#and that abomination from Dark Revival
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The Ink Demonth 2023 - Day 31. Revival
Day 31. Revival Crossover: Bendy and the Dark Revival I'd say, Bendy, you can't be that rude... but I feel exactly the same way. I know it's not BATDR Bendy's fault that he is the way he is - but that doesn't change the fact that this is how I feel. So, if anyone else wants to ask me what I think about Ink Bendy from BATDR - I will refer to this image.
Yes, I consider it a crossover because I don't consider BATDR to be a sequel to BATIM in any way. It's a completely separate creation that is simply heavily inspired by BATIM. However, in places he rewrites the stories, changes the characters' personalities, adds new threads... This is not an expansion of the world. This is an alternative version of the Workshop - and you won't convince me to think otherwise. So a separate game with which I did a crossover called "Bendy doesn't like his alter-ego".
Actually, the only thing I like about Ink Bendy from BATDR is his voice. When I heard it first time, I felt a shiver down my neck... and then, unfortunately, I focused to the words - and all the charm was disappeared. Seriously. There are reasons why Bendy has been mute so far - and apparently the main one is how much he talks f**cking nonsense. I don't like the shape of his head. His hideous teeth, which are not scary - are disgusting. Hoofs instead of feet is a nice idea - but why both legs? Where is the wonderful asymmetry of the original? Why does he turn into a hedgehog (those spines in strange places - they make sense when they are spine vertebrae). No. Absolutely no. And what's with the skeleton arm? Someone used acid on his ink there?
As for the game itself... Uh... I was impressed at first. First chapter - great. New possibilities of moving the character, beautiful backgrounds, delightful details, an interesting ritual of starting the machine... I was delighted. My slight discouragement began when I first heard Wilson's voice over the speakers and the subsequent behavior of the Lost Ones afther that proclamation... In the second chapter, the game started to piss me off on a regular basis. Then I just watched gameplays and... I don't regret that I didn't keep playing. The game is frustrating, the characters are warped (but not in the realities of the game as they should be warped - warped from the ones we knew and liked). A lot of stupid things happen: Tom being treated like a pet, Wilson acting like a villain from the start, Allison being a fucking deus ex machina, Twisted Alice's death scene and Sammy's death - I hate them both, no physical Bendy (appears out of nowhere and instantly kills - a very lazy solution, game creators), Henry's whole entrance, that weird puppet character what's-her-name Betty... Ok, I like Porter's character a bit - but that's probably only because of his resemblance to my OC Brody.
So you've asked many times what my opinion of Dark Revival is. That's it: I hate this game. It killed my passion for creating SATIM and made me stop looking for images with BATIM on tumblr or on dA - 'cause people don't know how to hashtag and they tag BATIM when they make arts about BATDR. Okay, I'm not saying I have nothing but hatred for this game - but it disappointed me just in the way like BATDR Bendy is disappointment for SATIM Bendy in the picture. And it pisses me off when I see on dA that people add my art to folders called "Dark Survival", "BATDR art" or so. It's like a slap in my face.
That's why I made this picture as quickly as possible. An unspectacular finale - but I've been waiting to say this openly for a very long time, so appreciate the solemnity of this art.
And finally, something positive: I FINISHED ON TIME! Yeah, I did it again!
Bendy and the Ink Machine (c) Joey Drew Studios Inc. Bendy and the Dark Revival (c) Joey Drew Studios Inc. Sammy and the Ink Machine (c) Nayia Lovecat
#The Ink Demonth#Bendy and the Ink Machine#Sammy and the Ink Demonth#Bendy and the Dark Revival#BATIM#SATIM#BATDR#Bendy#Ink Bendy#Ink Demon#and that abomination from Dark Revival#well I regret nothing I said here#The Ink Demonth 2023#crossover#I DID IT!#I DID IT AGAIN!
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Life, Death, and the Space in Between Part Three (Agatha Harkness x Reader x Rio Vidal)
Summary: The Road is wild and wicked.
Words: 2277
Warnings: Arguments, talks of death, canon death, language?
A/N: Anything I have to fix, I'll go back and fix later. I am too in love with these characters. You're welcome.
-X-
Cradling the boy’s head in her lap, Agatha stared at Rio with watery eyes, a recreation of a moment long since passed. “Don’t. Don’t.”
Shrugging casually, your lover peered over the body of the dying Teen, watching thoughtfully as Jen began to attempt to heal him.
You weren’t entirely interested in watching a teenager drift from the mortal plane but something caught your eye and you inched closer, oblivious to Agatha’s noise of warning. One of the gifts you had procured when becoming the goddess of life was the ability to see lifelines. To examine and determine the strands of someone’s very essence. If they were meant to die, or beyond saving outside of celestial intervention, the strands would grow black and shrivel while a healthy lifeline was pure white and strong.
His was -
“What do you see?” Rio breathed, mouth close to your ear as you both stared at Teen.
Unlike Life, Death could not see a lifeline. She relied on Life for such things. She could see souls - spirits, essences; able to reach out and pluck them from their temporary vessels when their time had come. But she could only ever take what was hers to claim; what the cosmos were owed.
“His lifeline is broken.”
She inhaled sharply, gaze shooting up to your profile. “What do you mean?” she demanded.
Turning, you walked away from the group, using the dense forest to shade you from view. Taking a deep breath, you pressed the tips of your fingers together before stretching them apart. Where there should be a plain white cord, frail but solid as Jenn healed Teen, there was instead a cord that was black and blistered in the center. Stretching it further, you could see the beginning of his lifeline up until now.
Rio’s eyes were trained on the white cord. “What…”
“That boy died. Should be dead. That is something more than his heart stopping and then being revived. Otherwise it would’ve healed over. I don’t-” you cut yourself off, staring blankly at the lifeline. “This isn’t natural. Whatever that boy is, he’s-”
“An abomination,” Death’s raspy voice rang out and you glanced at the woman, unsurprised to see skull and bone staring back at you. She shook her head, the visage returning. “He goes against every order of nature. The fact he has escaped his reaping is a slight, and must be corrected.”
“Do you think Agatha knows?” you murmured, watching the coven shift his limp body to a more comfortable space, building a makeshift nest for him. “That there’s something wrong with him.”
“If she’s not certain, she has to suspect,” Rio replied, expression grave. “But she’s using him as a way to handle her grief. Replacing our son with this teenager who shouldn’t exist.”
Studying the white cord, your brows furrowed. Sparks of blue and red flared from it, more red towards the beginning before shifting into mostly blue sparks, something that was completely out of place and unexpected. “Do you see this?”
Reaching out, Rio’s fingers glided off the cord, completely devoid of emotion. “That fucking red witch. He is the reason the Road is real. The son of the Scarlet Witch and their weird reality bending bullshit powers. After the collapse of the Hex, I felt pulled there but I never found what I was searching for. It must’ve been his soul finding a home before I could find him.”
Letting the cord fizzle out in your hands, you pressed your forehead against Rio’s. Her cool breath fanned across your lips, dark eyes nearly black beneath the weight of knowledge and pain.
“I have to take him,” she whispered brokenly. “I have to take another child from her.”
“We should wait. See what becomes of this road.” Your lips brushed over hers, feather light and gentle.
There was sadness filling the space between you, of understanding what must be and what would happen after.
-X-
Sitting around a campfire discussing scars wasn’t exactly your idea of a fun evening but leaning against Rio’s side and watching the fire crackle softened your disdain. These witches weren’t terrible; in fact, you quite liked them all. Lilia was the epitome of a divination witch, her odd outbursts and strange mumblings charming. Alice, a protector who had her whole life ahead of her. Jen, searching for something stolen but making the best of it, even if she was scamming mortals. It would’ve been a shame for them to have died under Agatha’s magic, though you hated how powerless she still was.
Especially on such a dangerous road.
The moment Agatha settled somewhat close to you, all you wanted to do was drink in the warmth of being so close to her again. She told about a knitting needle scar, but you knew the truth. The scar along her elbow was from Nicholas. Or, rather, from the unfortunate pet your young son had managed to charm into coming home with him. That raccoon had taken one look at Agatha and screeched at the top of its lungs. His claws had nicked her elbow as he rushed away, but if she wanted to lie, who were you to judge?
“I have a scar,” Rio piped up, earning identical looks from you and Agatha. Your brow was furrowed, knowing you’d traced every inch of that body with fingers and tongue, but remembering no visible scars.
“No, you don’t,” she argued, and a wave of guilt passed through your bond.
Reaching out, you gripped Rio’s hand as she bowed her head. Her scar was internal. A never-closing wound that just never properly came back together because the thread had been hidden away from sight and nothing else could suture it closed. The kind that itched and burned for all eternity, constantly reminding her of the worst moments of her existence.
Slapping her thighs, Agatha escaped the conversation as soon as Rio finished speaking, skulking off into the forest to catch her breath. You were up and chasing after her seconds later, the green witch hot on your heels. Her back was to you, barely concealed sniffles audible in the silence of The Road.
“Agatha,” you whispered, her back easily meeting your front as you stopped behind her. Your arm encircled her waist, holding her close for the first time in centuries. It was like coming home all over again.
Rio settled in front of her, a cool hand on flushed skin. Her thumb trailed below Agatha’s eye, wiping away the fresh tear.
“That boy –”
Agatha’s face dipped close to Rio’s, breath fanning across it as she inched closer to her mouth. You could see the green witch’s mouth move, telling herself it wasn’t time, and you finished her heartbreaking confirmation.
“He’s not ours,” you whispered regretfully, feeling how Agatha tensed in your embrace.
The energy shift was subtle before Agatha yanked herself from your arms, putting substantial distance between you. She was hugging herself, as if trying to keep herself from crumbling into dust. Holding together the broken slivers of her heart.
“You don’t think I know that?” she hissed furiously, tears clinging to long lashes. “I know my little boy is long gone. Because you let him die.”
Stumbling back as if struck, you glared at Agatha with a fury you didn’t know you possessed. “I didn’t let him die! I kept him alive for years! While that sickness ravaged his body, I was the one pouring magic into Nicky to keep him breathing! You have no idea how many nights he almost left this world, but I broke every rule to sustain him longer. Don’t you dare say I let him die!”
A cool hand touched your shoulder, fingers digging deep into the flesh as Rio’s dark eyes bore into you but you could only see the gaping Agatha in that moment.
“How fucking dare you accuse me of not doing everything I could to keep Nicky here? You were not the only one who loved him. Who still loves him.” You stormed closer to the shivering witch, barely cognizant of the other witches and an unsteady Teen peering around the trees to watch the show.
“And yet he still died,” she spat bitterly, glancing down at your balled fist. “What? Did I strike a nerve? The all-powerful Life still bowing to Death?”
White magic flared around you, illuminating the otherwise darkened forest. There were noises of surprise at the sudden lightshow but you didn’t care.
“Fuck you, Agatha Harkness,” you hissed. “If it doesn’t fit your idea of how things should’ve gone, you refuse to see the truth. I have spent centuries excusing your behavior but all you will ever see is what you want. We’re the villains because you didn’t have the power to save him either!”
The sharp gasp beside you echoed through the pounding in your mind, clearing the red fog clouding your vision.
“You know, the Darkhold told me something about you,” Agatha said coldly, staring deep into your eyes. “You can visit the afterlife. That you can take people there too. Yet you never offered to let me see him again.”
“That’s not how it works.”
“Bullshit! You can walk the line of life and death, and you could have told me. Could have… taken me to him,” she whispered, trembling with grief, thinking about having her little boy tucked into her arms once more.
Rio stepped closer, her hand sliding down to tangle your fingers together, both to soothe your fury and to stop it from becoming something darker. “That book lies, Agatha, and you know it. It shows you what you want to see. You want to see Nicky. So it gave you an answer in hopes of keeping you.”
From the corner of your eye, you saw blue flaring with twitching fingertips. You watched a familiar purple match the dancing blue across the tips of Agatha’s digits and your eyes widened fractionally.
“I cannot bring the living to the afterlife. Anyone who walks into that plane can never leave. It’s the way of the cosmos.” Your voice was tinged in desperation, begging the woman you loved to just… listen. “There’s a price all must pay who enter.”
There was a lull and for a moment, you hoped maybe she was seeing reason, before Agatha lunged at you. Her hand slammed into your chest, purple erupting around you and swallowing your vision. Purple and Agatha and furious, begging eyes.
All you could hear was Rio’s furious, panicked roar, “No!” ringing in your ears before there was…
Nothing.
Then you were falling.
And falling fast.
-X-
Being yanked from one dimension into another plane of existence was jarring. It didn’t happen often, unless you were in a different place than Rio and the universe called you home, but you imagined it was like being tossed headfirst into a blender that was on high.
As your back slammed into solid ground, you groaned low in your throat before slowly looking up at the sky. Or, what should’ve been the sky, except it was replaced with a beautiful, never-ending starlit void. There was no sun here, no moon, but you could see for miles and miles, never needing another light source.
“Oh no.”
Agatha’s limp form was a few feet away from you, but your spirit felt heavy. Neither of you were meant to be here and while you could pass somewhat freely without the imposing threat of danger, the same couldn’t be said for your witch.
“Agatha, get up,” you called out, carefully forcing yourself to an upright position. The astral body was similar but different from the mortal vessel you carried. Here, there was little imperfection, and you were simply the embodiment of Life. As meant to be.
However, Agatha’s had remained perfectly… Agatha.
It was like wading through waist high water to get to her. Hands pulsing white, you touched her shoulder and she jolted up with a gasp. You weren’t sure what such a journey had done to a mortal, but she seemed somewhat coherent – which you supposed was good.
“W-what? Where are we?” she demanded, peering around at the odd scenery of the afterlife as she stood.
“We have to go,” you replied sharply, glowing hand reaching out to grab her wrist but she jerked away, deftly dodging your grip.
“Is this the afterlife? Is he here?” She didn’t wait for your answer before cupping her hands to her mouth. “Nicky! Nicky! Are you here? It’s okay! It’s Mama!”
Waves of pain wracked through your spirit and you watched darkness creeping closer to the foreign entity.
No, no, no. It’s not her time. This isn’t…
Agatha continued screaming, her voice echoing throughout the plane until a long-missed voice called back from the distance, disbelief evident.
“Mama?”
Agatha bolted towards the voice and you watched tendrils of the afterlife chase after her, drawn to the soul still within her body.
Steeling yourself for what was to come; white light seeped from your fingers and filled the space around you, encouraging the darkness towards yourself instead. The sting was immediate and intense as darkness slipped into your body like blades, but you swallowed down the scream.
You promised to protect her.
And so you would.
