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askmalal · 2 years

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ARCHIVE M: Transmission 2

No: 3721, "An Obelisk"

SECURITY STATUS: Restricted

CLASSIFICATION: Artifact, Xenos, Religious

RECOVERY: [REDACTED]

ACQUIRED BY: [REDACTED]

ACQUISITION CONDITIONS: Planetary Survey

PROVENANCE: REDACTED

PRIMARY INVESTIGATOR OBSERVATIONS:

Subject is a moderately sized monolith, one in a roughly Obelisk shape, asymmetrical sides with flat bottom for display, approximately 3/4 ton in weight. Inscriptions in primitive Xeno-Cuneiformic text with notable similarities to Sumerian. A basic translation has been provided (ref: Attachment 3721-1.)

Essentially, Subject preports to display a series of rituals intended to cause ascension to godhood.

Material is essentially a blue-grey obsidian, or something that very closely approximates it. Though Subject's shape is asymmetrical, this seems to have been deliberate, and the inscription, though done with hammer and chisel, was done quite competently. Essentially, this is not sloppy work, and no simple primitivistic totem.

Subject has a mild magnetic field, though this did not prevent successful analysis; rather, our approximate judgements are based upon the limited samples of the material thus far gathered elsewhere.

None of the Legionaries in contact with Subject experienced any signs of exposure to extranormal forces. Subject was unusually cold to the touch based upon material and location of recovery, but this was within manageable levels.

Observers Notes #001 - [REDACTED]

Worth noting that, while there are ruins located in other areas of the planet, none are within any less than 55km from Subject. Reason uncertain. No signs of environmental disturbance or pollution. Flora, Fauna, and Water samples all within accepted norms with no signs of alteration.

OBSERVED DEVIANCE:

When in the presence of a fully indoctrinated member of [REDACTED], Subject's temperature drops by anywhere between ten to fifteen degrees on average. While handling is still possible by Legionaries, non-augmented individuals find Subject difficult to handle, even with protective gloves, for more than a few seconds. One individual, an armorer attached to II Company, informed investigating Legionaries that it felt as if he was plunging his hands "into water so cold that it is painful. Almost as if you expect you will suffer frostbite."

Observations by Epistolary [REDACTED], V Legion, detect passive psychic energy. [REDACTED] suggests that Subject was used as a sort of menhir or ceremonial focus, posits that this might account for the presence of energy readings. On orders of Primarch, a Psyker attached to the Imperial Army Regiments accompanying this Crusade Fleet was asked to examine Subject and provide her own thoughts.

Sanctioned Psyker [REDACTED] examined Subject on four separate occasions. Reports distinct discomfort around object. Summarized Notes are attached (ref: Attachment 3721-2.)

ADDENDUM 1

On instructions of the Primarch, I was asked to go over the translated words "with a fine toothed comb", in [REDACTED] words, apparently owing to my knowledge of Xeno-Theology.

The language is not unusual in subject matter, but I've got to tell you that the idea of making oneself a deity is often seen as some sort of sin by the majority of religions that I have encountered. With the possible exception of one particularly cult-like M19-M22 Terran religion briefly ascendant in North America, the idea of deifying oneself was generally seen as an objectively bad thing, even blasphemous, by most cultures. Indeed, those civilizations with a tendency to deify certain important heads of state viewed, or indeed view, the idea of an individual deifying herself as being too ridiculous to be countenanced. One becomes, essentially, a 'god' by creation, birth, or circumstance. One does not make onesself a god.

Having been asked to reference an example of Xenos faith that speaks extensively of this kind of thing, I can find a few relevant chapters in recovered Aeldari texts. I have attached these as [REDACTED]. In particular, please see the section regarding the Fall of the Aeldari, and the opinion of the so-called "Harlequin Cult," that such actions helped to exacerbate the "death" of their native deities and in fact hastened the decline of their civilization, though virtually none would countenance the view that the entity called [REDACTED] was created in this manner.

-Legionary Archivist [REDACTED]

ADDENDUM 2

New evidence taken during the compliance action at [REDACTED] seems to suggest that a significant portion of the [REDACTED] population believe the process described by Subject will actually work.

[REDACTED] considerably higher casualty rate than expected. This may in fact indicate [REDACTED]. See (ref: [REDACTED])

-Legionary Archivst [REDACTED] and Legionary Epistolary [REDACTED.]

[ADDENDUM 3][ENCRYPTED]

Upon completion of fifth year of [REDACTED] campaign against Xeno Species [REDACTED], I have been asked to evaluate Subject 3721, which has been archived for three decades at the time of this addendum.

This was occasioned by [REDACTED.]

While my report has been forwarded to the Primarch, I wish to express my strong opposition, as a matter of record, to the potential course of action. - Legionary Epistolary [REDACTED]

Addendum 3-a: That is a strong accusation. -[REDACTED]

Addendum 3-b: I'm not accusing anyone of anything. I am drawing conclusions based upon the available information. Why would this thing have any use in [REDACTED]. I deeply respect her, and will respect instructions. However, I would be remiss if my objections were not lodged, and my own Primarch would be deeply displeased with me. - Legionary Epistolary [REDACTED]

Addendum 3-c: I admit it's far fetched, but it isn't as if we're being asked to [REDACTED], [REDACTED] simply wants an assessment. Maybe there's some sort of counter-action possible here? A sort of nullifying effect? - [REDACTED]

Addendum 3-d: Enough. Ease your minds, both of you. The Epistolary is of course correct to express reservation regarding anything approaching the alleged properties of the Subject, or its inscription, or... I've asked him to examine because I trust his judgement. Do what you need to do, Epistolary-Centurion. And I don't see your comments as disrespectful, nor do I feel 'accused', [REDACTED]. [FURTHER CONTENT REDACTED]

ADDENDUM 4:

Upon death of [REDACTED] in action, Primarch has instructed that further research be halted until another authority on the subject can be questioned.

