, when he acts normal, he’s acting. Sonja accidentally put him in a weird limbo when they were both pups, and this is how he is without her.”

“So is this end-stage? Is this what you would eventually become under Berit’s influence?” Norayr asked.

Consalvo huffed. “You’re not listening. No. What happened to Nathanael was an accident. Only Chaz tried to replicate it. What Berit does won’t ever lead to this. Ask Dicun if you want to know how it works.”

Maybe he would. “Fine. You fetch Dicun.”

Consalvo rolled his eyes, but followed the order.

“The Fae-wolves aren’t the enemy,” Erin said. She’d been despondent since being separated from Klym, but in a more normal way. “They fought against the Faelcu on the same side as us.”

“You were put under Klym’s spell in the Fae Realm,” Norayr said.

Erin bristled. “He saved me! He hasn’t once used his power on me. Not there, not here.”

“And yet weren’t you in a trance when you took two of your pups into the forest to become Fae-wolves?” Norayr questioned.

“That wasn’t him,” Erin growled. “And I only took one; Klym was under the same power taking the other. It’s the pups, not the Fae-wolf parent, and it’s instinct—it only happens once.”

“That is what you believe,” Norayr said calmly.

“If there’s only one Fae-pup, the Fae-wolf parent’s the one who goes under,” Erin argued.

“Or perhaps the other pairs respect their partners more,” Norayr suggested.

Consalvo scoffed, entering with Dicun right behind. “I think if Sonja had the choice, she wouldn’t have even gone,” he said.

Dicun huffed playfully. “You’re talking about me, you know.” He turned his attention to Norayr, then Nathanael. His tail stilled seeing his father like that. “I hear I’m here to talk about Nathanael’s state?”

“First I would like to confirm who I am speaking to,” Norayr said.

Dicun cocked his head. “Dicun. . .? Oh wait, you’re talking about Chaz, too. Uh, we haven’t really had separate identities for a while, so. . . both I guess.”

“Is Dicun not in a similar situation to Nathanael?” Norayr asked.

“It started the same for sure,” Dicun said. “I. . .uh, Chaz, put me. . .Dicun in a trance, then used the Shadow until right before the last moment and attempted to catch me—Dicun—in a permanent trance. But, I guess I need to say this in third person: Chaz didn’t expect Dicun to pull Chaz in, and while Chaz did successfully get control over Dicun’s mind and body, Chaz was unable to return to his own body and got stuck with Dicun still there.”

“So it’s not the same situation,” Norayr said.

“Mechanics are the same, end result is not. Technically I am Dicun in a permanent trance with Chaz taking direct control of my body. But our memories have co-mingled, and while we were separate we kept switching who was the external personality, and now I don’t know where Chaz ends and Dicun begins.

“But I know I’m still in a permanent trance because I’m still immune to being put in another one. When the Faelcu took us, they had a bit more trouble with me since unlike with Nathanael, they couldn’t find my master. Once they realized what was going on, though, they were able to figure out how to get to me.”

Norayr paused, trying to absorb what Dicun had told him. “So, Nathanael is permanently in a trance under Sonja’s power.”

“Yes,” Dicun confirmed.

“If that trance were to be broken?” Norayr asked.

“He would be dead,” Dicun said.

Norayr blinked. “We can’t get him back?”

“The Shadow killed him, but at the last moment he fell under Sonja’s control,” Dicun explained. “His body or Sonja or something remembers who he was, so he can pretend to be himself if asked, but he’s gone, actually.”

“The Shadow killed Dicun, too?” Norayr asked.

Dicun huffed in amusement. “Kind of? That’s what I was trying to do. Chaz, that is. But Dicun didn’t so much let himself be entranced at the last moment as forcibly pull us both in. That’s what killed Chaz’s body.”

Norayr perked. “Can this sort of thing be replicated?”

Dicun shifted on his paws. “I don’t think anyone’s tried. And while Chaz’s body is dead, Dicun was never able to control his own body again. My body is running on being commanded, specifically by Chaz. I could tell it to listen to Dicun or Chaz, and it would, but Chaz could always revoke it.”

Norayr huffed in annoyance.

