[Author's note 1: If you're seeing this, hello! I'm surprised and pleased that you're here. But also anxious. I have not written any sort of fic or roleplay in a very long time. But today I have come to defeat the "cringe" demon, and others besides. I would love it if you dropped your comments and thoughts. Only if you feel like it, of course. Either way, I hope you like the story! Or at least, I hope you don't hate it.]
Overarching trigger warnings:

Okay so I decided this year I wanted to listen to the warrior cats audio books. I've liked warrior cats for a long time, but it was just amvs and rp when I was younger. I could never find the books at book fairs, and at some point I gave up on actually reading them. So, I've watched theory videos, joke videos, had thoughts about characters, and played a dumb amount of clangen. Now, getting through the books I have some of my own thoughts, which I'm gonna dump here. I don't expect anyone to read this, I didn't expect this to be so long even.

     This is your warning now this is not Spoiler free. the book I'm on was released in 2010 and I... don't really think anyone is concerned about spoilers. This is also not me retelling the books, I'm just rambling. I welcome anyone else's thoughts, and I welcome questions. You're not gonna read these let me ramble.

     I'm currently half way through Omen of Stars (Series 4). Theres about a half hour left of the third book, Night Whispers. Ivypaw and Dovepaw are still apprentices, and might start getting along again. I can only hope. I know I'm lying to myself. Flametail is... drowning. I was so happy to get out of thunderclan for a bit, and they've killed him. 

     Okay, I'm gonna start off with seemingly my most controversial take and the longest/most related to other lingering thoughts. I don't like Leafpool. I don't like her and I think they fumbled with what they wanted from her. Leafpaw was sweet and caring, and a huge worrier. She was always fussing over Squilf (I love Squrrielflight) and honestly, I loved hearing Leafpaws thoughts on other cats. She didn't like Hawkfrost right away, she wasn't fond of Brambleclaw, she loved her friend Sorreltail, and I understand Mothpool deeply because Leafpaw could not shut up about how beautiful Mothwing was. Leafpaw was a good character, I liked her, I like how her and Squrrielpaw balanced each other. I liked their magic emotional connection, Leafpaw biting burdock root so Squrrielpaw could know what herb to use on Tawnypelt's rat bites was such a cool thing to do. It was also a good way to make me, the reader, remember one of the various herbs. I've been, when I remember, putting those in my notes because I adore medicine cats. 
     Back on track, I adored Leafpaw. Leafpool is not the same cat. She's a lot more selfish and short tempered in the early days, and acts childish when Brightheart is helping Cinderpelt with the clan. Brightheart who I will point out is *PROBABLY* her littermate, and Leafpool is constantly in her littermate's business. (First arc problems, they were definitely in the nursery together and have the same mom, but half the litter is apprenticed much earlier. Cinderpaw and Brakenpaw, then Brightpaw and Thornpaw Later. IM COMING BACK TO THEM LATER!) Every time Leafpool said "But I'm a medicine cat!" when Crowfeather flirted with her I wanted to throw my phone into a pond. Maybe I'm cold but they did not make me care about her forbidden romance. And every time she justified it with "Cinderpelt is young, she'll be around for many moons" I knew my favorite girl was on borrowed time. I mean, I knew that already, but I can't explain to you how obvious they make it. I don't really care that her relationship didn't work out. He saved her one time, and I think that was the first time they really talked? And it was a love confession? It didn't make sense. And it ruined her to me at least.
     In power of three, towards the series end when the secret is out, they really tried to make it seem like "Leafpool always loved her kits" but she was mean to them. She didn't give Hollypaw a chance to be a medicine cat apprentice because she seemed to assume Jaypaw HAD to be her apprentice. Like everyone else. I don't know that hollypaw was even given more than a moon. And them trying to be like "Holly's squeamish about injuries but so ready for battle" and "She can't remember herbs easily" was so frustrating. And she wasn't patient with either of her apprentices. She just seemed to expect them to know things (again, I think Hollypaw was only her apprentice for a single moon). Cinderpelt was shown to be patient with her, correct her gently and guide her. She started being impatient after she was fully named, but like... yeah that's seemingly normal for the cats. I'm supposed to think she cared so so deeply about her kits, but honestly the only kit/paw I thought she cared about was cinderpaw2 (Cinderheart, I'm gonna just call her that). She was almost smothering for cinderheart when the apprentice hurt her leg, and I know its a "well she didn't want cinderpelts ghost to do this again" but this was the first time I felt like she actually LIKED any of the other cats in the clan this arc. She's short with people, she's constantly badgering Jaypaw and hiding things from him or yelling at him, and then the book is like "Jayfeather can feel that shes sad" I don't care. Act like it? Please? Leafpool I want to like you. 
     Oh I dont think her and Lionpaw talked in an important way ever.
     I think I'm supposed to pity her and know that she Is Sad because Jayfeather can tell, but they didn't make me agree with him. And her dumb drama ruined how people treated Squilf, who just wanted to help her sister. I'm supposed to be mad at them I think, but I'm.... really not. I'm not mad at Leafpool for having the kits, I'm mad that the writers didn't make me think she cared. I'm not mad Squilf cared for kits for her sister. Honestly, it's implied a few times that she didn't really handle being a fake queen well, I think they could have made her more uncomfortable as an adult with the kits and I'd believe Leafpool cared more. But they didn't really stick with this. 
     I wish theyd let me see warrior leafpool a bit more. She's been a warrior for maybe a year at this point and I wanna know how its going. Jayfeather is pissed she isn't bossing him around and keeps asking what he thinks about helping cats when he is asking her for help. She's acting like her training didn't happen and he's pissed. I agree with him, leafpool stop acting like a mouse.
TLDR: Leafpaw was great, Leafpool did not make me feel like she actually always loved her kits. She should have been a better mentor. 

