Best posts made by TableTopProphet

@SwampCreature

Years back, when i was working thru some grief with the loss of a family member, i created a character who was a purely evil old hag cursed with madness at the end of her life to only do what is purely good. She wasn't "undead", but rather in the death throws: lifeless eyes, mindless convulsions, and could only say 3 words, which becomes her name to those who meet her. Somehow, she won't die, but she doesn't function as the living do. Something like "weekend at bernies" meets "Steven King's IT", but imagine if Female Danny Divito was Pennywise (without clown makeup), and although horrifying, can only act as a force of goodwill.

have fun i already play a wednesday table but i hope you all have a blast!

Foggy-minded from cryo-sleep, you try to picture where the extinguisher is mounted. The flashing lights and buzzing alarms are not helping the hibernation hangover. You have a brief image come to mind of an incident trying to experiment with a new recipe to add some flavor to an ‘impossible beef and mashed potato’ MRE.

“In the commons!” you jut aloud to yourself, noticing the stale cotton taste of years-old morning breath in your mouth. Yes. There it is; mounted above the Med-bay counter on the forward-facing wall of the latrine, starboard side.

It is a few steps away. You turn about-face from the engine room door and shuffle to it. A schematic is pinned next to the extinguisher mount in the med bay showing the exits of the ship. Glancing at it for a second clears the mind fog of hibernation just a bit.

Flashes of memories rush to you. Dr. Mergman assigned to you as co-pilot! Meeting Thames for the prisoner transfer exchange! The uncanny "substance X” that overrode your drone’s protocol directives to collect a classified sample! It's coming back to the front of your mind now!

However, this is no time for a "dear diary" moment just yet.

Wisdom prevails. Your training kicks in. Since you are already here, you prepare to arm yourself with whatever you can until you can make it to the arsenal below deck. You set the extinguisher on the ground, then you shuffle through the med bay first aid cabinet. Then the supply nook. You unzip the pocket in your thermal underwear and add one red flare, two glow sticks, a fist full of gauze, and a pack of wet wipes.

Almost hidden in the back of the nook, you find a Calibrating Access Node opener (CAN opener) with maintenance level clearance. You’ll need this to manually rewire the engine room door open. You grip it firmly in your hand.

Just as you step out of the supply nook, another loud THUD vibrates the hull with such force that the lights go dark and the artificial gravity shuts down, sending you and the extinguisher flying up towards the ceiling. You crack your head against the overhead compartment of the nook and momentum sends you in a backflip.

Gravity kicks back in momentarily... You drop, landing your head on the corner of the med bay bench. Your body falls prone on your back. Your stiff cold bones ache. You look up just in time to see nothing but the red of the extinguisher.

[Fade to black.]

Drops of blood pool like mercury as you slip in and out of consciousness. The flicker of flames from the engine room window cast them in silhouette, as they dance in and out of your blurred vision.

Malkovich:
All passengers please be advised. All passengers please be advised. All passengers please be advised. This is an Emergency Response System. Volatile organic compounds such as CO2, NOx, CO, SOx, and low molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of particulate matter have been detected in dangerously high concentrations in the ship's airflow system. All passengers should remain calm and seek an alternate source of oxygen or filtration until this matter is resolved.

@mianngu

Character Name: Fate Alcaps
Demon Species and/or Sin Choice: Jealousy/Greed
Appearance: Patrick Bateman
Personality Type: Negotiator, Car salesman. Talent manager.
Gender/Pronouns: He/Him
Position/ job/responsibilities: I work in the music industry. I influence crowds to affect the success or failure of our clients and their music careers.
Key Ability* : "Oppression" can change the mood of social situations from good to better, or bad to worse.
Goals: I want to get out of crowd work and into directly working with talent as a record label exec where I belong.
Secret: I fucking hate GenZ artists and their music and their fashion. It's vapid and pointless and has no soul. Any talentless hack can be a creator these days, not like in the Baroque period. Now that's what I call music!

@mianngu

As a DM, I like to pretend things are loosey-goosey and very improvisational when in fact I know the binary outcome that each campaign leg will culminate to.

I do not speak of a railroad, i just mean something must be solved in this chapter, and it's either pass or fail, each providing a best-case or worst-case scenario. Now, how we get there as a table is up to the players. But in simulation theory, fate is inevitably written on the 4th wall, and that is the illusion of choice I maintain with my players, and I think that ability to keep the scope wide enough for the cast to feel a sense of autonomy makes me a pretty good DM. I lead my players to a "Chekhov's gun" situation that I know someone has a spell for, and I act super surprised when they defeat me by simply paying attention to their sheet. They feel good when I act like I've been bested. It's a good tactic that has worked for me. That's my secret Tony, I'm always pretending to be aloof. Please don't tell my friends. lol

As a player, i can't help but see behind the curtain a little bit. And to answer your question, my experience is ruined when I try to think ahead in-character, always trying to be helpful in the suspense of the story by leading the DM where I suspect they are going, only to hit a narrative wall.

"The baddies knew we'd be coming this way... it's been too easy thus far... rogue... be mindful of traps! I will stand guard while you inspect the room"
(looks to DM with a big wink as to say: "hey let the rogue have a moment to shine by finding and disarming a trap with their superior skillsets. They haven't gotten to use their tools all campaign. Give us a lay-up!")

^this moment is crucial for me as a player, because a fun DM would throw us a bone. A fair DM would roll a d100 to improvise the possibility of my words being true, and a clueless DM would tell me i have something in my eye. All of which are fine by me...
...but the worst is when the DM had something planned, a real WOW factor moment that was scripted, and no matter how we anticipate it, or how good we roll, my 26 perception check at the door, the paladin's divine sense, the wizard's detect magic, and the rogue's 31 investigations will not prepare us for the hidden trap and stealth ambush that await us.

That's my first red flag. After strike 3, I usually stop taking notes, try to die, and when i can't die on the chain gang, i just come up with a reason to leave the party and roll a new character that is dum dum the barbarian, and i run into every trap headlong while nursing my beer.

My wife and I call it "Book club" or "Antpile vs magnifying glass." It's that moment where you realize you can't win, but you also can't surrender. Forgive my language but for lack of a better word, it's rapey. The DM doesn't want you to fight, but doesn't want you to go limp either. and for me that's absolute torture as a player.

my warforged didn't know how to swim, but i bravely tied a 50' rope to the ship and jumped overboard to fight the Kraken, announcing to pull me up when the job was done. Warfoged don't need to breathe, so drowning wasn't an issue.

the fight was over, and players started discussing next steps.

I silently crossed my arms and closed my eyes, and blew up my cheeks like i was holding my breath, leaning back in my seat. I stayed there for what felt like 10 minutes of players discussing their plans. 3 days pass in game. I started putting candy wrappers on my face as if seaweed was accumulating.

By the time they noticed I had been very quiet, the barbarian looks over at me and was like... "what is Kaj doing?" Then he goes "OH MY GOD we never pulled him back up!".

And then everyone cheered and clapped and hoisted me in the air singing songs of my glory. okay that last part wasn't real, but we all had a good laugh.

@Ezra
in an octagon cage match? a werewolf. Overall? vampires.

Excluding Ferals of each category, I think werewolves could balance nature by living in rural forests and hunting wild game. I think they are harder to kill in open spaces than vampires, but also more predictable like an animal. Their ravenous hunger would make it harder to conceal the hunt in congested communities, and if you go by "full moon" rules, most with the curse may be able to lock themselves up for the evening. Should they love the thrill of the hunt, they would most likely want to go somewhere they can't be trapped or stabbed by silver, and somewhere less likely to spread the disease and ruin their own hunting grounds. They would most likely focus on outsmarting hunting parties, and covering their mess when they aren't mindless beasts. Keeping a low profile for a werewolf seems safer overall for humans. They leave tracks and marks everywhere they go, making them most likely want to live an isolated existence for survival.