-X-
Back on the Road, Rio cried out as a hand flew to her chest, the bond between you burning like a fire let loose to rage. Her long quiet heart thumped painfully, following the slowing beats of your own in perfect tandem. Her other hand was cupping your clammy cheek, wiping the sweat and tears falling down your cheeks.
“Oh, my love… what have you done?��
#agatha harkness imagine#agathario x reader#agatha harkness x reader#rio vidal imagine#rio vidal x reader#agatha x rio#reader insert#reader imagine#mcu imagine#marvel imagine#reader#agatha all along
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In the ‘what if yuu died’ in the overblots- dont remember which one rn cause i cried a lot- in leona’s segment u mentioned he brought back a plant that was said to bring back the dead- what if it worked????
(Continuation/Alternate Ending of Leona’s Segment from the “What if Yuu died” series)
The plant was a myth. That’s what everyone said. Something ancient. Buried in ruins deep in the Scalding Sands. Said to bloom only under moonlight after being watered with the tears of someone who lost everything. Leona didn’t believe in fairy tales—but he had nothing left to lose.
He did everything the old scrolls said:
Dug the roots bare-handed, bleeding into the soil.
Watered it with his tears—only once, quietly, when no one could see.
Carried it back to Yuu’s resting place, even though the others told him it was time to let go.
And then...
It bloomed. Just once.
A brilliant, golden flower unlike any he’d seen before—glowing faintly in the night.
He planted it at Yuu’s grave, pressing it gently into the soil. He didn’t speak. Didn’t pray. Just sat beside them, waiting. One night passed. Then two.
On the third night, he woke to the sound of movement. Something shifting the earth. A small, pained gasp—raspy, unfamiliar after so long.
He nearly choked on his breath when he saw fingers clawing through the dirt.
Leona dug, heart slamming in his chest. "No—no way—don’t play with me like this—"
And then Yuu was there. Alive. Dirty. Cold. Weak. But breathing.
The Aftermath
🦁 Leona is stunned. For the first time in his life, he’s shaking, holding Yuu like they’ll disappear if he lets go.
“You idiot... You really came back... You scared the hell outta me.” He never cries again—but that night, he almost does.
Side Effects?
But magic always has a cost.
Yuu remembers being gone. It wasn’t peaceful. Something in the darkness wanted to keep them.
Their magic is strange now. Unstable. Like something else came back with them.
The plant withered the moment they returned… and the soil around it hasn’t grown a single thing since.
Still, they’re alive.
And Leona… never lets them out of his sight again.
REACTIONS
🦁 Savanaclaw
Leona: "Tch… Told you I’d bring ‘em back—now shut up and move, they need space." Ruggie: "Okay, I’m officially freaked out, but… welcome back, Yuu." Jack: "This is… real? You’re really here? Stars above…"
🌹 Heartslabyul
Riddle: "I failed you once—I won’t again, I swear it on every rule I know." Trey: "You being alive is sweeter than any tart I’ve ever made." Cater: "Yuu? Alive? Wait—I need, like, a thousand photos to believe this!" Ace: "I thought I’d never get to annoy you again—don’t scare us like that, dummy!" Deuce: "We’ll protect you better this time—no matter what it takes!"
🐙 Octavinelle
Azul: "Defying death… Yuu, you're more powerful than any contract I've ever seen." Jade: "Fascinating—truly, not even the ocean hides such mysteries." Floyd: "Shriiimpy’s back~? Ooh, I missed squishin’ ya!"
🔥 Scarabia
Kalim: "Yuu!! You’re okay!! This is the best party surprise ever!" Jamil: "Magic that revives the dead... That kind of power shouldn’t exist."
🪞 Pomefiore
Vil: "You were already radiant in life—death couldn’t hold you, of course." Rook: "La résurrection! You are beauty born anew, ma proie divine!" Epel: "You came back just like in them fairytales… Damn, that’s cool!"
🐉 Diasomnia
Malleus: "The dead do not simply return… unless fate itself bends for you." Lilia: "Heh, I’ve seen many strange things—but this might top them all." Silver: "I dreamed of you every night… and now you’re here." Sebek: "Don’t you dare vanish again, human—I… we need you!"
🎭 Ignihyde
Idia: "Okayokayokay, Yuu being alive is cool but also—what if you’re, like, a lich now??" (Bonus: He still hugs them and sobs while rambling.)
🌸 RSA (and related + Grim)
Neige: "You’re alive?! That’s wonderful! I—I can’t stop crying!" Rollo: "That flower… is an abomination. But even I cannot condemn your return." Grim: "Don’t ever leave me again, henchhuman! I’ll claw anyone who tries!"
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Legend as echoes of wisdom link lol but confusing
Fanfic prompt : after Linked universe he decided to go visit Nayru and the other oracles again and then seeing the harp of ages
Realized how he can help Hyrule
Because if the harp can let him travel back several centuries then why not go forward
Because that way he can stop ganon from being revived and Hyrule can maybe travel back with him
He and then travels forward in time and then tries to orientate himself about where the hell he even is… then he sees the riffs through time and assumes that dark link has to learn his lesson again and goes in
He doesn’t appreciate the void for taking his voice… he kind of needs it to figure out where the heck Hyrule is because this one certainly looks too colorful to be the same one Hyrule is from… at least not in the next decades or so
Forests still need to grow after all but good for him that he succeeded eventually
Then he meets lueberry and they figure something out to go create the sword out off the crystal Legend dragged out of ,… hell he supposes
The cloak is cool though
So legend goes beefing with the random copies… so unoriginal of dink to go around and summon even more black blooded monsters or something
Well at least he now has the ability to use gps to find out where the next portal appears
And at some point finds out this Hyrule's Zelda is kidnapped and it sucks but maybe a new link will spawn or something
Then he and ganon get to beef ,,and surprisingly ganon remembers him (talking about the importance of friendship lol )
He then gets sent back to the void but manages to free the new Zelda
Then he at some point finds a random ugly ball thing… man, dink really down graded
He finds it with the club he found chases after it then goes and blocks it before the new Zelda …Nelda can go get kidnapped again
Then legend gets Zelded and now knows how much it must have sucked for fable and Nelda
…he only wanted to go visit Hyrule why must it always be an adventure
He will blame him for it later
He also gets the triforce of courage back while Zelded
Then Nelda is back…but it’s two Neldas now
He then gets freed by one after …she copies (?) a bunch of .. beds (?) and kills the other one
Well , let’s hope it’s the good one who kills the other one he always had problems with Hilda
Then he fights an eldritch abomination and uses the ..prime energy (?) to go restore Hyrule
And his voice is back so the first thing he does is ask , “hey , what’s the date and where the fuck am I .?”
He is surprised when the king turns out not to be an asshole
And fucks off into the RIGHT time promising everyone to stay in contact via the post man
Hyrule wakes up to “I fought the embodiment of nothingness and got vored to visit you be fucking grateful”
He is more confused than he was happy about his brother's return
#oracle of ages#harp of ages#legend and fable are siblings#legend is echos of wisdom link#in the most complicated way possible#echoes of wisdom#time travel shenanigans#lu hyrule#legend ain't vibing with the adventure#he couldn’t even curse#lu echo#she confused#lu rambles#lu memes#a link between worlds#null#it's cursed#linked universe#lu legend#lueberry#lu dink#lu wind#lu time#lu four#lu warriors#lu sky#lu wild#lu twilight#then he went and had more adventures in different times… all to meet up with the others as well#family reunion
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The weird and wonderful history of Kowloon as a digital interactive space - Part I
The Kowloon Walled City was one of the most emblematic locations in Hong Kong due to its irregular, fast-paced and largely ungoverned growth within a minute parcel of land. During the occupation of Hong Kong Island by the British in the mid 18th century, the Qing authorities surrounded the area with walls, turning it into a strategic position from where to closely inspect the foreign nation's covert activities. Almost a century later, during World War II, the area was seized by the Japanese, who tore down the walls and repurposed the stone for the construction of a nearby airport.
After the war, China would eventually regain possession of the city, though the disinterest of local authorities in addressing its increasing social disturbances placed it in a downward path to a state of utter degradation. By the 1970s, Kowloon had become the epicentre of Hong Kong's criminal underworld, dominated by a handful of its most vicious Triads.
Towards the last years of its existence, the ancient settlement was as a precarious heap of concrete, sheltering nearly half a million people within less than seven acres of land. Cultural and political changes in China made it increasingly difficult for this urban anomaly to remain unaddressed. In the late 1980s, an action plan was put together aiming to relocate its inhabitants and reconvert the real estate into an inner-city park. Stories about residents refusing to leave their unsafe and unsanitary homes were featured prominently in newspapers, baffling readers all over the world. Once the single most densely populated area in the world, this enclave was an architectural aberration whose disconcerting aesthetic influenced numerous works of art in different fields of creation; including a small yet consequential number of video games that briefly reference or prominently feature this abominably transfixing space.
九龍島 (Kyu-Ryu-Tou) - Starcraft - 1986
The year is 2025. An arms dealer escalates the tensions between East and West by developing a genetic weapon in a secret base at Kowloon Island. The United Nations react by sending in their best man, Jamie Starr. Unrelated to the Walled City itself, the first game to be located in the Kowloon peninsula - and indeed include the name as a part of its title - is this obscure turn-based RPG, Kyu-Ryu-Tou for the NEC PC88 and FM-77 machines. The game is a sequel to Shangai, released the year before, featuring the same protagonist. Starcraft would also go on to produce a third instalment in 1987 named TO.KY.O. Clearly there wasn't much regard here from the developers part for geographic accuracy, as Kowloon is depicted here as being an island. While Hong Kong's southern territory is composed of an actual island, all the different areas named Kowloon are located in the mainland.
Riot City - Westone - 1991
One of the most shameless specimens among a relatively long list of Final Fight clones, Riot City contains subtle references to Kowloon, though never referring to it by name. Curiously enough, the PCE port, renamed Crest of Wolves, refers to Kowloon directly in one of the cutscenes. Two narcotics detectives are assigned with the mission of dismantling a cartel running a crime-ridden located in fictional Riot Island. This recurring yet geographically nonsensical notion of Kowloon as an island comes up here, yet again. The final moment of the introduction sequence for this minor Sega arcade success shows both protagonists approaching a tight cluster of buildings whose source inspiration is quite unmistakable. Because Westone maintained ownership of most of this production's intellectual property, a later port to the PC Engine entitled Riot Zone was made possible with the help of Hudson soft. Kowloon's Gate - Zeque - 1997
Reviving the Walled City through the lens of cybermystic surrealism, Kowloon's Gate is a dense, daunting adventure masterfully capturing the slum's dark and narrow recesses. This 1997 Japanese Playstation exclusive spans across four discs of unparalleled full motion 3D CGI spectacle, alternating with real-time 3D dungeons brimming with outlandish characters and concepts deeply inspired by Chinese history, geography and cultural traditions.
Ironically, Zeque managed to embed the theme of Feng-Shui, the ancient geomantic art seeking harmony between the individual and their surrounding space, into a story set in the world's most historically untidy district.
SaGa Frontier - Square - 1997
SaGa Frontier takes place in a solar system named The Regions, composed of multiple inhabited worlds for the player to explore, each with its different degree of civilizational development and culture. One of these planets goes by the suggestive name Kūron. Its pervasive neon light signs, food stalls, makeshift cabins and rooftop scaffolding instantly evoke the memory of China’s so-called city of darkness.
Shadow Hearts - Sacnoth - 2001
Shortly after the release of Koudelka, Sacnoth's initiated the development of Shadow Hearts, the first episode from a cult RPG trilogy exclusively designed for the Playstation 2. In good Japanese fashion, the game proposes an anachronistic yet visually suggestive depiction of Kowloon, portraying its architectural style and degree of decay as it existed in the late twentieth century, despite the fact that the game's events take place during the nineteen twenties.
Just as noteworthy is the almost complete absence of any inhabitants, which inadvertently make this portrayal of the quarter eerily reminiscent of the state in which it was found circa 1993 or 1994, as local authorities brought the long, arduous eviction project to a close.
Shenmue II - SEGA AM2 - 2001
Shenmue II exhibits the most complete and period-accurate video game representation of Kowloon to date. While more recent games featuring this area may represent a number of its aspects with the aid of improved visual fidelity, none features it with such depth as this masterpiece of masterpieces. More than mere background decoration, Kowloon exists in the Shenmue series as a crucial, climacteric element of its modern epic narrative.
It is a well known fact that Yu Suzuki and his team conducted extensive research of the region so as to achieve a result that impresses even to this day. It must be noted, however, that they have similarly taken a fair share of creative liberty when converting the area to best align with the themes they wished to explore. Further reading is required for a more complete context in this regard, namely how this area ties with an early Dreamcast tech demo design which fans lovingly named Tower of Babel. Ostensively, technical limitations did curtail the degree of precision in which the surrounding area could be replicated. The aerial view from the cutscene in which Ryo Hazuki arrives on location places Kowloon at an imaginary degree of elevation over surrounding vegetation. In the year of 1987, during which the game is set, the actual enclave stood perfectly levelled with a myriad of other modern buildings, undoubtedly more than could be reproduced under the circumstances. These trifling considerations aside, Shenmue II entirely succeeds in capturing the vibrant life and mesmerizing beauty of the destitute and decayed urban agglomeration, in a way that it was deemed entirely impossible at the time of its release.
For reasons entirely related to per post content limitations imposed by Tumblr, this article will be continued in PART II.
#china#hong kong#kowloon#kowloon walled city#videogames#Kyu-Ryu-Tou#riot city#saga frontier#kowloon's gate#shenmue ii
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So I kinda rewrote a bunch of my cursed Gotham stuff! But it's here now so enjoy!
Cursed Gotham Masterpost
Leave the City (Our Lady Gotham)
Tim's POV
Gotham has been quiet which has been a godsend because Wayne Manor hasn't. School had started for everyone, Alfred helped keep everything together as Bruce scrambled to get everything settled. But even before the chaos of multiple kids going to school there was chaos.
It was a shock to everyone when Talia Al Ghul arrived on the doorstep of the manor that rainy spring night. Even more so when Bruce noticed the body of Jason Todd in her arms and the small form of Damian standing behind his mother ready to defend her from those chasing them.
Bruce immediately had the trio enter the house, Alfred took the unconscious body of Jason. I'd never seen the man cry but I will never forget watching that singular tear roll down his cheek. Bruce asked Selina to help Talia with any injuries as Bruce disappeared after Alfred.