-[REDACTED]

ADDENDUM 5:

[REDACTED]

ATTACHMENT: 3721-1

ONTHEBECOMINGANDASCENSION.holo

ATTACHMENT: 3721-2

Sanctioned Psyker [REDACTED], [REDACTED] Expeditionary Fleet

Re: "Examination of and Prolonged Exposure to Subject 3721.

EXAMINATIONANDPROLONGED.holo

ATTACHMENT: [REDACTED]

...END OF FILE TRANSFER...

FURTHER NOTES APPENDED.

BEGINS:

We've got strong evidence that recently re-activated Dreadnought, Subject "Lir" was involved in recovery of Archive M. Will appraise you on future developments

-K.

TRANSMISSION ENDS

ENCRYPTED...

....

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

"Let He Who Is Without Sin Throw the First Stone"

-Yeshua Ben Josef, Terran Prophet (M1)

#ask malal #malice #warhammer40k #warhammer roleplay #archive m #ask me questions #chaos gods

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nevertheless-moving · 3 years

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Continued from here. You can read the origin of this branch of the au and a continued smattering of @dykerory‘s and @willowcrowned’s original ones under the corn boy anakin au

The conversation between Batman and Anakin skywalker goes as well as can be expected.

(l love that i just wrote that sentence wow crossovers are fun)

They’re very frank and depart on cordial terms

Anakin doesn’t try very hard to convince Batman, “yeah it is a crazy story, I don’t really have any proof that couldn’t have been fabricated at this point, I’m flattered that you think so highly of my intellect, sorry Clark roped you into this.”

and Batman doesn’t try very hard to convince Anakin “No you’re quite stable and I don’t want to mess with what you’ve got going on, I don’t have to show you the profiles I put together if you don’t want, sorry Clark keeps bringing this up.”

And Wayne Co. supports another one of the Shmi Foundation’s civil rights projects. They tell Clark that Batman put his best resources behind it but another universe is another universe, you know?

Clark doesn’t stop trying on their intersteller missions. Batman just sort of resigns himself to cringing internally whenever it’s brought up- he supposes legends have to come from somewhere.

A year later, 31 years after Anakin crashed in the Kent’s corn field, another spaceship crashes to Earth, appearing out of nowhere on Earth’s fledgling intersteller sensors.

Due to high prevailing winds that day, it unfortunately does not land on the Kent Farm, but rather across the road. The property owners do the responsible thing and call the police about the UFO, who call the military about the spaceship with a little green man inside, who call the CIA, who are strong armed by the Department of Extranormal Operations, and manage to claim custody over the spaceship over Checkmate.

Yoda is brought to DC Area 51, where scientists quickly realize he’s dying, well before they even get to start any experiments

Lot of frantic running around and yelling- they even try to ask the thing what he needs from them but he just says “The Force. Without the force, dying, I am” and no one has any idea what that means.

Batman get’s word of this like...oh fuuuuu and reluctantly sticks the Justice League’s hand in for custody of the extraterrestrial

because if he doesn’t Superman’s going to tear down area 51 and he does not need that.

There’s some precedent for this, but it’s not exactly a threat per se, so this is really overstepping some of the agreements they’ve made

J’onn and Kal-El have to make a bunch of rapid promises to sit down for interviews that they’ve been dodging with some important figures

Superman whooshes Yoda away to the new Justice League Facility in Upstate [Redacted]

Everyone with alien or magic expertise is called in to try and keep Anakin’s um...great-great-grandfather? did he say grandfather? alive

Wait Anakin is Superman’s brother? I...what?

Anakin is deeply emotional at seeing the old troll again, and Yoda is just as thrilled to see the lost padawan alive and well. Even without the force, Anakin has the bearing of a Jedi Knight.

“He’s dying,” Anakin explains to the assembled magicians and scientists. “He’s 900 years old, the only reason he’s lived this long is because of his connection to the Force. Without it...”

Constantine: “You’re both talking this awfully calmly.”

(sidenote: by the time Anakin stumbled upon actual magic users who could actually teach him magic, he was settled enough in himself that it was the connection he missed, not the power. He tries a few spells, shows some basic aptitude but hates the feeling and doesn’t try again)

Anakin, sadly: “Emotion, yet peace.”

Yoda, coughing: “Ignorance yet knowledge.”

Together: “Passion yet Serenity; Chaos yet Harmony; Death yet...”

They trail off- Anakin looks devastated and Yoda’s ears droop

Anakin: “Grandmaster, I don’t know what happens to people in this universe when they die- every religion says something different!”

Superman (Christian): “Um.”

Batman (Atheist): ...

Zantana: “I’ve been to the underworld! It’s...not for everyone.”

Constantine: “Literally fucked Satan and I’m also unclear. Wait, does your universe have one set afterlife, like for certain? Nevermind, I’ll ask later, sorry.”

