Disconnected

[velvet narwhal]

maybe even- (insert fancy voice) the revoving door a mechanical marvel tha- (cut to silly robot voice) spinny door go weeeeeeeeeeeeee

[pliant scarab]

ok uuuh,,,, i couldn't resist

also nvm about my twitter, i will probably never use it anyway 😭 😭

also i forgot to post this lmao

poor orchid

[still mulch]

WTF THIS IS SO GOOOD

I'm chewin this art alive man sooo good

[velvet narwhal]

https://tenor.com/view/art-eaten-art-eat-art-eaten-consumed-gif-3964616362436141214

[still mulch]

so much energy and movement in it

[pliant scarab]

bon apetit :3

uuh my internet is sloow

[velvet narwhal]

oof.

[pliant scarab]

hehe thanks, i tried some experimenting there >:D

[still mulch]

ya did GOOD!

[pliant scarab]

tyyyyghkjgjhhgk

[still mulch]

every time someone drops art in here it makes me wanna draw tooo

[pliant scarab]

doit

[still mulch]

wehh

[pliant scarab]

https://tenor.com/view/just-do-it-shia-la-beouf-do-it-gif-4531935

[still mulch]

WEHH

I keep trying to for my own fic but I run out of time or inspiration. rip

I think I need to start a two week chapter schedule or something instead so I have time for other stuff lol

[pliant scarab]

oof

than i hope it goes well, whatever it is :DD

[still mulch]

thank c:

do you have an art blog or somethin

[pliant scarab]

nah, i mostly post in groupchats and discord servers if that's what you mean

[still mulch]

gotcha

[little schooner]

Mirder

Auuug this is great

[little schooner]

Also this

[robust shadow]

There’s so much life in this.

[robust shadow]

Why does Reggie look like Flowey?

[little schooner]

Pretty sure it’s a reference to that undertale thing sr. pelo did

[velvet narwhal]

pacifist one methinks

[little schooner]

https://tenor.com/view/underpants-flowey-gif-16401007695234748406

[robust shadow]

Oh.

[pliant scarab]

thats because of chapter 42 "In this world, it was kill or be killed" so yeah a lil reference

[pliant scarab]

YEESSS

ok my internet is dying so i gonna go to sleep byeeeee

[velvet narwhal]

gn!

[little schooner]

Good night, thanks for the art

[little schooner]

@vapid pivot

[vapid pivot]

OH MY GOD LMAOOOOO

[night birch]

Excellent work there!

All these posts of Renegade have got me thinking about how firearms in Rain World would function. Would it be a traditional firearm, functioning through ballistic projectiles or even kinetic slugs, or be something more exotic like directed energy or even potentially laser weaponry?

[spring berry]

Void fluid grenade launchers
Shoots globs of void fluid
Ascend all of those pesky lizards now!
Buy now!

*this product is illigal in the following regions: [litterally every rw region ever]

[night birch]

Or just a very angry super soaker

[velvet narwhal]

fjgh very angry super soaker

[little schooner]

i think that's called a fire hose

[spring berry]

What if it shoots deadly rain

[little schooner]

yeah fire hose

https://tenor.com/view/hose-fail-splash-gif-10742502

like look at this

[spring berry]

Perfect

[robust shadow]

You got me thinking.

The mass rarefaction cell, isn’t that able to manipulate gravity to some degree?

Fairly sure it can be miniaturized and then manipulated for easier movement.

Perhaps they could arrange a suit with one larger unit utilised for movement and power supply, two or three smaller ones for the express purpose for more finesse over movement.

The excess of power is then transferred to a weapon.

Perhaps something like Renegade’s gun.

I’ll see if I can make something work.

And by work, I mean have some sort of look as to how this would look.

[night birch]

I could see a rail/gauss/coil gun being effective. The only real catch there, is powerful electro-magnets and some way of delivering a very high current, very fast.

[little schooner]

truncated the ao3 tags

[rotund walrus]

Unless they got high-speed switching figured out, a coilgun won't work, a railgun would likely be easier to maintain, maybe even some more advanced plasma-based railgun

[robust shadow]

Mass Rarefaction apparently produces massive amounts of energy at a time.

And if one’s enough to get Moon going, one should be enough for a simple railgun.

[rotund walrus]

Yeah but a basic ass railgun would face the issues of being a railgun

A plasma railgun would be superior

... actually, just use a laser

[robust shadow]

Thought so.

Alternatively, there are more exotic specimen that we can take a look into.

Pebbles’ brain blast.

Sliver’s… I mean, whatever she has for challenge 70.

I mean, the one thing I think’ll be effective is the brain blast.

[rotund walrus]

Not as cool as A Fucking Gun (TM) tho

[robust shadow]

What about an electron beam?

It’s possible to weaponize it.

I mean, look up the Therac-25 incidents.

They are tragic, but that’s besides the point - these are real incidents, with real consequences.

And they prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we can use them offensively, should we want to.

The problem is, I’m not sure how effective it is in short-term offense.

It definitely kills if you shoot a person enough.

And if you wait long enough.

But the potential is there.

[rotund walrus]

Yeah I mean it could kill but I feel like it lacks the stopping power

[robust shadow]

I think we can conclude one thing from this interaction.

“Just use a fucking laser.”

[rotund walrus]

Laser also lacks stopping power

Laser for long range, coil/railgun for close?

[robust shadow]

Whatever Sliver has in Challenge 70 one-shots you.

Alright, it only pushes you back to the wall, but once you’re there, the next shot instantly murders you.

And then there’s the big ascencion circle of doom. One-shots you.

Actually, that’s even better.

Pushing you back would likely bring some stopping power into the mix.

It just doesn’t harm you noticeably, and that dissatisfies me.

Now that I think about it, would an Iterator be able to use some sweeping electron beams to “cleanse” fauna off their can?

It’s an interesting idea - one that may have some merit.

There’s some incredibly massive guesswork that I am doing - but if electron rays are at least somewhat similar in piercing strength to Beta radiation, which they logically should be, as Beta radiation consists of high-energy electrons and positrons, which we shall ignore, and electron beams are essentially beta radiation without the positrons, but science doesn’t always subscribe to my logic - they would be able to pierce skin, but not aluminium.

We are not certain on what Iterator shells consist of, but they should be of some metal, in the worst case scenario the outer shell would be, and thus I shall assume they can stop Beta radiation.

Just don’t beam too much of it, and nothing bad should happen to the Iterator.

[digital pasture]

they're resistant to explosives, right?

[rancid swift]

you people talking about weapons...

[robust shadow]

Yes, why?

[robust shadow]

I mean, I don’t think lead is any more resistant to explosives than aluminium, but one’s better at stopping radiation than the other.

Still, they’re pretty resistant to basically anything we know.

Also, NGI - that one Iterator who claimed that Sliver betrayed the cause. Renegade, a person who once adhered to a cause, but then joined the opposition.

NGI is a conspiracy theorist, except their theories are based on decently solid ground.

Anyway, back onto the “weapons” tangent, Sliver seems to have an array of weapons at her disposal in challenge 70.

I think some of them could be repurposed into firearms.

The knockback to subdue opponents.

Whatever it is she uses on the big light circles to kill.

Actually, lasers on phase 3 can kill, which suggests two “modes”.

[robust shadow]

I have looked into this too far.

Just get a laser gun or whatever, people.

I think the Ancients have perfected the subduing and killing.

[little schooner]

Didn’t expect to wake up to weapon talk lol

But I’m here for it

[rotund walrus]

i feel like the ancients would have stopped waging wars and killing themselves at one point, prolly after the karma system was introduced, y'know

however that is my opinion

[little schooner]

There was probably a global government of some kind

With iterator cans acting like city-states perhaps?

[rancid swift]

[still mulch]

I went with a global government by the time of mass ascension/the Iterators. Wars did happen historically though, like any civilization

But with dwindling populations and being stuck on the iterator’s cans, war wasn’t exactly feasible

[little schooner]

Yeah

I doubt that building an iterator would be feasible if there was a war going on

[still mulch]

It’s barely feasible without one

They took generations to build apparently. Makes sense, such a massive/complicated thing

[rotund walrus]

i wonder how they built pebbles considering the rain from moon

[pliant scarab]

"moon please stop producing clouds"

[night birch]

That, paired with their seeming lack of heavy industry would certainly slow construction. Additionally, has anyone noticed anything resembling a flying machine of types? I haven't noticed anything resembling something of the sorts from my various playthroughs or research.

[still mulch]

A really big tarp

[still mulch]

No. It doesn’t seem the ancients achieved powered flight, though the citizen ID drone does float, and the Iterators are capable of floating things as well. Gravity fields? Maybe not strong enough to support a vehicle

Flight seems the obvious solution to supply chain issues. Simply go above the clouds. But it’s never mentioned, so I don’t believe they had it

[night birch]

Agreed. It would seem to me that they would have likely reached such achievements long ago, but evidently not. The only vehicles that I've noticed in game are just trains.

[still mulch]

It is really strange. They had something called sky-sails (kites, I think) so they understood flight at some level at least

Did they lack the means or the desire?

[night birch]

If they understand gravity manipulation then I'd expect them to do something with it.

[night birch]

Seems desire. Nihilism does that to a man.

[rotund walrus]

maybe that was some method of transport but it was just inferior?

[still mulch]

Moon mentions sky sails in flight during festivals

[night birch]

Moon addresses it as pretty.

[still mulch]

They seem decorative. I imagine Chinese festival kites

[night birch]

Yeah, it seems decorative to me.

[still mulch]

mhm

[robust shadow]

I am nihilistic, yet I believe that furthering science and society is for the better.

I encourage development.