Vampires often need to live in more congested communities to feed without suspicion, and their hedonism makes large cities a prime target to feed on the debaucherous. Vampires can manipulate Thralls to hunt for them during the day. Since virgin blood seems to taste better than hobo blood, this organized crime structure would develop a human trafficking ring, and cultured vampires who live for long periods of time have the patience to develop such an enterprise. They would want a perversely artistic culinary experience after simple murder no longer appeases their taste. This is why vampires are far more dangerous: they are seductive and have aristocratic appeal, luring young onlyfans girls who wish to benefit. They have time to plot and plan and sow and reap, and the full faculties of a manipulative human mind to sit around all day and plot their future networks. A vampire keeping a low profile is far more insidious than that of a werewolf.

I've never shared this openly outside of close friends, but in 2017 my band signed a 2-year contract with a management company out of California after months of negotiations and airplane trips to meet each other, etc. Formed an LLC, got our ducks in a row. after a gig, we signed the contract on the bar of House of Blues parish room in New Orleans. one of the greatest days of my life. all my hard work was yielding fruit and forward progress. We needed to buy a van to travel/save money on longer distance shows, start doing weekend tours down I-10, and build fans from Atlanta to Austin. I found this conversion van in really good shape out of Texarkana. Took out a loan from the bank to go buy it that fateful weekend. Drive up, get in, drive back. That was the goal.

I'm in the middle of the highest high I've felt when it came to a sense of success. the future is now and I'm here to follow my dreams. it's been weeks of tension, fasting, meditation, and determination... I didn't know it then, but I was in a manic spiral of hyper-enthusiasm.

It was a Friday. I wake up extra early to go see the loan officer at the bank and finalize the loan paperwork and processing fees. go to work at 9 am. Then my coworker was called into the conference room at 10 am and they kept him for 2 hours. they NEVER call those types of meetings. Was he getting fired? was he getting a raise? wtf? We always go to lunch together on Fridays. When asked at lunch what the meeting was about, he shrugged and said "They just wanted to assure me my position was good."

"ok... well when will they pull me in to tell me that?"

"Oh... probably after lunch."

"ok cool. should I be concerned?"

"I'm sure they'll talk to you one on one and tell you what's going on"

go to lunch. uncanny feeling. go back to the office. staring at this check from the bank on my desk. thinking about my weekend. one of my bosses was supposed to give me details on a video project I was editing. when asked about it he mumbled something, avoiding eye contact, and shuffled his feet into his office closing the door.

it clicked. oh shit... I'm getting fired.

I walked in... "hey boss, see this check and info packet full of signed paperwork? yeah, well, I just took a big step. Took a loan and gonna buy a van this weekend for the band to start doing some roadshows. pretty cool huh? so uhhh listen... do I need to take this check back to the bank? because if I do, I need to go do it before the bank closes and the processing fees kick in.

my boss just removes his glasses and starts sobbing. like shaking kind of sob. a very VERY awkward wtf moment for me as his subordinate. "we're so sorry, but we've been paying you out of pocket for months now. We're in the red, and we gotta cut you loose." (The other guy had years of seniority on me, even tho i think they like me more. lol)

That manic spiral of hyper-enthusiasm I mentioned earlier? Knowing i would have to go from chasing my dreams, on top of the world, to, in a flash, having to figure out how I'm supposed to make rent and groceries every month.

dude... it was a crash like I've never experienced before or ever since. that season of my life aged me. ruined me in many ways and dug a hole I could not get out of for years. not long after all this, my wife was away on a work trip, and I had a mental black out one night home alone while watching TV and woke up in my underwear of the neighbor's bushes, puking and sobbing and confused but not knowing why i was crying. I cracked like an egg. if it wasn't for my wife getting me some help in that season i dunno what.

That was the best/worst day and season of my life (so far haha).

Permission to Speak Freely, Mr. Graves?

(Graves Gestures a shrug as if the idea of permission to speak is absurd)

Olster:
“I keep my head down and I’s do my part of the job. Iffit'n ain’t my bidness... I‘ont say nuthin’. That’s our agreement, the gods and I. Stables & Tables. Nuthin’ more. Nuthin’ less. I told you that when we signed up for Master Sibi's quest.”

(he musters his courage to speak freely, shifting tone faster than intended.)

“...But I’ll be DAMNED if they ain’t somethin’ funny goin on. And If no one else gone say it, I reckons I will.

(surprised at his own aggression, he doubles down.)

I heard rumors back in Bloomington, that a single Paladin wrangled a werewolf all by himself. ‘He’s either impressive… Or he’s full of shit.’ They words, not mine (he clarifies).

Full moon t’morrow night. Guess we gone find out. Better keep that silver spear close, Mr Graves.”

(Graves looks around cautiously for the Paladin Baelrun, but the glow of Baelrun's scar is nowhere to be seen. Olster gently places his knife under the horse’s jaw, pressing all his weight until there is a wet crunch, then twisting between the cartilage to get under the jaw, then through the neck in a swift well-rehearsed motion. The horse lets out a long final exhale. Its eyes roll back. There is an eerie peace as the wounded beast is laid to rest. Warm red steams on the ground. The sound of panting now replaced with cicada song.)

"Shhhh... Good girl... That'll do.”

(Olster’s Voice cracks)

“MoonShade was my gran-baby's favorite... Been thinkin’ lately... bout my gran-babies. Bet they be getting ready for bed right about now."

(He clears his throat and buries his pain as he stands. His knees pop with each step up.)

Johanna the Huntress:
(impatient)
"Come! We must build altar! We honor 'great spirit'! We remember all we lost. The gods? (She gestures frantically at the carnage strewn about) The gods ANGRY! We must make peace. If not, we die here."

Graves:
(Stoic. Looking for the right words to honor Moonshade and the other horses, Mr. Graves looks down into his folded hands and sees the seahorse tattoo on his thumb.)

“Horses of the land and sea are the most majestic of beasts. I will help build your altar. But first, I’ve gotta handle some business with a certain rat bastard!”

Olster:
(cleaning his knife on his handkerchief. Frustrated)

“It-not-just-him-no. Ya know that right? Forgive me Mr. Graves, if I’m speakin’ outta line, but you wanna pin allll this shit on one person to make it go away. Deep down you know it ain't true.”

(clouds darken the moon. A small campfire is lit, casting ominous shadows across Olster's weathered face.)

“They cut out the Rabbi’s tongue. Eyes too. Did ya know that, Mr. Graves? I spoke to ‘eryone when we made it back to camp. I ask ‘em all what happened. They says he screamed as they drug him into the woods. Screamed for help from ‘ery god he could name, but it was all mumbled, 'cause they done cut his tongue, ya see? The last name tho… the last name he called on they heard clear as day…”

(he mimics a scream dramatically, but only whispers)

‘BAAAAHRAY’ ... then all was quiet... (he gulps at the thought) ... 'cause they slit his throat. They made them beg for their lives Mr. Graves. Did you know that?”

Graves:
“I uh…”

Olster:
(interrupting)
‘course ya didn’t. Ya’ been barking orders ever since you been back. They. MADE. Them. Beg. You understand what I’m sayin’? This ain’t ‘bout bad blood no more! They came for YOU… and they came for HIM! (pointing to the tent where Bahray is already fast asleep.) ...But we weren’t here, so they made these poor people pay!”

(Graves can’t bring himself to look up from the fire)

Olster:
(gaining momentum in his rant)
“Whatever happened back at Almoc’s Tomb changed things in you Mr. Graves. A blind man can see that. Bahray too. Changin’ into the Rabbi like a mimic? ...It was damn disrespectful is what it was! He’s then gonna look at me and demand that I not burn anything at the altar until he finishes his rest?

(Olster quickly removes his blood-soaked riding gloves and reveals his blistered hands.)

(Sarcastically, to Mr. Graves)) Oh, forgive me, Mr. Bahray! Is it Mr. Bahray needs his sleep?! Is it Mr. Bahray needs comfort this night?!”
These are MY friends and MY babies and I done told Master Sibi what I'm goin’ do but he ain’t hearin me! He too obsessed to accept what happened here tonight; Thinks we can all just pack it up and keep moving. Me and Johanna and Miss Cita are gonna honor the gods tonight in the ole ways; The ways we know how!”

