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taz-manic · 6 years

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Fuzzy and Out of Balance (3 / ??)

Lucretia knew you weren't dangerous. If you were even anywhere near to that word, it would be to yourself. You had, over the weeks you've been in the Bureau, have pushed people away. Avi and Johann were adamant about visiting you, Avi because he thought you were fun, and Johann because you could tell him the vast past of his world and he could make songs based on terrible legends no one would want to remember. Merle, of course, came around. Magnus and Taako, not as much. Maybe to pick up Merle, maybe to ask a vague question. You didn't mind their hesitance--you could list off every fact about them. And the fact that you're pretty sure they both know you're hiding something you can never say. And hey! Even if you did, they wouldn't fucking hear it! Which is absolutely disheartening.

As the days flicked by, you began to learn. You knew nothing but this world, and not even the basic necessities. Lucretia--Madam Director--worked with you for hours, teaching you how to function as a human being. It was difficult, of course, as you had the emotional stability of a cracked egg on a python. You would often burst into tears or get angry because you didn't /know/ how to emote properly. But Lucretia taught you, and as you two spent hours upon hours alone--occasionally with Merle--you talked. You confessed you knew it all--every facet of their past. Every year they went through, everything they did. You slowly manipulated Lucretia into thinking you're a time god of the past--you would never tell her the future. Even if she had taken you under her wing, you didn't want to alert her to anything she shouldn't know. You know it would ruin her. And you loved her too much to do that.

It was the day before the Midsummer Solstice, and you and Lucretia were sat in her private office next to the voidfish. You idly spoke with her about anything that came to mind, mostly what she planned for tomorrow. What she would do. And as you sat, and almost feeling real peace, your vision statics over and you're seeing another vision. Five figures stand opposed to the endless, colorful blackness. Three stand tall, one holds up a staff, and one cries. The darkness is dispelled, and--and your vision disappears. Slowly, you begin to see, and you have a hand readied to break the glass of the baby voidfish's tank. Lucretia is standing next to you, a hand gripping your fist to keep the tank safe. You step back and fall to the floor in a heap. Your hands tremble and you reach for words you can't use because they don't exist. Then, you speak:

"This form is... Taxing." You wheeze out. Lucretia, who was pulled to the ground with you, fixes herself and sits on her feet at your side. You close your eyes tightly and take in a deep breath. "Godly energy isn't supposed to be here. But I am fine--just. If I ever zonk out for too long, just knock me out. I'll learn to deal with it, or give a cue, or something. Because I will mess everything up. Why? i don't know. I don't know anything." You get up to stand, just as you hear a knocking way down the hall. Lucretia presses you down with a stern expresion.

"It isn't your fault. I trust you." She says softly, before standing and going to answer the door past the illusions. You sit, and you feel trust wrap around you. You haven't--well. You haven't felt much of anything but extremes, but now you feel the gentle caress of trust. Of being loved. You stand almost immediately and leave that feeling behind. You're a liar and a manipulator. You could save their lives. Yet you aren't.

As you walk out into Lucretias office, you see Merle flanked by Magnus and Taako. All three seem giddy--probably for the carnival tomorrow. You walk up and wave, and Lucretia turns around with a soft, slightly angry expression, but it disappears as Merle says "Just the person I wanted to see! I wanted ta invite you out with us tomorrow. To go to the carnival, you know?" Merle looks up at Magnus, who grins widely and nods. Taako, well. He's Taako. He isn't beside himself, but he does have a little smile on his face. You are surprised that you have no idea why they're so excited. You don't remember them being like this before. Your eyes glaze over for a second, but Lucretia is fast to clap a firm hand on your shoulder.

"They will be glad to. They need some time out anyway." She answers for you. You are both relieved and a bit worried--you suck at carnival games. You look up at Lucretia, who smiles and nods. Okay. Okay. Just have fun. You smile wide and give a thumbs up! Fuck yeah man! Cool.