“If you’re trying to find a cure for Nathanael or me, there isn’t one,” Dicun said. “If you’re trying to prevent this happening to anyone else, all the advice I can give is what was told to me: stay focused, travel in groups or get others as soon as you can, and if you find yourself frozen, then try to get entranced, because otherwise you’re dead.”

“I’ll see what the dreamworld reveals,” Norayr said, looking distant. “Perhaps there are methods to restoring body and soul properly.”

———

Sonja’s and Berit’s next litters lacked any Fae pups, much to Norayr’s relief. Sonja was becoming increasingly violent, though, and was absolutely distraught at her litter, ranting that the Faelcu would come and punish them all.

So far, no such thing had happened, but he knew it was only a matter of time before they responded in some way. He felt, though, that the lack of Fae pups was a good omen.

The time of Lunar Dreams was arriving within minutes. As a wolf with Total Eclipse eyes, Norayr’s third eye would allow him to enter the dreamworld and mind realms of other wolves. He hadn’t pried into the dreams of a Fae-wolf before, and was most curious about Dicun, Nathanael, and Sonja. Perhaps this power would allow them to overcome the Fae-wolf curses.

Blue swirls started drifting over the land as night fell. He had called Dicun over to the new den for observation.

���What happens if we don’t sleep?” Erin challenged as Norayr entered.

She was going to be a problem if not dealt with. “If you’d prefer to be elsewhere, you may,” Norayr said. “This first night need not involve you, and I suspect you’ll have a hard time avoiding sleep for four and a half months.”

Erin huffed in annoyance. “Can I be with my mate?” she asked.

“Not yet,” Norayr said. He felt the Lunar energy flow into him as the night grew darker.

“Then I’m staying here,” she said.

Norayr nodded. “Just allow me to do what I need to with the others.”

The look she gave him indicated she was going to do anything but.

It would be hypocritical, but perhaps he had no choice. “Sleep,” he said, loosing some Lunar Energy into her. She grew drowsy and growled, but had no choice as her body failed her and she fell asleep.

Dicun and Consalvo watched curiously.

“Do me next!” Consalvo said with a lifted tail.

“I only have so much energy,” Norayr said, “and I need it to enter the dreams of those I am observing. Dicun, you are first, so I can more fully understand your situation.”

Dicun lifted his tail slightly. “I had no idea you were hiding mind-control magic, too. Let’s see if it even works on me.”

Norayr nodded. “Sleep,” he commanded, loosing some Lunar Energy.

Dicun did not sleep. Norayr frowned.

“Guess not,” Dicun said. “But I can go along with it.” He yawned and curled up. The ambient Lunar Energy seemed to ignore him. Could he even get into the dream realm?

Only one way to find out. Norayr stood over Dicun and activated his third eye. Lunar energy seemed to power him just fine, and he felt himself fading into the dream realm.

Blue light circled him and danced in the world around him. He looked around, and happily, Dicun was there, but he did look strange.

His body was the same as usual, but green lines rose from every joint as if he was controlled by something else, though those lines just looped in over themselves.

“I wanted the mind realm, not the dream realm,” Norayr muttered to himself.

“This might be that,” Dicun said. “It was a little blank before.”

“Show me your true self, or selves,” Norayr commanded.

Dicun looked at his paws, seemingly noticing the lines of energy for the first time. He pulled a paw forward, observing it. “I think I’m all here,” he said. “I guess I can try letting the body go for a minute? I’m just asleep, after all.”

Another wolf phased out of the first, the green lines connecting them. This one looked different and had Fae eyes. A third wolf emerged, not connected via the lines, and the original wolf curled up and fell asleep.

The remaining two looked at one another, and the Fae-eyed one said, “I guess we are both still here.”

“Makes sense,” said the other. “It’s not like”—he looked at his own body—“I really died.”

The first barked a laugh. “You can’t remember which one you are, either, huh?”

The second huffed good-naturedly. “You certainly proved you can’t. Unless I was in control? I’m not sure who was.”

Norayr observed them both. “Going by the threads, I presume Chaz with the Fae eyes is the only one controlling the body.”

“Yeah, that’s what we told you,” the second one said.

“But you didn’t believe us,” the Fae-eyed one said.