Cass never said a thing to Damian but for whatever reason he attached himself to her side. She was the only one who was able to get the boy's injuries wrapped and cleaned while Selina helped Talia. Duke and Steph were so confused and we all just stood around useless until Bruce reappeared. Everyone was sent to the sitting room while Selina, Talia, Bruce and Alfred had a serious discussion.
None of us really know what was talked about in Bruce's office that night but we do know that Talia was in trouble. That she no longer felt safe keeping Damian around her father, that Bruce was the only person Talia trusted to keep their son safe from the LoA and Ras himself.
Jason's revival was still a mystery to everyone including himself. He says one moment he remembers heat and blistering pain, the next he's waking up in the dark buried alive. Talia doesn't know either she found him while running, she recognized Jason rather quickly and knew something was wrong. She took it as a sign to go to Bruce, it took them three days to get across Gotham without being caught by Talia's father.
To say it was easy would be a lie, whatever brought Jason back had left him with cracks. Bruce ran as many tests as he could before allowing Dick to call in Raven for help. She told Bruce that errant magic seemed to bound itself to Jason, Raven doesn't know why or where it came from but that was all she could glean.
Jason was upset at Bruce once he realized Joker was still around, he got even more furious when he learned what happened to Barbara and eventually me when I felt comfortable enough to talk about it. But Dick was quick to act and calm Jason by showing him the archived footage of Bruce's rampage being stopped by Superman.
It took us months to help Damian settle into life as a normal kid, Cassandra helped Damian the most. The two understood each other better than most, it made plenty of sense and Cass though typically mute was better than most of us when communicating with Damian.
Summer break wasn't as chaotic for the Wayne's but Gotham had some issues, it started with a sudden earthquake. It was a massive one that caused a part of Arkham to collapse, we spent a great deal of time trying to catch everyone who did escape. Thankfully no big names from the rogues gallery only a few.
Then the fall semester started and somehow Bruce learned that Kon was staying at Titans Towers. There were a lot of people upset with Superman the days following, no one knew that Supes had abandoned his half clone. Lois was especially upset because Kon was Jon's half brother and she'd like to know about him.
Kara became even more upset when she learned about Kon's name, Supes claims naming Conner 'abomination' in Kryptonian wasn't on purpose. That didn't seem to help the man's case at all, as it was an insult to to name a Kryptonian child a name not thoroughly thought out. Clark had a bit of a break down and everyone became privileged to the information of Lex being the other half of Kon DNA.
It took some time to figure out but for now Kon-El is a resident at Wayne manor. It was a surreal experience explaining to Bruce that me and Kon were dating but he knew, of course he knew. You can't keep anything hidden for long from Batman.
Steph and Cass started dating at the start of the fall semester so Steph has been staying in her claimed room at the manor more often. That's part of the reason Steph has attended more Galas and events with us as of late, more than before. She claims it's because she gets to be with Cass but at this point I think it's because of the hors d'oeuvres. Steph has always loved the fancy finger foods served at those events.
So yes the Wayne house has been incredibly busy! Everything from introducing Damian to the public eye, forging the proper paper trail to prove that Jason was under witness protection, and on top of all of this chaos Selina has become a permanent stay at the manor after Bruce invited her to move in.
I'm currently out following a lead on a case Bruce gave to me. A series of disappearances of young girls all throughout Gotham, the only common thread between them is their ages are in ascending order. The first girl was 5 years old, the next was 6 years old and so on. Totaling eleven girls missing all from different backgrounds and areas of Gotham.
Each girl disappeared from their homes, all within a week of the last one disappearing. I've investigated every lead Commissioner Gordon has given Batman, the only reason Gordon thinks they're related is because of the consistency of the disappearances. And all of them vanish from their homes with no signs of forced entry.
The latest disappearance hit closer to home then I would've liked, one of mine and my siblings classmates. A 15 year old girl named Jillian, she's a quiet girl who I shared a few core classes with. It took three days for anyone to notice she was missing, everyone at school thought she was sick. Her guardian wasn't even in town and still isn't, hence me breaking into the apartment.
I slip open the window and crawl into a very small and baron living space. There's only a TV, couch and dining table in the living room, the kitchen looks empty also but I sweep through looking at everything. There isn't much of anything in this apartment to indicate someone living here let alone the house being broken into.
I walk slowly through the hall to the first door, opening it reveals a bathroom. Slightly more personal this time, there's soaps and a loofa sitting on a small shelf in the bathroom. An assortment of makeup, hair care and face care on the counter next to the sink. A toothbrush and paste sitting in a cup near the edge of the sink.
I close the bathroom and move to the next door to find what looks to be the bare bones of a master bedroom. There's only a bed, dresser and mirror in here. A layer of dust covers the room, a clear sign no one inhabits the room. If they do they haven't been here in a long time.
I open the door across the hall to reveal an actual lived in room. Before I can get a clearer picture of the room something darts between my legs quickly. Moving to follow I watch the shape push open the door across from the bathroom. I opened it to find a small laundry room and the small shape, an extremely fluffy black cat with a little purple collar & ball and dark yellow eyes staring longingly at me.
"Hey there friend, let me see what I can do for you yeah?" I turn to look around and find a note on the wall.
Stepping over to the paper it reads: 'Grace, if you're reading this it means something happened to me. Please just feed Queenie, her foods in the kitchen. One part wet and one part dry, make sure her pill is crushed and mixed in. Please just take care of Queenie for me...~ Jill'
"Okay this might be something, a lead possib-" I'm interrupted by a soft meow from behind me.
I grabbed the shallow ceramic bowl from the elevated table it was on. As I moved into the kitchen the cat, Queenie followed, she quickly moved to sit in front of a lower cabinet door and chirped softly.
I opened it to find a container with dry cat food, a half a shelf full of canned cat food, and attached the door of the cabinet; a little basket with a blue pill bottle. I follow the instructions and place the bowl back in the laundry room, Queenie goes straight away to eating.
I move back to my original reason for being here, I step into the inhabited room. The walls are covered in posters, pictures, shadow boxes with bugs, and art. Shelves line most of the walls filled with books, small sculptures, candles and other such knick knacks.
There's a shelf sitting in front of the only window, on it are various plants. There's another shelf, filled with all sorts of strange things; skulls of varying sizes and animals, crystals and rocks, a jar with what looks to be a preserved salamander-like creature.
A canopy bed covered in plushies of various animals & bugs and at the foot of it a dresser. On the left side of the bed is a small bedside table, a small picture frame sits on it next to a lamp and clock. To the right near the window is a desk covered in papers and books.
Moving closer the papers are drawing of a person, a woman but her features are hard to make out. One of the books is a journal that is opened, from what I can tell Jillian was still writing in it before she stopped.
"Hey Oracle? Can you patch me through to Batman... And Robin?" I ask as I pull out my small camera and begin taking pictures of the room.
"Give me one second Red." I move back to where I began and take a wide shot of the entire room.
"Red Robin, what is it?" I step over to the desk and take multiple pictures of the desk and the items on it.
"I've got what I think could be a lead and would like your help if you're not busy... I also need Robin's help with a... Furry friend, think you could come to me?" I step back and take pictures of the room from various angles getting every possible angle I can.
It takes Bruce and Damian about ten minutes to arrive at the same window I entered in. The younger boy looks a bit bored and disgruntled when first entering through the window. But that quickly changes when Queenie trots over to him and rubs up against his leg. He crouches down and begins softly petting the cat as I guild B towards Jillian's room, showing him the note first.
With careful hands he takes the note and places it in a plastic bag, ones we commonly use to store evidence in. We continue toward our destination when I spot something I hadn't before. It was a few things actually, just before Jillian's room there's a small amount of discoloration (most likely blood) on the floor close to the door. And caught on a nail that seems to be working its out is a scrap of fabric. Batman and I collect the evidence and take pictures.
While I'm closer to the floor I can see deep groves on the floor, I follow them towards the door and find more scratches. It looks like someone was holding onto the door frame and was forcefully removed, inside Jillian's room near where the claw marks start, underneath a shelf is Jillian's phone charm. It's a cluster of blue and purple beads of different shapes and sizes with different charms scattered all throughout. At the very end is a little black flocked cat holding a fish in its mouth.
As I move to pick up the charm it's heavier than it should be, as I pull more of the familiar case of Jillian's phone slid out from under the shelf. The phone case was covered in teals, pinks and oranges from different stickers and pieces of paper sealed behind the clear phone case. Like everything Jillian owned it was colorful and covered. I pick up the phone and see the screen is cracked, as I try to turn it on the screen lights up with a battery icon that has a small sliver of red in it.
I place the phone in a spare pouch on my hip before moving towards the desk. As I pass the bed post at the end of the bed closest to the window Batman points to something. I look down and see a large gash taken out of the wooden post, B squats down to get a closer look. He reaches between the dresser and end of the bed before standing up to reveal he's holding a knife.
It's a simple switch blade knife, a chip in the sharpened blade but fine none the less. Batman reaches out a hand and I place my small camera into his hand before I leave to comb over the desk and its contents.
All of the drawings are done on the same style of paper, with pencil and charcoal being the main medium but there are a few done in pen and one at the very bottom done in water colors. All of the drawings are of three different people; one of a woman with a scar on her face, a man with glasses, and a figure with androgynous features. I've seen Jillian drawing this figure before in class, when I asked she just called them 'The Lady'.
I'm mentally kicking myself for not asking her more. Jillian had been drawing the figure relentlessly over the span of the kidnappings and was getting more and more... Frantic feels like the right word. I shake myself out of my thoughts and sort the drawings into separate piles, one for each of the different muses. As I sort a paper slip from the scared woman's stack and drift to the ground, there's writing on the back of the drawings. Flipping over the drawing I'm currently holding I'm greeted with more text.
"This girl seems to be the lead you were looking for Red," Batman's naturally low timber fills the air. I nod before gathering the piles into folders, the thickest one being 'The Lady's' stack.
I hand the three folders to B and turn to the journal. At the top is a date and time scrawled in the top, I quickly flip through the previous pages to find much of the same for each one. I place the ribbon place holder to mark the half finished page, I close the journal and hand it back to B.
Opening the desk drawers I found a teal note book with pink flowers and black branches, in neat cursive hand writing on the bottom is the word 'Diary'. I hesitate to grab it, feeling extremely guilty and a bit perverted for rummaging through my classmate's desk.
"You don't have to continue this case, I know you went to school with the most recent girl." I turn to look at Batman as he speaks, with his cowl on it's hard to discern what he's thinking.
My fist ball up at my sides as I take a deep breath, holding it, then releasing it as I relax my shoulders and fists. Do I want to hand this case back to Bruce? No, not really. I wasn't friends with Jillian, no one really was. She's a bit of an odd ball, constantly wearing gloves and avoiding contact with people. She's quiet in class, constantly drawing... But the few times I've interacted with her she was kind, soft spoken.
"No, I want to continue. I just feel weird for going through her personal space... Do you think we could call one of the girls to come help?" I ask, fidgeting with my glove. A soft smile curls across Batman's face before reaching up and calling over Spoiler and Black Bat.
It takes the two girls less time than Batman and Robin to show. Once they arrive Batman gives me the rest of his evidence bags and calls Robin to inform him that they're leaving to head back to the cave. Robin appears holding a carrier cage with a small grocery sack with what I can only assume is the cat's food and medicine. B doesn't say anything but we can all feel the questioning look.
"No one is here to take care of Queenie Father. And from what Red Robin has informed me of the guardian of Queenie's owner no one will be coming back for her. I will take on the burden of caring for Queenie while her owner is gone, that is my responsibility as Robin. To help those in trouble," Robin's speech doesn't leave much room for argument. We all watch as an eyebrow lifts under Batman's cowl before he makes a low grumble and turns towards the window to step out.
Robin turns back towards us beaming before scampering towards the window, he gingerly places the carrier with the cat outside of the window onto the fire escape before climbing out himself with the bag. Batman takes the bag from Robin before the two descend down the fire escape. A few minutes later the sound of the Batmobile starting can be heard. I show Black Bat and Spoiler to the room, the two girls enter looking around curiously.
"She's got amazing vibes going on in this room," Black Bat nods her head in agreement with Spoilers statement, I clear my throat to catch their attention.
"I need you two to go through her drawers, please... I feel like a pervert doing it but we've got to find anything that could help me with this case. Spoiler if you could go through her desk and Black Bat if you could go through her closet, you both know what B considers useful for investigations," I quickly blurt out what I need their help with before I crouch back down near the door trying to see if I can figure out how Jillian's phone got underneath the shelf.
I breathe a sigh of relief as both girls move to their respective area in the room. It takes a little over an hour of them looking through different drawers in the room while I scoured the room and hallway. I found more scratch marks on the laundry room door and on the floor in the living room. There was more blood on the floor and I noticed that a large carpet was missing from the living room judging by the clear discoloration in the living room.
I finished taking the necessary pictures of the evidence before I stood up to greet the two girls both have a bag with something inside. I collect them both and place them into the small messenger bag I have slung over my shoulder.
"What do you've got RR?" Spoiler asks as she rocks back and forth on her heels, Black Bat nods in agreement humming softly as she does.
"Okay, so far not much I don't even know what her journals and drawing will tell me. But Jillian put up a fight, there was an altercation in her room that caused the cut in the bed post as well as the loss of the switch blade," I say as I walk towards Jillian's room.
"Somehow in the altercation Jillian's phone slid under the shelf next to the door. Jillian was conscious when she was dragged out, indicated by the scratch marks on the door frame, the floors and the laundry room door." I point out the different areas to the other two as we walk back into the living room.
"They dragged her into the living room before knocking her unconscious, they then took the carpet and wrapped her in it. There were no signs of forced entry anywhere so they had to be let in." I step up to the front door and open it. I step into the hall and spot a small camera at the end of the hall above the elevator doors. I was expecting to step out into the hall to get a clear look at the various entry points, but there was a note stuck to the wall next to the door that caused me to pause.
The note read: 'Jillian sweetie, I let the bug exterminators your sister hired into your apartment. They left with your carpet all rolled up, said they had to take it back to their shop. I do hope no one else has to deal with whatever pest you've got. Hope to see you soon, Ms. Sullivan'
"You're good," Spoiler says after whisting, I mumbled a response about not expecting this and what my plan actually was. I take a quick picture before taking the note and closing the door. I slip the paper into a protective sleeve like we have been doing all night before tapping my com link to speak with Oracle.
"Hey O, can you or our friend at the cave get us the camera footage of the building we're currently in? And if there's any clear street footage, that as well. I need the footage from three days ago," I ask as I maneuver out of the window, stepping aside to let the others out before closing it.