Cita Two-Spirit:
(Near catatonic, meanders between the two, oblivious to interrupting their conversation. She has a thousand-yard stare, and speaks indirectly towards the moon.)

"Our elven kind carries the spirits of our ancestors. I see them every time we close our eyes. This is our gift. Yet in this place, we cannot see my sweet Nedd.”

( Still in shock at her husband's corpse in the pile, Cita doesn’t skip a beat and continues to stumble forward into the dark. Olster removes his old hat from his balding head, out of delayed respect for the widowed traiteur, even tho she doesn’t notice or care.)

(The moon comes back out of hiding as if a spell were cast to halt Olster's tongue. The surrealness of it all now casts Olster’s gaze into the fire as well. He has said all he will say, tho he wanted to say more. There is a long somber silence. A single tear falls down Olster’s cheek, probably more for his horses than anyone else who died today. He snivels a moment, clears his throat, then spits phlem into the fire, as if spitting all his emotions out with it. His stone-cold face flickers in the warmth of the light.)

Graves:
(with pondered intent)
“I understand now, Stablemaster. Tonight we do things your way. We take care of our people first. We mourn our loss. THEN, we get to the bottom of this. All of it. It ends tomorrow.”

Shaunty Memaw is a shriveled elderly woman who sleeps on the back porch of a pavilion cafeteria called "Memaw's Kitchen". The cafe is located on the south side of big-town (comparable to new orleans), in a fantasy world setting.

Chef Gus (that's me!) runs the cafe with his staff (that's you!).

Gus:

The cafe, albeit quaint, is by reservation only and is booked for years to come. Some people make it a pilgrimage and travel far and wide just to eat at Memaw's. What makes this hole-in-the-wall mom&pop diner so appealing? Well, Memaw is a traiteur and a medium. Although it may look like she does nothing but sleep, she is hard at work adding a bit of magic to each meal. When a customer places an order, they confess their hopes, dreams, and desires to Memaw, and it's the job of the staff (that's you) to make those dreams a reality, through a multi-course meal that requires special ingredients, concentration, and meditation. It takes a bit of voodoo, and a lot of imagination to create these meals.

You are the kitchen staff that bears the responsibility of creating each dish. You can share responsibilities, or, take on a single dish. It's your job to craft these dreams for the customer. Be careful tho: sometimes you can get lost in your own thoughts while serving dreams to others. Distractions can ruin a dish. As a culinary dream artist, you each have your own style and personal background that flavors your creations. If you aren't careful, you'll go too far into your own dreams, recycle used assets, or take too many creative liberties against the customers' wishes.

Memaw has 3 rules written above the entrance.
No Cussin'
No Fussin'
No Lust'n

Gus runs a tough kitchen, and you'll need a thick skin to make it through the day. Understand that Gus wants happy customers, and you both get paid very well to make that a reality. You are the best of the best in fantasy culinary arts. Gus knows this. You should know this too. Do NOT get in the way of your own greatness as an artist.

Before Gus starts assigning dishes to you, you must first clock in for your shift. Introduce yourself. Remember not everyone in the kitchen has to be a dream designer, you can fill other roles too if you wish:

Character Name:
Fantasy Race:
Appearance:
Personality Type:
Gender/Pronouns:
Kitchen Role/job/responsibilities:
Favorite Hobby:
Major Fear:
Major Flaw:
Life Goals:
Secrets:

---

Guest list and guest conflicts are now available:

"Lily The Dancer" - A shy, introverted woman named Lily who dreams of being a graceful ballerina. In her dream, she is the star of a beautiful ballet performance, dressed in a flowing white tutu and twirling effortlessly across the stage. "The Dancer" - Lily has suffered an injury and can no longer dance. Her dream of being a ballerina is bittersweet, as it reminds her of what she has lost.

"Max The Inventor" - A nerdy, bespectacled man named Max who dreams of creating the world's greatest invention. In his dream, he is in his laboratory surrounded by gadgets and gizmos, tinkering away at a groundbreaking invention that will change the world. "The Inventor" - Max has been laid off from his job and is struggling to make ends meet. His dream of creating a groundbreaking invention is tainted by the stress of his financial situation.

"Jake The Superhero" - A muscular, confident man named Jake who dreams of being a superhero. In his dream, he is flying high above the city, his cape billowing behind him as he saves innocent people from danger. "The Superhero" - Jake has recently lost a loved one and is grieving deeply. His dream of being a superhero is colored by his feelings of loss and sadness.

"Maya The Explorer" - A rugged, adventurous woman named Maya who dreams of exploring new and exotic lands. In her dream, she is trekking through a dense jungle, discovering ancient ruins and exotic animals at every turn. "The Explorer" - Maya has been diagnosed with a chronic illness and is facing limitations on her physical abilities. Her dream of exploring new and exotic lands is tinged with a sense of longing for what she may never be able to experience.

"Alex The Musician" - A talented musician named Alex who dreams of performing on stage in front of a massive crowd. In his dream, he is playing his heart out on his guitar, belting out a beautiful song that moves the entire audience to tears. "The Musician" - Alex has recently gone through a painful breakup and is feeling heartbroken. His dream of performing on stage in front of a massive crowd is complicated by his feelings of loneliness and heartache.

"Sophie The Writer" - A creative, introspective woman named Sophie who dreams of writing the perfect novel. In her dream, she is sitting in a cozy library, surrounded by books, penning the next great American novel. "The Writer" - Sophie has been struggling with writer's block and is feeling creatively drained. Her dream of writing the perfect novel is challenged by the pressure she is putting on herself to be perfect.

"Marco The Chef" - An ambitious, passionate chef named Marco who dreams of creating the ultimate dish. In his dream, he is in his kitchen, creating a complex, multi-layered dish that wows diners and earns him accolades from critics around the world. "The Chef" - Marco has been criticized by a food critic and is feeling insecure about his abilities as a chef. His dream of creating the ultimate dish is colored by his fear of failure.

"Emily The Romantic" - A hopeless romantic named Emily who dreams of finding true love. In her dream, she is walking hand in hand with her soulmate, surrounded by rose petals and twinkling fairy lights. "The Romantic" - Emily has recently been through a messy divorce and is feeling disillusioned about love. Her dream of finding true love is complicated by her feelings of bitterness and betrayal.

@Ezra

one syllable makes it more fun and memorable for the table to say, therefore you'll get more screen time interactions with the table.

Brick
Kaj
Bags
Ugh
Kwen
Keg'n... okay that's two syllables but Keg'n is fun to say. lol.

if you go for complexity then make it REALLY fun. I have a Rastafarian voodoo druid who mainly casts 10-minute ritual spells. I named him "Menemisbrahp Gimmi Temenis" (My name is Brahp give me ten minutes), and of course, his nickname is Brrrrahp"

Brick Lawson is a paladin, his father was a lawman too, and he lives in his father's shadow. so Brick Lawson the name also includes all you need to know about him.

Kwen Cie is an ICE QUEEN sorceress.

"Kaj Juan-O" was a "Jack Model 001" warforged. Once he escaped slavery, he made his own name. By robot logic, he just reversed his slave name to Kaj Juan-O.

Try to add a merchandising catchphrase like a Saturday morning cartoon. My barbarian is very aggressive and socially awkward woman. "My name is Bags McKinzie: Cash grass or ass I bag what I want."

Helldivers!

I'm actually working on a homebrew TTRPG for it. tested it twice with friends. it has kinks and requires a lot of failures before the players get a synergy, but it could be a great board game!

@SwampCreature

I am obsessed with Solid Snake's herculean odyssey, his machismo archetype, and his ability to become the avatar of the audience that plays him. His rise and fall. His naivety to betrayal lends itself so perfectly to an audience coming into the story for the first time.

