The Longest Thread (Misadventures)

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

4 minutes ago, Ookla the Sesquipedalian said:

Nice rant

An Author is a Narrator that can create a Narrator and can declare Canonity, a Publisher is an Author who can create Authors, and can declare things as Drivel

I really don't want power tiering. Making TVG so involved in the Narrative was a mistake and I've tried to make up for it by keeping her out of the Narrative. As I said, making a fourth tier is a bad idea because Authors aren't supposed to be involved in the Narrative at all. You're basically just creating another version of a Narrator; an extension of the Author's will. Narrators Narrate. Characters are Narrated. "Author" is just the name for a Narrator who has characters that have the ability to Narrate. I know it's complicated, but I don't want it anymore complicated than it already is. 

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Jacob gave Narrator Stick a Look.

Posts in Latin are uncanonical, he declared, in a voice that brooked no argument. People have to be able to understand your posts, see. 

The idea of a 'Publisher' is absurd. Nothing is getting published. I see where you're coming from, but it doesn't measure up, I'm afraid.

Jacob snapped his fingers and a heavy book appeared floating in midair. It was titled Of Silence and Sound. 

This book, explained Jacob, is the go-to handbook for mimes detailing the laws set down by our order governing Narration and Silence. We are the ones that write the law. And Publishers do not fit into it anywhere.

31 minutes ago, Ookla The Narrator said:

Oh, I understand. But making a "Narrator of a Narrator of a Narrator" is pointless. Authors do NOT have more power than Narrators and the only thing you're doing by making a third place is trying to give yourself more authority. That does not slide with me. Authors are each and everyone of us. It's like this. Luna is an Author, not a Narrator. Because she only posts Narration. She doesn't have characters. The idea of an "Author" has been around since Star married Marsh and became less of an extension of my will than a Sentient, living, breathing character. Just, a character with the unique ability to Narrate the story. I was Narrating her. I daresay this is my magic system and I get to decide how it works. What I was trying to say through TVG was that I don't like it when randomness interferes with plot. That's why we moved the plot to a different thread. Unfortunately, the very idea of Plot with a capital "P" originates from this chaos and I have to use it. Astral wants to leave. Xinoehp wants to leave. Sophie wants to leave. They are creatures of Plot and they deserve to have that Plot. But right now the whole Plot is that they're trying to leave. When my characters are gone, I will return as my own self, TVG, Narrating the randomness. That was what I intended with Sophie, but for as revolted as she says she is by it, she is drawn to the Plot. That's my fault. But you have to admit that Sophie is a masterpiece and if I have to defend her for the good of her own character development and storyline, then I will do so. 

*sigh* I really, really care about this story. Star was me. I went through all of that with her. I want her to live her life, I want Astral to fulfill her grim destiny, I want Sophie to find the hero inside of her because I want to find that hero inside of me too. In many ways, she is my favorite of all of my characters. Please, please don't change the rules because you want to be able to move forward. Star tried to do that. And now Marsh is dead and her life sucks. But if you keep shoving, eventually I'm going to stop shoving back and let you fall on your face. 

Sophie glowed. Almost literally. Her hair floated around her head in its natural flow and she danced around in the grass, close to bursting with joy. "Aqua!!!" she said. "I did it!" 

Thank you, said Aqua. Now, run! More can't be far behind. We have to get to Xinoehp before they do!

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

3 minutes ago, Ookla the Blue said:

Jacob gave Narrator Stick a Look.

Posts in Latin are uncanonical, he declared, in a voice that brooked no argument. People have to be able to understand your posts, see. 

The idea of a 'Publisher' is absurd. Nothing is getting published. I see where you're coming from, but it doesn't measure up, I'm afraid.

Jacob snapped his fingers and a heavy book appeared floating in midair. It was titled Of Silence and Sound. 

This book, explained Jacob, is the go-to handbook for mimes detailing the laws set down by our order governing Narration and Silence. We are the ones that write the law. And Publishers do not fit into it anywhere.