"Sure thing, everything I find will be sent over to J and the Bat-Computer. You calling it for patrol tonight?" I confirm Barbara's question before quickly making my way via grapple back to the cave.
It takes me some time to return to the cave but I'm no less focused on my task at hand. Once inside the cave I quickly found an empty area and meticulously laid out all the evidence that we gathered. Jason stands up from the computer and stands beside me. I tap away at the small computer system on my wrist and start printing out the pictures me and B took while at the apartment. Jason moves to collect the pictures before I can even speak a word. I thank him when he sets them down next to me.
"Babs is getting everything she can from the footage but I'm here to help you with whatever you need, Little Bird." Jason places his hands into his pockets as I finish setting out everything. Jason is smart, we all are, and having an extra set of eyes on this case would be helpful.
"I'm going to get out of my suit, shower and make myself something to drink... If you could get this charging and start on trying to open it that would be appreciated, Jay," I say as I hand Jason Jillian's phone, he quickly slips on a pair of gloves before grabbing the phone. I remove my gauntlets and the main armor pieces of my suit, leaving me in a tank top and my black padded tights.
I walk towards the exit that leads upstairs to the manor, as soon as the grandfather clock moves out of the way I'm greeted by Kon. He's standing in a simple black shirt and is wearing baggy blue gym shorts with socks on. I smile at him as I move to walk towards the stairs leading upstairs. Kon followed me the whole time, holding my hand as we went.
Once in my own room I strip down to my boxer. I move towards my bathroom entering the small room and starting a hot shower, while waiting for the water to heat i turn towards the mirror. I breathe in deeply before peeling away my mask, having to go slowly as to not rip out the few eyebrow hairs stuck in the spirit gum. I breathe a sigh of relief once my mask is off and I quickly get into the hot shower after removing the last layer.
I groan when the hot water cascades over my sore body, I stand there for a bit with my full body under the stream of water. I let my eyes fall close as I focus on the feeling of my muscles relaxing. There's the faint sound of the bathroom door opening then closing followed by a slight shuffle of fabrics and the sound of Kon quietly humming to himself.
"Kon?" My mouth moves before I can really think. I can hear Kon hum in response, a quiet acknowledgement that he heard me.
"Would you... Come join me please?" I don't get a verbal response but I do hear the sounds of fabric moving and the glass door to the shower open. There's the delicate touch of Kon's hands on my back.
This isn't the first time I've asked Kon to join me in the shower, it won't be the last either. He starts our normal routine immediately, one hand gently rubbing circles into my lower back. The other gently squeezes my hip as it moves up and down. I open my eyes and meet his eyes, my breath catches as I get lost in the midnight blue. A ring of gold always surrounds his pupils even when they dilate, I think it's a Kryptonian thing... I don't know for sure I don't make a habit of staring deeply into others' eyes.
"You have such pretty blue eyes Tim, they're like clouds," Kon whispers to me, I can't help the small smile that spreads across my face. I bring my arms up and wrap them around Kon's neck, the contrast between my pale skin and his warm bronze always pulls at something in my chest.
I lean up and gently kiss Kon, our lips falling into a steady rhythm even as he steps closer to me. We stay like that for a bit my hands running over his shoulders and up into his curly black hair. His hands glide across my hips and up my back, gently working out any tension still there. Eventually though I have to pull away slightly taking in deep breaths to help soothe the ache in my chest. Kon steps away for a moment, reaching for my shampoo.
I turn my back to him and tilt my head back slightly so my longer hair falls back. I usually keep my hair at about chin to middle neck length but it's getting to the point that I need a hair cut soon. I feel warm hands curl into hair and begin to massage my scalp. I feel my shoulders slump and all remaining tension ease out of my body as Kon pampers me.
"Thank you babe, you don't have to do this you know?" I ask letting my eyes slip close and my head tilt down as Kon's hands move lower on my scalp.
"Mhm, I know but I like too. I like watching all the tension leave you because of my doing. It makes me feel good," He says as I feel the tinge of Kon's TTK reaching out to caress me, I hum at the slight static feeling washing over me.
I feel Kon step forward until his chest is flush against my back, with gentle hands Kon guides my head to be fully under the spray of the shower. He runs his hands through my hair before guiding me back to where I was before, then he comb his fingers through as he conditions my hair. I let out a slight squeak when I feel Kon shifting us so he's under the spray and I'm not. If it weren't for the fact that Kon's body constantly radiates heat I think I'd be shivering.
I feel a wash cloth begin to run over my body as both of Kon's hands leave me. I let my head fall back against his chest as he rinses his own hair. Once he's done one of his hand wraps around my waist and the other rinses the conditioner from my hair. I turn myself around and bury my face in Kon's neck, finding comfort in the smell on Kon's skin. He smells like warmth; sunlight, a strange citrus note to him, and like rain.
I'm being moved again as Kon backs up so I'm in the stream of water. The rag is gently pushed into my hand as Kon mumbles about washing my sensitive bits. I look up and flash a wolfish grin at Kon as he blushes, I let the smile loose its edge as I finish cleaning myself. I deposit the rag onto a hook to dry before dragging Kon back into a hug as I bury my face back into Kon's neck.
We stay like that for a few more minutes before Kon uses his TTK to turn off the water. We both get dried off and I walk into my room to change into comfortable clothes while Kon finishes his curly hair routine, as well as cleaning all of his piercings and replacing some with fresh jewelry. He's currently wearing all black and silver jewelry that makes his freckles stand out gorgeously.
I get dressed, eat something light while waiting for water to boil and make myself and Jason a cup of coffee that is poured into cups with lids. I move back down to the cave, Kon hovering behind me the whole time following. I quickly moved towards the table where Jason was currently sitting and handed him the lidded cup of coffee.
"Thanks Timmers, I've got the phone charging and Oracle is running through a script to get past the phone password, Jason says gesturing towards the colorful device sitting next to him.
"Thank you for your help, I'm going to start reading through everything and see what I can find. I'm going to set everything I've read through to the side, if you're feeling up to being my second set of eyes that would be appreciated Jay," I say as I pick up the folder of drawings with the scared woman. Jason nods and sips his coffee while he chats with Kon, I take that as my que to start.
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#cursed gotham#batfamily#batman family#batman and robin#good dad bruce wayne#bruce wayne#bruce x selina#cassandra cain#stephanie brown#duke thomas#good brother jason todd#jason todd#damian wayne#dick grayson#tim drake#kon el kent#timkon#selina kyle#alfred pennyworth#talia al ghul#dc spoiler#black bat#red robin#robin damian#nightwing#oracle#barbara gordon#batman comics#batman#cryptid batfamily
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So wait a second...
In official Rune Factory 4 lore, Ventuswill was supposed to die many, many centuries ago. It's uncertain how many, but it's generally accepted that Leon likely became the first Guardian around 1000 years ago. The big thing is that, in theory, Ventuswill's natural lifespan could have been much longer with no need for Guardians or Rune Spheres, but she was born in a land where the runes were beginning to die out and was thus weak. The Earthmates creating the Rune Spheres was as much about restoring runes to the land as it was saving Ventuswill because while the world can go on without Ventuswill, the world cannot go on without runes. Without runes, the land becomes barren, crops won't grow, and all life eventually ends.
Now, I don't know much about Rune Factory 2 since I haven't actually played it (and anyone who has is free to correct me on the below points), but from what I've read online in terms of the lore, Fiersome's apocalypse would have happened a thousand years ago had the ancient Earthmates not placed their seal on him--roughly when Ventuswill was originally supposed to expire. And every thousand years, the seal on him has to be renewed; if not, the world is destined to be destroyed in Fiersome's raging apocalyptic hellfire, after which Terrable will awaken and restore life to the charred landscape at the cost of eliminating whatever remaining life has survived--in other words, a total rebirth of the planet.
Between the close timing of these two past events--the point that Ventuswill's life was originally supposed to end and the point when the seal was placed on Fiersome--and the fact they were to occur when the world's runes were starting to dry up, the Earthmates both past and present have been staving off the inevitable End of the World for centuries. The world, as we know it, could have been destroyed a thousand years ago as it was supposed to, but the Earthmates said "Nope! It's too nice to let it all die!" and have done everything they can to extend its lifespan.
And that's when we get to Rune Factory 5 and an incredibly dark statement from the main antagonist, Gideon. According to Gideon, Alice/Ares is the last known Earthmate--not the last, but there are so few Earthmates that if there are any others left, they're most likely in hiding and are on their way to becoming an extinct species. Now, Ventuswill's longevity has been ensured thanks to the actions of Lest/Frey during RF4 and she'll probably still be munching on pancakes in 1000 years, but if the Earthmates wind up going extinct, there's no way to restore Fiersome's seal because only Earthmates are capable of renewing the magic used to keep him locked up. And Fiersome is not the only godlike creature capable of causing the world's inevitable destruction; Tides of Destiny gave us the Legendary Golem, whose cataclysmic battle with the Native Dragons led to the creation of the current world, and RF5's potential apocalypse was that of the Fathomless Dread, an eldritch abomination that literally had to be sealed in another dimension to prevent it from destroying the world.
The Rune Factory world has brushed time and time again with total annihilation and the only reason it has managed to avoid catastrophe was because there was an Earthmate around to stop it. What happens when there are no longer any Earthmates to stop the end of all? Or is it possible that the Earthmates are going to experience a revival of some sort? Besides a castle-esque design, the logo for Rune Factory 6 does suspiciously feature a seraph/halo motif, after all...
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What is Stiles Stilinski?
Okay so am I really gonna talk about a character from a show that ended in 2017 and was relatively mediocre with weird plotlines that sometimes went nowhere at all? Yes, yes I will. And am I really gonna talk about something that has been talked about multiple times by multiple people for multiple years and that is just now tired and worn down? Yes, yes I will.
Also, I will give credit to @anchoredtether , who made this post, which I will use also as a source for the points I will make here.
Glad we got that out of the way. Now let's go.
So, we all know the whole deal with Teen Wolf's Stiles Stilinski, teenager of Polish descent who has ADHD and anxiety, as well as both daddy and mommy issues, who uses sarcasm as a defence mechanism.
In the fandom there has been a very strong theory that Stiles is a magic user, ever since episode 8 in season 2, when Deaton tells Stiles he needs to be the spark
This is obviously just an analogy and means nothing, right? Wrong!. As pretty soon after, Stiles has to use Mountain ash to close a circle of mountain ash, yet before he can close it, he runs out of it, he even shows he has no more ash. Then, however, he closes his hand, and seems to almost will mountain ash into existence, since a small bit falls from his hand, managing to close the circle. After that, he breaks the circle without touching it.
Most of the theories regarding Stiles' status of a magic user/supernatural being stem from season two, since this season has many moments where he achieves the impossible. BUT, before I talk about that, I'll just talk a little about him pre-show.
So, Stiles had three childhood friends, Scott, Theo and Heather; he's also had a lifelong crush on Lydia. Out of these four people he seemed to be drawn to, Scott turned out to be a True Alpha, Theo was turned into a Chimera and Lydia was a banshee; I know it was all a coincidence and such, but even Stiles himself said "One time is an accident, two times is a tragedy, three times is a pattern". Meaning THIS cannot be just a simple coincidence.
Now yes, back to the show.
So, again, season two is where we begin to see the whole "Stiles may not be fully human" thing, not only with his scene with Deaton but also with a scene in "Abomination", in which Stiles (Who often reminds people he's the weakling human) manages to spend 2 hours holding Derek (An Alpha Werewolf who's extremely heavy) in a pool while Derek is completely paralysed (something that only professional coast guard swimmers can do) and even then, many times he just randomly pops out some inexplicable strength all throughout the show (Such as knocking over a vending machine, something that weighs around 400 pounds or even more)
In episode 10 of season 3 (The Overlooked) Cora Hale, a werewolf, is dying from mistletoe, yet Stiles manages to save her by giving her CPR, and she only revives after he gives her mouth to mouth. And in the finale, he gets into a car crash and develops a head injury, an injury which should absolutely render him either concussed or severely traumatised with vertigo and unable to do much at all; yet he somehow manages to run through a massive storm and try to find a cellar at night with no idea of its location save for a vague idea. Yet somehow, he managed to find the EXACT LOCATION he needed to find.
In that very same finale, once they rescue their parents, the cellar they're in starts to collapse, and Stiles, using an ALUMINIUM BAT manages to hold the whole structure up from collapsing. Which like, listen I get that aluminium bats are strong, but you cannot tell me they can do THAT.
Then, in season 3B, Stiles is possessed by the Nogitsune, a dark kitsune. Now, his possession alone raised questions, because the Nogitsune possessed Stiles, the weak human of the pack, when he could've possessed hunters! He specifically targeted Stiles.
Obviously, the Nogitsune did seem to have powers, but he still was inside a human body, in this body he managed to somehow survive being electrocuted when Stiles was tased by Chris, managed to break metal cuffs without getting hurt, and he was also supposedly dying of frontlobal dementia, and is later completely fine, we are lead to believe that it's a trick by the Nogitsune but like, what if it wasn't? throughout this whole ordeal he also seems to lose the ability to read, yet later regains it (I seriously doubt that wasn't Stiles' willing himself to regain his skill).
In this part I will copy what anchoredtether said.
Stiles can suddenly hold down werewolves. Angry IED werewolves and spazzing werewolves dying from rare mistletoe, might I mention. Sure, Scott’s an alpha werewolf, but Liam is really strong, Derek has even mentioned that. Stiles shouldn’t have been able to hold him down. And again with Brett, Derek had very little werewolf strength at this point and Stiles was able to hold Brett down. He's also able to suddenly have control over shifted Malia who desperately wants to crush his bones? Malia clearly had no control over her shift, and he was able to influence her to shift out of it. (that’s something I’ve only seen Alphas do when they roar). There was a meta about this, but the way Stiles held the lacrosse stick from Coach while realising it was the weapon in the stab pictures, there should have been no way for him to keep holding it with only human strength. The only way Coach gets it back from Stiles’ grip is when Stiles is paying more attention to the pictures than the stick.
In "The Chemist", Stiles is being held at gunpoint by The Chemist, however, he is saved by rafael McCall, who shoots him in the head. anchoredtether talked about this scene in the same post I linked, and linked another post, made by @darachmoon explaining the argument, which I will link right here. Quoting anchoredtether:
Exit wounds are typically larger than entry wounds, and the wound on the Chemist’s forehead was bullet size, very precise. Another thing, is what McCall says later on in his testament:
“Having heard the perpetrator’s threat and countdown, I made visual confirmation of the barrel of the weapon pressed to the potential victim’s head. Determining the danger to be imminent, I felt no choice but to respond with the use of deadly force.”