• His ability to nod the fourth wall that controls his steps without accepting it.
• He follows orders with suspended disbelief in what is real and what are the psychological horrors of the battlefield
• He follows his own ideas with a certain cognitive dissonance to both the plot AND the concept of being inside a PlayStation.
• The way he gets distracted by childish things (as an aside to the equally bored and overwhelmed viewer) whenever something important is revealed in great detail.

He is a perfect vessel for the player... A film will never be able to capture the magic of Snake as a video game character. I could go on.

Also, I love Senua from Hellblade.
I love the concept of being schizophrenic/ mentally ill in ancient religious times. Fighting off shadows in the forest. Finding meaning in random shapes and colors. Stricken by grief of lost loved one. All to the tune of ancient pantheons. Her acting and mocap were amazing. Her performance was incredible and the character as a game concept was peak 2010's.

And the Narrator in Darkest Dungeon. His anguish for his sins. His desire for more. A lot of twists and turns. A memorable performance!

@Ezra
If were talking Michael J Fox as teen wolf, hired as a hitman to take on the mob, then yeah, that's a different story.

We'd need to establish some world lore rules before truly knowing. Like does sunlight burn a vampire or just make their skin sparkly?

@Ezra
well said. I think in gaming culture there is a lot working against the writers. Deadlines, fitting the world around the technology and core gameplay concept. Making the story lucid enough for end game or replayability, target demo age range being too wide, a minefield of stereotypes to avoid offenses, stock holders and corporate suits just wanting what more of what is already proven to work, using world lore to place forced importance on cosmetics thru microtransactions... it's probably not bad writing, just too many hoops for good writers to jump thru.

recently discovered Planet of Lana OST. good stuff.

@Faye
(Excellent! That video of the spice bike made me chuckle.)

Trolls blood is potent and used to create dreams of Strength and Power. Power affects people in different ways. Some people use it for the betterment of themselves and to benefit others they have responsibility for, and some people corrupt under the weight of their own power, flaunting their strength in arrogance above those whom they have responsibility for.

You break through the rockification, which is already softened by the tart Possumbee honey.

selecting the preferred mortar and pestle, you crush the crystalized honey and blood into tiny pebbles, which you strain through the infuser with boiling water poured over it.

After steeping. You take the first sip. it's strong medicine for sure! There is almost an immediate creamy turmeric sensation at first at the front of the tongue, met with the metallic bite of the troll blood in the back of the throat, followed by the tingling zest of the sour honey which creeps up over time until your entire mouth comes alive. The rosemary hints last with a cool feeling on the roof of your mouth that opens the sinuses.

An acquired taste at first, but it quickly grows across the palate, awakening your body stronger than any cup of coffee would. Your Thicc legs start to peddle a bit faster. You hold your head high at the thought of inspiring others. You get lightheaded.

A vision comes to in a split second, though it feels much longer:

:::

you suddenly find yourself transformed into a giant flying monster, soaring above a bustling city. Your massive wings beat powerfully, propelling you through the air with ease. Looking down, you see the city stretching out beneath you like a miniature model, with tiny vehicles and people scurrying about their business.

But amidst the excitement and adrenaline of your newfound power, you notice something strange - a figure below that you recognize as your estranged friend Angela. She looks up at you with tears in her eyes, calling out to you in a desperate voice. "Come back to the sisterhood!" she cries. "We miss you so much, and we need your magic back!"

You try to respond, to tell her that you can't go back, that the goddess is gone. the magic is gone and you don't know how to get her to come back. But as you open your mouth, a deafening roar echoes through the city, drowning out your words. People flee in terror as you swoop down low, searching for Angela amidst the chaos.

Finally, you spot her in a crowded plaza, surrounded by a group of your former sisters. They all transform into Possumbees, and you are their queen bee. They're chanting and waving their hands in a ritualistic motion, calling out for your return. But as you descend towards them, you feel a sudden wave of fear washes over you. What if they're right? What if you could bring back the magic, and restore the sisterhood to its former glory?

In a moment of indecision, you hesitate, hovering in the air above the plaza. Angela looks up at you with a mix of hope and desperation, and you realize that this decision is about more than just magic - it's about friendship, loyalty, and the bonds that hold us together.

As the fever dream fades away, you find yourself left with a sense of longing, and a nagging question - can you truly leave the sisterhood behind in your heart of hearts, or is there part of you that will always belong there? Is letting go the answer, or do you still have questions your ex-goddess owes you answers for before you can truly be at peace?

:::

It is a Troll's blood, after all. A bit aggressive, but perhaps it's just what this staff needs to get their shift started STRONG! But dreams are dreams, and we are not our best, nor our worst dreams... but merely reflections of our subconscious thoughts. (And weird dreams after late-night pizza don't define who we are, or so I hope.)

When you come to your senses once more, Gus has already posted the guest list. You wonder how long you were in trance, but maybe Gus is JUST that fast.

You look over at him across the kitchen. He already has a large mug of your tea. He gives you a wink as he sips, tho his monotone face never changes.

The list is as follows:
:::

"The Dancer" - A shy, introverted woman named Lily who dreams of being a graceful ballerina. In her dream, she is the star of a beautiful ballet performance, dressed in a flowing white tutu and twirling effortlessly across the stage.

"The Inventor" - A nerdy, bespectacled man named Max who dreams of creating the world's greatest invention. In his dream, he is in his laboratory surrounded by gadgets and gizmos, tinkering away at a groundbreaking invention that will change the world.

"The Superhero" - A muscular, confident man named Jake who dreams of being a superhero. In his dream, he is flying high above the city, his cape billowing behind him as he saves innocent people from danger.

"The Explorer" - A rugged, adventurous woman named Maya who dreams of exploring new and exotic lands. In her dream, she is trekking through a dense jungle, discovering ancient ruins and exotic animals at every turn.

"The Musician" - A talented musician named Alex who dreams of performing on stage in front of a massive crowd. In his dream, he is playing his heart out on his guitar, belting out a beautiful song that moves the entire audience to tears.

"The Writer" - A creative, introspective woman named Sophie who dreams of writing the perfect novel. In her dream, she is sitting in a cozy library, surrounded by books, penning the next great American novel.

"The Chef" - An ambitious, passionate chef named Marco who dreams of creating the ultimate dish. In his dream, he is in his kitchen, creating a complex, multi-layered dish that wows diners and earns him accolades from critics around the world.

"The Romantic" - A hopeless romantic named Emily who dreams of finding true love. In her dream, she is walking hand in hand with her soulmate, surrounded by rose petals and twinkling fairy lights.

:::

Overview
Story Title: The Last Bastion: Souls of the Citadel

:::

One of us comes here to die: The Prophet, the World, or I.

• Ladybomb, Destroyer of worlds

:::

:::

"A broken mind
A severed spine
An Ouroboros
Held by twine
In great divorce
Of great divine
All good stories
Do combine
(All in good time)"

• H.C. Anon: Dreamer of dreams

:::

Apocalyptic fantasy "Osmosis Jones" with esoterism, death/rebirth of divinity, and breaking the cycles of the zeitgeist. It mirrors the familiar using fourth-wall "external gazer" nods in a high fantasy setting.

Elevator pitch:
In the past, SOUL MAGIC advanced the OLD WORLD into a utopian age. However, evil creatures threatened to destroy it. THE LAST STAND was a great war that lasted nearly a decade, and the final battle took place at CITADEL PRIME, the last refuge of human-kin.

A man called "THE PROPHET" had foreseen the despair to come and created a device to save those who could reach CITADEL PRIME. The GREAT WEAPONS of the OLD WORLD and the SOUL FORGE of the PROPHET were ignited to protect the survivors from harm at a great cost.

The SOUL FORGE powers a protective barrier that shields CITADEL PRIME's inhabitants from the dangers of the new world. It is every CITIZEN'S responsibility to defend it at all costs, birthing a predatory industry that churns gladiators out to a culture that is obsessed with materialism and celebrity appeal.

To achieve this dream of fame and fortune, wannabe heroes have been chosen by SPONSORS to represent them in a never-ending quest to protect the SOUL FORGE. These heroes train their entire lives for one event: THE GAUNTLET.