Yoda: “...That I will find my way to the force, hope i must have.”

Anakin: “Kal, I need you to get my lightsaber.”

Throwback to the Checkov’s Kyber earlier. Zantana overloads the crystal, it explodes and releases the remnants of force trapped inside.

Clark and some of the League get to experience the Force for a minute

It’s very beautiful, ok?

Anakin gathers and directs the explosion of force towards Yoda

And a tiny window opens up to what looks like the Council Room.

Yoda thanks Anakin and then fades into thin air ok that’s a bit weird for everyone except Anakin who just pretends that he already knew that was going to happen because ‘joining the force’ was a thing that he did believe in he just had never seen it happen so literally

and obi-wan runs at the window desperately and it's too small for anyone to fit through anyway but mace and kit are holding obi-wan back because they just saw Yoda fade into oblivion while in the arms of a strange man but obi-wan's like ANAKIN ANAKIN THAT'S MY PADAWAN ANAKIN WHERE ARE YOU

Anakin jolts up desperately IT’S ALRIGHT OBI-WAN I’M-

and the window closes and the force fades and Anakin sort of sags in on himself

“I’m glad I got to show you what the force was like, Clark, even just for a moment”

“Me to Ani...I’m sorry...”

“It’s alright, I just...it’s fine.”

#star wars #star wars au #dc #superman #crossover #corn boy anakin au

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obscurettrpgoftheweek · 3 years

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Look, I'm a sucker for the supernatural and extranormal and whatever else you want to call it. From what I read in the sourcebook? This game's GOT IT. Here's my little summary of the setting:

"Picture this, right? Your average D&D setting. [high] fantasy, various humanoid races, arcane and divine magics abound. Until one year, the death of the gods happens. The first sign of what causes it will never be clear. Maybe it was the rash of warlocks going insane in the south. Maybe it was the grotesque beasts bubbling from the very stones in the western mountains. For most, it was the bodies of their gods crashing through the world. These carcasses still spark with life. From the outside they appar to be alive, but they do not move. Their alien topographies weave through our realm and into others, serving as rotting gates between planes. Some gods still live. None will tell precisely why the death of the gods happened, but some whisper of gods older than even the carcasses, which heard of the slain like vultures hear of carrion. Vulture is a human term, though. Not even the living gods know much."

Functionally, this world is kinda like an Attack on Titan (without all the nazi shit thankfully) 'last bastions of civilization' setting, mixed with some Hunter x Hunter 'the (Hunters, Godeaters, whatever) go places that normal people can't. Either they do this for their villages to provide, for their own riches or personal drive, or on suicide missions to plead with forces beyond understanding'.

Really, the very Greek/Norse/most Polytheistic religions-esque idea of imperfect and even hostile gods is so choice. Inject that into a ttrpg and there's so much possibility. There's entire civilizations living in the CORPSES of GODS. If that's not a Meatloaf album cover, it should be.

P.S.:

#Godeater #high fantasy #high magic #weird #rules-medium

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the-presence-above-all-54 · 3 years

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Fantastika

Rated: M

Genre: Science Fantasy, Role-Playing Game (Dungeon Crawler, Sandbox, Narrative and Light, Action)

Platform: Microsoft console, Sony console, PC

Summary: A multiverse that contains multiple planes/dimensions each with different biomes inhabited by many kinds of entities, the many afterlife realms of different alignments, and the solar system. It tells all legendary campaigns and fantastic stories.

Terminology and Features

- Life-Force Powers of the Chi, Mana, and Aura present in all sentient beings.

- Physical, Mystical, and Technological.

- Humans and Human Hybrids are naturally born with both magic and powers.

- Enchanted Artifacts and Magitek [Magic powered technology]

- Early Renaissance era Firearms and Thermal weapons (Ex. Pistol, Blunderbuss, Musket, Hand Mortar, Fire Lance).

- Extranormal Schools and/or Universities that specializes in teaching and training students of different classes like Wizards, Ninjas, etc.

- Characters based and referenced from History, Mythology, Legend, Folklore, Tall Tale, Religion, Spirituality, Fairy Tale, Poem, Song, Theater, Opera, and Literature.

- Creatures and Beings from Mythology, Legend, Folklore, Cryptozoology, Tall Tale, Fable, Religion, Spirituality, Fairy Tale, Literature, Theater, Film, and Tabletop Role-Playing Game. (Ex. The Cthulhu Mythos, Edgar Rice Burroughs-style Planetary Romance and Beneath the Earth locales, things like the Jabberwock and Bandersnatch and Jubjub birds, monsters based on old Sinbad movies, extra-terrestrials including the classic Greys, and even modern folkloric monsters like mothmen and chupacabras.)

- Objects from Mythology, Legend, Folklore, Tall Tale, Fable, Religion, Spirituality, Fairy Tale, and Literature.

- Places and Events from History, Mythology, Legend, Folklore, Tall Tale, Fable, Religion, Spirituality, Fairy Tale, and Literature.