[little schooner]

optimistic nihilism is my mojo

Chapter 45: Memory
The group was drawing close to another major portion of her. Looks to the Moon could always feel the little bits of her within the walls as they walked, but this one was… different. Larger.

She tried to moderate her connection to it, so she wouldn’t fall into a fit like last time. The question was; what was the purpose of this part of her? Her memory was…

…coming back. Of course. Her memory conflux. She had to pause conversing with Spines as she just concentrated on taking things one step at a time. She didn’t want to worry anyone, after all, especially with her friends watching. She was fine. Everything was going to be…

The group entered into a room that she recognized as the roof of her labs. She could tell by the pillars that jutted out from the roof and floor, their connections likely broken during her collapse. However, it seemed that the scavengers had turned this place into a home in her absence. She could see why; it appeared that the rain had yet to penetrate here.

She was just about to marvel at the residence of the scavengers, when she felt something pierce through her mind. She staggered forward, barely managing to catch herself on the wall. It- no, she- was fighting for control of her puppet!

Memories flooded into her limited neurons. So many things that were forgotten, suddenly remembered. It was overwhelming, and it took every bit of effort to stay upright. She felt something grab her arm, but was unable to focus on it.

Her mind was filled with bitter thoughts and memories. Of every sign of Five Pebbles’ mental decline, every moment that had been squandered, every burning second of her deterioration.

“Calm down,” she half-grunted, half-thought. “Please.”

But she knew that was difficult. After all, this part of her had been isolated, with only corrupt memories to keep her company. No wonder she was acting so rashly. She was desperate, longing for any form of escape from the painful memories she was forced to embody.

[little schooner]

“I’m not leaving any time soon. Just please don’t let the bitterness overpower us.”

Staying for a cycle was too short. She promised to find a way to stay longer if she stopped overwhelming her with memories. They could talk later, and the two could experience the festival together, so long as she was calm.

After a long moment, she felt the weight of her memories recede. She was finally able to focus back on the room and the condition of her puppet…

She was shaking. Ruffles had grabbed onto her arm, looking at her with those big, wet eyes. Her friends’ overseers were staring blankly at her. And Spines was signing something to her. It took her a moment to realize what it was saying.

“Are you okay? What was that?”

How could she respond in such a way that the scavenger could understand?

“…I-I’m fine,” she muttered. “It’s just… been a long day, and coming in here… another part of me is here, below us. I think… I think I need a moment.”

Spines thought for a moment, before nodding. ”You don’t have to participate in the festivities if you don’t want to. I know it’s all been a lot.”

“No- no, I can. I might just… watch. There’s a lot I need to process.”

”Alright, then.” Spines shrugged, before turning to the squad of scavengers that had been following them here. ”Well, let’s make preparations then, shall we?”

The scavengers nodded, before getting to work and busying themselves around the room. Some of them entered into pipes, while others helped to move the resting scavengers out of it. Spines then pointed towards what appeared to be the centerpiece of the room; an unimaginably large rain deer skull, hung over what appeared to be a throne.

Ruffles tugged on her arm, prompting her forward. She was led to a nest of white cloth that had been placed near the throne. The slugcat patted it, staring at Moon. After a moment, she got the idea, settling down on the bedding. It was… quite comfortable. She leaned back a bit on the wall, closing her eye.

[little schooner]

“Thanks, Ruffles,” she sighed. She heard them chirp quietly, before they walked away.

She was thankfully left alone for the most part, though she could hear the bustling of preparations around her. So, her mind turned back to the part of her that resided underneath.

It seemed that her counterpart had mellowed out somewhat. What once was a crazed, desperate part of her was now teeming with quiet resignation and regret. She didn’t need to apologize to herself, however. She understood why she had attempted to do what she did. And besides, they needed each other.

So, she went through the data that was left, as disjointed and corrupted as they were. Little bits of her that she didn’t even know to miss, that just so happened to be absent from her neurons. Memories, knowledge, images, highs, lows, all were laid out. She probably could have sat there for cycles, grounded and quietly contemplating.

She felt a tap on her shoulder. She opened her eye, looking up to see Artificer, presenting her with a deep bowl.

"Ah, thank you," she said, grabbing it and nestling it into the fabric. She worked to position her mechanical arm into the meal that she was presented with, but was a bit surprised to see the burly slugcat settle down next to her, holding a bowl of their own.

A question flitted through her mind as she glanced into the bowl. "What is this, anyways?"

Artificer took a sip from their bowl, before placing it in their lap. "Forever soup," they explained. "Add food to same cook for long time. Never let empty, keep cook. Very good."

"I see." She placed the arm into the bowl, being careful not to spill any on the fabric. Her internal pumps began to work through the concoction as she looked around the scene once more.

[little schooner]

The space was definitely more "clean", now. The fabric bedding had been moved somewhere out of sight for the most part, and scavengers had begun to mingle. There was a quiet roar from somewhere, as well, though it took a report of flooding from her memory conflux to realize that the cycle was coming to a close. She did her best to ignore the discomfort, taking a moment to collect herself. The "forever soup" was a helpful distraction, at least.

Artificer watched her carefully, giving wary glances to the room intermittently.

"So…" she said after a moment. "How are you doing?"

"Good and… bad." They sighed, leaning back. "We need careful. Some no like. No sudden speed. Okay?"

Moon paused, humming. "I am aware that some don't trust me, and given your history, it wouldn't surprise me if some still harbored ill will towards you."*

"Yes. So I stay here. Safer. Less conflict."

"I can't complain. I was mostly planning on watching the festivities, anyway. I don't mind if you sit here with me for it."

Artificer nodded, staring back at the crowd quietly. They rasped their fingers on the floor, jaw slightly clenched.

Suddenly, three beats of a drum sounded next to her. She turned, noticing Spines standing on its throne with arms outstretched. Beside it, Ruffles, Spitfire, and Spearmaster stood in a line, and even further back, a spry-looking scavenger was standing near the percussion instrument. Moon gingerly lifted her mechanical arm from the half-empty bowl, shaking it off a bit before moving to get to her feet. Artificer was, thankfully, there to help her up, placing a spear into her hands for support as they took a step back.

"Welcome one, welcome all!" Spines signed, far more lively than usual. "Thank you for coming on such short notice. As many of you have heard, the gracious steward of our land has been revived, thanks to the service of these three honorable slugcats!"

[little schooner]

It gestured towards the slugcats, who mostly stood there quietly.

Moon took a few careful steps forward, glancing out at the crowd. All eyes were on her, she realized… so many eyes. She couldn't stop staring back. She had never seen so many bodies crowded in front of her puppet. The closest comparison would be that of her citizens, during one of many festivals they would host in the early days. They would gather in the streets, dancing and singing and making merry as sky sails blotted out the stars above. Sometimes, she would imagine herself among the crowd or sitting on one of the many roofs, viewing the display in total clarity rather than through the quiet, tinted static of overseers.

But they were long gone, and in their place was this tribe of feral creatures-

Spines placed a necklace of pearls over her head. Alternating blue-and-white, with an orange one at the center. She lifted the orange one off of her chest, rubbing its smooth surface with her thumb. It was a dusty, corrupted active working memory. Likely taken from her chamber before or after her collapse. It was yet another piece of her returned after so long. She squeezed the pearl gently, before letting it fall back down.

Moon lifted her head, standing herself up more on the spear. She no longer had to be a distant bystander. Despite losing so much, she had one thing she could only dream of before; agency.

She glanced at Spines, thinking for a moment. Behind it, she could see that the other slugcats were similarly adorned with pearl necklaces. "...thank you."

Spines' eyes tilted in delight. It turned back to the crowd, speaking to them once again. "Once again, a warm thank you for the service of these three saviors and the continued hospitality of our resident (iterator)! Without further adieu, let the festivities begin!"

[still mulch]

Omfggg it’s like every day you drop chapters. We feast

I love how you have moon interacting with isolated parts of herself

It’s such a weird, alien concept. A part of you becomes separate and thinks on its own…

[little schooner]

its like a whole new take of the ship of theseus

is an individual board as much the ship as the whole?

what about the wheel?

[still mulch]

Ahhh

Iterators are a collection of many systems and organisms… something of a hivemind

[rancid swift]

neat

[still mulch]

I have Thoughts on this that I will be able to elaborate on soon

In the meantime… very good chapter thank you

[rancid swift]

oh that is a cool idea and yeah makes sense

[little schooner]

i have an unquellable desire to get this story out of my head

[night birch]

Feel ya' there. I've got a few stories of my own, and while I can spin a world, I have difficulty stitching the whole thing together.

Also, don't you have finals?

[little schooner]

in a few weeks

but its fineeeeeee

[night birch]

Huh. Mine's this and next week. One class runs a week longer.

[little schooner]

its hard to stay motivated when im considering dropping out

[night birch]

Well, what's the major? I'd go blue collar (trades) if possible.

[little schooner]

environmental engineering

probably wouldnt be too bad to transition to a trade

[night birch]

No idea what that is...

[little schooner]

engineering if its environmental focused

[night birch]

Mine's network engineering & administration. I'm the guy who manages your physical infrastructure for the internet.

[little schooner]

ooh

[night birch]

Software too, but we mostly leave the security end to the cyber security guys.

Find something you both like and are good at. Develope from there.

[little schooner]

never work a day in your life, that's what they say

[night birch]

Exactly. I see too many of my friends going way to far into something like physics or journalism for a living.

We've got too many white collar jobs. Not nearly enough trades.

[little schooner]

ive heard the average age for some blue collar jobs is like 50

which is insane

[night birch]

Yup. We skipped an entire generation.

[little schooner]

yknow that makes snese

given the cultural zeitgeist of "college is best"

[night birch]

I'm just starting up, and my professors are all too happy to have new blood coming in. They're all in their late 40-50s.