By surviving THE GAUNTLET, they earn their fame and title as HARVESTER, but it matters little because once you hear the voice of the LADYBOMB call to you from within the GAUNTLET, all that consumes your thoughts and desires is to return to the GAUNTLET once more.

Details

History:
Summary of key events

• The Old World was a peaceful utopia, thanks to the mastery of soul magic and the use of portals called "Gates".

• gates are commanded by a device called a MacGuffin (you know the ones... the UI... the DM... the iPhone... the thing that helps players understand information: the narrator)

• The kings of many nations used their great weapons of destruction to glass the world over in arcane fire, destroying the world until it was unrecognizable.

• The last great King of Human-Kin, an Orc King, relocated his great weapon to The Last Bastion in the heart of the mountain pass.

• The Prophet had already foreseen this and prepared for the coming refugees, convincing the Orc king to allow other races to take refuge in the region.

• Fort Elder Bay became known as the last bastion of Human-Kin and word went out to survivors of all races.

• The elves fortified the seas along the woodland coastlines to the East, while the Dwarves expanded the fields with massive bunkers and tunnels to the West.

• To the north, the Humans and half-humans took to the mountains, and barbarians and druids roamed the passes.

• In the Underworld, even the subterranean races declared an armistice with surface dwellers as they dealt with their own invasions.

• To the south, Orcs labored to build massive fortress walls with elven wood and dwarven stone, with plans to stretch the walls to Elder Bay, but the Great Walls were never finished due to the insurrection.

• the insurrection is ...Fetching data... one moment, please...
  opening the gates... error
  negotiating parameters...error
  
  Corrupted memory... error
  ... failsafe protocol...
  [rebooting]
  ·wr;Ü ¸½ááÈ׌xi§ÊTYZ
  commence the countdown.
  10
  9
  8
  7
  6
  error...
  [rebooting]
  Vocal authorization required....waiting for handshake...error
  .. manual override... I'm sorry, that information is restricted on your device.

Setting:
Artistically, I often imagine Bexhill in the film "Children of Men" directed by Alfonso Cuarón. I also imagine Treasure Town as depicted in Tekkon Kinkreet directed by Michael Arias.
Grim Apocalyptic Fantasy, with a flair for overcrowded slum city commercialism. Old Technology allows for pirate anarchist radio and government-approved TV broadcasts. Vices and entertainment abound in a city you can't escape. "Fishsticks" (which is code for rat meat) is the only protein available to the masses. Urban Gardening is a must. Trinkets and bobbles are money used to barter. Antiques of the old world are priceless. Privacy is rare, and most law is enforced by street gangs in masks, or company employees delivering vigilante justice after hours. With limited real estate, only the most talented Sponsors and Harvesters hold residence: A capitalist nightmare.

Locations (optional)
The city looks like a brain and functions like one too. (for good reasons)

• The Last Bastion: the original fort at the heart of the city. It houses the Prophet's Tower, which houses the forge of souls, and a restricted library called "the forge master's requiem." It also houses a private lodge by the same name reserved only for GAUNTLET HARVESTERS and their SPONSORS.

• The Aqueducts of Chaos (West): Flooded sewers underground leading to the marshes, westward. They say the Devil lives down there, feeding on the fear of drowned souls.

• The Fallen Keeps (South East): The Orc King's most ambitious project never finished; a labyrinth of half-constructed architecture for what was meant to be a massive fortified canal system. Only ferals and assassins roam there.

• The Planes of Regret (East): Miles of tree stumps Eastward to the coastline. Deforestation has awakened the Mother Tree, and the spirits of nature manifest in rock. and ash, and air.

• The Muckmire Wastelands (South West): When the oceans receded, the coastal shelf drained, leaving only the corpses of countless pilgrims who could not make it to the Citadel in time, buried in shallow mud cracked by the arid sun. Ancient Reptiles, inbred and malnourished, feast on the arachnids that burrow in the dust of what once was.

• Defiled Ancestrial Crypts (North): For a time, the undead served in the fight for Human-kin's survival (a bleak necessity of war). Now, the Necromancers have lost their humanity, and they serve another king from a forgotten age in that terrible silence; that blistering cold full of shadows casting shadows that are darker than darkness itself; Where Iron Golems roam looking for the masters they no longer recognize.

• The Corruption (North): Nicknamed "the hellhole" for it being as close to hell as you can get on earth. These Volcanic underground caverns are where "The Gatekeeper" Ifriti waits for HARVESTERS to attempt their trek to the 13th gate. It does not sleep, nor eat, nor does it carry a finite form. It is neither masculine nor feminine. It cannot be killed. Its only purpose is to stand in your way when the time comes to confront it.

Map (optional)

Characters:
The Prophet: A hermit once known as "dark star", alien in his abyss of a tower, witnessing past present, and future. No one has seen the prophet in years. Many rumors circulate but are only whispered in secret.

The Ladybomb: Most believe she is an idea more than an entity, but those who have finished the GAUNTLET have heard her voice.

Mrs. Wright: Librarian. An elderly woman with dwarfism. Although much older than nature would allow she is still spry and quick-witted. Highest Committee member, and Messenger of the Prophet.

Main and supporting characters (from the past and present)
Sponsors come and go, but brands are forever.

The Black Market Guild Sells illegal and illicit items in Slum District 12 "Throat of the World" (ToTW). The TotW was the name of a Gargantuan Ship that was never completed. Over the decades since the HAPPENING, the ship has been dismantled to build slum shelters in and around the canal where it was constructed. The BMG is the location for the ship's anchor which accesses restricted levels of the Aqueducts of Chaos beneath the city. Although the "Guild" has no master, a Bodega owner named Barry keeps the BMG in order, and hosts a secret underground fighting ring which is conducted by dreams shared between the fighters. Most of the vendors in the BMG deal with different branches of smugglers, or, are outcasts of their own tribe, selling out their secrets to survive.

The Bastion Guard is the main law-keeping element of the Citadel. For generations, it was strictly a family business, but as the years' march on, through the endless parlaying of legal rights activists, other races and half-breeds can now join the ranks. In its prime it was a symbol of protection, but now the Guard is mostly understaffed checkpoints, customs, escort security, and noble house strongarms.

Ascension Springs is a sacred site inside the Bastion. It is a by-product of heroes whose souls were recovered, or preserved by "bloody letters". Collecting bloody letters in the wastelands is how HARVESTERS level up. The springs are a place where heroes can bathe in the silver waters, and commune with great fallen spirits of the past.

!
Originally a Dwarven clan, Aqueduct Engineering (AE) was decimated when the underground fortresses flooded. Now its name is nothing more than a merchandising brand, similar to a teenager buying a Misfits shirt at Spencer's Gifts because it looks cool. Young Dwarves claim the name ironically, and carry a morbid humor about drowning, being wrapped in chains, and the Devil, tho they probably wouldn't want their grandparents catching them paying homage to such dark fantasies.

A Gatekeeper was once a title similar to "blacksmith", tho it may be closer in task to a navigator, or a pilot. Now there is only one Gatekeeper who haunts the outside world with terror and dread, and like all boogeymen, young people will obsess over morbid curiosities. "Gatekeepers Anonymous" at its lowest levels is just working-class 4-chan anons who enjoy trolling the city with false alarms and misinformation. A prankster gang. It's not an organization as much as an idea that can be donned and doffed among those who prescribe to its disenfranchised tabloid tomfoolery. At the highest levels of this hivemind, there may be some genuine sage minds who wish to unlock the lost secrets of Gate functions independent of the PROPHET and government research. Think of "Fight Club" but without fighting, and not as organized. All bark no bite. Meme culture.

