#the canonade

[jamiecalledraws]

The Canonade as The World Tarot I'm starting work againnnn, like real full-time work. I'm happy, I haven't been able to get work because of my anxiety and other shit. Thank you all for the support!

#neverafter #dimension20 #neverafter fanart #d20 #dimension 20 fanart #tarot cards #dungeons and drawings #fanart #dnd #tarotcards #the canonade #ink #the authors

[sweetblossoms]

fine cowards i'm putting in my official bet that the stepmother is the missing librarian that made them go short-staffed

#she has keys to the doors and a whole on thing about doors and keys #also her freakout words with 'worse than death worse than the end of stories' #and her compiling of the stories by...eating them? #not sure what type of librarian she would be (she couldnt be glossary key legend or index) #maybe she's 'anthology' or 'translation'?? #but yeah what if she was a librarian who messed with the canonade ink and the authors #which corrupted her existentially so she went on a quest to not let the authors revise the characters #so instead she takes it upon herself to collect all the characters to 'preserve' them #idk this may be nothing #d20 #dimension 20 #neverafter #neverafter spoilers

[mightbeabird]

Of course Snow White was intrigued by the stepmother. Wanting to eradicate the stories seems to be a goal the stepmother has BEEN working towards, and couldn’t this powerful being be reasoned with? If they could achieve that goal much faster together?

I wonder if the stepmother would respond to that though. Given literally everything about her, she’s far beyond human, and far past the woman who went mad after learning the nature of her and her daughters story.

She’s eaten countless people and stories. To what end? She’s not fully consuming them if somebody can pop out and grab an apple (absolutely hoping and praying that comes back around btw) but eating them seems to serve a purpose.

I can’t accept that she’s blindly destroying or eating for pure revenge. I desperately want to know if/what she has or knows of that we don’t. I want to know if there are any other beings that warped themselves to her level. What does it take to become so horrible to behold that you can’t be comprehended? What is it you want that drives you to those depths?

#dimension 20 #neverafter #neverafter spoilers #the stepmother #also she’s Fr just going nuts in the canonade #I get that there’s just. so much happening right now for them and so many things they need to do #and also they literally can’t get there rn #but man. #see this is what I’m most worried about #forget the little world anhilation pact the tried to get rosamund in on #or the gander putting the entire world on lockdown #or this council of kings of which several are still out there #or the mysterious business with the giants #okay. maybe it’s hard to have your priorities straight when everything is top priority

[ispridestillasin]

BRENNAN DID YOU NAME THE FUCKING CANONADE AFTER A CANON INK PRINTER!!! DID YOU?!

#listen #LISTEN #that's all i could fucking think when he said canonade and ink #yuri's thoughts & rambles #neverafter spoilers #neverafter #dimension 20

[fictional-library-tournament]

Prelims round 2, poll 5

Propaganda

The Lines Between, Dimension 20: Neverafter:

Contains all versions of every story ever written, told, or imagined - free existential horror with every checkout!

"You're nothing more than scratches of ink on someone else's piece of paper."

The Lines Between is a massive place between stories, and staffed by diverse and deific librarians who are just doing their best, such as Glossary, Key, Legend and Index. The library is physically made of books, scrolls, and parchment. Its areas include the Hall of Stories, the Canonade, the Tower of Tales, and perhaps most remarkably: a brilliant view of the Auroratory. It is a beautiful aurora borealis of voices, preserving auratory stories that aren't necessarily written down. It is possible to swim up and into the Auroratory

The Library, Clue/Cluedo:

Easily in the top 10 places to get mysteriously murdered.