The fact that they both seemed to have the same personality disturbed Norayr. Perhaps he could get them to remember their full identities. “Do you miss having your powers, Chaz?”

The Fae-eyed one, Chaz, cocked his head in thought. “I haven’t thought about it for a while. I did at first, but now? I’d be cool to have them again, I guess.”

“Stop being so modest,” Dicun said. “We’ve accepted our current condition, but the memories of the power you had. . . You successfully permanently entranced a small army of birds, even. And you wanted to do the same with wolves. That power is like nothing else.”

“I guess,” Chaz relented. “I was pretty ambitious. Evil, even. I don’t know who I would have become if you didn’t stop me.”

“You don’t miss it?” Dicun asked.

“Not anymore. I think we’re too mixed.” Chaz said.

“Maybe,” Dicun said. “I think I’d miss it. That. . . I can just feel your memories now. The power. The potential. And all that’s gone. Yeah, I’d miss it.”

They really were mixed. Dicun seemed more Chaz than Chaz did.

“I suppose I have nothing more to ask,” Norayr said. There didn’t seem to be any potential here to free him from the Fae influence.

[ladala99]

Wolvden - Votes are In - Round 2!

See previous posts if you don't want spoilers.

All adult wolves were up for vote aside from Nathanael and Sonja. Who did the pack choose?

Norayr - one of the weirdest-looking Adopted wolves that I haven't been adding to the story or paying much attention to in general due to being an unmated wolf adopted during the previous generation when I was adopting for unusual eyes rather than natural colors like I am now.

I will say I am very proud of my voting algorithm, as the two finalists both had strong and opposing positions. I think the only thing I'm really missing is the fact that opinions only reflect positively, so it's best to have a lot of them. I'm still noodling over how to make them also count fairly and negatively, since while some only have two opposing options, others are one of several, and I don't want a wolf's preference of Glacier make a wolf who prefers Tundra hate them. And just implementing it on the dichotomies would make those traits disproportionately important. Which I guess they already are since it's more likely to match.

For story:

Norayr is more in-tune with the Lunar world, and believes that may be the key in resisting the Faelcu

Sonja attempts to control him, but Berit puts a stop to it. The pack has spoken.

They decide this temporary position will only last until the Faelcu threat is over. This does not create a new Royal line in any way nor disrupt any current hunting teams. Once Nathanael dies, one of his pups will become proper Leader.

The temporary Leader will get priority for any empty hunting team slots, and is given the opportunity to take a mate if they do not already have one.

Norayr decides not to take a mate at this time (best choice is Ilhana, who is on Pair Bond cooldown due to the death of her previous mate)

Temporary Leader is subject to approval voting every year in Spring. If approval is below 50%, another Temporary Leader will be chosen.

All disapproved Temporary Leaders are banned from becoming Temporary Leader again.

[ladala99]

Wolvden - The Votes and What Happens Now?

If you want to know what they are voting on, read the story on my previous post. I'll put this under a spoiler in case you don't want spoilers.

Rank 5 Wolf Nathanael - Appease the Fae (story character - controlled to vote this way) Total: Appease: 5 Resist: 0

Rank 4 Wolf Sonja - Appease the Fae (story character - controlled to vote this way) Total: Appease: 9 Resist: 0

Rank 3 Wolves Appease Wave Metta Beckham Wali Egil Bogdan Rostislav Total: 21

Resist Aminata Ponzio Fern Orestes Dicun (story character) Areej Total: 18

Appease: 30 Resist: 18

Rank 2 Wolves Appease Portia Ana Maria Cathryn Simran Epaphos (story character) Total: 10

Resist Dovid Berit (story character) Humbert Klym (story character) Erin (story character) Faedust Black Ice Appletree Mona Timoteo Nasreen Philadelphus Total: 24

Appease: 40 Resist: 42

Rank 1 Wolves Appease Bhim Phoebe Franciszka Consalvo (story character) Iovita Ralitsa Antares Vitor Zlata Lot Alexej Tamar Ilhana Iorwerth Arun Shazia Total: 16

Resist Ziad (story character) Jurou Ram Ilina Matusalen Zlata Georgo Inga Silvina Audamar Aura Thabo (story character) Ayan Zotikos Jameson Rahul Tasha Tahmasb Norayr Vlassis Eligio Osmund Total 22

Appease: 56 Resist: 64

These numbers are a little different from what the program gave me, so I probably transcribed a few of them names in the wrong place. But, either way, Resist won!