#science fantasy #role-playing video games #concept

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twitchesandstitches · 5 years

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Pokemon in Crossthicc - The Other Teams

In general the most relevant ones here are probably Team Rocket (a big, spanning criminal empire secretly allied to the Ringers) and Team Skull, who are part of the Endowed Fleet. Because, really. It’s Team Skull. They’re too adorable and harmless to be bad! Let them wind up with the punk MILFs where they belong

Team Rocket: Associated with the Imperial Commonwealth of Humanity. Aristocrats hold all the power in the Commonwealth, and Giovanni Rocetto’s family is quite old indeed, predating the Commonwealth all the way back to the human homeworld itself, or so he claims. Blessed with powerful psionics, he found a way to forcibly dominate the minds of the feral Pokemon and bind them to himself, and taught others how to use this skill. He founded the Rockets as a military organization of monster hunters that took down Pokemon and broke them into obedience, and they remain a thorn in the side of the Fleet. The Rockets are very big and powerful now, constituting three hundred noble families in a complex web of marriages and rivalries, all vying for Giovanni’s favor, and have earned governorship over three dozen solar systems. As Giovanni cares nothing for the anti-nonhuman attitudes of the Commonwealth in favor of his own dreams of imperial glory, he is planning to secede entirely and, in time, conquer the Commonwealth itself.

These ambitions eventually caused him to notice certain trends within the Commonwealth’s political practices, indications of outside influence, and no sooner had he figured this out than representatives of the Ringers came to him, making him an offer: join the Ringers and ensure humanity’s survival and his own prosperity, or perish when the inevitable war came. He accepted and is now a member in major standing, and one of the more influential humans. Humanity’s weakness if something of a major problem for him, and he is constantly trying to make humans more competitive, so to speak.

The modern Team Rocket is a military juggernaut, using its enslaved monsters as living forces of nature to wipe all their enemies before them. They are justly feared and dreaded. BUT.

But, every bad batch has a few dumplings that are inexplicably good for all rottenness they came from.

This is where Jessie and James come in.

They were both originally from Team Skull, but it was a desperate life and, innocent of Rocket’s true nature, Jessie and James joined Team Rocket largely to get out of that life. Among other things, both of them are secretly descended from incredibly influential human houses of ancient days, and while this does them no good, it does give whoever control them a lot of clout among human societies that put stock in that kind of thing, which intrigued Giovanni. They found a clever cat Pokemon, curing him of his corruption with the power of their genuine friendship, and as the Meowth was freed, he learned to speak human language without even having to assume a humanoid form. Jessie, James and Meowth became inseparable, and joined the Cobalts after being dissatisfied with the Rocket’s general malignancy following a chance encounter and an unlikely incident involving a heist, an ancient human religious urn, two and a half dumplings and a very one-sided bet.

Jessie is hyper curvy, with extremely prehensile hair powers, and while she’s not especially powerful, she is a LOT bigger than you’d expect, and can often be at least twenty five feet tall at full power, with breasts swelling out over even her stomach. James and Meowth often ride in her cleavage. She’s known to adopt her Arbok’s tail for a naga-style body, the huge tongue of a Likitung, Dustox wings, Gourgeist shell, and a Wobbuffet's super bouncy, defensive body.

Teams Aqua and Magma: Two rival organizations that were originally the same one, and even following a split in ideology, had the same overall goal; repairing the destruction to the worlds of the multiverse. A noble goal, to be sure. However they split apart into two religious groups opposed to each other: one, Magma, revering the earth titan Groudon, thought it would be best to physically construct new worlds and terraform dead planets, and was led by the charismatic preacher Maxie. The other, Aqua, worshiped the sea goddess Kyogre and had the radical idea of adapting living beings to live in the realms of magic permanently by removing the barriers between those worlds entirely. They were led by a famous pirate and conservationist, Archie. Aqua took to piracy to fund their experiments, while Magma put on the appearance of a sainty religious organization and used the profits from its patrons to do the same.

The groups managed to call forth their deities, but discovered that the slumbering avatars of the Legendaries were not immune to the madness afflicting all Pokemon in the mortal realms, and Kyogre and Groudon ravaged many worlds in their corruption before the summoning of Rayquaza allowed Maxie and Archie to find their gods and personally bond with them, taming them somewhat and at least stabilizing their obsessive drives to terraform things without concern for the squishies.

Since then, Aqua has signed up with the Cobalts full time, finding a common aesthetic theme, a similar attitude, and freedom to do pretty much as they like. They care for many of the monsters and attack beasts of the Cobalts, and have pioneered many magical technologies; Aqua iconography has become a major part of the Stinger’s look, and their taste in water-themed powers has proven quite popular. Shelly has become the new Admiral from their ranks, and Archie has named her his successor.

Team Magma, surprisingly, has gravitated towards the Fleet. It’s unclear why, exactly, but it seems that their interest in terraforming struck a chord with Magma. Mountain Priestess Courtney/Kagari has succeeded Maxie as leader.

TEAM GALACTIC

A deeply mysterious organization and one that is still extant. In canon, they sought to remake the Pokemon universe. Here, they intended to alter the multiverse in their image by breaking down the barriers between all planes, believing this would allow them to impose their will upon the magical nature of the cosmos permanently. The culmination of countless eons of patient work, this vast conspiracy predates even the cataclysm. While their current leader, Cyrus, was foiled and brought to justice, the organization itself remains and are undoubtedly continuing their grand plan.

If Galactic’s efforts are allowed to continue, the results will be unspeakably catastrophic. The mortal universes are a soap bubble floating upon the multiverse, and would likely not survive the weight of all the other planes crashing down upon them, and then burst. This doesn't even include the dangers of sharing space with actual infernal hellscapes, or the alien beauty of heavens too intense for mortals to see. Mortalkind would likely cease to exist following the fulfillment of Galactic’s plans.