The next day rolls around, and you exit your quarters--directly next to Davenport's, so Lucretia always has her two best people right there--with a silly Magic Brian outfit on. You made it magically with Avi a few weeks ago, who was more than a little excited to make a bit of fun of an old betrayer to the BoB. You put on your best "I am pretty, and I fucking know it, but please don't stare I am still super not into that" look, mostly taking from how you've seen Taako hold himself, and get going to the meetup spot. You see the trio--Magnus as Taako, Taako as some Judge, and Merle as Ursula. Just... Just as terrible as you envisioned. Its oddly charming but also god fuck. You wave, and are immediately swept up in their antics. A stick of fried unicorn dick--You get some fried fantasy vegetable since you aren't a fan of dick--later, and you arrive at the goddamn knocking down cans game. You shiver and immediately whisper to the boys in a harsh tone, "Don't play. You won't win. Can't use magic, its illegal and will get you stamped with a cheaters icon on your hand." The boys hear you, and for a second they're thinking of ignoring that warning, but then they remember you're a fucking time god. So, instead, they pelt the man himself with a ball. And... They get banned from all carnival games. You blink, but as you do, another memory pops up of this event. The screech. The... You remember their good rolls, but you've changed canon. Its too late for fate to be the same. You yank Taako and Magnus down to your level, and you harshly whisper "Cover your fucking ears with whatever you have on you." They don't listen this time. At least, Magnus and Taako don't. They roll their eyes and try to console you, but you clap your hands over your ears just as Merle did as a screech rings out in the area. Taako and Magnus both fail to not be affected as this wave of sound breaks past. You know its dealt damage to the both of them, and definitely blown both back. You quiver and immediately grab Merle and start running to Madame Director, who peers out of her great hall door. Taako and Magnus, after groaning and standing up, follow.

"Boys." Lucretia begins, her hand encircling her staff and a short glass of wine as she stretches out one bandage covered leg. Mummy! Classic. You suggested it. Easy and useful in case of attack. "That was..." She trailed off and waved her wine a bit, before sighing. She looks pointedly at you, then nods.

"Well!" You begin. "Big bad shit. Big bad thing. Ea--no um. Destroying the whole world thing. Its angry and it screamed in anger. Its... The eyes? Were. It trying to find... Something. I don't know what, but... No okay thats all I know." You fake a pained expression and hold your head with a few huffs. Lucretia looks momentarily upset, but she calms down quickly.

"Because of this, I must urge you boys to seek out the next relic. I kno--" She is quickly interrupted by Taako, who says "They knew it was going to happen and they warned us. Are you sure you don't know anything else, /darling/?" Taako--well. He didn't speak with malice, more annoyance. Eternal annoyance. You, well. You shrug. "I don't know, exactly all of the future but certain things do come up based on educated... No okay fucking! Fucking fine. Let me be real." You stand up straighter, and Lucretia does too. You have a slight stare off, before you cover your face and drag your hands down your face. "I can see the future. Not too far, maybe a week. I know whats about to happen the best, I didn't want to tell you because if I tell you EVERYTHING, you'll change how you act and then I can't, I can't even help you a little bit. I only see one future, one past. I don't see all possibilities. If I spout shit now, before its of vital importance, then I have no fucking cards. No cards! No cards on my fucking side!" You throw up your hands and really begin ranting. "Then what am I? A fucking useless person? Everything I know about the past is final, that shit has passed. But people already know the past. My vague understanding--my understanding of the future and knowing shit I shouldn't in the past is the ONLY thing keeping me here! I am useless if I tell you everything. I can give hints, I can give mere seconds of, of a fucking hint before an event to hopefully save you life and limb. But I can't fucking dictate your entire lives. Time--time doesn't--WORK like that!" You... May be a pathological liar! You are now realising that. You're weaving and unweaving a web of lies to protect yourself. Of course, the raw emotion behind your words are real. You do feel as if you'd be useless without your power. Who would you be? What could you even do? Tears burn down your.cheeks as you keep ranting. "I'm not even fucking from here! If I'm not something to you guys, I'll die downstairs on the real fucking planet and be a--an idiot, alone and, talentless, alone, talentless, and stupid. Stupid and emotional. And I don't want to fuck up the good ending I know is in the future by fucking with what you have now! I know you'll all /live/ and--and--" Your hands curl into fists, just as your vision begins to fade into static. You panic and cry out to Lucretia, who you see command Magnus with fear in her eyes just as you fade away.