But uh, now what?

I'm not going to remove Nathanael as Lead Wolf. I can't, even if I wanted to, make him a normal wolf, after all. But that doesn't really matter, because I can just take away his title on the main page and give the true Lead Wolf a title.

But, this situation is different from if he just died via RNG, in which case his pups would be put up for vote as normal. While this vote wasn't specifically to oust Nathanael, that's a natural consequence - Nathanael cannot remain Lead Wolf because he is controlled by Sonja, who is currently controlled by the Faelcu.

And a lot of the pack isn't particularly trusting of any pups of Fae-wolves right now, even if they aren't actually Fae-wolves themselves.

Maybe every adult wolf should be eligible. Run the vote; see who ends up winning. I'll play around with it. This is still a live decision-making process.

[ladala99]

Wolvden - Rebellion

Nathanael, Sonja, Berit, Consalvo, and Ziad all gathered in the Leader’s den to listen to Eligio’s report. He had said it was important—and worrying.

“I’ve heard that some wolves are. . . concerned about the increase in Fae-wolves in the pack. They believe you’re complicit, Nathanael, and are discussing, theoretically for now, ousting you,” Eligio said.

Nathanael nodded. “I hope they succeed.” He didn’t like how the pack was heading, either, and honestly wanted to step down. But outside this den, he couldn’t say it. Ever since the pack was kidnapped, Sonja hadn’t even been letting him be himself outside of situations like this, where his opinion was being sought. It was frustrating, but even now, he couldn’t really stand up to her.

Sonja bristled and shook her head. “What would the Faelcu do to us if that happened?” she asked. “It can’t be allowed. Eligio, who is discussing this? It has to be stopped!” She was panicked. Anything to do with angering the Faelcu scared her, and she was not going to act rationally.

Eligio took a step back. “I don’t think that’s necessary at the—”

“—Berit!” Sonja ordered, implying for him to hypnotize Eligio into telling.

Berit shook her head. “Cool down, Sonja. We have time to think about this. We don’t need to know—Sonja!”

Upon the rejection, Sonja stared down Eligio. Nathanael tensed—she wasn’t really going to hypnotize him, was she? But she was.

“Tell me who are discussing this,” she ordered.

Eligio’s expression blanked, and he said in monotone, “Thabo is leading the discussions. He has spoken to many others who have heard him out, including Harris, who told me. Humbert, Dusan, and Juraj are ones I know he spoke to, but I cannot say who is taking him seriously.”

“Thabo,” Sonja growled. “We must banish him.” She let Eligio go, and his tail dropped to between his legs.

“Slow down,” Berit said. “They don’t know that we’re acting at the orders of the Faelcu. That if we fall, something much worse will happen to the entire pack. Being this quick to punish would make us exactly like the Faelcu ourselves.”

“Why don’t we be honest with them?” Ziad offered. “Can you remove whatever it is blocking them from remembering the time in the Fae Realm?”

“Maybe,” Berit said. “I haven’t searched that deep in anyone’s mind.”

“Let’s bring Thabo here,” Sonja said darkly. “Eligio, bring him. Berit, shadow Eligio in case Thabo refuses to come.”

Eligio bowed and left, Berit cocked her head in an ‘are you sure you know what you’re doing?’ gesture before following.

Not even a glance Nathanael’s way. It was obvious to everyone who really was in charge. How had it gotten this bad? Was it all the Faelcu? Was there anything they could do to re-establish normalcy?

Sonja went outside, possibly to watch what she could from the entrance, leaving Nathanael alone with Consalvo and Ziad.

“Sonja’s not like she was before the Faelcu took us,” Nathanael commented, drawing attention from the other two.

Consalvo’s ear flicked. “Berit’s worried, too. She thinks something happened. Would you know, since. . . You know. . .?”

Nathanael shook his head. “She controls me, but I don’t have access to her thoughts. I was completely unaware in the Fae Realm. Ziad, you were with her last, right?”