Thank you, said Aqua. Now, run! More can't be far behind. We have to get to Xinoehp before they do!

Sophie smiled, a rush of adrenaline pumping through her. "Aaaaalright, baby!" she said, raising her spear high above her head. "Let's GO!!!" With that, she ran. 

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Far, far, away, Withy smiled. All the pieces were coming together.

Soon the last of the luxsprites would be his.

He pushed off his dark throne, floating up into the air. It was time to move out.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Sophie began to skip. "Ya know," she said, "this isn't so bad! I think..." Her face brightened. "I think I like Plot. I..." She laughed. "I like Plot!!!"

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Withy dropped into a landing in front of a small sapling that grew in an odd spiraling pattern. He reached out a hand and tapped it, watching ripples spread from his contact like a stone thrown into a still pond.

He smiled, drew back his hand...

 

Michael slumped to the ground. How long had it been? A week? A year? Ten years? He'd lost track by now, caught up in the wildly confusing temporal flow of the dreamseed.

Ruin hadn't broken free. Yet. But it would. Soon.

He couldn't hold on any longer.

 

...and slashed the sapling straight through, from top to bottom.

 

Michael closed his eyes.

 

With a sound like the screech of a thousand handerfles, dark power erupted from the break. Withy let out a maniacal laugh as the power of Ruin filled him, supercharging his already overcharged essence.

It is time! he hissed. Let the world tremble!

And tremble it did.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Just as Astral was about to drag herself to TVG's feet and beg her master to let her go back to the QoS thread, end her life, or bring her to CBST so she could fulfill her purpose, she felt something massive surge through the thread. It wasn't sustenance... But... All of a sudden she felt... stronger. She gasped and sat up, watching her dress re-weave itself into the silken beauty it had once been. Her lips regained a sort of shine, her hair deepened into a rich midnight black, flowing smoothly once more, and her eyes shone silver as the moon, her circlet fixing itself above her head. She groaned in pleasure, then started to laugh as she rose to her feet. Things were looking up for the Queen of Shadows. Her job was not yet done. 
--------

Dark clouds rolled into the sky, moving unnaturally fast. Sophie slowed, looking up. "I didn't think it was gonna rain today," she said. As the sun was blocked out, she suddenly felt herself feeling afraid again. She had only vanquished a handful of withergeists. She got an image of being swarmed by hundreds upon hundreds - thousands upon thousands - of withergeists, of being bitten and scratched and torn apart by them. Sophie ran a little faster. 

[Lunamor she/her]

Luna threw some fish grenades at the rising ghanderflaffle empire.

[+Doomstick he/him]

2 hours ago, Ookla The Narrator said:

I really don't want power tiering. Making TVG so involved in the Narrative was a mistake and I've tried to make up for it by keeping her out of the Narrative. As I said, making a fourth tier is a bad idea because Authors aren't supposed to be involved in the Narrative at all. You're basically just creating another version of a Narrator; an extension of the Author's will. Narrators Narrate. Characters are Narrated. "Author" is just the name for a Narrator who has characters that have the ability to Narrate. I know it's complicated, but I don't want it anymore complicated than it already is. 

Authors were us, until you brought one into the story, we needed something that was us, and that could not be Authors anymore. As I see it, my Publisher has not entered the story, just made it known to TVG that “proper” is irrelevant.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

TVG speaks for me. She is me. Not a physical manifestation - as that's impossible - but still me. She is a broken rule. But a rule broken out of love. 

[+Doomstick he/him]

Um, that has happened multiple times

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

I know. The power sucked me in. Authors are nice plot devices when it comes to motivating your characters. 

[FatherTiempo he/him]

9 hours ago, Ookla the Excessive said:

Luna threw some fish grenades at the rising ghanderflaffle empire.

The ghanderflaffle bomb defusing team rushed to the site.

"What's it look like Jimmy? "

"It's a fish sir."