There’s a few things up with this statement. A) McCall never saw the barrel of the gun. He couldn’t have if he was behind the Chemist and made that shot to kill him. It’s physically impossible, unless he somehow sidestepped to see the gun and then stepped back behind the Chemist to shoot him, which if that’s the case, Stiles would have seen him. B) He never says that he shot the Chemist. In a statement like that, you would say flat out that you shot the Chemist.
Which leads me to believe, with the additional conviction that the hole in the Chemist’s head is an entry wound and not an exit wound (and that there’s 10 bullets from McCall’s gun), is that McCall is leading them to believe he shot the Chemist to cover up the fact that it was actually Stiles
There's also a lot more I couldn't touch/Talk about, but anchoredtether's post is just soo good and amazing that it easily explains a lot, if not all, of the reasons behind this theory of Stiles being a magic user (Whether that's a witch, a spark or psychic)
Thank you for reading! And I hope you liked it!
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Let's Have a Satanic Orgy!
[Visenya Targaryen x Fem!Reader]
[Warnings: Degradation, spit, slapping, spanking, lots of sacrilege, general blanket warning for lots and lots of sacrilege, choking, implied gore]
[Summary: A heteronormative, Gods-fearing Westerosi family navigates life in a world rife with temptation and sin!]
(Tbh I think this is the most fun thing I've written so far this might turn into a series idk. Title comes from this song, please support the band they’re both super cool)
Word Count: 2.9K
Maegor & the Meaning of Friendship
Raising children is hard. Raising your lover’s child is harder, especially when he’s an unholy, incestuous abomination borne of a lesbian’s blood magic. And that leads to predicaments such as the one you found yourself in right now. Little Maegor was napping happy as a lamb while he levitated two feet above his crib. You had just got him back down. Sighing before tiptoeing your way around the defense glyphs on the floor, you reached your hands under the sleeping child as gently as you could before lowering him to the bed. That was the exact moment violet eyes snapped open and demonic wails rang through one of the few completed towers. Sighing, you shushed him as you bounced Maegor on one hip, grabbing his favorite ceremonial toy dagger. When the toy did little to appease him, you cleared your throat.
“Hush little darling,
Dream of pain.
Screaming, brimstone, blood in rain.
But if those Riverlands don’t burn,
Momma’s gonna turn them into an urn.”
The child smiled as his head lolled back onto your shoulder. He dropped the dagger, but you bid a shadow to catch it before the clatter woke him again. He was growing by the day, and it was apparently starting to become an issue for his wet nurses. You regenerated two pairs of nipples this week alone. And that was nothing compared to the first time Maegor discovered what teeth could do and you spent a week trying to revive his Septa until giving up and binding her soul to a child’s doll that now sat untouched in the corner of his room. Sighing, you made a mental note to go through which bound souls he did and didn’t play with so you could release the ones he ignored. As you tiptoed back over the sigils in the floor, you grabbed a pouch of hangman’s ash from the interior of your dress and sprinkled it over the line you had broken upon entering the room. Closing the door after you, you crept along the shadows through the keep until arriving at the yard. Empty. She’s running herself too thin. Visenya hadn’t been arriving at your shared chambers until after the hour of the owl most nights. But you didn’t mind, the night had always been to your liking, and nights with her were nothing short of perfect. Lateness be damned. When her last haunt turned up empty, you frowned. The only other finished parts of the castle were the kitchens and the Sept. It was decidedly…unlike her to be there but worst case scenario she wouldn’t be there and you could just make another Septon piss himself. To your surprise, Visenya stood before the altar and took in the effigies of six gods. “I’ve always found it strange that they never worship the only God of theirs that’s actually real.”
Visenya turned around at the purr of your voice, a dark chuckle escaping her lips. “And yet the farce drones on. But appearances must be maintained.” Gliding to meet her at the altar, you smiled when your love pulled you in for a kiss. With a flick of your hand, the heavy wooden doors slammed shut, and you bit into Visenya’s lip hard enough to draw blood. She moaned when your tongue probed at the cut, and you pulled away for a brief second.
“Do you know what our son has been up to?” Your arms came to rest on the blonde’s broad shoulders, pressing the curve of your chest into her.
Visenya grunted as she pivoted so the back of your thighs was flush with the altar. “There are other things on my mind.” A wicked grin split your lover’s face as her rough hands dropped to your thighs, pulling your weight out from under you as she pushed you back onto the altar.
You let out a small chuckle, raising an eyebrow at her as you stumbled back. “Like maintaining appearances?”
A dark look flashed across Visenya’s face, and she tenderly lifted your arms from her shoulders. She took care to press gentle kisses along your wrists, locking eye contact with you before she pulled her belt off and bound your wrists with it. A single finger tilted your chin up, a predatory look on the Queen’s face. “Appearances will be kept, in public.” Her thumb stroked softly at your jaw as your gaze came back to focus on the dribble of blood from Visenya’s lower lip. “But since there isn’t an audience here,” She almost sounded disappointed, even if her better instincts told her otherwise. “You are going to be a good girl and help me defile this.” The words were spoken in a soft coo, with a razor’s edge beneath it. Visenya placed a kiss on the tip of your nose before she shoved you onto your back. “Hands above your head. Don’t move them.” She didn’t wait for you to adjust yourself, her hands rising to the neckline of your dress and promptly tearing the lace.
“Hey!” You let out an indignant huff.
“Shut up.” When you opened your mouth to retort, she brought a hand down to slap at your exposed breast, the peak stiffening. “If you complain again, you’ll be returning to our chambers naked.” Your lover's hand wandered over your torso, and you arched your back into her touch. A smug look pulled across Visenya’s features as she rolled your nipple between her fingers, her mouth pulling the other in. A bolt of heat jolted to your core as her tongue stroked your nipple, clenching around nothing as you let a breathy moan escape you. Teeth pulled gently at the peak, as her fingers pinched at the other. Her moan vibrated against your flesh, lavishing your breast before slapping the other once more. Satisfied, she released your nipple with a wet pop and flicked her feral gaze up to you. Methodically, her hand rose until two fingers rested against your bottom lip. Opening your mouth, you flicked your tongue across her fingers, wetting the digits thoroughly before pressing a kiss on her fingertips. Visenya’s fingers dug into your thigh hard enough to leave bruises, while she brought the other to brush against your lower lips. Light as a feather, her touch never lingered against your skin for longer than a few moments. You clenched your jaw shut, knowing that she would only prolong the teasing if you complained about it. Fingertips grazed closer and closer to your center, and when you started bucking your hips to try and meet them, her other hand pressed your hips down flat into the altar.
You finally shot her a pleading look, stilling your movements. “Please, my Queen.”
A wild grin pulled across Visenya’s features, her fingertips circling your bud as you moaned. “All you had to do was ask.” She cooed again, her tone condescending. By now you should be used to begging her for what you wanted, but it wasn’t something that came naturally. Your abdominal muscles tensed as she continued the lazy pace on your bud. Hooded eyes opened to meet her fiery gaze, and her left hand traversed up your torso, coming to rest under your jaw. “Open.” When your lips parted you were rewarded with the pace on your bud quickening, a soft whine escaping you before Visenya spat into your mouth. Pushing your mouth closed and watching you swallow, her thumb tenderly brushed against your lip for a moment before her expression stilled. Her hand was pulled away from your face, and you mourned the loss of contact before the sting bloomed across your cheek. Visenya waited for you to look back at her before her hand cracked across your face again. “Never talk back to me.” She cooed, lowering her fingers to prod at your entrance, but refusing to give you what you need. “I thought by now you would know your place.” She continued as the hand that struck you came to rest on your throat. “And what is that, precisely?” Before you could answer, her fingers squeezed against the sides of your throat. Visenya chuckled darkly as you clenched uselessly around her digits.
“Your whore.” The wheeze was barely audible, and your lover squeezed your throat harder.
Visenya knit her eyebrows together in false concern. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t quite hear that.” She murmured. You tried again, but the words were muffled once more. Heat shot to your core as you writhed uselessly against the queen, tears pricking at your eyes. “Nope, still nothing, I’m afraid.” She said with a mocking sigh, finally releasing her grip.
“Your whore.” You gasped out with the first breath you could suck in, a pleased smile tugging at Visenya’s sculpted face. Two fingers pushed into you suddenly, and you moaned at the fullness. Visenya didn’t give you a chance to adjust, her pace punishing as she curved her fingers into the rough spot that made your vision go blurry. Your teeth dug into your lower lip as you strained against the leather binding your hands. Heat was building in your lower abdomen, your muscles being pulled ever tenser at her continued ministrations. “May I cum?” Visenya quickened her pace, and your hips rolled to meet her actions. Bringing her thumb up to stroke your bud, tension built ever higher in your gut.
“No.” The reply came lovingly whispered, and you knit your eyebrows together, closing your eyes.
“Please.” You begged, opening your eyes once more to lock with hers as you desperately tried to hold in the wave of pleasure that was about to break within you.
Visenya looked annoyed, and pulled her fingers out of you at once, slapping your core before shooting you a hard glare. She wrenched you to your feet before promptly bending you over the altar and tearing the remains of your dress off your body. Her fingers laced into your hair and she pulled back until you were looking at her. “Five.” She said simply, untangling her fingers from your hair and pushing your hips into the marble before her hand cracked against your exposed ass. A second later a second one came to the other cheek.
“One.” You moaned out, slick leaking out onto the altar as your lover gently rubbed the reddened flesh.
Visenya’s hand cracked out against your skin two more times. “Two.”
The blonde tutted approvingly behind you, the hand on your hip rubbing gentle circles as she rained the next few blows onto you. Visenya breathed raggedly, while you savored the feeling of her hot skin against yours. When the last blow fell, you took a second to catch your breath. “Five.” Pressing into her touch, you let the silence hang between you two for a second longer. “Thank you, my Queen.”
Visenya pulled back, taking a step back from the altar. Her deft hands moved to undo the laces of her breeches. “Is a little gratitude so difficult?” She mused, her pants dropping before she carefully stepped out of them. “On your knees.” You dropped immediately, holding your hands up so that Visenya could undo the belt. Afterward, your hands raised to your lover’s smallclothes and you waited for an approving nod before pulling them down. Visenya stepped out of them and promptly hooked her thigh over your shoulder. Pressing a soft kiss to her bundle, you relished the way her fingers tightened in your hair. Your tongue darted out to taste her, and she let out a low moan. Swirling your tongue around her bud, you dropped your face so that your nose ground into her clit while your tongue pressed into her entrance. You moaned at her taste, and Visenya tensed against you at the vibrations, her hips rolling against your face. Slick coated your chin as you continued to tonguefuck your Queen, her moans heady as she ground against your face. “Fingers.” Visenya commanded, and you nodded before coating two in her slick and pushing them into her. “Fuck.” The blonde groaned as she clenched around your fingers. "Such a good little whore for me." You merely started thrusting them into her, drunken off the sound of her building moans and harsh words. When you prodded the rough spot behind her pelvis, Visenya’s movements grew erratic. She rode your face without abandon, her fingers white-knuckling your hair as she squeezed yours. You didn’t stop after her moans hit a crescendo, your fingers continuing at the bruising pace she loved. You lapped up every drop of her cum, licking it off your lips when she finally pulled you away from her core. Visenya looked so fucking beautiful like this, her silver hair frizzing around her face and her heavy-lidded eyes staring down at you lovingly. She closed her violet irises for a few moments longer, lips parted as she caught her breath. When her eyes opened again, they were once more darkened with lust. She pulled you to your feet before pushing you back against the altar. This time she turned you so you lay along the length of the marble, and she crawled up after you, coming to settle between your parted legs. Her hot breath teased against your throbbing core, slick coating your thighs as she pressed her lips to them. Her tongue darted out to taste your essence, looking up at you with a dark look in her eyes before she bit into your thigh. You grunted in pain, another wave of arousal shooting through you as Visenya released you. Pressing a kiss to the burning flesh, she finally swiped her tongue across you, spreading your slick around with a deft tongue. She didn’t wait a moment longer before feasting on you like a starved woman, her lips pressing around your button before she sucked on it and slipped a finger into you. Your heels dug into the marble as you writhed against her touch, wild moans filling the sept. In response, she slid another finger into you and increased the pace, her eyes wild as she drove herself into you.
When the heat started to build in your gut once more you reached out to hold the hand that she had rested on your hip, and squeezed it lightly. “May I please cum?” You whimpered, arched against the cool marble. Visenya hummed approvingly against you, her fingers quickening as your orgasm came crashing over you. Every muscle in your body tensed as you clenched impossibly tight around your lover’s fingers, hips rolling as you moaned out Visenya’s name incoherently. She didn’t let up until you had started to whimper and push her away, pulling back to rest her head against your thigh. A haughty grin spread across her face at the sight of you, but her hands were gentle as they stroked your thigh.
She came to sit up on the altar, pulling your head into her lap. “I wasn’t too rough, was I?” Guilt tinged at her tone, and you squeezed her arm reassuringly as you shook your head no. She nodded and tutted, brushing a strand of hair out of your face. “And you know I love you?” You smiled and pushed yourself up, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.
“I love you too.” Having the power to clothe yourself in shadows was entirely useless until it wasn’t. Since meeting Visenya you have become well practiced in it. The tatters of nightshade fabric fell back over your body as if it had been poured there, and the two of you left the sept hand in hand as you returned to the royal apartments.
When the two of you arrived, you were both shocked to see Maegor tearing the heads off of the soul dolls while Aenys watched horrified a few feet away. “Maegor!” You exclaimed. Honestly, you didn’t know where he got his atrocious manners from some days. You would say his father if Aegon had anything to do with his birth because he certainly wasn’t around to teach him afterward. Shaking your head, you gathered a few of the dolls before passing them to Aenys. “We’ve talked about this.” You said gently, kneeling down to look Maegor in the eyes. He stared glumly down at his feet, and you looked back to see Visenya leaning against the doorway with an amused smile on her face. Turning back, you waited for him to raise his gaze to yours, and when he did you gave him a gentle smile. “It’s impolite to not share with your brother.” You explained, gesturing over at Aenys, who was cradling the doll holding the Septa’s soul. “How would you feel if he was tearing the heads off of his toys and didn’t offer any to you?” The boy’s lower lip trembled for a second as he nodded.