Mine is a junior college that's heavily focused on what I need to learn.

Not always, but no mandatory calculus (yet).

[little schooner]

pff

mine's a small tech school that's affordable yet infamously difficult

[night birch]

Fair. Mine is lower end, but the professors love teaching and are more than willing to give miles of extra help to anyone who asks.

Random things, but immensely helpful at this point.

[little schooner]

i bet

it isnt like the people here havent been nice of course

and i've fallen in love with the location ngl

might come back one day, either to finish my college or do something else

[night birch]

Find practical skills where possible. Start a job (if possible) or go independent.

[little schooner]

im quite fortunate to have a safety net in the form of my parents

[night birch]

Likewise. My tuition is low, but 4-year institutions are looking to be 15-55k a semester.

Average is 18k.

[little schooner]

yeah college is expensive >_>

[night birch]

Also, to the school who charged 55k a semester why?!

[little schooner]

did you mean: every school in my home state

(4 year school)

[night birch]

You up north?

[little schooner]

ye new england

but im going to college elsewhere

[night birch]

Ah. I'm near the southern border.

[little schooner]

it's literally less expensive, even if i were to have out of state tuition

[night birch]

Yeesh

[tulip plume]

I’m in the Northeastern side of the unite states.

[night birch]

I bet the weather's nice up there. It's already 80 here. . .

[tulip plume]

It’s great

[robust shadow]

Yet so familiar.

A treatment for epilepsy used to be to sever the pons Varolii.

That breaks the connection between the two halves of the brain.

Guess what? It basically splits your mind in two, as well.

A part of you has now been unchained. It is now in control of its own part of the body.

And it can disagree with you.

[still mulch]

If this isn’t a damn mood

[still mulch]

Gotta do what’s best for you! If you’re already more than half done, though, gentle recommendation to finish out. Having companies filter your resume just because of a lack of degree is a pain I know well…

I’m currently getting my degree because of that very reason sometimes I feel so behind

[still mulch]

This sentence goes hard

[rotund walrus]

Did they just like not think this trough or were they not aware of the effects? Cause I feel like this is doing more evil than good

And also which part do "you" become? Are there two "you"-s now?

[robust shadow]

I think they were simply unaware of the effects.

It may not have been the norm, which I forgot to mention.

But it happened on occasion - and then, you are two.

[rotund walrus]

Scary to think about this ngl

[little schooner]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-brain it is still used today as a last resort for epileptic patients

though i would imagine it is quite different to the experience of being a severed supercomputer

[still mulch]

Oh man. Modern lobotomy

[robust shadow]

There’s this problem I have, too.

Someone gave my Iterator a diagnosis of DID.

Which is bold, but I like bold folk - they let me get things done.

How DID would affect Iterators is likely not the same as how it affects us.

[little schooner]

personally i am not comfortable with touching DID, since i do not know much about it

so i can't say much on the matter lol

ough i just got reminded about that time my friend and i did these weird rp's on roblox high school where his character would shift into different personalities due to having a ton of different souls in the body. i cant remember if i always knew it was an undertale thing or not.

but anyways at one point i was like "i want to do that too!" so i gave my character a second personality or something

i recognize now that he (and to some extent, probably me as well) were likely powerplaying and may have been ruining other people's fun. oh well, the joys of being a middle schooler with a homeschooled friend

[night birch]

Uncertain if homeschooled is an insult here. . .

[little schooner]

not an insult

we went to the same school until he got dragged into homeschooling at 3rd grade

[night birch]

Ah. Learning issues, or just parents choice?

[little schooner]

i cant remember the exact reason tbh

just was homeschooled from 3rd-8th grade

and moved away in 10th (during covid)

[night birch]

Fair 'nough. Mine was learning issues. Right brain learners do not do well in public school...

Such as opinions questions on the star reading test.

My opinion was a 34.

[little schooner]

that's fair, i hope it worked for you

ough the star reading test

[night birch]

My mother's was a ~60.

She couldn't even see what the answers after she took it. She pulled me afterwards and it only got better from there.

My public school was 2 grades behind in most subjects.

[little schooner]

ouch

i suppose i count myself lucky for going to an alright public school

[night birch]

Glad to hear it. My major issue was the learning style, but it also didn't help that the school was incompetent.

[little schooner]

i can say that school prepared me for college, but college doesnt feel like its for me lol

that seems a bit weird but, eh

[night birch]

Fair enough. Try a trade if you have the option too.

[night birch]

Not wierd. I considered it too.

[little schooner]

ye i'll see what i can do over summer break

[night birch]

I'd ask what your aptitudes are, but that might be a pit too personal for a public discord server.

[little schooner]

yeah thats fair

i am considering making a discord for dc'ed where i can put stuff

[night birch]

You've got a template.

[little schooner]

ye you were the one to bring up the option weren't you

[night birch]

Setup so that only trustees and moderators can message in story channels.

Did most of the work for ya'.

[little schooner]

thank you very much

[robust shadow]

Exactly!

I have talked to systems before, but not DID systems, and certainly not in-depth about how they do things.

Systems are fascinating. I want to touch on the subject.

But I don't have experience, and I'm not sure how that'd work.

The problem is that there are systems. They're not something I just made up, although with how surreal the idea of multiple alters are, I would very much have believed that DID was made up by Araki.

Also, please don't read between the lines here.

Quite aware that I can sometimes say things which can be interpreted in a negative light.

If you see them, tell me about it - I don't want to unknowingly repeat negative ideas.

[little schooner]

the server has been made, and some setup has been done, but it is not yet ready for public use

i actually dont know if ive shared this art of shore yet

sleebjy lil gal

[rancid swift]

wait what?

and yes cute little drawing

[little schooner]

did you mean to message about the server?

[rancid swift]

there is a server for this now???

[little schooner]

not one you can join at the moment

but it is being set up

[rancid swift]

oh cool! good luck with it
things will still update here right? I'm probably not going to join it unless there is a fanart area that I might drop something into every now and then

[little schooner]

ye i will

tis what i have been doing for ao3 and whatnot

[rancid swift]

ok

[wild quartz]

Shore?

Sure, Shore's a nice name.

[still mulch]

BABY

[wild quartz]

Speaking of scavengers, how has my little ruffian made up with them?

That, I do not understand.

[still mulch]

Yeah definitely surprising that so much bad blood was overcome

Then again, baby. Ruffy’s greatest weakness

[little schooner]

Shore could solve world peace <3

(Lighthearted)

[empty kayak]

Cute!

[little schooner]

Chapter 46: Truce
Gourmand's heart stopped upon hearing the word "Renegade". There were legends of the biomechanical beast roaming the expanse, dominating anyone who would disrupt her enigmatic path. She wasn't known to be a bloodthirsty beast, merely a vengeful one, hardened by an existence that stretched out for generations. She didn't appear often, but when she did, by the clouds above you should hope that she is on your side.

And right now, they had the sneaking suspicion that she was not on their side. Their eyes darted around, noticing Librarian glancing up from rummaging through her belongings. Gourmand made a motion for them to cut it out, and the gray slugcat quickly obliged, putting their hands up and stepping away. Gardener wore a worried look, glancing between the one-way conversation with widened eyes.

Renegade interrupted their thoughts, however. "What of your names, intelligent ones?"

Gourmand raised an eyebrow at that, but complied with the request shortly after the others did. "Gourmand," they signed.

"Alright. Why did you bring me here, instead of finishing me off or leaving me for something else to pick off?"

"I… had never seen someone like you outside of your chambers." Gourmand responded honestly. "And nobody has survived one of those fire eggs at point-blank."

Renegade gave a dry laugh. "So the logical course of action was to bring me, a proven, resistant threat, to what I can only presume is the heart of your colony?"

"I wanted to ask you questions. And get you to apologize to those you hurt."

"You think I will follow your whims after these transgressions?" she scoffed, though her demeanor didn't share that same air of confidence. "Trust that, even now, I will not be kept here."

Gourmand shrugged. "Alright, I can respect that."

Renegade squinted at them incredulously. "...what do you mean."

[little schooner]

"So long as you don't hurt any more of my people, I will not resist you leaving. I know better than to mess with the affairs of the god-machines." Their memory went back to Spearmaster, that little god-made messenger that they had transgressed once before, and the intensified rains that resulted. They did not want a repeat of that, especially not after they had to flee their generational home.

"But you want me to stay."

"That would be nice, yes."

"I don't do 'nice', in case you can't tell."

"But you do care about someone, right? Otherwise you wouldn't have stopped at all." At her stunned silence, they continued. "I did see that image of Looks to the Moon. You should know that her structure has-"

"Collapsed. Yes. I am aware." She rubbed her face with her hand, seeming to glare right through them. "But she's alive, and talking. At first I wasn't sure how, since most are unable to broadcast after something like this. But now I understand the true nature of her situation."

She pushed herself up, towering over the other slugcats. Gardener chirped nervously.

Renegade gave the unmarked slugcat an unreadable look, before coolly walking towards her belongings. "I have no further need to explain anything to you. It is unlikely that you will be able to help, anyways. But I will grant you mercy this once, if only because your colony was acting out of naivete and desperation, rather than malice. Do not test my patience."

Gourmand watched as the god-machine began to place her many floaters into the bag, one by one. Librarian tilted their head, nervously analyzing the tools and pearls that were splayed out on the floor from afar.

After a long moment, a question plopped itself into Gourmand's mind, one they couldn't resist but ask. "I, uh… what do you plan on doing now?"

Renegade squinted at them as they signed. She finished putting the white floaters into the bag before placing a few pearls on top of them. "Leaving. That is all you need to know."