“Not really,” Ziad said, shifting. “That one Faelcu spoke to her alone after I convinced her to finally give negotiating a shot.”

Nathanael sighed. “Is there anything we can do about this?”

“Probably not without retaliation,” Consalvo said. “We’d need some solid way to resist and fight Faelcu. Since even the wolves immune to Fae-wolf power can be controlled.”

“And we’d need the Fae-wolves on board to even start,” Nathanael said. “I don't know if Sonja will ever be—”

Thabo entered, under Berit’s trance, Eligio and Sonja following.

“Was there a struggle?” Nathanael asked Eligio, trying to remind the Sky-colored wolf that he was supposed to be in charge.

“Well, he didn’t want to come,” Eligio said. “Berit intervened, so it’s not like there was a fight or anything.”

“Now ask if he really intends to oppose us,” Sonja said.

“Hold on,” Berit replied, “I’m still looking for the block on his memory.” A few moments passed. “There, I think I got it. Sonja, do you want to let him take it in and ask him while he’s conscious?”

“No, I want the truth,” Sonja replied. “Or you could let him go so I can ask.”

“I’ll ask,” Berit said. “Thabo, with the information you have now recalled, do you intend to try to oust Nathanael?”

“I need to process this new information,” Thabo replied in monotone. “I want everyone to remember. To know the truth. That we are under attack. And that Sonja is the reason.”

“I am not the reason!” Sonja barked.

“The Faelcu didn’t care about us until Sonja became mate to the Leader,” Thabo said. “We did not have these sorts of problems. If a normal wolf, without a Fae-wolf mate, became Leader, things would go back to how they were before.”

“I doubt that,” Ziad said. “Once the Faelcu have their sights on a pack, they aren’t going to just lose interest.”

“I was right about Fae-wolves intentionally taking over,” Thabo continued, “just wrong about the reason. We cannot continue this way, regardless. I will continue striving to eliminate the Fae’s influence over the pack.”

“We should all be on the same side, then,” Nathanael said.

Sonja bristled, “No, we’re not. I won’t let you step down OR be ousted.”

Nathanael felt he was about to be plunged into unconsciousness, but he had to have his say. “Sonja, if you’re still the same wolf I found so beautiful in the forest, you want nothing more than to be free of the Faelcu controlling our lives and pack. As long as we lead, the Faelcu can control you, and me through you. Trying someone else can’t make things any worse.”

“They’ll take us again,” Sonja said, looking down.

“And they control us now,” Nathanael said.

For a moment, it seemed his words had sunk in, but then Sonja shook her head as if dislodging a bug. “I think you’ve had enough to say,” she said, eyes flashing.

Nathanael felt his thoughts become cloudy as her will supplanted his and his original self faded.

His new self felt her panic and anger and the slight buzz of another will laid on top of hers. The will whispering to stay in control. Squash all resistance. He probably had been aware of it before, but when he was this way, he never remembered anything for long.

Berit spoke up. “Now that I know how, I can get everyone to remember what happened. Do you want that?”

A part of Sonja still wanted everyone to be blissfully unaware of the Fae activity, but it was becoming less and less possible. Another part, the part that buzzed, wanted everyone to know that they were occupied, and that anyone not willing to obey should get out.

“Yes,” she said as the buzzing Will became stronger, “let them remember. If anyone will rebel, they need to know the full story before they are punished. But before you let Thabo go. . .”

She pooled power into the earth, and sprouted some magical roots that enveloped Thabo.

“He shall be kept here for the time being,” she said.

Fae magic flowed from the roots into Thabo’s body, lulling him to sleep.

“You’re not seriously going to make him a Changeling?” Berit protested.

“Not at this time,” Sonja said. “He’ll just be kept under watch until your job is done. We’ll decide what to do with him later. Now go, all of you.”

The others, other than Nathanael, reluctantly left.

“You’ve been using your powers more than usual,” Nathanael noted. The buzzing will didn’t affect him, but Sonja’s will still did; she hadn’t given up control quite yet. “Wolves have noticed.”

Sonja looked at him sharply. The buzzing will was strong. “They need to realize it’s hopeless. When the Faelcu decide to play, they will always win. Everything will be easier if they just give up. Including you.” She was speaking to the real Sonja.