“I’m sorry, Aenys.” You kissed Maegor on the forehead after he said it, and rose back to your feet. Taking a few steps back, you rejoined Visenya where she was watching the two boys. Aenys tentatively tugged at the doll’s head while Maegor beamed at him, when it wrenched loose a howling wail filled the tower. Maegor giggled excitedly, and Aenys was so excited from all of it that he started sobbing. You looked at Visenya lovingly and laced your fingers into hers. “We did a good thing.” You said, resting your head on her muscular shoulder.
Raising children was hard, but it was easy when you were doing it with the person you love most in the world.
#visenya targaryen x reader#queen visenya#visenya the conqueror#visenya x reader#Visenya x you#Visenya Targaryen x you#visenya targaryen#asoiaf#visenya smut#asoiaf smut#visenya fic
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So with the Sonic x Darkest Dungeon mashup, does Eggman take the role of Caretaker, the Ancestor, or both? Since canon Eggman LOVES summoning cosmic horrors he’s unable to control (Chaos, Dark Gaia, arguably the Deadly Six), he very easily fits into the Ancestor role.
OH MY GOD IM SO HAPPY U ASKED BCS I AM SO NORMAL ABOUT ITTT!!!
I think that eggman would probs be the caretaker, recruiting all these people with the prospect of money, and so he can uncover the secrets of Gerald after inheriting the estate ykwim.
In that same vein, I imagine some nefarious things going on with the graveyard (specifically like a class change for sonic from jester to abomination in the Came Back Wrong sense and also werehog) but also with the implications of shadow being a past experiment of Gerald, revived and given new purpose.
For the ancestor I think maybe it could be like black doom as an Eldritch horror reveal?? Like maybe it would take the appearance of Gerald but like not actually be him..!?
Idk I need to draw more about it cause I LOVE both of these medias so sooooo much oh my god!!!
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The Sedition Timeline Theory: Imprisoned Version
I have spent way too many hours thinking about this video game, especially the High Cloud Quintet and the Sedition. For that reason, I'd like to make a post outlining the sequence of events that I currently believe is quite likely based on my interpretation of the evidence available as of now, Oct 7 2023.
This post will be using spoilers from the leaked Jingliu Character Stories.
Before the Sedition
1800 Years ago, Jingliu's home ship Cangcheng was devoured by the Incarnosphere revived by Shuhu.
In the dark sky, the demonic planet named Rahu was wailing and singing, descending upon everyone with mountain ridges and continents ablaze. On the streets, people were screaming. They struggled and rolled on the ground in the apocalyptic despair, allowing golden vines to sprout and grow feverishly their every orifice. She watched everything, unable to move. Her organs felt like they were boiling. Something suddenly burst out of her Core Esse like a ripe wheat grain about to erupt out of its casing and swell till infinity. However, the mountains crashing into her face made her recall that she was nothing but an insect, about to die from a tiny press of an Emanator's fingertip. In that spit moment before death claimed her, she grabbed the only flax next to her. A sword, 3 feet and 7 inches in length, weighing about 7 pounds.
Note here that the sword is actually the training sword given to her by her master earlier in the passage.
A short time afterwards, Jingliu is arrogant and is bested by an opponent in a war and rescued by her master. She blames the sword and she and her master have this conversation:
I don't want to learn the sword anymore. It's... useless." "Useless? It's pretty useful in my hands. It is the wielder who was useless." "..." "If you don't learn the sword, what do you want to learn? The alchemical arrows on the pilots' starskiffs? The blazing fire flung by divine crossbows? Or... The artillery of the Zhuming Xianzhou? Such instruments would also be enough to destroy that demonic planet. You want to learn about them? Fine. Those things can kill the enemy without even from beyond visual sight.""...I just don't understand why you insist on teaching me the sword!?" "From the general to the smallest pawn, every Cloud Knight starts by learning the sword. "The various constructs provided by the Artisanship Commission can certainly kill the enemy for you, but those deeds are to the merit of the material rather than the person. If there comes a day that the quivers run empty, that the starskiffs crash, that the aurumatons freeze — Who will protect you and I, then? Who will protect the Xianzhou? "Hold this sword. Remember, only when Cloud Knights wielding swords stride upon the battlefield themselves is humanity fighting our own war. We will demonstrate our victory to those inhuman abominations with our blood and ability instead of letting ingenia do the work for us!"
Take special note of how her master brings up "Who will protect you and I" in her explanation. I believe this is drawing a direct parallel to DH:IL 3 and setting her master up to sacrifice herself when everything is going wrong.
Just prior to the formation of the High Cloud Quintet, Baiheng is acting as an ambassador to Zhuming to request reinforcements. Here, she meets Yingxing when he is a young teenager and experiences visions from the 'ball of light rays.' From Views of the Universe from a Starskiff: The Xianzhou Zhuming:
Every ray of light from the "sun" is beating, as if undergoing intense turbulence. Or rather, like a raging suppression since ancient times, gnarling and gnashing as it tries to fight through to my consciousness. In an instant, a flood of scenes well up and rampage through my mind, like a book flipping pages in the wind: — A "tree" with no boundaries suspended from the heavens, piercing the starry sky. — A vacuum, inside which ships spew forth brilliant beams like fireflies chasing fire, flocking to fluctuating flesh. There are even winged humanoids, wings outstretched... — I hear the howl of a Cloud Knight and a starskiff moments before crashing down, "Defend the Xianzhou!" "Victory to the Cloud Knights!"... — A colossal aurumaton, towering hundreds of feet high as it stalks and strides, stretching out cold metal arms to interact with a giant gelatinous beast of meat, teeth, and countless eyeballs. — In the sky stand radiant warriors, holding spears and longbows radiating fiery death. Their every gene has been sculpted and filtered to grant them a strength and beauty surpassing that of even modern Xianzhou people. — Even more terrifying is that their bodies are covered in an unnatural flame, as if embodying their innermost courage and rage. They charge one-by-one, over and over into the formless void, never to return... "...Take this oath, and keep it forever!" the rays of light roared, leaving the ears ringing. "Everyone! Steel yourselves — and don't look directly at the Flint Emperor!"
These visions are about Lan the Hunt's battle against Muldrasil and the Wingweavers. Note that this is the battle where he utilized the Heliobi "sun" powers from the Flint Emperor to destroy the Arbor. You can read about his story in Annotations from Ode to Reignbow Path.
Sometime around year 7279, about 800 years ago, Jingliu forms the High Cloud Quintet (Yes, she is already 1000 years old at this point.)
In the first battle that the HCQ fought (or earlier), Dan Feng sealed a maddened and frenzied dragon within the Arbor as per DH:IL Character Story One:
He dreamed he was standing before a sacrificial altar, dancing and chanting. However, the songs and gestures were mere facades. The light emanating from his eyes and the storm roiling in his blood were the true forces at play. Casually, he wove the misty and foggy tide in Scalegorge Waterscape, sealing the maddened and frenzied "dragon" into the propagating giant tree. As the echoing roar streamed up into the heavens and dissipated, Scalegorge Waterscape will continue its peace for centuries more, and his duty was over. The ceremony ended, and he turned to look behind him. In the blink of an eye, the stairs he had stepped down from had become full of standing dignitaries with draconic horns and dressed like royalty. As if they were mirages in a mirror, each of them turned and their sleeves swirled with the motion, ready to leave one after another in a meticulously calculated arrangement. Innumerable, they formed a staircase to the sky, stretching into the never-ending spatial void. The faces of all these people would greet him every morning in his dressing mirror — That was his face. No, it was the face of the primordial, the original, the very first high elder. He smiled bitterly and covered his face with his palm, as if ascertaining whether he could tear off this mask and return it to its true owner. He could not.
Note the presence of all of his "ancestors" as well as the mists and fog. The storm was 'roiling in his blood' and I think this is literal because his blood is most likely the ancient Vidyadhara water.
DH:IL 2 We see how Dan Feng is forced to be. His duty is to destroy and be detached from empathy. His dragon heart speaks of insignificance yet his human heart aches for all those who have died.
The devastated borisins began to flee. He knew it was time to carry out the duty entrusted to him. So he let go — letting his consciousness disappear in storms and hails, letting thunder roar for him, letting tsunamis rage for him. He floated on top of clouds, watching the enemies getting swallowed by the watery abyss, and watching the land behind him. Many humans, Vidyadhara, and Foxians were eternally left there, unable to lay their eyes upon their home ever again. The dragon heart told him that it was but a small speck of dust brushed away from the world. Wars come with a price, but life will always thrive once more — the Vidyadhara are not the only branch of Long's Scions. However, his human heart ached for those comrades who, like him, had warm flesh and blood, and for those mortals who might have lived longer but now could return home nevermore.
During one of these wars, Jingliu's master dies. In Jingliu Character Story Part 3:
She doesn't have a master anymore. The woman in the military uniform perished on the battlefield and can instruct her no longer. Nor does she need a master anymore. She knows everything there is to know about swords. They are a part of her body. They are the intake and release of her breath as she walks and sleep. People call her the Transcendent Flash, the pinnacle of swordmasters, a once-in-ten-century hero. However, she knows that her sword is still not enough to "cut down the star in the sky" — Even if she is holding the greatest sword in all the Xianzhou...
Here she is mourning her master's passing and realizing that even the greatest swords are not enough to protect what you care about. I strongly believe Jingliu's master died as the last line of defense in a self-sacrifice to let Jingliu and others survive. The death of her master is the first 'wake up call' for Jingliu that she isn't enough yet.
The Sedition of Imbibitor Lunae
I think it starts with a war vs Shuhu because of this Vidyadhara Egg:
You gently tap on the shell of the Vidyadhara egg. It shakes nervously, and the scales on the shell open and close slightly to warn and drive you away. It used to be one of the guards in charge of watching the Ambrosial Arbor in Scalegorge Waterscape. For centuries, the ancient tree had been quiet as though it was in a deep slumber. Taking measurements of the tree every day with its comrades bored it to death. Who would have thought that the Ambrosial Arbor would wake up on that fateful day? Gigantic waves have swept it and its comrades away. In an urgent voice, it asks you about its comrades, but you have no answer.
I think Shuhu may have found a way to awaken the Arbor. Yueyuan also makes mentions of Denizens of the Abundance causing havoc in the Scalegorge before the sedition:
Hmph, first there was the bloody conflict against the Denizens of Abundance. Then the Sedition of Imbibitor Lunae almost shook the Ambrosial Arbor to its core...
They won the war.
From DH:IL 3:
He dreamed that he parted the ocean's waters and came to the palace ruin depths, burying the remnants of his old friend's hallowed blood, or creating a new life that had not been seen for millennia — or, perhaps, those two actions were one and the same, an unattainable desire that could not be carried out for long years in the past, a final straw that broke the gargantuan dragon's back. The craftsman was covered in blood and wounds as he guarded the dragon with a sword in his hand. He urged himself to commit to the decision. "Shuhu is dead... we won, but how many more victories can we manage to achieve? How many more prices like this must we pay?" "Look, the Ambrosial Arbor still stands. So long as it is alive, the monsters... they can come back again and again. The war of the Xianzhou natives, Foxians, and Vidyadhara against the abominations will never end." "Yes, none of us are special! Each of us has only one life, sacrificing for this, dying for that... it's all our own choices. Just like how she chose to save you and Jingliu... just like how she chose to let more people live on!" War, and the lives that expired in the war, were living beings just like him. He shut his eyes wearily, remembering their faces, and made up his mind. "If there's a chance... we will also choose to let her and more people live on. We, the Vidyadhara, have our own way of salvation. I can give it a try."
I believe here that the old friend's hallowed blood is the special water blood of the dead Vidyadhara, the Azure Dragon, Long, or some combination. Creating a new life that has not been seen for millennia refers to the creation of a new Dragon life from the remnants of the dead dragon life that was unable to properly rebirth. Note that Vidyadhara MUST return to the sacred sea in order to form their shells and go through the hatching rebirth.
Yingxing talking about the prices we must pay is a callback to DH:IL 2 where he ponders the price of war, all the lives that are lost. This is especially devastating for Vidyadhara who cannot reproduce. Yingxing identifies that the Arbor is the cause of all the problems. I believe here that Dan Feng is planning to destroy the Arbor.
As previously mentioned, I believe the unnamed woman who died for 'You and Jingliu' is Jingliu's master.

Like an out-of-body experience, like a dream within a dream, he returned to the moment before his sense of self disappeared. With a cold and emotionless mind, he observed himself turning into a dragon, entangled and fighting claw-and-fangs against that bulb of shapeshifting shadow of flesh and blood. In an illusion seen on the verge of death, the emissary of the god showed him an unsettling, beautiful scene — the stars pulsated and sang hymns like red blood cells, and the universe descended into an abyss of flesh and desires. The dragon heart beat to its limit, raising its fangs, breath, and fury — however, no matter how mighty it was, a "lifeform" cannot defy the true body of god of life's envoy.
Note the presence of Yingxing still in the picture as the dragon transformation takes place. This indicates that the transformation is a continuation of the previous scene and NOT a flashback to a prior scene. His sense of self is disappearing because he is merging with the azure dragon. I would also like to note that the CN word here for Life is closer to the 'path of life/fate' meaning than the state of being alive.
...Until a starskiff ran everything through like an arrow shaft. He saw that girl crawling out of the ruins with great difficulty, lifting a "sun" of absolute darkness in her hand. In that fleeting eternity, he saw her hand disappear, saw her face disappear, and saw HER disappear — That item had ground everything around it into the finest dust and dragged them into a vortex of raw power, including that girl. A tuft of hair and a few drops of blood fell to the floor as evidence of her existence. Those were the only traces she left.
This is where Baiheng blew herself up. Note the use of the "sun" callback to Lan's story. I believe she was paralleling his story and attacking the arbor. Her explosion is likely the reason that the Arbor was so stumpy before the stellaron was inserted into it, causing new growth, in the current era. (The above picture is definitely after Lan shot it because the Vidyadhara did not appear on the Xianzhou until around year 4800 vs Lan's Muldrasil war in about 3400).
You gently touch the surface of the eggshell, and a searing and intense impact bursts out and surges right into your head through your fingertips. A hoarse and deep voice lingers by your ears. You see a heart with odd burn marks on its dry and withered surface. The fire in the distance is burning ferociously in an attempt to devour everything. A figure pulls another figure into their arms despite the danger. In the chaos, you hear some indistinct cries that also sound like the whispering between lovers. You think about the burnt elixir crucible that once tore the darkness apart. But now, not a single trace of light is in sight. You look down at the egg and finally notice it is not stained by the ash from the crucible, but just some dew that is somehow scorching hot.