[little schooner]

"Are you going to Moon?"

Silence. Renegade continued packing her things.

"If so, I can help! I know the grounds like the back of my hand!"

"Why are you- stop*,”* she hissed, spinning around with her tail pointed at Gourmand. However, her stance faltered for a moment, wincing at the sudden movement. She took a moment to collect herself, a moment that Gourmand could have exploited if they wanted to. ”This- I told you not to test my- this is none of your business.”

Gourmand took a step back, tilting their head. “I was just… I assumed. If you were to be going to her, I… had something that needs to be done there as well. Two unfortunate adolescents, siblings, were lost there before our migration. I needed to take care of the rest of the colony, but… I believe things here are stable enough at this point that I have been thinking of making the journey back to find them.”

Renegade narrowed her eyes, before lowering her offensive stance. ”I don’t see why I need to be involved, rotund one. You seem perfectly capable of surviving on your own, and I have no interest in your affairs. As you should mine*.”*

“But are you-“

“Shush.” She returned to her belongings. ”There’s a mantra you should know. Curiosity killed the slugcat.”

Librarian glanced at her. “That… isn’t the whole mantra, though. Curiosity killed the slugcat, but satisfaction brought them back.”

”Who told you that?”

“No Significant Harassment.”

”Of course. Sounds like something he’d tell one of your kind, perhaps to make you feel better about invading our space.”

She finished replacing everything into her bag, slinging it over her shoulder. She pulled out some wires, attaching them to the object she had holstered onto her belt. The weapon from before, Gourmand realized with a tinge of nervousness licking at the back of their mind. Were the two parties really going to walk away from this without any more conflict? They glanced at Librarian. It would certainly be a story for them to tell…

[little schooner]

”I will need to go back up the spire. There is some stuff that has been left up there. But after that, I will have to take my leave.”

Gourmand furrowed their brow. "You don't have to leave if you don't want to. Besides, you probably shouldn't be traveling with those injuries."

"Why must you keep pestering me…" she muttered, though she seemed more exasperated than anything. "I am okay*. I've traveled with worse. And I have already made up my mind."*

"I should probably at least escort you up there. I would rather not have conflict pop up while you leave."

Renegade glared at them, before sighing. *"*Fine. Don't get in my way."

She adjusted the strap of her bag, before exiting out of the shelter. Gourmand followed close behind, nodding at the slugcats who had been guarding the exit. They lowered their weapons, though they incredulously eyed the god-machine.

Gourmand wondered what they should say to the rest of the colony. Surely they wouldn't be too pleased to know who exactly they were hosting, though there were probably already suspicions, shared between turned backs. They had to keep calm and keep everyone calm. Perhaps when they planned to leave, they could tell them the truth. But until then…

…Renegade seemed to be keeping pace with them, eyeing the slugcats that they wandered by. As much as she put on an air of confidence, it seemed like she wasn't one to press her luck.

Eventually, the two were once again making their way up the spire. It was growing dark, but that didn't seem to bother Renegade at all. She was starting to run ahead, leaving Gourmand to follow after. Sometimes, she would look back at them, giving them an unreadable look with her ebony eyes.

It was during one of these checks that she suddenly reached for her weapon. Gourmand's eyes went wide, and they dove out of the way before she could fire on them.

[little schooner]

Had she planned to do this, once they were away from the colony? No, they had insisted they come. Then… what inspired the betrayal? Had they gone too far?

They were at a major disadvantage, with no way to see in the dark. They had to think, fast. Surely they had something in their gut that could be used here.

They reached into their stomach pouch, pulling out the bomb they had stored. It glowed lightly with the fire power that was placed within. It would be useful, if they could actually see what they were aiming at. So, they put it to the side, and were about to pull stuff from their mysterious stores…

Two laser sights appeared in front of them, seeming to be directed at a cowering blob. They scanned the skies, but all they could see was the glow of the lasers illuminating two thick harpoons.

They fell deathly silent, covering their mouth with one hand and taking the bomb into their other. It didn't seem like it had noticed them yet, focused instead on the other creature. Perhaps if they threw the bomb as the vulture got level, they could… no, that might just anger it. But the creature would surely get skewered if it stayed where it was.

They could hear the vulture charge up its shot, the laser sight flickering and powering up. However, instead of the sound of the harpoon being launched, Gourmand heard a familiar crackling and saw a blast of blue electricity course through the air. It struck its target true, and the king vulture fell to the side, landing in a heap on the platform they were on. Even here, Gourmand could smell the ozone and burning flesh from the attack.

[little schooner]

After a moment, Gourmand got to their feet, pushing themself off the wall they used for cover from the assumed attack of Renegade. They ran as fast as they could down to the creature that had just been saved…

…and was horrified to find a young, lavender Stargazer, looking back up at them with big, wet eyes.

"I'msorryI'msorryI'msorry," they signed sloppily, shaking.

"No, no," Gourmand comforted, bringing them up into an embrace. "It's okay, you're okay, the king vulture is dead now…"

They glanced back towards where Renegade was, but she was already gone… or otherwise not visible.

Gourmand sighed, stuffing the bomb back into their stomach pouch and reaching down to pry the vulture's mask from its body.

"Come on," Gourmand continued, placing them onto their shoulders. They'd have to come back for Renegade in the morning, if she was still up there. The night was no place for a young slugcat like Stargazer. They'd just have to trust Renegade not to do anything else rash in the meantime.

"Let's get you back home."

Credits:
Librarian by @tulip plume on Raincord
Gardener by @pliant scarab on Raincord
Stargazer by @rancid swift on Raincord

Once again thank you for your characters

[rancid swift]

nice chapter!

silly slugcats!

[velvet narwhal]

iamgoingtoassumeeternalwaskrilledofscreen

[still mulch]

||stargazer signing sorry over and over… my heart poor baby nooo||

[little schooner]

shrodinger's cat, that one

[night birch]

Same with Sweetgum.

I would assume both missing scugs to be KIA. Sweetgum from getting absolutely blasted, and Eternal from blood loss and injuries.

[velvet narwhal]

did you forget that eternal has a free hit and then they just die when they get stunned again

[night birch]

That's a bit hard to write into the story I'd assume.

Also, how would blood loss work for that? Just occurred to me.

[velvet narwhal]

essentailly anything that happens in the second that eternal is hit is nullified, that includes the hit that broke the shield

but the shield is still broken so

one hit, heccin dead

[night birch]

He might still be up.

If the first hit was nullified, they might have pulled through.

[spring berry]

extreeemely late for this chapter, but nevertheless, epic1!!1!1

[rancid swift]

[neon kestrel]

Caught up after kinda collecting a backlog for a bit

Very cool!!!!

We love the plural vibes of moon's splintered selves

What would have been a whole is split apart, alone and afraid

It's like the inverse of plurality

[rancid swift]

yeah it is pretty cool!

[velvet narwhal]

yeah, kinda like the split brain thing but less like that

gn

[neon kestrel]

as a plural system we appreciate it a lot

even though it's not explicitly plurality it still has those vibes and we love the vibes™️

[rancid swift]

[little schooner]

oh, thank you! i'm glad you enjoy it

[neon kestrel]

[pliant scarab]

i woke up

[little schooner]

Blamo

Good cooking

Very nice

[pliant scarab]

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/919307021562568705/1094969620349329418/D5778B89-9053-4E4B-BC4F-C040A39D4E9F.gif

oop

gif fail

one sec

[little schooner]

Lmao

[robust shadow]

And arted.

[pliant scarab]

i somehow managed to squeeze the whole drawing in 17 layers

[robust shadow]

Do we have a fixed answer as to what the weapons of Iterators could be?

[pliant scarab]

thats a great question

[robust shadow]

If lasers fail after a certain point, then there may need to be less conventional weapons.

[pliant scarab]

true

ok i will be back in a few hours

[robust shadow]

If I ever need ideas, I have some.

First, a little gravity gun - more of a tool than a weapon.

Downscaled MRC.

Not much of a weapon, just movement tech.

However, this one has had some modifications done to it.

It has a unique system where it’s able to concentrate gravity around a single point.

Results in a temporary collapse of matter into a singularity, which then fails and eradicates itself.

Basically, crush your opponents into a single point via portable black hole.

Second idea - immediately more of a weapon than the last.

[robust shadow]

Actually, this is the first idea.

[robust shadow]

This the second.

[robust shadow]

And the third is karmic manipulation.

Void Fluid, or at least, some forms of it, seem to be directly able to manipulate Karmic status.

Moon talks about karma flowers as something that may or may not contain Void Fluid.

Oh, ignore what I said!

It isn’t relevant at all.

It appears that Iterators have methods of altering someone’s karma.

Perhaps this can be used maliciously to forcibly echo something?

Karma flowers are able to make things temporarily let go of desire.

Perhaps this could be offensively utilized to stun an opponent.

Here’s the thing, though.

Firebug ‘eggs’ are stated to contain Void Fluid.

And one can craft them by combining a bomb and a karma flower.

All evidence points to karma flowers being at least partially Void Fluid.

So, karma flowers are actually relevant!

Two uses.

As a possible base for stunning an opponent.

And as evidence that Void Fluid is likely being actively utilized to alter Karmic status.

[night birch]

No, but it's looking like directed energy.

[robust shadow]

This is slightly odd, though.

When creatures die, they leave behind karma flowers if they’ve either consumed one in the past cycle, or when they’re Monk.

[empty kayak]

Monk is karmacally aligned with the world

More than any other slugcat

Other than saint maybe?

[robust shadow]

This implies that Gourmand is either non-canon, or that Void Fluid isn’t just a substance.

[night birch]

Gourm already bends the rules a fair bit.