You stand next to June, who holds the Temporal Chalice. She stands in front of nothing, the white void immeasurable. She hums to herself, before looking at you and simply saying "You aren't real." You ask her how can you.not be real? You eat, you breathe, you learn. She thinks on this, before she shakes your head. "Thats a paradox. You can't exist. You are... A book. No, not a book. A living catalogue of events not your own. You're... Fro--" and your vision fizzles out.

When you awake, the carnival has long ended, and you feel it in your gut. The Tres Horny Boys are gone to Goldcliff. A shiver races up your spine and you almost cry. You slink into Davenports room and wake him up. He stares at you, before you sit next to him with your hands in your lap. He is groggy, but then you start telling him a journey. A journey made up, a journey of three.brothers and their father.

#taz #the adventure zone #the adventure zone balance #fuzzy and out of balance #fuzzy and out of balance 3

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terrahistorian · 7 years

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So I just finished The Adventure Zone: The Balance Arc

This will likely just devolve to spoilers, so fair warning there.

I first heard of it here, on Tumblr, and I was astounded. Every piece of fanart, animatic, and think piece on the plot, spoke to a deep love and adoration, not only on the fandom’s part, but from the McElroys as well. I can’t remember what finally tipped a, “I should get around to that someday,” to, “I will gleefully listen to these four idiots for roughly four days of content,” but I’m so glad it happened. There are certain things I wished weren’t spoiled for me, but that’s the nature of the beast.

I started listening after the story was complete, and I honestly can’t imagine the stress that would have come from listening to it piecemeal. I called each arc my favorite as I listened to them, because they literally just kept getting better. The ingenuity, creativity, and just plain fun that went into every plot point, it all honestly inspires me to be a better DM and storyteller. I was hooked on the story from the first static Tres Horny Boys heard, and there were times I couldn't believe what I was hearing, because it was just so good. When Griffin got in his stride, his settings grew so vivid, I regularly caught myself staring at a wall unblinkingly, because my mind’s perspective was following his words.

Here There be Gerblins was the perfect beginning to this story, absolutely hilarious, with a taste of the scope of the campaign. Moonlighting built further on the scope, while introducing two of the greatest things of the series. The Voidfish, and the Fantasy Costco, both of which I can only call inspired, in their own ways. Petals to the Metal was the first real emotional arc, and man did it deliver. Sloane and Hurley quickly became some of my favorite NPCs of the series. The Crystal Kingdom was... So good. So much. And just, so brilliant and beautiful. The Eleventh Hour was truly indescribable. Isaac’s Journal is a masterpiece, every NPC felt so alive and thriving, and the entire arc was not only satisfying, it was truly fascinating. Many things were spoiled for me going into this, but my jaw dropped the second Magnus realized there was a second Voidfish. The Suffering Game was some of the best roleplaying I have ever heard, hands down.

But my heart truly began to break during The Stolen Century. Each cycle was so ingenious, and so unique. And seeing these friends, true friends, grow, learn, and love, and die again and again, just so the others can live, it was truly beautiful. And I could make an entire other post about Jon. His motivations, his worldview, the vast extreme of destruction by nihilism, and how he was literally and figuratively torn apart by his own hands. I teared up with The Trial Cycle. Griffin’s description of Lucretia’s tribulations, and the affect that year had on her entire character, how this meek chronicler grew to be Madam Director... I felt proud, and also sad. Sad that she spent so long alone, and her time there pushed her farther away in the years to come, but immeasurably proud that despite all odds, despite being the most perilous cycle of their journey, Lucretia rose above.

And then the finale. The ending of this story was incredibly bittersweet. On the one hand, I am sad to see these characters leave, because they have given me so much joy. On the other hand, I literally cannot think of a better way to end their story. The character progression of the Seven Birds is some of the greatest I have ever seen.