Joelle Featherplea was a human diplomat and well-respected by all in the Old World. His story is a beloved legend about human perseverance and comeuppance. It was his great-grandson's idea to form "Featherplea En Memoria", which is a public park and memorial similar to the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Wall. The Featherplea Family runs the park, declares holidays, hosts public events, commemorates the dead, and glorifies the living Champions. The funds that make these events free are covered by the many vices the Featherplea family owns the monopoly on.

inside the last Bastion, the FORGE burns hot with silver fire. A guild of master blacksmiths (mostly Dwarves and some humans), make weapons, armor, tools, and gadgets for the city's champions here. They call themselves Fabled Ironworks LLC. These blacksmiths are among the few who are permitted to live within the inner cloister.

"Forge Internal and External Leadership Division". Some call it a propaganda wing of the Prophet, but those less jaded appreciate FIELD's commitment to encouragement, positivity, and patriotism. Its ultimate function is recruitment, and testing combatants in semi-annual challenge trials to grade "young bloods" who apply for the GAUNTLET.

"The Peace of God is a Number". This cult of adrenaline junkies believes the "rule of 4" (which is that every gauntlet run consists of a team of 4, drafted by a lottery) is utter bullshit. They focus on speed, min-maxing, and trickery to speed-run the gauntlet as solo operators. Tho they are not allowed to solo the gauntlet legally, these masters of evasion can rarely be stopped when a lone wolf rushes the gates.

The story of Duum (a popular name for orcs) tells of a small and weak orc who trained hard to be the best but was still unimpressive by orc standards. He later teamed up with a drow baroness in search of riches. When a young teenager and his friends got lost in an abandoned mine, Duum agreed to rescue them but ended up falling into the pit himself, breaking his back and becoming paralyzed. The Elven baroness, moved by his courage, spent all her personal riches to pay miners to extract his body, and even went into debt to heal him. Duum served in the baroness's secret service, training abandoned orc child soldiers, who went on to conquer and enslave the horde that had abandoned Duum. The moral of the story is that willpower, wisdom, and experience can be stronger than the strongest of hordes, and even a weakling and castaway can be worthy of a noble burial. Those who run this Gym call themselves "The Children of Duum".

A now-defunct business. An over-ambitious start-up that rose to the top of the Zeitgeist, but didn't produce quality heroes for the Gauntlet. It seemed to be a strike of bad luck that none of its champions could survive. The equipment and merchandise were liquidated. Now it's nothing more than a vintage name brand only scavenged and bartered by the poorest of poor.

A noble and stubborn ruling class dwarven family. House Mountainbelly rules the heavily guarded Dwarven District and its well-moderated home owner's association (and where all the best shops for heists take place!).

Holy Order of the Old World : A long-dead secret order of paladins and inquisitors who carried out the insurrection. Few ever mention their names anymore, except in history lessons. Their true history is a lynchpin in the grand scale of it all, but the zeitgeist remembers them vaguely.

Dr. Ho Gwash invented an antifreeze formula safe for consumption which revolutionized fishing traps. It's called "Miasma". The factory transports the Miasma to fish factories all around town. As winters are becoming longer, the value of Miasma increases. Food franchise monopolies with vested interest often try to steal Miasma via train heists using gangs and mercenaries, so Hogwash Chemicals work hand in hand with The Bastion Guard to make sure train deliveries are safe and on time. Some people claim they are being affected by Miasma, but that's just conspiracy wackos who want compensation for their poor choices!

Little is known about the Historic Crypt Keepers Society, but occasionally a champion using the dark forbidden arts of necromancy will survive the gauntlet, and earn their legal right to practice openly.

A franchise of hospitals, and a brand name of medical supplies. The Goodtouch family lineage produces combat healers for the gauntlet.

George Jones once sat on the Prophet's Committee, but his solutions to the pandemic were too unorthodox for traditional thinking. Gracefully stepping down, the aristocrat used his riches to SPONSOR heroes of the gauntlet in his elder years. Recently he passed away, and not peacefully either. He went mad, and his staff did their best to cover his insanity so he could be remembered how the public had always seen him: as a generous and patriotic tycoon. A very private man, the knights of GJF were hoping for an inheritance since he had no children of his own, but his legacy went on to shadow fund his secret agents, laboratories (and its experiments) long after his death.

The citadel's largest fish factory, which traps, cleans and distributes its fish stick products. Fishing is one of the City's most dangerous jobs, and insanity can take your mind down there. The Factory is owned and operated by healers, divers, and engineers who have taken culinary arts to a higher spiritual, physical, and scientific level. If this fish factory fails, many in the city would starve.

They say there is only one way in and out of the city. The Ladybombs know that isn't true. They are smugglers and assassins operating inside and outside the citadel beyond the government's reach. They are the most powerful and feared gang in the citadel, but rarely will anyone deal with them directly. They used coded messages, couriers, and patsy tactics to carry out their business. They only trade smuggled goods to the most reputable gangs, and it's very difficult to get your crew on that list. Tho there are males among the lower ranks, many believe it is ruled by a matriarchal system.

Jonathan Roche is an entrepreneur who runs a chain of Grocers/Restaurants. He is the off-brand soda to the Featherplea Empire, and his stores are located in poorer commonwealth districts compared to his noble competitors. However, his desire to be the next great folk hero of human comeuppance makes his story both an inspiration to the working class and a cautionary tale about how far one would go to be the best.

Political parties come and go as each commonwealth district struggles to find the system of government that works best for them. Mayor Mandalcio has been the bedrock of district 4 for almost 3 decades now. Consistent? yes. Corrupt? also yes.

Birdfolk were once slaves to elves in darker times. Now they live together in relative harmony. The Mallard Clan has chosen to forget the past for the greater good of Human-Kin, but they are still pirates and voyagers at their core. Recently, the first open elf/birdfolk relationship went openly public. The birdfolk lover was a male GAUNTLET champion of the Mallard Clan, and his union with the elf is now a celebrity marriage; a spotlight in which she loves, and he loathes, causing strain on the young marriage. Caged within the city, the mallard clan keeps busy with courier duties and parcel deliveries.

If you know the right people, you can get invited to the wildest rave parties hosted by the Library Rooftop Club. Just be smart, okay? Most people there want to have a good time, but there are always predators who want to exploit or abuse you. And unfortunately, the LRC will take care of their own before they believe an outsider's accusations.

The most luxurious resort this side of the Apocalypse! A respite from the dying world. This massive compound is a vice city. it's an adult amusement park of pleasure owned and operated by the Featherplea Family. The biggest attraction is the dream chambers, where people can go to act out all sorts of fantasies alone or with others. Many Champions use these chambers to train in combat simulation as well. Joelle Featherplea XIV recently took over as patriarch after the mysterious death of his father Joelle XIII who died suddenly in his sleep. "Young Joelle XIV" is the youngest to inherit the family business, and he has a big vision for his own legacy. He is also convinced that someone murdered his father, and is obsessed with finding the killer.

Mutants often transform during puberty, and it's a surprise for everyone. For decades the treatment of these half-breeds was barbaric. RIP Law is an activist group of "lobbyists" committed to Mutant rights. RIP Law was formed about 15 years ago after the curious case of code name "Brimstone". "Brimstone" was a young teenage male who burned down a city block by accident during his transition into a mutant, and the riots for his execution were halted by the Bastion Guard who stood to protect him. The grateful "Brimstone" joined the junior guard, and when he became an adult, he was the first ever mutant to join the Bastion Guard. He went on to be Gauntlet Champion but never returned from the 13th gate.

The Throat of the World slums is not governed as much as it is conquered by respected figures in the community who hold power by reputation alone. That reputation has earned the elderly woman "Beatrice" the title of "Matron Mother" and "Queen of the Slums". They say she knows all and sees all, but she is very hard to find, and she rarely speaks or intervenes. Beatrice is in search of someone she calls "The Avatar of the Ladybomb". Her reasons are her own. Nobody dares challenge or disrespect the Matron Mother.