[empty kayak]

I headcanon gourmand to be an overly exaggerated story told by slugpups

[night birch]

Likewise. Making bats out of grass is a bit... much.

[robust shadow]

Which breaks the entire basis of my theory that karma flowers have void fluid, which is how they manipulate one’s Karmic status.

And I don’t want to be touching this beast right now, so truss of trust it is.

[empty kayak]

This is a hallucinogenic plant. They used to call it a 'Wheel Flower'. It became the symbol for enlightenment as it momentarily enables a creature to let go if its carnal self, and to contact the selves of other planes - dreams, memories, imagined worlds.

Very long ago, they would eat these and stare into the fire.

If they contained void fluid moon would surely mention it?

[robust shadow]

But you can craft firebug eggs with it.

At least, Gourmand can.

[night birch]

Maybe it's just linked, but not physically similar?

[robust shadow]

And firebug eggs, combined with yet another explosive, can make the singularity bomb.

A low-density MRC.

Which we know have Void Fluid.

[night birch]

Reminder, Gourm can create proper life out of plants...

How is void fluid the problem here?

[robust shadow]

This is my entire foundation for the theory that Void Fluid itself can be used to manipulate Karma.

[night birch]

Fair.

[robust shadow]

To lock it, to clear someone’s mind forcibly, and to manipulate it in other, potentially malicious manners.

I don’t think I want to look into this more.

Because I know that my argument is built on a sloppy foundation, which assumed the journey of the only slugcat to be considered non-canon by a decent part of the community.

[night birch]

No harm done. The world of RW is already a little squirrely at moments. Also, the Ancient's Tech Tree is both convoluted and confusing, making matters worse.

Also, @.Angst Machine🍉, we're going to need a theorizing channel for the disconnected server. Just going to call it now.

[still mulch]

Gourmand is almost certain a retelling of a story with fantastical elements

You can see at the end of his campaign that he’s telling the story of his adventures to a bunch of pups

The story we play is the one he’s telling, not the one that happened (probably)

Explains all the uh… magic

Gourmand: barfs up a singularity bomb

Headcanons are fun though I like the theory

[little schooner]

In my canon headcanon yes I agree that Gourmand’s campaign is likely a fantastical retelling. However here they’re just. Like that. Of course it’s gonna be nerfed to make more sense but simultaneously Fire Egg go brrr

[still mulch]

AU tag is a magical thing

Anything for a good story

[little schooner]

Hehe ye

[pliant scarab]

i mean technically the whole dlc one big au. one of the developers said its not canon or something, i dont remember tbh

[still mulch]

Yeah it is! But if you’re writing based on it then you’re following its canon, so.

I’m of the opinion that if it exists in the main part of the game, it’s canon. I don’t really care what the devs say? If you don’t have enough confidence in your story to call it canon, why add it at all…

I think the devs knew their story had a very different tone/focus from base game and use the AU label to kind of make that feel less jarring?

[pliant scarab]

yea probably

[little schooner]

Yeah

[empty kayak]

The devs said downpour is an official alternate canon

So it is as canon as vanilla

[still mulch]

Nice, that makes sense

[pliant scarab]

ok i'm bored so i decided to do some fun facts about gardener

so, they have a bit more storage slots... yea dont ask me how that works.
also they are tired most of the time, and spend their free time taking naps

that probably belongs to oc-gallery but meh, its more comfy here

[little schooner]

i'd be concerned too about that

[little schooner]

also @rancid swift

[rancid swift]

run baby! run!

[robust shadow]

If Gourmand's abilities are non-canon, only my first and second weapon ideas would actually work.

[little schooner]

see here

[robust shadow]

I mean, in the face of Downpour-canon.

[little schooner]

ah

[robust shadow]

If I built my story on a foundation that you established, and didn't credit you for it, I'm fairly certain you wouldn't be too happy about it.

[little schooner]

i mean

[robust shadow]

Unfortunately, out of the three weapon concepts, the last one is the most intriguing.

[little schooner]

its just gourmand and it isnt exactly a unique take

[robust shadow]

Which means my fic would need to have the canon divergence tag.... it already does.

Doesn't really matter, though.

[little schooner]

its probably fine lol

[robust shadow]

I think weapons could either be based on whatever Sliver's chamber has in challenge 70, gravity manipulation, or karmic manipulation.

Sliver's chamber is very interesting.

Has knockback lasers.

And the knockback is violent.

If the blast hits you on the wall, you instantly die.

Sounds good enough as a weapon.

Besides, that's just phase 1.

Phase 3 has instakill lasers, as far as I know.

Footage I have is a bit too laggy for knowing if the player got knocked back, then killed, or instantly killed, and had their body float away.

It'd make sense as two "modes" of a gun.

On a one-on-one, the knockback could be to subdue, and the firing blast to kill.

I fancy an Iterator wielding this sort of weapon with V1's proficiency, granted that their puppet can take it.

Gravity manipulation is a tad bit generic, but it's cool, so it gets a pass.

[rancid swift]

what's happening in here

[robust shadow]

Karmic manipulation? This, I like very much. I doubt a puppet without significant modifications could do anything of the sort, but imagine being able to forcibly echo a person.

This, I might have to read some scripts on.

It is, after all, based on a real belief system.

And I don't want to just fill in the blanks as I go, because there could already be some answers in those scripts.

[robust shadow]

Hello, other fellow survivor!

[rancid swift]

hi!

[robust shadow]

Just discussing Ancient weaponry.

Nothing too serious.

[rancid swift]

K! enjoy yourself

[robust shadow]

I skimmed this.

And I read it as a call for me to commit.

Fortunately, I have the ability to re-read.

[rancid swift]

you... oh no

[robust shadow]

Made my heart drop, by no fault of your own.

Anyway...

Weapons.

[rancid swift]

well...
so what if the weapons look cool

[robust shadow]

Would a conventional gun be used by the time Ancients were still around?

I think not, but they could very well still be in use.

Given that they've probably given up on war a long while ago.

Our modern firearms, or some equivalent of it, might be the most advanced weapons that they own.

But if they started making new things?

The weapons would likely be a tad bit "oriental" by design.

Or just futuristic, I'm not sure.

[robust shadow]

Probably could have something like this?

Bottom part's a traditional spear.

Top part has a mini-Mass Rarefaction Cell.

Both for movement, and as a power supply.

The staff needs to be longer, but I didn't want to go there.

Last thing - that little ring.

That thing is important - it houses the controls of the mini-MRC.

Allows the user to manipulate gravity to a higher degree - I don't doubt the Ancients had the technology of linking the brain with computers.

Little fellow could be used for movement, a traditional weapon, and as a point-and-annihilate portable black hole gun.

Not too much effort was poured into this, so yes, mediocre design.

[rancid swift]

do you just really like talking about weapons?

[robust shadow]

I mean, I have nothing else to really do.

And weapons entertain me - they are an art in itself.

Besides, it has some theorising - my favorite thing to do.

[rancid swift]

ah

[robust shadow]

It’s a great pastime, especially now, when I don’t have any interesting ways to pass time.

[rancid swift]

good! good to find something to do

[robust shadow]

COC gets stale after the eighteenth capital raid.

Yes, I own 4 accounts and counting.

And Clash Royale invokes my wrath.

Minecraft? Not enough time.

Those are practically the only games I play.

[rancid swift]

what about rain world /silly

[robust shadow]

My interest in Bloons died a long while ago, and I don’t have BTD 6.

[robust shadow]

I don’t have Rain World.

[rancid swift]

[robust shadow]

Plain and simple.

I’m just here for the story.

[rancid swift]

alright so talking about weapons?

[robust shadow]

I should get around to it some day.

[robust shadow]

My time’s been passed.

I’ll be going offline in a few minutes. But we can talk until then.

[rancid swift]

ah

[robust shadow]

So, weapons.

What’d you like to talk about?

I wonder if the Ancients have, or had, nuclear weapons.

I mean, we don’t know if they even had the thought to develop it.

But we know they needed viable power sources.

[rancid swift]

what if... singularity bomb but much much bigger

[robust shadow]

Interesting thought.

Rivulet’s MRC provides a bigger blast than the usual singularity bomb when bitten into by a leviathan.

[rancid swift]

maybe it holds more power

[robust shadow]

Maybe it does.

[rancid swift]

the singularity bomb might be leaking

[robust shadow]

The MRC can power an entire city, the factories that exist in that city, and the Iterator holding it.

[rancid swift]

there's more then one for each iterator right? I thought it was mentioned somewhere

[robust shadow]

There is.

But one was able to give Moon a considerable boost.

[rancid swift]

hmmm

[robust shadow]

And they output similarly to a nuclear powerplant.

Constant stream of power.

[rancid swift]

[robust shadow]

We are making a lot of assumptions here, but say, an Iterator’s energy requirement is just as large as the city above them.

And the city needs as much power as one of our metropolitan areas.

[rancid swift]

ok ok

a lot stored in that little ball

[robust shadow]

In the States, the average household uses about 10.7 kWh.

A metropolitan area has at least 50000 citizens.

[robust shadow]

This assumption is completely baseless, so let’s go for the smallest area that could be considered a metropolitan.

That’s 50000 people.

Assuming the average household has 4 ancients in it, we get 12500 houses.

This would lead to the multiple Mass Rarefaction Cells needing to provide around 12500 multiplied by 10.7, and then doubled for the Iterator themself, kWh of energy.

That would mean roughly 267500 kWh.

Again, we don’t know how many MRC’s there are, but we know there’s at least more than one, but there can’t be too much.

[little schooner]

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1188220038751191211/1231274781689512027/4fd6556fca92d827f5475fd8462d45b74c3e8135.gif

[robust shadow]

Let’s just say Moon has been restored 10% of her needs - which means a rough maximum of 20 MRC’s.