Nathanael’s ears flattened. “Will that make you leave us alone?” The real Sonja, drifting into Nathanael’s mind as the intruder took more control of her own body, noticed his memory of the conversation regarding fighting the Faelcu. She felt slightly betrayed, but strangely hopeful. Maybe there was a way out. But she couldn’t agree to help with the Faelcu overriding her.

Sonja’s body laughed. “Of course not! It’d just be more pleasant for you.”

———

Berit waited behind Ziad as the pack gathered. She didn’t want to individually sneak around and unlock the memory for everyone—it’d be better if they came to her as necessary. The Fae Realm was traumatizing, and not everyone needed to remember it directly.

Satisfied that most were there, Ziad spoke. “I’m sure most of us know something’s going on with Sonja. I’m going to tell you what—a few months ago, the pack, you all, were kidnapped by Faelcu and taken into the Fae Realm. We got out only because Sonja made some sort of deal with them. Only those of us who were in on the process kept our memories of the incident, but if you don’t believe me, Berit can unlock that memory in anyone who asks.”

Berit stepped forward. “I know many of you don’t exactly trust me. I’m a Fae-wolf, after all. But even I don’t like what’s happening. I believe something happened to Sonja, and she’s not acting on her own free will.” The next part she wasn’t sure she wanted to say, but it had to come out. “And Nathanael, well, he’s been under Sonja’s control since before he took leadership. Now he’s being controlled more closely than before.”

Ziad spoke again. “The Faelcu want to control the pack. They kidnap and kill us when anyone, particularly Sonja, goes against them. So we have two choices: keep things the way they are and submit willingly to the Faelcu’s whims, or defy them and risk being more openly attacked. Knowledge is power. We fell to them once because they surprised us, but they can only control one wolf at a time.

“Sonja, as it stands, wants to appease them. She feels it’s the safest choice, even if she has to turn on her pack.”

Ziad shifted, before continuing. “I think we can do better. But we are a democracy. Well all have a vote. Right here, right now. Will we submit, or will we fight?”

Someone in the crowd spoke. One of Sonja’s pups. “I think Sonja should speak before we vote. Give her side of the story.”

Berit’s ears flattened. Involving Sonja might lead to more trouble.

“Good idea,” Ziad said. “Berit, can you get her?”

“I will,” Berit said, “but I feel the vote should be after anyone who wants their memory of the Fae Realm restored has that chance. I will make myself available before that.”

———

Berit entered the Leader’s den, and Sonja glared at him. It seemed she was having an argument with Nathanael, though his posture was a bit different than he usually had even when he was fully himself.

“I told you to leave,” Sonja said.

“There’s going to be a vote,” Berit said. “The pack needs to decide whether to appease or fight the Faelcu. Your perspective was requested.”

Sonja growled. “Traitor!” She seemed about to lunge at Berit, but something came over her and she froze. Her fur lowered a little, and she seemed far less angry as she opened her eyes again. “Let’s do this.”

Berit cocked her head, but didn’t question what had happened. If Sonja wanted her to know, she’d tell her.

———

(Author’s note: voting is going to actually happen - wolves who don’t have established personalities or relationships with affected wolves will vote based on their other opinions, and if it’s a tie, it’ll be random.)

[ladala99]

Wolvden Lore Updates

Again, I don't really have the time to write down the entire arc, so we'll get a bullet-point summary:

Previously, Sonja had been ordered by the Faelcu to force Nathanael and the pack to favor Fae wolves. She refused, and, unrelatedly, Chaz was dumb and accidentally fused himself with Dicun, losing his real body and Fae powers. This angered the Faelcu.

Tiia/Epaphos, in which Epaphos is a Changeling, had a Fae pup. The Fae pup didn't make it, and in their anger, the Faelcu took Tiia as well.

A few nights later, Tiia was heard in the woods. Epaphos ran after her voice, and the Fae-wolf crew all followed, more trying to stop him from doing anything rash.

They found Tiia, but she was not really Tiia but a Faelcu pretending to be her. She taunted them and told them they'd find a surprise back at the pack.