Also feel like I should say Squilf is Squrrielflight, one of the writers gave her that nickname. It's fun.

     Off of this, I'm gonna talk about leafpool's kits for a second. 
     Lionpaw/Lionblaze is blood thirsty. He dreams of killing, and then when he does kill hes shocked and upset. He trained under Tigerstar and Hawkfrost in the dark forest, and then moons later is so quick to call dark forest trainees mouse brained. Particularly Ivypaw and Tigerheart, lionblaze needs to shut up. He constantly bounces between demanding Dovepaw use her powers to do more (hear more, see more, sense more, spy) and then goes "I hope she's not pushing herself too hard. I hope she doesn't feel like all the clans' issues are in her paws." YOU are making her feel like they are. His romance with Cinderheart has come out of nowhere, but also I like them. For now I like this pair. Im coming back to write he's bitchy about the fact Firestar won't let him go to the mountains 1 time. I want more people to tell him no.
     Hollypaw was my favorite until she got like... too into the warrior code. She was the most well rounded, and the least whiny. And she's not the first cat to be into the warrior code, I think it was even a good idea, but it kind of ruined her personality. Until she killed Ashfur. Hollyleaf after killing Ashfur is such an interesting character. The fact the in the other chapters, those perspective characters already had talked about "I wonder who killed Ashfur" meant that when she didn't think about it I almost didn't notice. She was so focused on finding Sol so he could tell her who her dad was, so uninterested in the murder that had been talked about repeatedly, that it almost makes you forget WHY cats wanted Sol. Hollyleaf you are fascinating, as I'm writing this Jayfeather and Lionblaze just realized she's not dead and hiding in tunnels, can't wait till you come back to die again. Hollypaw was a very caring apprentice who worried about her brothers constantly, Hollyleaf is angry and listens to emo pop.
     Jaypaw was a whiny mean baby and I loved it. He was mean to Brightheart which was uncalled for, and he hated apprentice duties. Hated cleaning ticks, hated fetching moss, talked about how unfair it was he had to do normal apprentice duty before exploring. AND THEN, when he was taken to explore, he complained that he knew everything already (then walked off and almost drowned, was saved by his secret dad). Jaypaw does not come across to me as a "good medicine cat apprentice" because he basically hates everyone and everything. I'm almost positive he even talked about not feeding the elders. BUT, Leafpool picked him and basically wouldn't shut up about it. Because.... why. He remembers herbs from scents? Truly I think only Brightheart even gave him a chance to try being a warrior, but I think he was a shitty apprentice to give her. He needed an experienced mentor, one who would call him on his bs. Leafpool and Jayfeather never seemed to get along, I kind hate them in every scene together. Jayfeathers favorite cat was the stick. Jayfeather is fascinating to me because one chapter he will complain that cats get hurt too often and then complain that no one has needed him today. Also he gardens??? It's smart for a medicine cat, but i love when they make the mean character garden. And it's implied this is a him thing, not a normal clan thing. Good job Jayfeather. One more thing, but I'm gonna spoil this. Nothing graphic but uh... birth warn? Im mostly gonna talk about kits this is me being overly cautious

please send me money i want to buy 2 jars of peanuts for the circus send it to mybank.clam thankyou immediately

A Thread for organizing various clippings of pieces developing and discussing chunks of details on the nature of major worldbuilding elements around the sphere of Knights and associated Witches.