[little schooner]

right embeds dont work

[robust shadow]

Say, she has 10, in the rough middle of how much there could be.

The reason there couldn’t possibly be too many active at the same time is that since a decent cut of Moon’s structure has started receiving energy once more from just one, it’d make sense for not too many to be needed active at the same time.

This assumption leads us to one producing roughly 26750 kWh of energy.

And this one keeps her going for some time.

We don’t know how long, but it’s been a while, considering Pebbles’ state of decay.

Our best nuclear generator can produce some 7.965 gigawatts of energy.

No, they’re not comparable.

You’d need an MRC of absolutely gargantuan proportions to rival it.

And we don’t know how well they scale, so we have to keep that in mind.

No, I don’t think it’s a viable weapon.

[robust shadow]

But we must take one moment - I faulted here.

Best powerplant - it may have multiple generators.

Maybe the gap isn’t as big as I thought.

[digital pasture]

we do know that rarefraction cells are quite tiny, though. the devs said somewhere that slugcats are about 1/3 of the height of the average human

[robust shadow]

I suppose so.

We don’t know if making a bigger MRC is efficient, though.

[digital pasture]

true, but we can assume so since smaller cells (singularity bomb) contain less energy

[robust shadow]

They’ve just had their outermost layer stripped.

Fairly certain the only difference in size is that outer layer that’s now gone.

[little schooner]

playing jackbox

this won me the game

[little schooner]

i will post link tomorrow

[little schooner]

Technical difficulties, please stand by

[novel cargo]

sorry about technical difficulties

[little schooner]

Here is the string for the Disconnected discord server: Qutk62Att6

[novel cargo]

want this pinned?

[little schooner]

It is an interesting string

Yes please

[novel cargo]

[little schooner]

Thank you very much :)

[novel cargo]

np :3

[pliant scarab]

lets goooooo

[little schooner]

Qutk62Att6

(for the mobile users <3)

[rancid swift]

hm?

[little schooner]

do you want to join the discord server?

[rancid swift]

it's open!

[night birch]

Yup. Paste that on the end of a generic invite and it should work

[dawn comet]

alternatively you can press the + button at the bottom of your server list, "join a server" and paste the string there

itll work fine

[night birch]

Good to know.

[little schooner]

join the server we have emojis

[wild quartz]

Hello?

[tulip plume]

We do have emojis!

[sharp pagoda]

Can someone ping me whenever a new part comes out? I really like this AU and wanna know whenever it updates

[little schooner]

i will ping if you join the discord server

[velvet narwhal]

that reminds me, i can disable pings for all messages in this channel now

[little schooner]

next chapter should be out soon

emphasis on should

[rotund walrus]

It will be out soon perchance

[little schooner]

perchance

[little schooner]

Chapter 47: Straw
One shot, one kill. Renegade hadn't even thought about it; as soon as she caught a hint of the king vulture's laser sights on a helpless creature below, she grabbed her weapon, charging it up. Gourmand rushed behind a wall, but she paid little mind to the action. It would take a large discharge to take care of a beast like this, but she was patient. Just as the vulture was about to steal its next meal, she had pulled the trigger, letting a blast of crackling energy crash into the vulture's side. It didn't even have a chance to shriek as it plummeted onto the platform below, where Gourmand and the creature had been.

Gourmand ran out to meet the creature, as fast as their rotund body would allow, practically scooping them up. A young slugcat, surely. They scanned where they had last seen Renegade, but soon turned away, placing the small creature onto their shoulders as they began to return the other way.

Renegade would have been annoyed, if it didn't mean that she could make the rest of the journey to her nook at her pace. Despite only being able to use one arm to climb, and an ache beginning to develop in the back of her head, she made haste up the spire, no longer burdened by another being slowing her down.

Soon, she could see the white fabric, swaying in the wind. She pushed it aside, entering into the nook she made for herself.

It was a corner formed from the junction between the main spire and an offshoot, with a solid platform above it. Some supplies that she had deemed non-essential were neatly organized to one wall. A dutiful overseer watched over from the ceiling, tilting its head at her as she entered. Unlike the others, she had given this one in particular the task of watching her things and intercepting the broadcasts. It zipped over to her, reaching its tendrils out to her. It seemed to take keen interest in her injuries, touching at the bandaging gingerly.

[little schooner]

"I'm fine, Olly," she reassured, taking off her bag and settling herself down against a wall. Nothing appeared out of place, no small hands trifled with her belongings.

She glanced down at the bandages on her left hand. She already knew of the severed connections and warnings, but she needed to assess the complete condition of her injuries. Carefully, she peeled back the monster kelp leaves. Warnings began to flare up, and she had to tighten her grip on the wrappings to help push through the discomfort.. Eventually, she could see what laid underneath.

She hadn't seen this kind of damage before. The entire palm had been stripped down to the internals. The metallic bones of her hand were cracked in places, and she was certain that one wrong move would mean the entire thing would come off, which… wasn't ideal.

The warnings from her head didn't inspire confidence, either. Reports of fluid loss, missing or damaged homeostasis modules… it was only just now that she realized that some of the puppet's regulation had been delegated to her neurons. A sobering realization caused her skin to crawl.

There was a chance that, if she lost connection to her neurons, her puppet would just… die on its own.

She cursed herself. She should have been more careful. Should have watched her back. Shouldn't have even begun with hostilities. She risked everything, and for what?

…she picked up the pearl that she had been reading before she had been interrupted earlier in the day, floating it in front of her. After a moment, a globe materialized into a projection, with thousands of colorful pinpricks dotting the surface. She leaned back, zooming in with a mere thought. More details revealed themselves as the image was enlarged. Iterators, spires, points of interest, topology, all came into focus as the field of view got smaller, smaller, smaller…

[little schooner]

…until a certain local group was revealed. Ten spires, five members, four facilities. She traced out the most recent path she had taken, coming from the north and finding the spire closest to the shared facility of Five Pebbles and Looks to the Moon. She had always found herself coming back here, despite having no business to. Then again, she rarely ever had any business, an organism who had abandoned everything after being stripped of her purpose…

She shook her head. She needed to plan her next move. She couldn't stay here, and there was no telling how long the colony of slugcats would stay. However, where could she go? She could make the trek to the next closest spire, towards No Significant Harassment's can. But that didn't feel right…

She went back to that projection that had been burned into her mind. Of her old friend, in such a poor state. Yet she had taken the time to assure the world that, yes, she was still alive, even if in a limited capacity.

Renegade moved the projection towards the shared facility. More verbose information splayed itself out, and she made a few changes to their data.

Five Pebbles
Status: Overclocked Overclocked, Rotting
Notes: Sliverist

Looks to the Moon
Status: Deceased Fragmented, Alive
Notes: N/A

She sighed, gesturing to Olly with her right hand, and immediately the overseer planted itself on her shoulder. Her awareness in her puppet was reduced as the archived broadcasts streamed through her consciousness.

The oldest message was played first. A message from Moon, directed to…

Her bioprocessors lurched. Somehow, Renegade had sent out a message to her old friend, and Moon had taken the time to respond.

[little schooner]

[LIVE BROADCAST] - PRIVATE
Sliver of Straw, Big Sister Moon

SOS: I'm sorry, Moon. I should have contacted you sooner.

BSM: …Sliver?
BSM: I can’t read your message, but… is it really you?
BSM: Please respond. I I need to know.
BSM: …
BSM: Who am I kiddding, this is probably just a symmptom of my death this ccycle. Or some sick praank.
BSM: I’m… more inclined to believe the forrmer, to be honest. I did see you when I died, after all, and my arrays did feel me cycle.
BSM: Regardless… thank you. I know my dream wasn’tt real, but your words still had an iimpact. Despite my unusual condition brought by the hands of Pebbles…
BSM: I am free, Sliver. To what extent, I do not know. But even if I can’t go beyyond my collapsed superstructure, I am able to live a life that our kindd could only dream of, experience things that my puppet was never built to feel. Isn’t that great? Isn’t that terrifyingg?
BSM: …
BSM: I miss you. I wishh you were still here, so I could potentially go out and give you a big hug, just like in my dream…
BSM: …well, we’ll see. Your spiritt might be close. Perhaps a piece of you has found itself in one of the many creatures that has helped me? Who knows.
BSM: …I have to to go. I need to atttend to some business with my locall group. I'll try to message you later. Despite the likelihood that you aren’t real, it feels niice to confide in you after so long.
BSM: Goodbye, and I hope that wherever your spirit is, you aree doing well.

[little schooner]

…

Renegade's entire body shuddered.

Moon remembered her.

The map pearl clattered to the ground, and the projection faltered and sparkled out.

Moon missed her.

This was Renegade's fault.

Moon had to be in so much pain.

A pained noise escaped Renegade's speakers. Unintelligible jabber, raw thought.

Despite everything, Moon had reached out to the corrupt signal all the same.

It was more than she deserved. Renegade was a stubborn fucking coward, and she knew it. She fell into the habit of things and didn't deviate until it blew up in her idiot face. Quite literally, she thought bitterly as she glanced down at the exposed components in her hand.

Her friend had paid the ultimate price for her cowardice. A tortuous existence against her will, choked out and left to die by her own brother's hand. Hands that were guided by a radical ideology that bore her void-forsaken name.

Moon deserved to know. Renegade couldn't face her after everything. Moon deserved to know.