When they returned, they found the entire pack under Faelcu occupation, everyone in a trance. Some particularly strong Faelcu approached the normally Fae-power-immune travelers, and was able to put them under as well. The entire pack was transported to the Fae realm.

In the Fae realm, the pack was no longer under quite the same type of mind-control, as they were aware of their surroundings, though still not in full control of their bodies when around the Faelcu.

Ziad, who had been trapped in the Fae realm before, losing his old pack, managed to convince the Faelcu to give the pack one more chance.

Sonja wasn't initially willing to concede anything, insisting that most of what the Faelcu blamed them for wasn't their fault. However, after prolonged capture, and Ziad's insistence, she conceded to prioritize allowing Fae wolves have mates over any other pairing.

The Faelcu returned the pack two seasons from when they took them. Most of the pack forgot what had happened, aside from those involved with making the deals.

Klym was the only unmated Fae wolf. Through this ordeal he became close with Erin, and they became mates afterwards. Two of their first litter were Fae-wolves.

Thabo, a non-royal wolf from a multi-generational line, is really put off by the increase in Fae-wolves in the pack, and he begins to build some allies to push politically against the Fae-wolves, and perhaps even oust Nathanael from the Leader position if necessary.

[ladala99]

Love it when I find a gorgeous game-generated NBW.

[ladala99]

Wolvden official polls have not been going my way during my current generation.

We plan on adding crow and raven traders in explore - what would you like to give to traders the most?

I chose "Den items" because that's what I tend to have the most of lying around. "Toys" won, which is something that's useful in other situations.

Would you prefer friendly wolves in explore encounters to have realistic fur patterns, or look more like Wolvden wolves?

I chose "Natural and realistic" because I feel it would fit more in the year-round theming, and I tend to keep my pack with natural colors. "Wolvden wolves" won, which I'm not sure what that'll mean. I really hope it doesn't mean we'll be seeing a bunch of colorbombs year-round.

Next NBW-Exclusive markings theme?

I chose "Skunk markings" because I thought they'd look cool. "More natural wolf markings" won, which I'm fine with, actually. That was my second choice.

What should we release in the next Raccoon Wares update?

I chose "trees" because I wanted more background objects. "Environment" won, which honestly would have been my second choice, I'm just a little sad that my choice was dead last.

What kind of decors would you like to see more of for the Cryptid event?

I chose "More disaster environments" because I don't want to make my wolves look all mutated and I looked at the current prize list, and unless you side with Independent, there really isn't much that doesn't do that. I'm most annoyed with this one because I sided with Independent before so I want to do one of the other two this year, and there's basically going to be nothing to buy. "Face, eye, and ear morphs" won, which I am least interested in, and am kinda creeped out by the ones that are already in the shops of those categories.

If we add more minigames, would you like to see casual rewards like food or silver cones, or be rewarded with a special currency and reward shop with applicators and decors?

I chose "casual minigames with casual rewards" because I wanted whatever is closest to how Code Breaker is. For the winning side, "Tryhard minigames and reward shop," I guess a rewards shop would be neat, I just hope the game isn't anything like Equip to Impress on Lioden in that I strongly dislike playing it and am only forcing myself to do so for the rewards.

Which of the following raffle marking shapes released thus far is your favourite?

I was out of town this week and didn't play/vote. I probably actually would have chosen the winner on this one, "Leopard Shark," because I have such a soft spot for the way those giant spots on the back look/have color peeking through, but I wasn't there to vote and this is the least consequential poll this generation so far.

We're revisiting birthday decors! The community previously voted for them to be wolf puppies in various poses and coats. What kind of coats do you prefer?

I chose "Natural coats, with event and lunar recolors in event shops" because it seemed like a great compromise - keep year-round theming in them being natural only for the birthdays, but have the more fantasy recolors available during the appropriate event if you're into that. But of course, my least-favorite option, "Any coat possible, with the decors being unique to birthdays only" was the winner.

By my current schedule, I should be back on Wolvden on my next birthday, but I haven't made it a full generation without a significant hiatus for a while so who knows?

We're working on filling up the Cool base categories. In the meantime, what bigger base set would you like to see us release next?