*Pending Approval for Official Text Release by Major Guilds

Additional Editorial: As we dig through archives, feel free to suggest any subjects that feel like a priority

"Congratulations, [NAME IRRELEVANT]! You have been selected for membership in the Necroconsortium Prodigious Inhabitant Internship reward for your scores on the Truelife Reserve Bi-Decade Aptitude Tests! Report to your nearest train station on Standard Day 207, Hour 11, and present this letter and your identification. You and your luggage will be brought directly to Necroconsortium Headquarters via the Personnel and Supply Rail! Please bring no more than two bags, one of which must be carry-on. All luggage will be carefully inspected before and after you arrive at HQ. Failure to arrive at the designated time will result in swift Asset Confiscation of your corpus under Truelife Citizen Regulatory Ordinance 1929."

It had been just as the letter said. A visit to the ticket booth, a quick escort by armed guards, muted horror watching said guards ruin your carefully organized packing, and immediate cramming into a train car with three other people who didn't seem much older than you. There was a moment of silence, as you stowed your carry-on and tried to sit down without nearly touching someone, but it was difficult work. Still, the young woman you're sitting next to seemed unbothered by your presence.

"New intern, huh?" another person asked, this one a catkin across from you who couldn't stop scratching his exposed forearm. Beastkin were rare around these parts, but not so rare that you had to gawk.

"Obviously." the human next to him said, arms crossed behind his head. He seemed dangerous in a way that defied description, cropped brown hair crowning a serious and scarred expression. He may have been almost pretty but for the obvious signs of a consequential zombie encounter.

"Whatcha going for?" the blonde next to you asks, giving you an almost glimmering smile. Too clean, too peppy... you wondered how someone from the Management Class had wound up in your neck of the woods. Still, she seemed nice enough...

The Necroconsortium had a lot of undead, and a lot of ways to create them and keep them in check. There were a lot of roles to "go for", and you wouldn't actually have to make a choice... or have it made for you... for a little while. Still, you had to imagine the Necroconsortium was in some way listening in on the train. You could probably put your finger on the scale if you at least name a specific department...

CHOOSE A DEPARTMENT?
>REANIMATION
>OCCULTISM
>REQUISITION
>CHOOSE LATER

A creature lies asleep in a room.



The creature wakes up.



The creature stretches itself out ready to face another day! What a weird dream she had.



Oh.

Oh this is not what the creature wanted to see. She is not in her home, and this place feels...rancid. What will the creature do?

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Castelia city- a place where decency and integrity go to die; murked by a loan shark for not paying their debt, shot dead in a turf war between street gangs, or simply suffocated by the smoke of the factories. it's definitely not a good place to live- but when the other options are dying suburban towns or the hellhole that is driftveil city; you can't be picky with where you choose to live.

But every story has a protagonist- or at least somebody protagonist adjacent; So let's make one for this drab, violent city.

First, What's their Name, Gender, and Species?

My name is Rugose.

Hopefully, you're reading this in a little informational pamphlet you were given before attending my daytime talk show about how I became the richest and most famous explorer ever following my groundbreaking research into a local anomaly called the Well, but it's just as likely you found this notebook on the ground somewhere right next to my rotting corpse.

Either way, hi! Glad to have an audience.

In case you need catching up on who I am and what I'm doing down here, I'm Rugose. I'm a Tropius, I go by she/her pronouns, I'm 58 but I barely look a day over 40, I like long walks on the beach, yadda yadda yadda. More importantly, I'm a long-standing and hopefully well-respected member of the Unova Exploration Guild. We go where no one else has gone yet and make maps and such so everyone else can do their jobs easier, and stay away from any dangerous places. Glamorous! Except we've pretty much covered the entire continent, so there's not a lot for us to really do anymore. Aside from a few really dangerous places that no one wants to stick their nose in, we've basically seen all there is to see around here, and as a result, our funding has been severely cut and most of our staff has had to find other jobs or go into early retirement. I was offered a pretty generous retirement package myself, given my services, but I'm not really fond of the idea of growing old in a rocking chair watching daytime television. So instead, I'm diving headfirst into one of those aforementioned really dangerous places that no one wants to stick their nose in!

Now that might sound crazy to you, dear reader, but in all honesty, I'm pretty much perfect for the job. I can grow my own berries on my body as long as I have sun, water, and seeds- so with a little time to rest, I can heal pretty much any injury entirely on my own, with hardly any need for medical supplies. I've kept entire expedition parties alive and fed for weeks, even after a particularly accident-prone colleague of mine tripped and dropped all our rations off the side of a cliff. I've packed plenty of water, as well as a reusable bottle with a Suicune™ filter in it, so if I happen to come across a lake while I'm down here, I can refill my supply. I've got a belt lined with pouches full of berry seeds, so I have access to every kind of berry one can think of, and while I'm not one of those fancy professional combat types, I can certainly hold my own in a scuffle! 