"I know its a fish, it's the biggest fish I've ever seen. But why is it ticking."

"Sir, it appears to be a bomb sir."

"Well, well. Must be those Narrators trying to send us back to the stone age--agaain. We'll see about that. All right men, open this thing up."

"Ugh it stinks sir."

"Delightful, what's inside?"

"there appears to be a large amount of wiring inside. There are tubular sacs inside, probably explosive containments."

"Don't give me probabilities give me facts."

"Yes, sir. they are definitely explosive containments."

"Good man,"

"How should we proceed sir?"

"Cut the red wire, it's always the red wire."

"but sir, there are a plethora of red wires in here."

"Rising Empires, they've figured that out. Well, start cutting them until the fish stops singing."

"Ugh, Oh, Euuuch, They're so squishy!"

"Keep at it Jimmy, you're almost there."

"Sir, I think I've almost---"

BOOM!

[Truthless of Shinovar he/him]

2 minutes ago, FatherTiempo said:

"Rising Empires,”

Oh my word yes I’m using this from here on out

[+Ed Venture]

6 minutes ago, FatherTiempo said:

BOOM!

Went Jimmy’s mustache and only his mustache. Nothing else was harmed or effected in any way by the explosion.

[FatherTiempo he/him]

"Ah! That was unexpected"

"What were you saying Jimmy? "

"Sir, I think I've  almost got it. "

[xinoehp512 he/him]

19 hours ago, Ookla The Narrator said:

Just as Astral was about to drag herself to TVG's feet and beg her master to let her go back to the QoS thread, end her life, or bring her to CBST so she could fulfill her purpose, she felt something massive surge through the thread. It wasn't sustenance... But... All of a sudden she felt... stronger. She gasped and sat up, watching her dress re-weave itself into the silken beauty it had once been. Her lips regained a sort of shine, her hair deepened into a rich midnight black, flowing smoothly once more, and her eyes shone silver as the moon, her circlet fixing itself above her head. She groaned in pleasure, then started to laugh as she rose to her feet. Things were looking up for the Queen of Shadows. Her job was not yet done. 
--------

Dark clouds rolled into the sky, moving unnaturally fast. Sophie slowed, looking up. "I didn't think it was gonna rain today," she said. As the sun was blocked out, she suddenly felt herself feeling afraid again. She had only vanquished a handful of withergeists. She got an image of being swarmed by hundreds upon hundreds - thousands upon thousands - of withergeists, of being bitten and scratched and torn apart by them. Sophie ran a little faster. 

I don't think it is, said Aqua darkly. These are no natural clouds. Hopefully we're not too late.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

5 minutes ago, Ookla the Blue said:

I don't think it is, said Aqua darkly. These are no natural clouds. Hopefully we're not too late.

Too... late? Sophie thought. What would that mean for her? What if... what if she had to see Xinoehp dead? Worse, what if she arrived just in time to see him die? She felt her heart begin to ache. That possibility was still quite hard for her to picture. Xinoehp was so much larger than life, this grand hero. And... if he couldn't face the what-ever-it-was, then what chance did she - a cowardly scholar - have? She whimpered, despite herself, and continued to run. 

Edited December 4, 2019 by Ookla The Narrator

[+Doomstick he/him]

“Where are we going?”

Leaf had left after the Whithergeist incident 

[Jaywalk he/him]

Jimmy started drooling.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

*eyes widen* OKAY, I REALLY WANT ASTRAL TO FEED ON SOPHIE'S FEAR! *grins* You guys will love this, there's a twist involved... But Astral has to get to her before the withergeists do.

Astral stretched her arms over her head. She wanted to do something. She wanted to feed. And she just happened to know a little blue girl who might be fun to torment. An evil grin on her face, she melted to sludge and began to make her way to her little sister.

Edited December 4, 2019 by Ookla The Narrator

[Jaywalk he/him]

A slug crept into Jimmy’s mouth.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Withy glided swiftly through the air, his thousands upon millions of withergeist minions following behind him. Like a dark blanket they covered the landscape, withering and destroying anything that still stood.