This Vidyadhara egg mentions the elixir crucible, which is in close proximity to the Arbor. The elixir crucible relies on the water to function, so Dan Feng's spells may have caused it to cease functioning correctly and it was caught on fire in the attack. It talks about the fires in the distance and the figure that pulls another figure into their arms despite the danger - I think this could be referring to Dan Feng finding an injured Yingxing who was injured in the aftermath. It also talks about a heart with odd burn marks on it dry and withered surface - Dragon Heart Theory real? It's more likely than you think.
From here, I think Dan Feng is likely arrested by the 10 Lords Commission and sent to nice jail:

Those who are familiar with my previous post will know more about why I believe this is the location of the sedition. Note the presence of Preceptor Taoran and Oppenheimer - these character identities are confirmed in the description of the myriad trailer.
With Dan Feng locked up underneath the Scalegorge, Preceptors, specifically Preceptor Suguang, begin their angry letters to Jing Yuan who is now the general.
With the great calamity quelled, the voracious enemy subdued, and the treacherous rebels expelled, the Luofu has once again returned to peace. What a joyous day this is. My people have suffered much in this crisis. The wounded include 12 Preceptors, 253 Pearlkeepers, and 116 alchemists and healers. There are 1285 who have completely perished in this disaster, and over 3000 are still missing. While we lament these losses, we dared not forget our duty. Since the time of the High Elder Yubie, the Vidyadhara of the Luofu have shouldered the duty of keeping watch over the Ambrosial Arbor. However, when the disaster struck and the seals were loosened, all the elites of my people could not return it to its previous form. Therefore, we beseech the Six Charioteers to ask the Ten-Lords Commission to return the sinner Dan Feng to us, let him restore the seals, and mete out his punishment at a later time.
The mentions of the loosened seal are also interesting because in current times, Yueyuan tells us this about the sedition:
Then the Sedition of Imbibitor Lunae almost shook the Ambrosial Arbor to its core...
Note that other language translation have 'shook to the core' closer translated to 'uprooted.'
Somehow, I think the Preceptors arranged for the creation of a new High Elder to replace Dan Feng whose fate was unknown to them.
It begins with Dan Feng drinking in the power of the moon and breaking free of his chains. This moon likely contains Long or the Azure dragon in an moon egg (a reference to Neon Genesis Evangelion which is a major inspiration for Hoyo). You can also see Long turn into a moon egg at the beginning of the myriad trailer, so the idea is definitely there.
This event is what brings about the Half-Draconic abomination.
Jingliu brings the cloud knights into the mountain realm:
I do explain why this hole in the clouds is the entrance of the mountain realm in my previous post but it's also reaffirmed in the picture on the sheath:
Also note how the hole in the sky is upside down relative to the moon and the birds flying - this is because the mountain realm is a reflected space as shown in this image inside the Exalting Sanctum's Realm-Keeping Commission building:
Next is the events from Jingliu Character Story Part 4.
Note Yingxing's black hair, implying he is definitely immortal or at least de-aged by this point.
She gasps, barely holding her wounded body together. Far away, deeper in the delve, there came the anguished roar of a dragon, as if a cry seeking deliverance. She watches as the arrogant craftsman falls into mud, and walks up to him like a wraith. "I should kill you first... but you will have your own torment to bear for all eternity..." She points the broken sword at the high elder. "Impossible. The Preceptors said... The blood of my race and the soul of my ancestor should have created another high elder. All this... It shouldn't be like this." "If your death can return everything to how it was, I would do it... But you need to tell me that dragon's weak point right now. "The top of its head..." The half-draconic abomination swims through the air in blasts of lightning. Its body, enough to swallow the very horizon, sunders yet another floating isle. Its wails are loud as the clamors of a thousand swords clashing. She feels her Core Esse boiling, like a ripe wheat grain about to erupt out of its casing and swell eternally. She sees herself trapped in childhood nightmares again. The ominous planet is swallowing her overhead, and she, but an insect, cannot even struggle. The woman tears off a spread of black silk from the edge of her skirt and covers her eyes. The thunder strikes. She leaps up with her sword towards the draconic abomination. In an illusion that feels half like a dream and half like reality, she feels her flesh has finally transcended its limits and has started to disintegrate. There are restraints binding her like strings, tightly wrapped around her limbs and organs, slicing apart her final shreds of self-consciousness bit by bit. Suddenly, she hears those words: "I will cut down even the stars in the sky." At that moment, she finally grasped the sword she had been seeking all this time. It is a sword that can transcend all restrictions. It is a sword she had been familiar with for years. It is not forged from any ordinary iron, but condensed from a shaft of sharp ice. It glows with a dim light, as if it is a strand of moonlight held in the wielder's hand. A sword, 3 feet and 7 inches in length, and weighs nothing.
From a Vidyadhara Egg:
You hear furious roars coming from the Vidyadhara egg and move your ears closer to hear better. A thunderous sound explodes from the mouth of an abomination, and fills up the Scalegorge Waterscape delve as if a thousand swords had clashed together. Every one of your bones rattle from the deafening sound. The abomination falls to the ground with a loud thud. You try your best to steady yourself before examining the abomination. Its semi-draconic head bears long whiskers and flowing beastly fur. You stare into its mercury-like eyes, sensing a hint of fear within them. You think of running away, but there is nowhere to go. The temperature in the air drops all of a sudden, as a shadow drifts past at a speed so fast that it only leaves behind a misty trail. A woman lands on top of the abominable dragon’s head. Her palms hold a ray of frosty light that she stabs downward. In a split second, you see the black veil covering her eyes falling off. Her lips move slightly, and you can faintly hear her utter the word "Sorry." That is not your imagination, as she is also apologizing to you. The next second, ice waves as sharp as knives start spreading like transient flowers in the air, freezing everything they come into contact with, including you.
At some point during the sedition, Dan Feng's own guard refused to betray Dan Feng and was killed:
You touch the shell of the Vidyadhara egg lightly and experience a heartbreaking sensation. Resistant to your touch, the Vidyadhara in the egg is reluctant to leave his memory behind and refuses to believe that his highly respected master has committed the grave sin of rebellion. Roaring, he holds his sword high and charges at the Cloud Knights again and again. He can see his peers whom he used to trust, and the Preceptors whom he used to respect clearly. Their despicable faces are etched in his mind forever. He does not wish to forget. "We… will never betray Master Dan Feng!" Together with the last remaining high elder guards, he braces himself to face the incoming arrows and darkness.
Dan Feng is arrested again and placed in a higher security prison with pins to suppress his power:
From DH:IL 4:
He dreamed of the Dracocatena Nails being staked into his body, and chains of corallium winding around him to hang him in midair in the Shackling Prison. He dreamed the elders coming and going to interrogate him about the truth of the Arcanum and the whereabouts of the dragon heart. He did not speak. He dreamed of the Judges coming before him to read their decision and wanting to sentence him to death. He did not speak.
After the Judges want to sentence him to death - like, proper death and not the rebirth kind of death - Venti intervenes. From An Appeal from the Vidyadhara:
According to the deal between the Alliance and Caelorum Venti of the Yaoqing, the sinner Dan Feng was to be spared from death and instead suffer the punishment of molting rebirth. After that, according to Vidyadhara customs, Dan Feng should have been regarded as a new being and his sins forgiven.
Jing Yuan brought him the news of his verdict (DH:IL 4):
He dreamed of the white-haired Cloud Knight Lieutenant coming to visit him and bringing him news of the Lieutenant's negotiations. The Vidyadhara did not permit him to die, nor did they permit him to leave. He did not speak.
In Oblation Obtained, Order Ordained, Jing Yuan explains this:
Do you know something? When Dan Feng committed his great crime, the Ten-Lords Commission advocated strongly for him to be destroyed. The Vidyadhara, on the other hand, were split evenly in their favor and disfavor of the motion. Haha, the dragon transmutation inheritance was not intact, after all. The senior Vidyadhara hated you, yet did not dare to kill you. The Vidyadhara were under great pressure. In order to placate the Ten-Lords and Sky-Faring Commissions, they performed an exuviation charm on Dan Feng against his will. Still, they ensured that the charm contained a flaw, thinking that this would fool the Ten-Lords Commission. Hmph, the senior Vidyadhara were sure of their scheme, but you cannot hide fire with paper.
After a few centuries living as Dan Heng in the Shackling Prison, Jing Yuan arranges for him to be freed:
Brighter than the Sun Lightcone:
From birth, all that ever lay before him was but a lightless dungeon. To this darkness, irrelevant sins bound him… irrelevant memories engulfed him. He writhed, gasping for breath with every fiber of his being, attempting to clasp a sliver of light in this fathomless ocean. Until the day the general stepped into the lightless depths of this prison, he beheld a radiance shining brighter than the sun – the gaze of a young man.
The Vidyadhara Preceptors, specifically Preceptor Shaoying, were angry about Jing Yuan arranging for Dan Heng to be exiled rather than kept eternally imprisoned. From An Appeal from the Vidyadhara:
I was alarmed to learn that you had signed an exile order to permanently cast out the sinner Dan Feng from the Luofu. Wherefore do you place the reputation of the Luofu's Vidyadhara with this order, general?
However, the Ten-Lords Commission detained him under the guise of educating the young man, while keeping him prisoner in truth. We have endured this for so long due to the truly astounding nature of his sin. Were he not to suffer for some days within the Shackling Prison, the multitudes of Luofu residents would not be appeased in their anger. However, general, you have arbitrarily terminated his sentence and decided to exile Dan Feng. Was this a consensus reached after a discussion with the Six Charioteers? And was this sent to the marshal to be confirmed? If your action stemmed from your past friendship with Dan Feng, then we regret to inform you that we cannot accept such a sentimental gesture. Us Preceptors will appeal to the Alliance and inform the other four High Elders, and we will seek to have you retract this order.
"The Vidyadhara handed us thousands of letters of appeal during the past few centuries... and this one has the harshest wording. They are running out of patience." — Qingzu "The exile was approved by the Ten-Lords Commission. Since Dan Feng had already been reborn and his sins are to be forgotten, why won't the Preceptors allow him to leave this troubled place...? Interesting."
A few more interesting notes
The preceptor assembly chronicle fragment gives some insight into the mentality of three of the preceptors. It more or less says that without Dan Feng (or a High Elder in general) around they seem to be in agreement about ruling as a council, which it can be assumed they were doing up until the creation of the Bloomborn Scion which I discuss in this post.
There is a Vidyadhara Elegy: Insight on "Six Charioteers Adjudicating the Imbibitor Lunae document that is questionable in it's reliability but gives decent insight into the attitudes of the Dan Feng loyalists at the time. They seem to believe that he was strongly rebelling against the Six Charioteers to a point of begging Lan to destroy the Xianzhou.
Another interesting note is that, so far at least, Jingliu's crime is unknown. She was not marastruck until the was already arrested a year after the sedition. As far as we know, she was still an honored person at the time of slaying the half-draconic abomination. It's not clear what she did but her crime was severe enough to get her name removed from the public record. And considering Dan Feng did NOT get his name removed as far as we know, her crime was most likely very severe especially considering how much she could probably get away with because she was the honored sword champion and hero of the Xianzhou.
We also don't know how Yingxing became 'exiled.' He was definitely tortured by Jingliu leading up to his exile, but Yingxing's name is still honored on the Xianzhou so his crimes were never severe enough to get his name removed from the record. It's unclear how the left the Xianzhou and how he lost his memories. Because he had black hair and was unkillable at the time of still defending Dan Feng in Jingliu 4, it can safely be assumed that the process of becoming immortal did not automatically make him lose his memories.
Dan Feng's crimes did NOT include the crime of involuntary immortalization implying that he did not make anyone immortal who was not already willing. This means he did not make Yingxing immortal against his will and he likely did not attempt to resurrect or convert a dead friend into an immortal race.
Anyways this post is very long and I've probably forgotten something but I'll also most likely make an updated version when we get more information. There are a few very possible variations of this timeline but this is the one that currently makes the most sense to me.
#honkai star rail#dan heng#high cloud quintet#the sedition of imbibitor lunae#jingliu#baiheng#jing yuan#hsr lore#dan feng#yingxing
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Because I legit don’t have anything to post and I love making Kirby AUs,I decided to do the Kirby role swap challenge by @sour-star-galaxy as shown here (though,I may or may not end up just loosely following the guidelines lol)
Anyways,expect me to lots of these roleswap post (especially if the pair are interesting) but today I want to focus on a roleswap between these two


(Yeah,nearly polar opposites to some extent)
So here my take on this swap:
-Hyness just mysteriously appeared one day in Dream Land,while he wasn’t hurting anyone,he was certainly unnerving,rambling about a “god” and his banishment which was confusing to the laidback citizens of Dream Land,it seems he was going to be friendless….until a certain puffball who only arrived to Popstar a few years back walked up to him,at first,Hyness only talked to him because of his possible connection to his “god” but over time,genuinely starts to enjoys Kirby’s company alongside the Animal Friends and even helped them defeat a large group of Dark Matter that invaded Popstar,nowadays,Hyness is content practicing his religion in Dream Land even adopting three elemental children he saved from danger while traveling through different planets!
-In the beginning,his design would be the exact same but after the events of Kirby’s Dream Land 3,his robe changed to be a bit more casual and he is often shown to not wear his veil
-Gooey was the most different out of anyone in his Dark Matter group,with two eyes and a childish personality,he became a outcast,not that he minded as the blob was very friendly,unaware of his group’s bad nature,so he was devastated when his group got wiped out during a invasion in Popstar,only leaving him left,Gooey then found the dead eyeball of Zero and decided to revive him in hopes that he could revive his group as well,it took years and years but he was finally close to resurrecting his leader which involved the Dark energy and matter inside of all beings,Gooey doesn’t know that he is harming people and thinks it’s for the good of his kind,unfortunately,he doesn’t know what abomination he is making during all of this….
-Gooey’s design would be like Dark Matter Blade/Swordsmen with a tongue scarf,he would also hide his silly face with a visor/mask in a attempt to look more menacing
-Also FYI,Zero Two and Zero are not the same being in this AU,Zero Two is just the husk of Zero that some other matter possessed
That is all! Feel free to ideas on how I can expand on these ideas,I would love to hear them!
#kirby#kirby of the stars#kirby au#kirby roleswap#kirby series#kirby nintendo#hyness#gooey kirby#kirby dreamland 3#kirby star allies#three mage sisters#zero kirby#dark matter#dark matter blade#dark matter swordsman
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An overly long analysis on who got turned into ink creatures and who’s just a copy
So like many people I have conflicting feelings about the reveal in Dark Revival that some people in the studio are just recreations of their real world counterparts and are not the actual people. I think it’s safe to say a lot of it reeks of retconning to avoid the implications of all these people going missing and being trapped in the cycle indefinitely. And a weird attempt to redeem Joey.