And then there's this week, but we're not even 24 hours into it so the results may not be final. So far, my least-favored one is winning - it's my least-favored because I'm having a real tough time getting a stable population of Tier IIs, let alone specific colors to pair together. I chose "Breed-only Tier II bases" since that's what I'd be most likely to actually be able to work towards or encounter naturally. After all, I'm still working on Sky!

[ladala99]

One Spyro Level a Month Until the Next Spyro Game Releases - June 2025 - Blowhard

Intro/Rules

Previous Level

Next Level

After last month's diversion, it is time to return to Magic Crafters and take on the boss - Blowhard.

First Path

We enter the level with a linear path around the mountain, facing lightning wizards along the way, until we reach the boss himself. The lightning wizards are nothing new - they're a little annoying and are clustered, but TBH I tend to have more trouble with the ones by the portal to the level than the ones actually in the level itself.

Blowhard Part 1

Getting to him was quick! He rises up in the air and makes clouds that will track Spyro and strike lightning. But you just have to keep moving and you won't be hit, and it's very telegraphed what's going on. The hardest part is getting a hit in on Blowhard, since he's only vulnerable when the lightning is after you. This description makes it sound harder than it is, though.

Blowhard has a weird hitbox that's higher than you think it is. Aim for the hat is the best advice. If only a dragon actually gave any this level.

Anyway, get a hit in and he'll drop a gem and run away, but luckily a gate opens so you can progress.

Druid Tunnel

Past the gate is a tunnel with a bunch of green druids moving platforms around. Unlike most of the ones in the game, these druids don't react to your presence and are impervious to charge, so must be flamed. Though you wouldn't necessarily notice the latter since they're so precariously-placed that you probably wouldn't attempt to charge them.

Altair

Altair tells you he has been trapped for longer than he can remember. But he evidently has extremely short-term memory since he doesn't remember the beginning of the conversation shortly afterwards. We of course know that he's been trapped for exactly a year and a half since I started this project, so it's not surprising that it feels so long!

The Boardwalk - Blowhard Part 2

Exiting the tunnel we reach a boardwalk, where Blowhard is hanging out at the end. He acts exactly the same as before.

The Final Stretch - Blowhard Part 3

Follow him to the other mountain, and there's a short section that doesn't even have any enemies before you've cornered the boss. Flame him one final time, and he goes down, giving up the last of his gems.

With this level complete, we're now at 55% - 2% more than last time. It's a small level.

Bonus - Prototype Info

This level seems unusually simple and barren, especially for a boss. What's up with that? While I can't explain why the level itself is so linear, devoid of secrets, and front-heavy on the enemies, I can say it wasn't always so bland.

(Screenshots and info from HDW405's video: link)

Blowhard originally appeared at the start and a dragon(?) gave a strong hint about his hat. He then visibly tossed his hat onto the head of an enemy, grew a new hat, and did the same with all future enemies.

Flaming wouldn't work on these enemies normally, but you flame the hat off and they'd freeze (possibly an unfinished reaction) and you'd be able to finish them off with another flame.

Even the green druids had hats that had to be removed, which is why they do not react to charging in the final game.

I can only guess why this mechanic was removed, and my guess is some combination of them not having enough time to finish the interactions and playtesters being too confused about what to do. After all - every other enemy in the game can be flamed or charged on any part of the body. Aiming for the hat with only a cryptic hint that is delivered differently than anything else in the game (since it appeared at the start rather than after freeing a dragon) may have been a little too much to ask.

Lore Talk

So, the Artisans boss took over some guy's mansion. The Peace Keepers Boss took over a training/possibly entertainment arena. Blowhard took over a pretty nondescript pair of mountains.

It's possible that this area was just beginning development. All the paths are snug against the mountains rather than reaching out across canyons like in other areas.

Alternatively, this could be Altair's residence. Or prison? The blue goo doesn't seem very friendly, and we also saw something like that in Dark Hollow, which I theorized was a prison. It has a closable gate, and a cave in a hard-to-reach spot.

Altair does say he's been trapped (in crystal) for a very long time. Perhaps being trapped in crystal is an established punishment, and Spyro is freeing everyone indiscriminately not realizing that some are supposed to be trapped.

Next Stop

With Magic Crafters fully saved, it's time to head to the Beast Makers Homeworld!