Far, far, up ahead, a vortex of darkness swirled at the mountain's peak. Withy grinned and flew faster. Almost there...

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

1 hour ago, Ookla the Blue said:

Withy glided swiftly through the air, his thousands upon millions of withergeist minions following behind him. Like a dark blanket they covered the landscape, withering and destroying anything that still stood.

Far, far, up ahead, a vortex of darkness swirled at the mountain's peak. Withy grinned and flew faster. Almost there...

Astral was faster than she should have been. She knew exactly where she was going and exactly what she wanted to do. Perhaps it was determination that got her where she wanted to be. Whatever the case, Sophie's bare blue heels were quickly within her sight. Or, well, "sight" was an interesting term. She didn't have eyes in this form, but she could... sense things. Say what you will about TVG, she was a very giving woman. Such power was a priceless gift and Astral was forever grateful for it. Astral slithered through the prickly grass (she hated the stuff, but she was so close and she wanted to surprise the girl...) and began slowly sliding up Sophie's ankle...
-------------
Sophie shivered. Something slimy was touching her foot. Was it a slug? She didn't like slugs... She lifted her foot.... And screamed. 

Never had she screamed so loud before. Her cry was long, loud, and shill, and sent a flock of birds flying from the trees in which they perched. She shook her foot, trying to get the disgusting black substance off of her, but ended up tripping and falling backwards. She watched in horror as the black stuff began to boil and formed into the shape of a woman. Astral herself. The Queen of Shadows, manifestation of the beauty of brokenness and power. Specifically, Star's brokenness and power. Sophie, of course, screamed louder and tried to scramble backwards. But then, as Astral laughed to herself, Sophie felt something... something odd. Something... awful. She found that she couldn't feel her hands moving as the tried pushing herself away from the Queen. It was like... something was being pulled out of her. She felt her head fall against the ground and her vision blurred. What in the world was happening? Was she going to die? She was going to die. Oh, Shards. She was going to die right here. Killed by her own sister. She tried to scream again for Aqua, but found she could only whimper. Author above, she'd never imagined going out this way!! More was sucked out of her and she faintly felt Astral's mental presence. Whatever she was doing, she was extremely happy about. 

Sophie squirmed on the ground, trying desperately to escape. Xino... needs me! she thought. Xino... I can't... can't die. He needs me... But she couldn't even move. She closed her eyes, feeling tears drip down her cheeks, but then... The awful feeling halted. Her vision cleared. What... why... No. She didn't have time to think why. She had to slow down and calm herself. Astral was probably gone by now, she could slow down and- 

Cold fingers touched her shoulders. When she opened her eyes, Astral was kneeling beside her, holding her down. She opened her mouth to scream again, this time sobbing as well, but Astral clamped a hand over her mouth. "Oh, you quiet down," she hissed. Sophie whimpered. Again. Astral's silver eyes were terrifying. "You're looking for Xino?" she asked. 

Sophie nodded weakly. 

Astral's face... fell? She looked conflicted. Almost... distressed. She looked away. "Well, then you'll need some help."

Sophie's eyes widened. "W-w-w-wha... wha..."

"Don't stutter," Astral growled. 

"Why?" Sophie finally forced out. 

"Because it's unbecoming," Astral said with a glare. 

"But... why... Xino?"

"He's an old friend," Astral said softly. Then, almost to herself. "One that might actually deserve a happy ending." She stood, then glanced at Aqua. "I trust your pet won't give me any trouble?"

Edited December 4, 2019 by Ookla The Narrator

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Quote

Uh-oh.  

All of a sudden, a jet of water hit Astral in the side of the head, soaking her from head to toe.

Excuse me? hissed Aqua. I am no one's... pet. And, she added with a sniff, we most definitely do not need your help.

Without another word, she began floating away. Come on, Sophie, she called. We're running out of time.