Thirsty Steed is a Chain of Taverns and venues. Every district has at least one. They all look the same. As the song goes:
It was indeed a thirsty steed
With brittle bones and marrow
Twas left to croak with wagon yoked
And never found its fellow
It walked and walked until it chalked
It's enough to make one think
How you can lead a thirsty steed
But never make it drink

A warrior death cult fixated on body modifications (specifically of the cyborg nature) and understanding every aspect of death (including the most efficient ways to deliver it). They worship at the Altar of Zeitgeist, which is the philosophy that thinks reality can be whatever a large enough group of people believe it is. Many people, hungry for purpose, are coming into this radical religion. Tho it contributes the most fierce champions that the Citadel has seen in decades, it is watched with a careful eye by The Prophet's Committee so as to not become the zeitgeist in pursuit of understanding the zeitgeist.

199.9mf, STFU The Ladybomb Pirate Network.
This is a Pirate radio station that promotes anarchy and rock & roll. They seem to know way more about things than they let on, and talk in an esoteric code, but TPC nor FIELD can never find their station. Music is sound. Sound is vibes. Vibes are Power

Dr. Warthrop is a TPC committee member and a hermit. His study is focused on blood, and its effects on people. He wishes to study vampirism, climate change, and tomes of ancient knowledge to unlock the power of the human genome. He has a vision of a mutant master race, but unlike George Jones, Dr. Warthrop keeps his unorthodoxy under the radar.

A House of Elvish numerologists and astrologers. They've probably solved the pandemic 6 different ways by now and have their escape plans ready, but they'd never fix the world, just so they could watch and study the end times. Similar to freemasonry mysticism, These clock workers have turned mathematical precision into cryptic poetic pantheons, and over time, worship the symbols they've created more than the knowledge it was meant to represent.

The Prophet's Committee is the "board of directors" for the Citadel, and they make decisions based on the Prophet's will. To gain a seat on the committee, you must first survive the GAUNTLET and then submit your realm of expertise to the TCP, and then be voted on by current committee members.

Other Notable Aspects of the World:

Items of significance: MacGuffins, Wild Gates, Bloody Letters, Tomes of War.

Resources:
Souls are captured and stored by MacGuffins. They cannot be shared. Only by killing can Souls be Syphoned. Souls act as a primary resource while Heroes run the GAUNTLET. There is a minimum requirement needed to escape. If the requirements are not met, oftentimes the Harvesters will attack one another in order to take their ally's souls to survive.

Flora and Fauna:
Rats are called Fish, and Fishermen are trappers who brave the Aqueducts below. Other foods are conjured by Culinary Guilds. Most of the city utilizes Urban Farming. Most animals are extinct, and only learned about in artists' renderings of picture books. Most animals are an enigma in the minds of young people who have never seen them, and as such, many gangs wear animal masks with the same curious obsession that we may feel about dinosaurs. However, there have been stories about underground laboratories that are housing exotic animals.

Systems of Government/Magic
Similar to North Korea, where people never speak ill of their government. TPC and Bastion Guard enforce a curfew and restrict travel between districts. Most people are faithful to the prophet, but his lack of personal leadership has left much room for corruption among the government ranks.

Brands are ideologies. Religions and cult fanatics come and go as fast as modern trends do. New heroes rise and fall constantly, and people are always wanting the NEXT idea or philosophy that will save them from this nightmare.

Plot lines:
The Meta Narrative follows the planet as a dying deity. The overarching theme is that the body is decaying, and the brain has not realized it is dead. The Aspects of the world follow the themes of the Seven main Chakras, with the prophet at his lotus tower (Sahasrara) and the dormant LADYBOMB awaiting Kundalini to awaken with the root (Muladhara) and ascend to the throne. I call this "Severed Spine Theory", which goes as far back as nearly any story where the princess is always in another castle. It is an esoteric tale about the dysphoric "feedback" shock of the body and mind separated by sudden death. It is the story we always tell again and again and again, as we process our own mortality and the purpose of our existence.

This is the story we always tell in fantasy, except mine is with a bit of self-aware humor and focuses on an exploration of Zeitgeist, and how it distracts us from enlightenment, even if that enlightenment is the end of all things. We tell these fantasies until we reach the limits of our mind, which defaults to the Lovecraftian abyss and insanity beyond the structure of Spine theory. It's in our DNA, our bones... it is the snake on our back. The Ouroboros is in our game design. It is hidden subconsciously in our stories and our faiths since the beginning of our collective being, encoded for survival. In my world, that code for survival is quite literal, and it stands outside the gates of the walls you've built, waiting to consume you into enlightenment.

Forgive the video below. It was already made for a very small group of people who were already immersed, and it borrows a lot from copyrighted material as homage, even tho my story can stand on its own. skip to 23:48 to learn more! (SPOILERS!)

Youtube Video

I was Inspired by this video to post this topic

Youtube Video

I have been "prophesying" this for some time. lol

but seriously, there will always be games so long as there is money to spend on them, but I believe the next generation of gaming will be sourced to engines instead of IPs.

Ever have a dream game in mind where you mash all your favorite parts of games together into one ultimate?

:::

( I would want to play a Skyrim-like game in the diablo universe that looks like RDR2 with God of War combat, no man's sky exploration, dwarf fortress NPC complexity, and a Metal Gear SideOps minigame management system, fully equipped with a turn-based CRPG meta-game system like Darkest Dungeon.)

:::

I don't think we are that far off from such a thing becoming a reality. Even at the cost of quality, the uncanny valley factor alone would be an entire genre for sparking creativity.

If I were a prophet, I'd say we are already in the humble beginnings of such a defining era, as engines and assets congeal in more of a publisher/engine monopoly. And we will see this technology as commonplace within the decade. The games we will play will no longer be designed per seh, but curated, moderated, and recommended by popularity from a growing market of content creators, with access to the engines IPs (e.g. Nintendo, Unreal, Epic Games, Etc.)

Hopefully, with the help of AI moderation, there will come a day when you pay for an engine (not a game), and tell an AI what you want to play in side that engine's legal franchise.

We see procedural generation in games all the time, such as Minecraft, Valheim, Dwarf Fortress, etc. But I'm talking about genuinely playing a game where you talk back to the machine, and it can respond and react in kind. no more dialogue trees. A living breathing world to explore that dynamically evolves a story with the player at the center of the events.

I'm interested in systems like Menyr, but I'd love to see Menyr with an AI game master that could create compelling and complex stories that dynamically shift with the player's interventions.

No more dialogue trees, but actual conversations between the player and the NPCs. While the majority of the game would be masked as artificial intelligence by merely streamlining systems of play into a handful of genre archetypes, the AI side of the engine would be responsible for curating engine assets and placing them into your custom game, as well as hosting dialogue. This would create a high demand for independent artists to modify their creations, train the algorithms, and publish the AI profiles for those who do not want to design their own games or develop their own AI personalities.

To do this would require such a vast engine library of material designed by independent developers. It won't replace game development entirely, but it may redefine how we approach the industry as a whole, especially in the work-from-home gig economy. There may come a day when AI can develop new games so fast that we become loyal to our preferred publishers and engines, instead of loyal to specific intellectual properties or brands.

Thoughts?

Youtube Video

Some music to read to and set the tone

CONCEPT

This concept is for a linear story set in a fantasy metropolis that draws inspiration from the "naughty dog" style. The story centers around the theme of motherhood transcending class, race, and creed. It portrays the disparities in a caste system, as two women with contrasting lives come together and discover common ground, realizing that their lives aren't as different as they thought. However, the story ends tragically.

Following the tragedy, a group of teenage urchins, along with the players, stumble upon an evil vampire conspiracy that has been lurking in the shadows. While they uncover the conspiracy, they are unsure of what to do, whom to trust, or how to stop it, leading to a cliffhanger ending. Knowing the truth is only half the battle, and the characters must navigate their way through this dangerous situation in the upcoming installments of the story.

THE STORY
The story revolves around Roseline, a privileged celebrity bard Elf noblewoman who falls in love with Cyelle, a gangster human, and elopes with him when she fears her father's wrath upon discovering she is pregnant with their half-elf child. However, things take a dangerous turn when an assassination attempt is made on Roseline during her final concert before leaving the city.