Of greater interest is how they arrived to this plan, more than the why or when they started it. This implies a great deal of knowledge about the makeup of the multiverse and fundamental understanding that presently eludes modern scholars. Those in the know greatly wish to find Galactic’s research and find out what they know; such precious knowledge is more invaluable than their extensive infrastructure.

Galactic heavily deals with many extranormal forces and summoning entities from across the planes. Accordingly, they can show up any when, any place, and have a very wide reach. Few of them are human, due to their sheer scope, and any alien species can have members of them. It is possible that the Crossthicc incarnations of its leadership are alien races infamous for being ancient: Cyrus might be an ancient Transformer, for example, with the others being Gems, Protheans, and so on.

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TEAM PLASMA

An extensive organization that deals heavily with the rights and concerns of magical entities of all sorts, from the smallest magical pets to the greatest summon beasts across the realms… or at least that is the image they wish to present. In reality, while the vast majority of their membership is a non-denominational religion that reveres magical entities as being emanations of a vast pantheon (among other details), their leadership are not believers but cold manipulators who are attempting to use the tenets of this belief system to their advantage: by taking direct control of as many magical entities as possible and using them to empower themselves in a process similar to what the MILF Fleet has learned to do with their own created magical powers.

As of Crossthicc’s ‘canon’, Plasma has yet to interact with any other faction in a significant way. Their leader, Ghetsis, an old and wily salarian with dreams of power, has a idealistic boy named N raised to believe himself as the liberator of the Pokemon form their current sad state, as a precursor to freeing all magical creatures from similar fates. N is a Transformer, but a rare human-sized one known as a Pretender, and can take on the form of any alien being within his size range in order to live life as they do, and this has afforded him a rare perspective that threatens to tear the Plasma organization apart between those loyal to him, and those loyal to the old guard.

Their name appears to come from the fact that their military forces are traditionally chosen from beings with the power to manipulate plasma in some fashion. It is common to make use of Pokemon with power over electricity and fire as a sign of prestige for the same reason.

Should Plasma do the thing and split, there would likely start a divide between the true believers who follow N, and those who are not genuine followers of the faith. They would likely be a force for good, if perhaps prone to conflicts of interest with others, while the remainder would become soldiers of conquest and fulfill Ghestis’ orders in a more straightforward fashion.

-----

Team Flare

Outwardly a corporate world (originating from a world called Flare, which gave them their name), Team Flare is led by the man Lysandre who had claimed to rediscover ancient terraforming technology and, in conjunction with the Pokemon he was able to commune with, his organization reshaped worlds into incredibly beautiful ones that would be difficult to find in natural circumstance. Worlds of solid diamond glittered in the sky, planets where the continent formed beautiful artwork, and more.

However, Team Flare’s true goal was a beautiful universe… of themselves, alone. The descendants of many eons of genetic alteration geared towards beautification, the many species had been changed to function as a single one, interbreeding into one specifically designed to be beautiful and physically more capable than their baseline counterparts. Lysandre, afraid for the resources consumed by potential rivals, sought to use his Pokemon and technology to end his universe and leave only a canvas from which he could reshape it all. Empty worlds he could design to his artistic requirements, and to be repopulated by his perfected kindred, and cared little for the deaths of all other beings in their universe. Unexpectedly, the Cobalts caught wind of this plot and stopped it, as it was too evil for them to allow. Besides, they wanted real estate in that universe and they didn’t want to get killed doing that. The Cobalts defeated Lysandre, taking over his organization and adopting his Pokemon and his more moral subordinates, using the technology to make their worlds super fancy as that universe praised them as heroes.

The organization as a whole is still out there, and may still present a threat; Lysandre has the knowing of recreating his technology, and all he requires is a means to scale it up enough. Additionally, this version of him has recently become a vampire, and is turning the most beautiful and, in his view, morally gifted mortals into his new clan, a new Team Flare. (I’m not saying they’re Ventrue from Vampire: The Masquerade but if the blue blood fits, ya slurp it if you’re a vampire!)

----

TEAM SKULL

Not even slightly really villainous, but driven to acts of crime in order to survive. Team Skull were, whatever their species, a massive family of outcasts who are the survivors of civilizations, now living aboard a massive planet-sized space station, that managed to just barely hold onto spaceworthy ability after the cataclysm… but only just. They then faced grave misfortune as new warlords, thugs who were ecstatic at the breakdown of society to do as they pleased, and fiends drawn into the material world by so much suffering came upon them at once. For thousands of years, these survivors suffered, often dying in droves and forced to fight tooth and nail and still being drained dead, living in massive ships clinging to life support.

They became a sprawling clan; since everyone they met kept trying to kill them, they decided that if all the multiverse would be their enemy, they would fight it with all they had, and protect each other and take care of one another, since no one else would. And for ages, that was enough. But in modern times, as warlords sought to conquer their home, a charismatic leader named Guzma rallied his people and called out to the Pokemon, eldritch entities though they were, pleading for help.

They answered. Wicke was saved by Skull, hurt and barely alive after struggling to stay alive following her departure from the Aether Foundation, and she became a very influential part of their group, officially called the Big Skull Mom, and she began a romantic relationship with Guzma (and mentoring him as well), finding it a chance to start over.