She sobbed, keeling over. Everything went fuzzy. She couldn't feel her skin. It felt as if she was choking on her own internals…

…no, she was choking. The realization sent a wave of panic through her neurons. She listed over to one side, shaking and blabbering and curling in on herself and losing consciousness and nothing and nothing and…

[little schooner]

Next thing she knew, something shook the ground and warmed her face, enough for awareness to return to her puppet. She opened her eyes to see that a rotund figure was staring at her, a halo of morning light framing their head as they leaned on a spear. They watched her quizzically, brow furrowed and head tilted.

After a moment, they signed. "Good morning. Need help there?"

Renegade tried to get up, but found her puppet to be uncomfortably stiff and cold. The best she could do was roll onto her back, glancing between Gourmand and the ceiling. "N-n… no," she stuttered out.

Gourmand chuffed, walking over to her and offering a hand. "I think we can both tell that's a lie. No need to be a stubborn rain deer about it. It's okay to ask for help."

"Why do you… keep on insisting on helping me? I haven't done anything for you."

"I know a lost and lonely soul when I see one."

"You make no sense. I could easily kill you."

"And you have, once before. But now I believe it is an empty threat, something to push me away. Sorry, but you can't get rid of me so easily, not when there is adventure and learning and friends to be had."

Renegade stared at them for a long moment, before finally grabbing onto their hand. They helped her up easily, making sure she could stand steadily… which, luckily, she could. Her muscles definitely felt warmer and looser than when she had… woken up. What an odd feeling…

"How about this? You finish cleaning up your things, and we take you back down to get that hand rebandaged. After that, you can leave. Just… let me know if you are going to Moon's domain, okay? We could travel together! Does that sound good?"

She glanced down at her hand, then back up at Gourmand. It felt strange, to be getting help from what amounted to a well-fed rat. But…

"...that is acceptable."

[rotund walrus]

Olly

[rancid swift]

friendship!

[rotund walrus]

Wait hold on so 5 members of the local group. LttM, FP, SRS, NSH, CW I assume. Isn't UI also part of the group?

[little schooner]

SRS is not a part of the local group

[rotund walrus]

Huh really?

Felt like they were

[empty kayak]

New chapter!

||SOS should shoot FP with a gun 😆 ||

[rotund walrus]

Most epic rap battles of history:
Hydrogen bomb vs coughing baby

[dawn comet]

FP Staring in horror at moon when she pulls out a desert eagle chambered in rock

[still mulch]

New chap let’s gooo

Oh god, ||the guilt. I honestly hadn’t even considered the connection there, that it was SLIVER that started this whole chain of events that led to moon’s collapse, through no fault of her own, oh my god that is some quality fucking angst||

[spring berry]

Olly my new fave

I ALSO DIDNT REALIZE IT WAS SLIVERS FAULT IN THE FIRST PLACE EITHER

[robust shadow]

She had no idea.

She caused Pebbles to go mad.

But she had no idea it'd make him kill his sister.

Doesn't make her feel any better about it, though.

[little schooner]

ye

really diving into the questions "what would it mean if sliver was actually alive? how would others react?"

||spoilers; entire iterator society implodes (i jest... unless? no im kidding around haha) ||

[robust shadow]

Pebbles would be distraught.

The one figure he looked up to for ascension betrayed him.

[night birch]

Oh he'd be devastated. I can imagine the Sliverest groups to basically just combust

[robust shadow]

Other Sliverists would likely also implode, given their dedication to her.

[still mulch]

The fucking meltdown on the horizon I am so here for this

[robust shadow]

We are all here awaiting Pebbles' complete meltdown.

[night birch]

Indeed

[robust shadow]

Pebbles is not going to be fine the next few chapters.

[still mulch]

Make the pink boy suffer do it

We all hate (love) pebbies

[robust shadow]

I can't say he doesn't deserve it, but I adore Pebbles.

[still mulch]

Pebbles is my fave character make him suffer (and then let him heal)

[robust shadow]

This.

Let him heal.

[still mulch]

All my homies hate-love pebbles

[robust shadow]

The most important part of it.

I just want to give him a hug, though knowing him, he'd not take it well.

By Saint's time, he's just... I don't know.

He's almost not there.

Yet he's bound to the world.

[still mulch]

Too pathetic to hate. There’s just nothing left there to be mad at

[robust shadow]

There's nothing left to hate about him, even by Rivulet's time.

[still mulch]

I don’t necessarily agree with that, but if moon can forgive so can I

[robust shadow]

The song "Achilles Come Down" fits him eerily well.

Did I ever mention that I discovered that song through Rain World?

This - https://youtu.be/jL2H-0JmdEE - I want to cry.

[still mulch]

I can’t recall if you’ve read my thing, but if you have you know I have a lot of feelings about pebbies

[robust shadow]

I have.

Just haven't really kept up with it.

[still mulch]

No biggie of course

[robust shadow]

All the Pebbles animatics hurt so much.

Yet the pain feels so... good.

This must be what angst feels like.

[still mulch]

He’s got a lot of work to do to make up for the pain he’s caused

[little schooner]

they're all imprisoned, against their will, intentionally tied to the cycle so tightly and denied escape

[still mulch]

It’s no wonder some go mad.

[robust shadow]

If I recall, the worst thing for them is that since they're not a single organism, it's especially difficult to just up and ascend.

[still mulch]

They were supposedly designed to not be a part of the cycle

[robust shadow]

You're tied down more than any other physically, while being closer to it mentally.

[rancid swift]

this discussion going crazy!

[little schooner]

i think that, in a way, saint doesn't perfectly ascend the iterators. just the puppets

even moon. her systems keep running after you ascend her

[robust shadow]

Just imagine, knowing you were tied down to a loop designed carefully to stop you from escaping it.

[still mulch]

Who knows what saint’s deal is.

I still don’t think he’s Real

[robust shadow]

Pebbles, though, is likely long gone.

[little schooner]

saint's a weirdo

[still mulch]

But I could see that. Only ascending the identity

[robust shadow]

I like them for it.

He's ascending the core of the Iterators.

[little schooner]

pebbles could still be living on, though, in the warped form of the rot

[robust shadow]

Cancer isn't really you, now, is it?

[still mulch]

It is his own mutated genome

[little schooner]

simultaneously both

[robust shadow]

I wouldn't consider a tumour a part of me.

It's declared its independence from my body.

[still mulch]

But they are. Just growing without limit. Unshackled

The ones that grow teeth and hair—disturbing. I don’t like thinking about it too much

[robust shadow]

Those are really interesting.

[still mulch]

We’re basically one giant system of smaller organisms ourselves

[little schooner]

ye

[robust shadow]

The Iterators are more disconnected than we are, though.

[little schooner]

even discounting the gut bacteria that we need in order to live, we are a giant system of cells working together

in what way?

[robust shadow]

If you cut off an arm of mine, and you kept it alive, that wouldn't be me.

[little schooner]

maybe not, but the arm would still think it was alive, no?

[robust shadow]

I would argue that one of the points of having so many damn organisms in an Iterator is to tie them down further.

[still mulch]

Are they? Our blood cells float freely though our veins. We shed our hair and skin and do not mourn the loss. If an Iterator loses one neuron, is that neuron them? No.

[robust shadow]

One person I know generally terms the self as not the body, but rather the activities.

I do not subscribe to this theory.

[still mulch]

We’re an amalgam of parts. I guess the closest single thing to “us” is our brain. Or is it the neural connections inside? How many brain cells can we lose before we’re no longer us?

[robust shadow]

It would think it were alive. It is no longer a part of me.

[little schooner]

we can provably split the brain in two and have both sides (and the body) live

[robust shadow]

I mean, that's happened before.

[still mulch]

You can knock your head and your personality changes.

[robust shadow]

Remember that epilepsy treatment thing?

[little schooner]

yeah thats what i was referring to

[still mulch]

We’re just very weird flesh machines, glitches and all

[robust shadow]

I think it's a sense of scale for the Iterators.

It makes them more "disconnected" than we are, to me.

[little schooner]

i suppose i get what you're saying

an individual block of iterator could still house enough stuff to be concious and aware and thinking

[robust shadow]

It's much more difficult to ascend an Iterator, because they are many.

[still mulch]

Different components performing similar purposes, but it does seem each part of an Iterator is more independent

[robust shadow]

And this way, they're tied down more than any other being.

[still mulch]

I wrote a whole log about this hehe. At least, about them thinking about this

[robust shadow]

In a cruel way, they know how to get others to ascend, but cannot ascend themselves.

In Buddhism, this would be called a bodhisattva - except that the bodhisattva are willing to stay behind.

The Iterators are evidently not.

This does delve into religion, though - one that I'm not the most familiar with.

[little schooner]

yeah, in order to truly "ascend" an iterator, i'm thinking you'd have to ascend every part of them. separately.

sig's joke idea of using overseers to gnaw their way down to the void sea could, theoretically, work, but using overseers (or most anything, really) to do so would take far too long to be practical.

and the thing is, leaving even one part behind could be seen as a tragedy.

[robust shadow]

If I'm incorrect, do correct me.

[little schooner]

tbh idk much about religion either

[robust shadow]

That very "joke idea" gave me the idea of how the Ancients forcibly ascend Hori.

[still mulch]

I’m ripping into this exact thing next chapters( what piece of an Iterator holds the soul— if any at all) so I feel like I shouldn’t voice my thoughts here now but uh

Good convo

[robust shadow]

They literally poked a hole through the earth to get rid of this one Iterator.

[robust shadow]

Fair.

Let's continue this after you've posted.

[little schooner]

millions of souls, working in unison.

when fragmented, these souls can sort of coagulate and concentrate. kinda why moon's karma is unusual

(unusual here, i mean)

because realistically, an iterator should not be separated from the rest of their can like this

[robust shadow]

Actually, I should probably not spoil my fic.

[little schooner]

spoil it, or not, up to you

[robust shadow]

I have basically spoiled the entirety of it.