As they try to flee, a frantic chase ensues, and the couple is forced to make a daring escape down an abandoned city well. Roseline is struck by a strange plot dart, and the poison in it causes her baby to develop at an alarming rate.

Trapped at the bottom of the well, Roseline and Cyelle are fighting for their lives. But when Cyelle dies on impact while breaking Roseline's fall, it leaves her devastated with no time to mourn properly.

As if her loss wasn't enough, a "missing person" reward is placed on Roseline's rescue for her supposed "kidnapping." She quickly realizes that something isn't adding up with the timeline, as she's only been missing for a matter of minutes. It becomes clear that a sinister conspiracy is at play.

With no means of escape from the sewers, let alone the city, Roseline is at her wit's end. That is until she's found by a group of unlikely allies: the players who were attempting a money heist at her concert, unfoiled by the assassination attempt.

With nowhere else to turn, Roseline must put her trust in these strangers to help her escape the city.

A gang of scrappy urchin children and teens, calling themselves [gang name], are led by the dark elf anti-heroine Felynne. The gang is in disarray after a recent split over some disagreements, leaving Felynne struggling to maintain control.

As the newest member of the gang, the player(s) is thrown into the midst of this turmoil, adding to the stress of an already strained group dynamic. Felynne's absence during a heist resulted in the arrest of a crew member, and her evasiveness about what happened has caused further tension.

When Roseline is discovered by the gang, she finds herself at their mercy. Despite their lack of respect for authority, she manages to convince them that turning her in for the reward would result in their own arrest or worse. Instead, she offers them a deal: help her get to the docks to flee the city, and she'll reveal the location of the Sanguine Lotus, her prized diamond necklace with mystical properties rumored to bring good fortune and break curses.

But as they set out on this dangerous journey, the gang begins to question Roseline's motives and the true nature of their mission. With enemies lurking around every corner, they must rely on each other to survive and uncover the truth behind Roseline's desperate quest. Will they make it to the docks in time, or will they fall victim to the perils of the city?

Felynne is a dark elf who fled her destiny as a priestess of an evil sorcerer cult that had raised her for a special sacrifice ritual. However, her race makes it difficult for her to be accepted in the city's surface, forcing her to live as a sewer vagabond and fugitive. Although she possesses magical abilities, using them puts her at risk of being discovered by the cult that pursues her relentlessly. When Roseline offers to trade the location of the "Sanguine Lotus" for safe passage, Felynne sees an opportunity to solve all her problems from her dark past. Despite her crew's reluctance, Felynne forges a fragile alliance with Roseline, driven by her newfound motivation.

As they embark on their journey through the slums, sewers, and back roads, the group faces numerous obstacles that test their limits and force them to confront their deepest fears and desires. Along the way, alliances are formed and broken, and the lines between friend and foe become blurred. Secrets are uncovered, revealing the complex motives driving each character's actions. Roseline's past as a privileged noblewoman clashes with Felynne's history as a fugitive and former cult priestess. The other members of the gang also have their own hidden agendas and past traumas that come to light as the journey progresses.

• The Hitman is still chasing them.

Secret Hook:
During the heist, Felynne gets distracted by one of Roseline's songs during her concert and misses her mark in time. Coincidentally, she witnesses the assassin aiming for Cyelle and steps in to stop them. However, Roseline gets hit by a stray bullet during the chaos, and the heist falls apart. Little do they know, the assassin is actually trying to save Roseline with an antidote, but their lack of communication makes it difficult to understand the Hitman's intentions.

• The search for Roseline has turned into a frenzy as "rescue squads" scour the city to claim the cash reward. With everyone out for themselves, trust is in short supply. The reward money is so tempting that it's causing civil unrest, pitting townsfolk against each other and creating a dangerous atmosphere of suspicion and greed.

Secret Hook:
It turns out that Roseline's father had orchestrated the attack on Cyelle to silence the father of her child and make it seem like the child was a result of forced savagery by a stalker. The exorbitant reward money was rigged and meant to be paid to the assassin who would "rescue" Roseline from the staged attack, which was just slush money laundered for accounting purposes. However, the plan went awry and the city is in a frenzy.

• Roseline's poisoned condition worsens, and she goes into labor and bouts of insanity at inopportune moments. Something isn't right about the pregnancy.

Secret Hook:
The poisoned dart intended for Cyelle was not meant to kill him, but rather to turn him into a vampiric thrall for the high elf vampire society's master race. Their plan was not only to eliminate him, but also to enslave him in the afterlife. This shows the sheer hubris of the high-elf vampires.

• The squad finds itself in a complicated web of alliances and loyalties as they navigate through the dangerous underworld. They must rely on the help of unlikely allies such as rival gangs, mob bosses, con artists, seedy criminal enterprises, and humble but unstable poor folk to survive.

Secret Hook:
However, they soon discover that many of these criminal organizations are actually under the control of the vampire society, with secret motives and murky chains of command. Despite this, some opportunistic middlemen seek to gain an advantage and rise to the top, causing chaos and unpredictability. As the squad struggles to stay alive, they learn that Rosie had already given the valuable Sanguine Lotus to a mob boss to pay for her and Cyelle's escape from the city, revealing a hidden layer of her past and the extent of her desperation.

• Rosie confronts the death of her mother in a tomb (which could also be foreshadowed by a series of fever dreams/hallucinations), unraveling the beginning of the vampire conspiracy, and the greater importance of the Sanguine Lotus.

Secret Hook:
Rosie discovers that her father had been dealing with the vampires and that he was paying the assassin not for her safe return, but for the jewel. Her mother's death had kept her out of the loop regarding the "Family business," and her father's grief had driven him to seek the help of vampires with the intent of bringing his wife back from the dead. The Sanguine Lotus had played a key role in his plans, and its true significance becomes clearer to Rosie as she delves deeper into the conspiracy.

• A group of inquisitors, embodying the archetype of federal SWAT and lawmen, are on a mission to uncover something in the sewers. The crew crosses paths with them, leading to a miscommunication and false assumptions that result in some members being detained.

Secret Hook:
In reality, the inquisitors are the only ones fighting against the vampire society and their nefarious plans. But their accusation of Felynne being a spy for the evil cult, and their methods of interrogation, do not make them a likable faction.

• The rescue creates a strong bond between Rosie and Felynne. In saving Felynne from captivity, Rosie misses her ship by sunrise. Before slipping into a fugue state from the poison, she declares that she needs to be taken to the only friend she trusts: Ahbi. Ahbi is a gender-bending doppelganger alchemist who runs a high-class brothel and perfumery.

Secret Hook:
Ahbi's complex and eccentric personality makes it difficult for Felynne to convince Ahbi to help Rosie in her current state, despite Rosie having saved Ahbi's life and secret identity years ago in a heartwarming story. Eventually, Ahbi becomes reluctantly indebted to help the rabid and incoherent Rosie, but doing so comes at the cost of risking Ahbi's true identity as Rosie's birthing pain begins to wake the neighbors and the brothel clients in the early hours of the morning.

• Rosie's labor ends in tragedy with the stillborn birth of her child, but she still gives the baby a name. As the poison takes her, Rosie dies with her child in her arms in the basement of the brothel/perfumery. Unexpectedly, the baby comes to life but is sickly and premature. Rosie returns as a vampire thrall, forcing them to face her in a heartbreaking boss fight that leaves Ahbi's building in flames and a burn scar on Ahbi's face, essentially ruining its ability to blend in. As the building falls, the morning light shines.

• As Rosie's consciousness briefly returns in her dying moments, she implores Felynne to protect the child from her father and whispers the location of the Sanguine Lotus. Felynne and the players escape the burning building only to be confronted by the evil cult from Felynne's past. The cult, drawn to Felynne's magical abilities used throughout the story, senses a divine purpose in the infant and takes the child instead of Felynne as a sign of divine prophecy. Though finally free from her past, a confused and exhausted Felynne is consumed by guilt over her promise to Rosie. She vows to save the child from the cult in a powerful cliffhanger for a sequel.