Taako, who went from a stoned loner, to a tragically broken hero, to someone happy, loved, and whole. He voiced to Kravitz that he feared that no one else would have him, and he grew to be loved by literally everyone.

Lup, who despite having the least screentime of the Seven Birds, is one of my favorite NPCs, who shared one of the greatest love stories I’ve ever heard with Barry Bluejeans.

Barry, who started as a forgettable NPC with a joke name, and grew to save everyone. His love for Lup drove him to death and rebirth so many times, all in the hope that his path would lead him to her. If it weren’t for Barry, The Hunger would have won, simple as that.

Magnus, who I’d honestly say is my favorite character. Magnus began as a hotheaded fighter with no regard to his own safety, unleashed one of the most tragic backstories in the series, and grew into a multifaceted, kind, loving, protector.

Lucretia, who is one of the most interesting characters in the show. Her arc truly began in the Trial Cycle, where she faced indomitable adversity, unparalleled loneliness, and rose above it. Her motivations, while ultimately made in love, broke their found family, and would have likely lead to a Pyrrhic victory at best. Despite this, her found family found her again, and saved her from this wretched fate, and she truly saved them all.

Merle, such a kind and gentle man, who faced death more than any of them. More than anyone, Merle was a fuckup. A father who ran out on his family, a cleric who couldn’t properly heal his friends, and a man constantly unsure about whether or not his friends merely tolerated his existence. And he grew. It’s not even a, “but,” he never denied those parts of him, even during the Trial. He was a fuckup, and he grew to be the most selfless, loving, forgiving member of the Seven Birds, who became the hero of his children.

Davenport, to me, is the most heartbreaking of the Seven Birds. A pilot whose sole desire and identity was to explore, and see the cosmos unfold around him. A man so dedicated to keeping his family safe, he spent every day thinking of them. The man whose memories were the most linked to the Stolen Century, who probably had the most character growth apart from Lucretia herself. Early on, I laughed at the character choice of having Davenport only say his name. Now, I see it as a tormented cry for help, and it breaks my heart. But even still, he too got his happy ending. A true explorer, he took to the seas, and it warms my heart.

I rarely cry, especially when media is concerned. I recognize when something is sad, when something is heartbreakingly so, but the very idea of crying in a theater is unknown to me, same as to a song. And normally, I would extend that to podcasts. But Griffin proved me wrong with one question.

“How does Magnus die?”

It stunned me. And as it drew on, as the scene was painted around his deathbed, family and friends gathered at his side, holding his wife’s ring in his hand, I felt tears roll down my face. Everything was so sweet, and sad, and perfect for a peaceful death. And then Kravitz took him to the Astral Plane, where that cottage waited for him. The dogs almost got me, I almost lost control there. But then Julia walked out. Their reunion, their love stitched delicately into every syllable they were saying, it was just too much. I had to fight back sobs just so that I didn’t worry my cousin in the other room, and have to pause such a beautiful ending to explain it to him. As they walked into the cottage, as Magnus began regaling her with this impossible story, the words of the Temporal Chalice, Magnus’ own Relic, sprang to mind, just with a slightly different meaning.

“You worked so hard for this. This is the happy ending you earned.”

This story is now incredibly dear to my heart. A tale of love, loss, pain, and heartache, ended with laughter, dancing, loving, and an entire world staring at the apocalypse and refusing to die. A story about the preciousness of life, and just how much is lost when one gives up their will to live. A moral tale about how any quest to rise above life, and the pain it brings, simply makes you lose everything you’re fighting for. A series about a found family, who argue, hurt each other, and break so much between them all, but grow together, forgive each other, and mend all that was broken. But most importantly, The Adventure Zone is the story of four idiots, who played Dungeons and Dragons so hard, they made all of us cry.

#long post #taz #the adventure zone #taako #lup #barry bluejeans #magnus #lucretia #merle #davenport #seriously i loved this show so much #i may or may not get a tattoo for it #the design's big though so I'm gonna sit on it for a while

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