Team Skull was born not long after, fusing with a wild resurgence of Pokemon that were drawn by their love for one another, and their habitat-station became a ship, fused partly with a massive horde of Pokemon so that it was able to move. Mistrustful of everyone outside their family, they regarded anyone not in Skull as an enemy. But they weren’t malicious, just hurt and desperately trying to stay alive, held together by Guzma’s sheer charisma and restrained by Wicke’s moderation, effectively becoming a bunch of looters and scavengers.

This changed when they met the Endowed Fleet.

At the time, the Rockets were expanding into Skull territory, wiping out everything they’d built and harrying them as lowly space scum, and the Skulls responded with frenzied rage, their bonds to their Pokemon vastly outscoring the Rocket’s own skills. The Endowed Fleet became involved at this point, and both groups had many close calls and conflicts until a chance meeting with Guzma and several Fleet heroines, exploring their people’s origin, caused them to realize that they had much in common. As both groups had to work together to fend of the Rockets, they worked together, and Skull eventually thought of the Fleet not as a potential enemy, but as friends.

And once the Rockets were repelled, the Skulls didn’t want to see them go, and joined the Fleet entirely. Their spaceship station has since been remodeled into a living ship, the Pokemon comprising it already freed from corruption by the presence of the Skulls, and the Skulls are happy members of the Fleet, with many of them becoming Endowed and parents to many children. Guzma in particular is a good friend to Sierra and one of her many boyfriends and sidekicks, and Skull Grunts comprise a large number of the Fleet’s ground forces in average fights. The big sister of Skull, Plumeria, is a big name in the Fleet now, and she is Endowed as well, becoming a hyper MILF giantess with poison-themed powers: among other things, her hair transforms into toxic substances when she fully powers up, and she likes to use the traits of Muk (slimy absorbing body), Crobat (bat wings, health absorbing bites), Toxapex (hard shell) and Salazzle (big sharp teeth, reptile tail). Plumeria is essentially an administrator in the Fleet and an organizer, and thinks of everyone else that isn’t Endowed as being an adorably helpless goofball that needs her; she’s friendly but hides it beneath a teasing demeanor.

Skulls tendency for torn up grunge-y outfits, skull imagery, goofy attempts to look spooky, and scavenger attire are a big influence on the Fleet’s fashion! Imagine Borderlands fused with Team Skull, and you have the aesthetic of the Fleet down.

TEAM CIPHER/SNAGEM

There are many worlds of perilous wastelands in the multiverse, lands where corrupt warlords dominate with lost technology, powerful techno-artifacts, and sorcerous techniques kept among their dynasties. Cipher and its military division, Snagem, descended from one such dynasty and one of such influence that it dominated several solar systems of inhabitable planets (if only barely livable ones) that had been reduced to apocalyptic wastelands even all these eons after the cataclysm.

A man named Gonzap was the first of his dynasty to really take the techniques and magical abilities passed down by his ancestors into industrialized quality: through the use of technological armaments and specialized techniques, they had learned how to summon forth spirits and chain them to the will of a summoner without the usual two-way relationship that a true summoning entails. This wound up making the summoning quite weak, as a normal summoning grants strange to both as their relationship progresses, but it was also quite easy to maintain, allowing his ancestors to summon thousands of spiritual entities as cannon fodder. Gonzap and his advisors worked out a way to make this easy for their ordinary soldiers to use without being able to rework the technique, making use of special gauntlets; in time, they turned their attention to Pokemon, chaining those wild and lost powers to their own uses. Snagem developed as the ones to capture new Pokemon, and in time, the ones who fielded them. Cipher developed into a proto-aristocracy.

Cipher expanded very quickly, dominating a respectable amount of space; as much as possible, given the limits that pre-FTL travel imposes on the ability to organize any kind of extrasolar space travel. And, amazingly, they even managed to find a corrupted avatar of Lugia, which was single-handedly responsible for conquering several worlds… and annihilating many others before they managed to get even a small sliver of control over it.

Cipher was ultimately foiled, though, when Gonzap’s heir (a man named Wes) revolted against the dynasty and went on the run with a powerful psionic woman named Rui, and along with a young apprentice of Wes’ own, they went on the run and determiend how to properly bond with Pokemon and free them of corruption, which they used to great effect and won the corrupted Pokemon of Cipher and Snagem to their side, even the Lugia avatar. As Wes’ crew started a short and brutal war against Cipher, other rival empires moved in and attacked; Cipher still exists, but is a shadow of its former power.

Cipher was, in its day, absolutely brutal towards its captive Pokemon and spirits in a way unequaled by even the most ruthless members of Rocket; accordingly, those who work with Pokemon gravely dislike them, and Pokemon themselves generally have sworn oaths of vengeance against them for their crimes against Pokemonkind. Cipher, even so, is working to regain its former power and are likely to be antagonists or enemy mercenaries; their soldiers will hire themselves out to anyone, for loot and experience.

Wes and his crew are still around, independent heroes for hire in an adventure guild that mostly consists of the Pokemon the crew helped in the old days. Wes himself is likely a mentor figure to the likes of Ash and the other trainers, and a inspirational story to those who fear that relation to evil forces means you are doomed to evil yourself.

#/#//#///#////#/////#queued #crossthicc AU #crossthicc!pokemon #and that's the end of my pre-written pokemon related posts!

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autisticthatthouknowestthine · 7 years

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allll they have to do is give up everything they’ve ever known and submit to total colonization. no! they’re not gonna!! like!! scamming the SHIT out of the system! playing w dreidels in caves!! do what you have to do to survive!!