[little schooner]

pff

dont sweat it, i'm sure reading it will be different than hearing a synopsis

[robust shadow]

I really must stop saying I don’t have Rain World - it’s likely getting annoying.

And now, it’s not even true!

[rotund walrus]

Another soul claimed by the game 😌

[still mulch]

Finally! The infection has truly taken hold

Enjoy

[robust shadow]

Dying in Out-boys-in-skirts.

No, I didn't mod the game.

Stuck in this place.

[still mulch]

Haha, universal experience. (Most people seem to quit the game around the beginning, even those who later come back and love it)

I played about… three hours of rain world the first time and didn’t touch it for six months

[robust shadow]

In love with the art.

In love with how unfair some things just are.

I learnt a very valuable lesson - do not starve the poor little scug.

I am so proud of myself.

First Karma gate passed.

Does this mean I've left Outskirts?

[still mulch]

Tell me. Did you go up, or down?

(Yes you’re leaving outskirts)

[robust shadow]

I left the upper way.

Industrial Complex.

I don't think I'll like Drainage, if that's bottom.

Don't spoil what things are, though!

First Scavvie.

Not sure I like them.

[empty kayak]

Proud of ya. Good luck out there

[robust shadow]

Saw my first vulture.

Decidedly hate it.

And I accidentally let a scavenger die.

Artificer arc?

[empty kayak]

I suggest you stay on their good side for now 😆
Of course you may murder them if you want to

[robust shadow]

Accidentally let one die.

To a bunch of lizards.

Of whom, I killed one, and got killed by another.

[rotund walrus]

The third, more sinister option:

[pallid patio]

Farm arrays

*farm arrays

Mb

[robust shadow]

I made enemies with the scavengers.

But I made good progress.

Screw them scavengers, I'm going on the Artificer route.

And I died.

Screw them leeches.

[pallid patio]

Honestly

I hate leeches

[robust shadow]

Tried feeding them to jetfish.

Not sure if that worked.

[pallid patio]

IDK if that works

Never tried

[robust shadow]

I died to monster kelp.

Fuck Rain World's corrupted nature, to be honest.

Back to lust I go.

[pallid patio]

Damn

What region you in?

@robust shadow

[robust shadow]

Wherever Leviathans live, that's roughly where.

[pallid patio]

Shoreline

[robust shadow]

Yes.

[pallid patio]

That's the only place besides subterranean

Where are you rn in shoreline

[robust shadow]

Good question. Where the fuck am I?

[pallid patio]

I know what

[still mulch]

You’ll find something cool soon

Keep following iggy

[pallid patio]

Yeah

Yes

Keep doing that

Trust

Trust

[robust shadow]

I'm in Looks to the Moon.

[pallid patio]

Nice

[robust shadow]

My little slugcat has reached the corpse of a fallen goddess.

[pallid patio]

Yes

Do you have the mark of communication?

The pixel above your head?

That glows

[robust shadow]

I haven't been to Pebbles, if that's what you're asking.

[pallid patio]

Ok

[robust shadow]

Therefore, no, I do not.

[pallid patio]

You get lore if you bring white things to moon

[velvet narwhal]

boo

[pallid patio]

Boo

Hi @velvet narwhal

[velvet narwhal]

aka:porl

[pallid patio]

Ok?

[velvet narwhal]

heylo!

[pallid patio]

What's good

[velvet narwhal]

anywaytimeto💥

[robust shadow]

I know a fuck ton about this game. I just don't know how to play it.

[pallid patio]

😳

[robust shadow]

Not trying to be rude, by the way. Sorry.

[pallid patio]

It's cool

Im in the same boat

Bruh

This story thread is really good

[robust shadow]

Iggy apparently lacks both a brain and a desire to help.

[pallid patio]

LMAO

Very true

He's just meant to be eyes, he's not supposed to think in rational Sense

[robust shadow]

How am I supposed to access this?

[pallid patio]

Spear

You imbed it into the wall

And climb it

You can also get higher up to get to that pole through pipes below

[robust shadow]

If I had spears, I would've done that a long while ago.

[pallid patio]

Fair

Go down and use the pipes to go up

Trust

[robust shadow]

Iggy also completely lacks patience.

[pallid patio]

Ig

[robust shadow]

I think I'm about to die the rain again, and this little creature won't be patient with a poor little scuggy.

[pallid patio]

Did you go down to find the pipes?

[robust shadow]

I found some spears.

Good news? May have enough.

Bad news? I'm all out of food.

[pallid patio]

There is a shelter next room

Oh

You can eat jelly fish

[robust shadow]

Wait what?

[pallid patio]

They give one good

If you find four you can shelter

They are below

Did you find them?

[robust shadow]

Very bad news.

I wasted my spear.

[pallid patio]

Damn

Go down

Trust

Send screenshot when you do

Did you die?

[robust shadow]

Nope.

Have to shelter.

[pallid patio]

Ok

Did you get enough food

[robust shadow]

Down from here?

Yes, yes I did.

Learnt the lesson of not starving scuggy.

[pallid patio]

Good

[robust shadow]

Very early on.

[pallid patio]

Right

Send picture of next room

To confirm I'm right

[robust shadow]

You said down.

[pallid patio]

I said right

I meant down in the room with the pole

[robust shadow]

Passed it!

[pallid patio]

Nice

[pallid patio]

Can you see moon?

Down right

Down right

[robust shadow]

Sheltering now.

Not risking it.

[pallid patio]

Ok

That's fair

I trust

[robust shadow]

This is beautiful.

[pallid patio]

It is

I love moon

[robust shadow]

Time for some stolen enlightenment!

[pallid patio]

NO

[robust shadow]

I'm joking.

[pallid patio]

DOMT

Ok

Good

You scared

Me

[robust shadow]

I could never.

[pallid patio]

Suspicious 🧐

Suspicious 🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐

[robust shadow]

And now, Iggy wants me to rob Pebbles.

[pallid patio]

Do it

He's a....

Not nice guy

He kill moon

https://tenor.com/view/miserable-crying-sad-tears-black-guy-gif-12326280655494835815

https://tenor.com/view/miserable-crying-sad-tears-black-guy-gif-12326280655494835815

https://tenor.com/view/miserable-crying-sad-tears-black-guy-gif-12326280655494835815

https://tenor.com/view/miserable-crying-sad-tears-black-guy-gif-12326280655494835815

https://tenor.com/view/miserable-crying-sad-tears-black-guy-gif-12326280655494835815

[robust shadow]

I know he killed Moon.

[pallid patio]

Yeah

Very sad

[robust shadow]

Friend!

Now, where is Pebbles?

[pallid patio]

😊😊

[robust shadow]

I have seen one of his overseers.

[pallid patio]

Go to chimney cannopy

[still mulch]

Good you managed not to Eat her

Everyone always eats her brain

[robust shadow]

She's suffered enough.

[pallid patio]

Real

[robust shadow]

One of these times, though, I may need to. Achievements be achievements.

[pallid patio]

NOOOOO

https://tenor.com/view/miserable-crying-sad-tears-black-guy-gif-12326280655494835815

[robust shadow]

Back in Shoreline.

[pallid patio]

Ok

[still mulch]

I got that trophy by beelining to moon as monk, eating her brain and then immediately deleting that save upon popping the trophy but the memory remains

[pallid patio]

Ok I leave now, ping me if you need me

[robust shadow]

Her pained screams.

They are objectively heartbreaking.

Is this where I'm supposed to be?

Actually, don't tell me if it's the easy or hard route.

I think I'm in the wrong place.

I'm in Shaded.

The soundtrack is epic.

I leapt off.

Done that three times.

Fourth.

And it's the same jump.

Alright, me - that bit is not solid.

And I can't even be mad.

Killed a Scavvie - decidedly do not like them.

And then killed myself.

[rancid swift]

wait... what am I seeing here

[robust shadow]

My run.

[rancid swift]

rain world!?!?!?!?!

[robust shadow]

Right, should probably move this.

Yes.

[rancid swift]

[robust shadow]

This ain't working.

[still mulch]

THIS FUCKING SECTION I know exactly what stupid ledge that is there should be floor there. devs are evil

[pallid patio]

Wut

[still mulch]

My first play through i probably racked up 4-5 deaths on that bridge alone

[pallid patio]

Oh... THAT bridge

[still mulch]

The shaded bridge

[pallid patio]

Yeah

Fuck that bridge

I hate it

[still mulch]

It’s fine now that I have so many hours in the game but man I remember how frustrating it was as a newbie

[pallid patio]

Real

I still relatively new to the game, only a few months in

[still mulch]

I was still struggling with holding up to grab at that point too. I went to moon through shaded (yes from the west) and… ending on the bridge was so cruel

[pallid patio]

But I have most of the campaigns completed

Moon is def worth it

[still mulch]

Moonie is definitely worth

[pallid patio]

Real

I love moon

[still mulch]

Gotta go say hi to mom first thing every playthrough. It’s required

[pallid patio]

Ok

[still mulch]

Coziest spot in rain world

[pallid patio]

Ik right?

What do you think of five pebbles?

[still mulch]

I love that lil asshole

[pallid patio]

Fair

I was very sad when I saw him in saints campaign

Very depressing

And sad

[still mulch]

And ||the climb up underhang, through his can to meet him (RANDOM GODS, THE VISUALS) followed by climbing to the top and seeing the city, then looking out and seeing he other cans… and realizing what exactly you just did|| probably my favorite sequence in all of gaming ngl

[pallid patio]

real

I like unfortunate development tho

Very cool

Rot best enemy

No cap

[still mulch]

I love UD

[pallid patio]

Yes

[still mulch]

it was crazy frustrating the first run