The place I'm heading into is called the Well. It's earned a reputation amongst the locals for being extremely dangerous, and for people who enter it generally not leaving it again. There's only vague accounts of what's actually in there- at least, until I'm through with it. At the top of the Well is a 50-foot disc in the middle of the ground with some ancient-looking carvings on it. There's symbols all along the edge in some unknown language, and a depiction of a dragon-looking thing caught in the center of a whirlwind. Or maybe it's causing the whirlwind? Don't ask me, cultural archaeology isn't really my field. I just find the stuff, it's someone else's job to analyze it under a microscope all day long. Anyway, on one edge of the disc is a small staircase- well, small for a Pokemon my size, anyway- leading down into a circular room the same size as and directly beneath the disc itself.

And boy, is it weird! No one's ever seen anything like it. As respectable scientists, we don't like to use the word "magic" very often. But there's really no other explanation for why the room looks and acts the way it does. In every direction- including up- a vast landscape is visible, one that's noticeably different from the actual landscape the disc is placed in. It's a sort of gentle plains, with old-looking cobblestone roads stretching off in various directions towards equally old-looking buildings. No idea what they are or what's in them, though, as the physical space one can actually walk in is still limited to the actual size of the room. The walls and ceiling are faintly visible while allowing a perfect view of the landscape beyond, and almost resemble some kind of crystal in their transparent state. There's a nice breeze coming from either the south or the north- I have no way of knowing since the sun in this room doesn't move and doesn't seem to correspond to the location of the actual sun outside, and I can't tell if it's rising or setting- and the grass beneath my feet is clean and healthy.

There's a staircase directly opposite the one leading to the top of the disc, and that one leads down into another room identical to the previous one, and another staircase on the opposite side of that room. According to the locals, these rooms just keep going down, each stacked on top of the previous one, deeper and deeper underground. Each one supposedly has a different environment inside, too- although I've only properly explored the first room as I write this. No one knows exactly how deep the Well goes, and I intend to be the first to find out- or at least gather a good amount of information about it! Of course, if it were as easy as just walking down a bunch of stairs, someone would have done it already, and this place definitely wouldn't be considered dangerous.

These rooms are inhabited by creatures the locals call "phantoms". Again, a bit whimsical for my taste, but the name seems accurate! These creatures tend to resemble Pokemon, but will attack anyone who approaches them and don't seem to respond to any form of communication. They also don't seem to be alive- at least, not in the traditional sense- as they'll sort of dissipate into a smoky substance when knocked unconscious. They come back when you're not looking, too! If you go down into the room below the disc, beat up the phantoms inside, leave the room, and then come back again, a new phantom will show up. Usually it's a different species of Pokemon than the previous one, but not always. It's unclear whether it's the same handful of phantoms spontaneously regenerating themselves when no one is looking, or a fresh batch that got spawned in, but there's always a new one in there if you leave and come back. They also don't seem to pay any attention to you if you enter a room from the bottom going up- almost as if they want you to leave. Spooky.

The first room had about a dozen Phantoms in it, mostly Flying- and Bug-type Pokemon. I think there was a shiny Shroomish in there, too. Interesting that Phantoms seem to have color variation the same way real Pokemon do. Anyway, all the Phantoms were fairly small, so they all went down pretty easily after a good smack or two. Some of the bites they left on me were pretty painful, though. I've got some leaves covering my wounds, and there's a Sitrus berry ripening on my neck as I write, so I'll be right as rain in a half hour or so.

One pair of Phantoms in particular stood out to me as being a bit different than the others- a Chikorita and a Hoothoot. They seemed more coordinated, and when I'd wounded the Chikorita, the Hoothoot flew in to defend it. Of course, it only took one well-placed backhand to smack that silly bird out of the sky, but the teamwork the two of them had was interesting. I'd initially assumed that these creatures were incapable of understanding speech, but if they're intelligent enough to coordinate their attacks...? Why do they want to keep us out of here so badly? What are they protecting?

Only time, hard work, and a little elbow grease will tell!

~Rugose 

OOC NOTE: THIS IS A NON-INTERACTIVE THREAD. PLEASE KEEP ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO #HD|FORUM TIME IN MATRIX, OR #FORUMS UNDER THE MORBZONE CATEGORY IN DISCORD. THANK YOU!

one of our biggest special interests we are trying to get back to talking about more is the beautiful world of pokemon randomizers. they are potent for bonding with unique, special pokemon, and varying up playthroughs from the usual fare. however- there are a lot of options out there, and we've found that people we know don't really know where to start. thankfully we've been doing this for like, 15 years, so let's break it down.

disclaimer: WE HAVE ONLY PLAYED THROUGH GEN 5 AT LATEST. other randomizers for 3DS onward do exist, but they're not our wheelhouse and we won't be able to answer like, any fucking questions on that unless we do it ourselves eventually. questions are welcome though, as well as sharing your own discussions, tips, comments, questions, etcetera!