#like it's supposed to be a ~~scary magicless future~~~#if these assholes win #and like so far they've promised universal housing healthcare and like ????#but like major fucking downsides #they treat belief in magic (or anything extranormal) as like a big ol no???#so like peoples' traditions??? would be have to given up #but also like #saying yes to this deal and then like practicing your religion in secret??? like if you're dying do what you've fuckin gotta do!!#dreidels in caves #but like this is some SHIT #give up all your traditions for this perfect modern future where things are better!!!!!#sounds like false colonialist promises to me????#but like??????#danit liveblogs m:a #colonialism tw

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preservationofnormalcy · 9 months

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Got permission to post this from the files.

#radiant heart #extranormal religions

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preservationofnormalcy · 7 months

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Hi, we're followers of She Who Dwells in Deep Waters, and our chapter has been planning some outreach activities. Do we need a permit to hold a seafood boil to share in Her Bounty and raise funds for the preservation of Her Domain? To clarify, we're not an Outsider cult. Our Lady originated on earth and Her Appearance is simply due to Her being a deep sea creature (I blame Howard for equating all unusual sea life with Outsiders). We won't be serving shoggoth calimari or anything like that.

Oh, hey! I had to look in the archives. Last time we heard from you guys was...'73. She Who Dwells is of Atlantean extraction, from what I see here, and the political situation with Atlantis is a bit touch and go...but I don't see a problem. You're all based in....Florida, looks like, so I think the laws there are a little lax when it comes to having a big seafood boil. Just observe all best practices when it comes to extranormal religious outreach, have all the public gathering forms for the city, all that. We might send someone from Extranormal Religions Task Force there just to watch, but I figure they'll appreciate the shrimp.

Florida, hm. On the plus side you'll all have more of Florida underwater in a decade or two. So look forward to that.

#office for the preservation of normalcy #ask #extranormal religions

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preservationofnormalcy · 9 months

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Since there’s like, extranormal everything, what about extranormal religions?

Oh, definitely. We have our Holistic Theology Department but also the Extranormal Religions Task Force to help with those. Since the 50's the Office has tried to balance normality with allowing people to practice their beliefs.

I've talked about the Yellow Circle, who we work closely with. We made contact with them in the 50s. They're an Outsider cult, dealing in the kind of tentacled things ol' Howie wrote about. (As an aside, Lovecraft didn't really have any special knowledge, he was a bigot everyone hated who got lucky and stumbled on some Yellow Circle literature.) They worship the King whose throne resides in the golden void, and are experts in all things Eldritch. They have a vested interest in keeping our reality more or less stable, so we keep them on the payroll.

There's also the First National Church of the Radiant Heart. They were formed in the 40's when a worker on the Manhattan project looked into a nuclear device for too long. Since then, they've worshiped the concept of radiation as a godlike force. Through means we don't really understand, their belief makes them (mostly) immune to radiation sickness or long term radiation poisoning. One thing to note about the Radiant Heart: on a quick glance, their churches and services might pass for contemporary American Christianity. If you ever enter a megachurch, take a second to see if the cross above the pulpit has a trefoil on it. If it does, walk away and talk to a doctor. Though that's unlikely you will: they went mostly underground in the 90s after Chernobyl, their prophesied apocalypse, failed to ignite the atmosphere in nuclear fire, something they called the Great Division. We know they still have conclaves, and we've seen photos of what their leader, Pastor Mayweather, looks like now. It's not good. "Mostly" immune is not fully immune.

Another I've mentioned are the Andromeda Starlight, but they have very good lawyers and I'd rather stay on their good side.

#office for the preservation of normalcy #ask #extranormal religions #radiant heart #Yellow Circle #andromeda starlight

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preservationofnormalcy · 9 months

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Hah! I just found this transcript from the archives. This was all declassified for the extranormal community in the 90s after some Radiant Heart deacons showed up on a wizard talk show before we could stop it.

The following document was assembled from an audio recording and agent recollections during an operation that took place January 2nd, 1950, wherein Agents Saxon and De Boer attended a “revival” religious meeting held by Extranormal Beliefs Group “First National Church of the Radiant Heart” in the guise of reporters from the local newspaper. Elizabeth De Boer is an accomplished psychic medium in Office employ, and Saxon is employed as Security.

===============

[The revival meeting takes place in a large tent, such as that used for a circus. A few hundred people or more are assembled inside. Benches are arranged in three “wings” surrounding a central stage. It was noted after the fact that this resembles the “trefoil”.]

[De Boer] Is it on?

[Saxon] Yes, ma’am.

[Background noise and chatter from the assembled congregants.]

[D] What do you think so far, Saxon?

[S] They put me in mind of my cousins.

[D] Why?

[S] I’m from the hills, ma’am. ‘Round Tennessee way. My family’s church are all snake handlers.

[D] And how do you feel about them?

[S] Pity, mostly.

[D] Because they’re religious?

[S] On account of my uncle dying from the snakebite, ma’am.

[D] Mmm.

[S] Speaking of, how’s the Geiger?

[D] We won’t keel over tomorrow, if that’s what you’re asking.

[S] But it’s still going off, ma’am?

[D] Chambers said the ███████ would protect us.

[S] Not that I distrust Miss Chambers, ma’am, but a man gets a little nervous when he sees a Geiger counter spinning.