However, there is still a ton of evidence that some of the people we encounter in the studio are in fact the real deal. Mainly because of the damn books. So let’s go over who’s real and who’s not!
1. Twisted Alice
Thank god for clear fucking storytelling. Without a doubt, Twisted Alice is the real Susie Campbell.
Don’t believe me? Let’s go over the evidence. Thankfully, it’s actually in the game itself, in one audiolog;
"I know how much this part means to ya, Susie. Alice means a lot to me too. Gosh, all of my characters do! In fact, I'll let you in on a little secret. I too really believe my characters are more than just drawings. They're alive. They're part of us. And I want people to know them as well as I do. I want people to be able to shake their hands, spend an afternoon with 'em. Love them. Susie, I'll be straight with you. I'm putting together a small project... a little ceremony if you will. If it works, a lot of dreams will come true. And I want you to be a part of it. ...I want you to bring Alice to life once again. What do ya say?"
And if you still don’t believe me, let’s refer to another one of Joey Drew’s audio logs from the same chapter;
"Listen Tommy, I know you boys over at Gent are doing your best, but I'm paying for living attractions, not weird abominations! Whatever that grinning thing was I saw wandering around your office, you better keep it locked up tight! I realize it was a first attempt but imagine if the press caught sight of it! Might scare off investors! And in response to your previous memo: If you claim that your failures are because these things are soulless, then, damn it, we'll get them a soul! After all, I own thousands of them!"
With both of these audio logs in mind, what else could Joey have been planning but to literally make Susie into Alice Angel? For the cherry on top, Alice also recalls many of Susie’s memories throughout Chapter 3 and even directly refers to herself as Susie.
I also want us to keep these audio logs in mind because these confirm that Joey had to have taken human souls from his employees, even if its not as many as we thought.
2. Tom and Allison Angel
Yes, I’m putting these two together. Their characters are pretty closely tied so if one’s real it’s likely the other is. And unfortunately, that is not the case.
Both Tom and Allison are copies.
This is actually something that can be deduced from the first game. In Joey’s house, we get a corkboard of basically three confirmed survivors. Wally Franks, Thomas Connor, and Allison Connor née Pendle. They all politely rejected Joey’s attempts to “reconnect.” This, sidenote, is also partially why I can’t be too mad at the reveal that some people in the studio aren’t the real deal. It was already set up as a real possibility.
On top of that, the memory of Joey in Dark Revival outright confirms that Allison Angel is just based off the real Allison, and not actually her.
So as disappointing as it may be, these two are fakes.
3. Buddy Boris
If you’re only familiar with the games, you might be surprised by this, but real.
In the book, Dreams Come to Life, we are introduced to the character Daniel “Buddy” Lewik. Now spoilers for the book, but he becomes the perfect Boris. This is outright confirmed. We see it happen, and Buddy tells us outright this is the case.
“Now I'm not really Buddy anymore. I am also Boris. Descending deeper into this world of ageing, yellowing madness.”
Case closed.
This book is also some of the most explicit confirmation that at least some of the studio employees entered the Cycle.
4. Sammy Lawrence
REAL. I will not hear anything else!
Alright, let’s revisit Dreams Come to Life, because aside from providing the origin story for our favorite Boris it also clearly illustrates the transformation of Sammy from stressed music director to unhinged prophet.
In the book, an ink pipe bursts and Sammy gets covered in the gunk. Buddy helps him clean up, however some had already gotten into Sammy’s mouth, and he got addicted to it. From there, Sammy’s behavior gets increasingly strange, and he begins drinking the ink whenever he can. Most tellingly, he begins to worship the Ink Demon. He then disappears, in actuality hiding.
Skipping ahead a bit, Buddy is captured alongside another character named Richie. Enter Sammy, now completely transformed into his Lost One-esque appearance. A visual confirmation that Sammy Lawrence became the prophet.
After this point, things get a bit blurry. Sammy is knocked out when Dot comes to rescue Buddy. However, he is not confirmed as dead- at least for good, and in all likelihood survived and entered the Cycle.
5. The Projectionist
Like Sammy and Buddy, Norman’s fate is mostly confirmed via Dreams Come to Life. Thankfully for my time and sanity, his confirmation is a bit simpler.
Norman’s fate is quite abrupt. By the time Buddy and Dot last see him, he’s already dead. Admittedly, my understanding gets fuzzy from here. Joey confirms that his soul was meant to be used, but that he was infected by the ink so there’s very little soul left to use.
I’m not entirely sure what that’s trying to tell us, but I think it is trying to say that Norman did become the Projectionist. Mainly because Joey says there’s little soul left, not that the soul is unusable. It would also leave a pretty loose thread for the Projectionist’s existence if he is not Norman.
On top of this, the achievement you get if you kill the Projectionist in chapter 3 is “Norman’s Fate.” A pretty strong indicator that the Projectionist is actually Norman.
6. Jack Fain
Jack’s status is actually a little hard to determine. There’s nothing that outright confirms he entered the Cycle and nothing that outright confirms he didn’t.
Personally, I think it would not only be a little random for Joey to make a fake Jack Fain, but a fake Jack Fain that’s a searcher of all things. As such, I’m going to conclude that this is the real Jack Fain, for now.
7. Bertrum Piedmont
Again, there’s little confirming either way, but there is a little more detail to suggest that this is the real Bertrum, so I think I’m also going to go with “real Bertrum until proven otherwise.”
8. Henry Stein
This one hurts, but... Fake. I believe at one point in development, this was the real Henry, but unfortunately Dark Revival pretty explicitly confirms that this Henry is just a copy, and there isn’t enough evidence to pull from the first game that proves that’s a lie beyond nitpicking about throwaway lines.
9. Honorable Mentions
We also have two other characters with undetermined fates. Grant Cohen and Lacie Benton. We know they are dead, but have yet to come across a confirmed encounter with them in the studio. There are also numerous characters in the Dark Revival with little confirmation either way.
Conclusion
So to wrap up.
Real: Twisted Alice, Buddy Boris, Sammy Lawrence, and The Projectionist Fake: Allison Angel, Tom, and Henry Technically Unknown but Presumed Real: Bertrum Piedmont and Jack Fain
In conclusion, these games give me a headache. Bye.
#the tism got me#it wouldn't let me rest until I finished this list#anyway I was referencing most of the book info from summaries online#so if you guys know any info that completely contradicts what I have please contribute#Bendy and the Ink Machine#BATIM#Bendy and the Dark Revival#BATDR#Bendy#I am not tagging all these characters#my post#also I wrote this back when Dark Revival was the most recent game#so I'm running with the assumption that Secrets of the Machine doesn't actually reveal that many secrets
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3 and 6???
Hey, thanks for asking me!
I wasn't expecting any asks but I can go for it. :)
I rambled a lot haha. Curse of Strahd spoilers below.
So, I DM Curse of Strahd for two different groups of players. I'll call them A and B.
3. What did your players do with Doru?
A: My players' characters are very sweet and are trying to help Doru.
They've been taking him along with them and protecting him. They tend to keep him out of conflicts, even though he's still stronger than them by this point. The Warlock (Great Old One) has even been giving Doru vials of his blood to keep him fed.
They recently met Van Richten (who is very against vampires regardless of the context in my game) and managed to persuade him to spare Doru so long as he doesn't harm anyone.
The party heard about the Abbot from Donavich, so their plan is to try and take Doru to him. In my game, there is a "cure" for vampirism, but it involves fully killing the vampire and reviving them as a mortal once more. Since Doru sees himself as an abomination in the eyes of the Morninglord (who hates undead in the lore), he agreed to it.
B: Most of my players' characters are unhinged lmao.
They're also taking Doru with them. The Warlock (Raven Queen) is mostly in charge of him, and she always intimidates him into listening to her. They mostly get him to do silly things, like wear the "maid outfit" in the Death House (Durst Mansion).
But they take good enough care of him lol. The Artificer in the group is very sweet to him, too.
Like my other group, they heard about the Abbot from Donavich. They have a similar plan. However, the Warlock intends to kill him if he endangers them or if the "cure" doesn't work. Her patron, the Raven Queen, doesn't like undead because they defy the natural order of life and death. So if the cure doesn't restore Doru's mortality, she'll just make him dead-dead.
6. Did you make any NPCs more sympathetic than in canon? Or less sympathetic?
I'm using the same lore for both groups so I don't have different answers for this one.
In general, I made the characters more sympathetic. I feel like a lot of the characters are badly written in 5e, they feel too one-dimensional and one-note. Somehow, so many characters are just secretly irredeemably evil. Like, that's their whole thing, and that' s all they get to be.
Even someone like the Abbot who is built up as this light in the oppressive darkness is secretly evil and unreasonable. I expanded his backstory to be more sympathetic and changed his goals. He's still cooking up flesh golems, but for a different reason (in summary: he thinks if he can recreate the night of Sergei's murder and have Strahd see the error of his ways and choose differently, he can lift the curse). He's also actually reasonable in my game lol.
And don't even get me started on Strahd! I could write an essay about him, haha. When it comes to the I, Strahd Novels, he has a lot of depth, and his evil actions are given a lot of sympathetic context. Meanwhile in 5e, he's just this emotionless husk who couldn't be reasoned with to save his life (unlife?). I won't go off here, but suffice it to say, when it comes to Strahd, I'm much more inspired by the I, Strahd Novels.
I made Rahadin much more sympathetic, and not outrageously evil. I removed the whole "Patrina is killed, which leads to Strahd ordering Rahadin to punish the dusk elves, which leads to Rahadin killing all the dusk elf women so they can't have anymore children" thing. It wasn't just to make Rahadin more sympathetic, but also because I just despise how women are treated in this module lol. (I'm even keeping Patrina alive and plan on doing something completely different with her).
I'm making Baba Lysaga more sympathetic by expanding on her backstory and having her motives of love and protection come through. But she operates from the shadows, because she knows deep down Strahd wouldn't accept her and it breaks her heart.
The Vistani as a whole got a revamp. I wanted to characterise them as a people with their own history, culture, and reasons for being in Barovia. Not just a bunch of messed up stereotypes Wizards of the Coasts defined them as.
My one exception is Van Richten, I guess. I'm keeping his backstory as sympathetic as it's described (with what happened to his family). But, given that he's planning a hate crime on the Vistani (who are already handled horribly in the module lol), I really don't see a way to make that sympathetic. When it comes to racism, I wouldn't want to spin it in a sympathetic way, either. I could just remove that from his story, but I feel like this type of story (with Van Richten being more of an antagonist) resonates more with my players.
Thanks for the ask! And thanks for reading.
I love Curse of Strahd so I could go on and on lmao.
#cos#ravenloft#strahd von zarovich#cos au#rahadin#rudolph van richten#the abbot#doru#doru donavich#baba lysaga#vistani#cos questions
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Hello, I would like to make a request if possible. I'm translating through a translator, so I'm sorry if something is not too clear. I hope that the request meets your criteria and does not cross the line. You can change it as you feel more comfortable or completely ignore it. So the essence of the request is that Silver dies in childhood because of Mellius. Perhaps he will find out about the origin of the child or just an accident. But Silver is dead and Lilia is going crazy. Mellius himself is plunged into a sense of guilt. And in their grief, they decide to bring him back to life. Whether it's an attempt to revive it or replace it. It doesn't really matter. Just distraught from the loss, they begin to live in the illusion that Silver is alive. But Silver himself is just an empty shell acting on orders and possibly imitating the behavior of the original. Most of all, I am interested in the reaction of the other characters to this. Sorry, it's a little hard for me to put the whole idea together. I would like to see how they live after the tragedy in complete denial and reassurance that everything is fine, continuing to live as before. But perhaps it breaks down when they try to destroy this illusion. As I wrote earlier, you have every right to ignore my request or change it as you wish. The main thing is that the essence of the idea remains. I also wanted to ask if it is possible to make multiple requests? Of course, taking into account not to spam and not to burden you. Anyway, I'm glad I was able to get this idea out of my head. Thanks for attention.
drabble fic posted here! <3
first, thank you so much for taking the time to share this incredible request, i absolutely LOVED writing it and i hope the spirit of what you wished to see was conveyed!! <3 please don't hesitate to ever jump into my inbox with ideas or twst thoughts that you'd like to share! it may take me some time to get to it, and i'll make it known if it just isn't something i can't get to at this time :)
as far as the direction i went with for your request, i was fully OBSESSED thinking about the mundane, agonizing horror of silver dying by a simple and natural accident— a slip on the wet rocks of the creek in front of their cottage home, losing his grip on a mountainside during a bout of rock-climbing, etc. something so blameless that it would RUIN lilia because it was such an ordinary accident that he couldn't prevent.
i really wanted mal to be the one to bring silver back to life out of a desperate bid to heal lilia's near overblot levels of grief, but also out of this childish way (because he's still a child himself!!) to save lilia's wish to so desperately know if he could love a human— plus of course, mal is obviously fond of silver at this point too and is similarly grief-stricken and absolutely NOT thinking clearly when he tries to resurrect the child.
something that i wanted to be key is that whatever mal brought back, it is NOT silver. silver is permanently dead, and whatever spirit is inhabiting his body is one that mal sees as a complete abomination. lilia, too deep in his grief, latches onto the child regardless even if he has moments of clarity when he can't look at the new 'silver' or be around him for some time. so both mal and lilia know the truth, but nine year old sebek has been pretty much kept in the dark so far with only a few play dates to start seeing a weird behavioral difference in silver and the others.
(but the illusion can't last— this silver can never grow past the age in which the body died, and the spell has to be reapplied after so many weeks or else the corpse starts, well . . . becoming a rotting corpse again. also i'm kind of insane over the idea that the spirit inside silver is malicious and has bewitched lilia into trying to kill himself to reunite with his dead son so that it can take his magic and now mal has to figure out how to undo the awful that he did BUT I MIGHT BE GOING TOO FAR DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE NOW LOL)
#lettie's asks#KISSES UR FOREHEAD#THIS WAS A SUPERB REQUEST#I REALLY ENJOYED WRITING IT HEHEH#lettie writes
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Go about every day as though you have been revived from death... all the world as though you were never meant to see it again. Bathe in the sunlight you thought you'd never get to see. Delight in being an abomination in the eyes of God. Care for your reanimated corpse lest it fails you and you carry on alive but rotting slowly. Love and curse your necromancer. Stare into the gaping dark and moonless night and know, in your bones, that it has tasted you once and will consume you forever the next time it has the chance. Live laugh love ❤️
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