[A rising noise from the crowd quiets them. Clapping and singing commence as Pastor Mayweather himself rises onto the stage, waving, smiling, and grabbing an offered microphone.]

[Mayweather] Thank you, Brother Mark. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, you know why we’re here tonight. Don’t we?

[The crowd murmurs agreement.]

[M] We are here in communion, ladies and gentlemen, we are here to give HONOR to the one that unites us, gives us life and POWER, and BRINGS us together both here and in the next life, can I get an amen?

[A chorus of ‘amens’ rises from the crowd. Mayweather continues to speak as he paces back and forth across the stage.]

[S] He’s navigating the stage real well. I thought he was supposed to be blind?

[D] They said he doesn’t have eyes. In our line of work, I wouldn’t assume those mean the same thing. Besides, he’s probably faked it.

[M] --and you are HERE, ladies and gentlemen, to witness a miracle. Am I right? I got to speak about something here folks, let me speak before we bring on our new friend. Do you feel it, folks?

[Shouts of agreement.]

[M] Oh I feel it too. That glow, that warmth. Can you feel it, soaking your body, wrapping your very DNA in radiant love, rebuilding you? Of course you can, family. Of course you can. Brother Mark, can you-- yes, thank you Brother Mark. Folks, this is Emily.

[A young girl is wheeled onto the stage in a wheelchair. She is shy, but looking up at Mayweather with awe.]

[M] Young Emily here had polio. She has been blighted by that dreadful disease and can no longer walk. Isn’t that right? [E] Yes, Pastor.

[M] Emily, are you here to accept the blessing of our saviour, our light, our POWER and warmth, the Split Atom?

[E] (tearing up) Yes, Pastor.

[Mayweather puts his hand on her forehead and leans down toward her.]

[M] Sister Emily, will you place your faith in the Glow, the holy radiation, and be PURIFIED by ions, down to the subatomic level, Miss Emily--

[E] Yes, Pastor!

[The lights in the tent flicker and a low hum fills the area. The counter on the silent Geiger counter in De Boer’s longcoat rises.]

[S] What’s he doing….

[M] Sister Emily, by the POWER and AUTHORITY invested in me, we will REMAKE you. We will split one atom, one holy exercise in unlocking the secrets of the universe and we WILL burn away this damage, we WILL heal your damaged nerves--

[The crowd’s cheering rises to a fever pitch. The lights flicker faster and a green glow emanates from Mayweather’s hand. He continues his invocation, and many in the crowd join him, chanting, cheering, reciting scripture.]

[M] BE HEALED, Sister Emily, be HEALED!

[There is silence, and then a crackling energy. Briefly, green light can be seen behind Mayweather’s sunglasses. As the lights come back up, Mayweather holds out his hand.]

[M] Sister Emily, will you rise in the name of the Glow?

[After some hesitation, Emily pulls herself out of her chair. To her amazement, she can stand shakily on her feet. The crowd erupts in cheers and praises.]

[S] Wow. That’s--

[D] Chicanery. Hogwash.

[S] The girl seemed--

[D] A plant. An actor. Flicker the lights, flash a green flashlight onto the speaker. It’s a show to sell their radiation quackery.

[Mayweather dabs his forehead with a handkerchief as Emily is led off the stage.]

[M] Isn’t that a miracle, ladies and gentlemen. Isn’t that wonderful. We know where our power comes from, don’t we? From the Radiance, from the Great Ionization. Folks, we have another thing to show. Brother Gregory, fetch the- thank you, Brother Gregory.

[A deacon brings a Geiger counter and sets it on the stage on a table. Mayweather stands behind the table, his hand over the counter.]

[M] Ladies and gentlemen….ladies and gentlemen, we are GATHERED here tonight in the name of the Split Atom, I said in the NAME of the SPLIT ATOM to call up the spirit of Sister Josie, isn't that right? Yes family, Sister Josie passed on into the Glow two months ago but her holy atomic soul has lingered to GUIDE us into the holy Glow ourselves.

[He raises his hand, palm outward, and the crowd goes silent. Saxon notes that De Boer leans forward to watch.]

[M] Sister Josie….are you here? Are you here with us?

[The Geiger counter is silent for a moment, then crackles to life. De Boer clutches her forehead.]

[S] Ma’am? Do we--are you okay?

[D] Yes, yes, just. Keep the recording going, Saxon.

[M] Sister Josie, is that you? Two clicks for yes, one for no.

[The Geiger squeals twice, and Mayweather smiles. The crowd gasps and murmurs.]

[M] Ain’t that something, folks? Ain’t that something? Sister Josie, can you bless us tonight? Bless us with your Radiance?

[The counter goes haywire, squealing and clicking loudly. De Boer leans on one of the bleachers for support, gritting her teeth.]

[M] Can you feel her, folks? Can you FEEL her ionized spirit coursing through each and every one of us gathered here?

[D] We need to go. I need to leave.

[S] Yes, uh. Alright, ma’am, let’s--

[The sound of the crowd dies down as they leave the tent.]

[S] ….what, uh. Did you hear something?

[D] Yes, I….hold on.

[De Boer takes a moment to compose herself.]

[D] Screaming.

[S] What?

[D] It was just screaming. Just….screaming. Turn the recording off. We need to get the ERTF involved.

#office for the preservation of normalcy #long form #lore #radiant heart #extranormal religions

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