The Incorruptible Republic of the Immortal Library of the Grand Architect (aka The Incorruptible Library), Girl Genius:

So it's an autonomous government under Paris, dedicated to protecting and giving access to books, who are willing to lend out any book to anybody. Their collection holds a lot of dangerous/important relics. The librarians are incredibly dedicated to their ideals and will fight to defend them. They are a powerful organisation and opposed to the main antagonist of the comic, who uses mind control ("to read what you want, you have to be free!"). They also have giant cats. The cats are giant and they protect the library and accompany librarians on detached missions. Enough said. Very cool library

It's a library hidden underneath Paris that basically serves as an independent country, because everyone knows better than to mess with them. They also serve as explorers and historians of the crypts and labyrinths that are underneath the city, and go on retrieval missions to collect rare books from dangerous places. There are also large cats that are protectors of the library, and all of the librarians are reasonable people who are both protective of their collection and supportive of general mad science shenanigans if they're for a good cause.

#fictional libraries #tumblr tournament #archives #books & libraries #fictional archives #libraries #tumblr polls #poll #dimension 20 #dimension 20 neverafter #dropout #neverafter #girl genius

[saingirl101]

Neverafter Episode 8 Spoilers:

Mother Goose after looking through the locked canonade door and seeing the cosmic horror inkwell:

#neverafter spoilers #neverafter #mother timothy goose #starkid musicals are aptly appropriate for neverafter

[ohmygeese]

I feel like the complaints people have about this season about the princesses and destiny's children have the mechanics of dnd combat and storytelling to "blame."

Like I would've loved if Rosamund got to do a persuasion check for either Snow or Cinderella. Like I was ready for it even before the start of the episode but it couldnt happen 'cus one: Rosamund was out for I think a round of combat, two: Rosamund heard people coming from out side the Canonade and three: Snow white was already four rounds into the spell and something needed to be done pronto. Yes, her concentration got broken but I think at that point Cinderella stole Scheherezade's book.

So, Siobhan not wasting anytime decided to go for what could solve the problems at hand. A zephyr strike so she could at least deal good damage to Snow (maybe so Tim can put her in the book or at least to knock her unconcious) and so she could move 60 feet away from what she knows should either be the fairies or the Stepmother.

And then she fucking hit a nat 20, you don't plan that. A great, poetic nat 20 btw. Like again the image of Sleeping Beauty killing Snow White, two princesses who needed a true love's kiss to wake up from what is essentially death. One undead princess to another, trading crits and blows. Really, if any other dc member killed Snow, it wouldnt have felt as good anf painful as this.

And besides, we got Mira and Elody (maybe, Cinderella, I honestly don't know how thats going to go but I am waiting for it meaning I need Rosamund in her fucked-up state to do it). Heck, Red really tried with La Bete. And even got her fur when it was obvious that talking wouldn't work. It's the thought of even if it came down to this, I'm thinking of you. We're thinking of you. We'll accept you with open arms.

(Well maybe not all of them but c'mon you have to let the Frog Prince eat Rapunzel like the heron at Baba Yaga's hut. It's funny and nice callback. Who knows maybe Gerard coughs up a hair ball).

All in all, I am happy with this season and am excitedly waiting for the finale. I hope the Stepmother and Baba Yaga have a looney tunes type brawl. And I hope the Baba Yaga makes Alphonse appears in a battle one last time.

#neverafter #neverafter spoilers #neverafter analysis #dimension 20 #d20 spoilers #rosamund du prix #i think about her a lot <3

[thisisnotthenerd]

Dimension 20 Episode of the Day: 4/5

Today's Episode is: Neverafter, Episode 19, The Ending of All Things (Part 1)

Original Release Date: 4/5/2023

The Quick Synopsis: Destiny's Children rush to the Canonade, only to find the Daughters of the Crown in the midst of a ritual to end the world as they know it.

Quotes:

Gerard and Elody on breaking up via sword:

"I know, look, we broke up via sword. You don't fully know about that."

"What?"

"It's all good. The sword said that you-"

"What do you mean you broke up via sword?"

"'Cause you said you cared about me but you don't love me and that's O-"

"I didn't say that!"

"The sword! The Sword of Truth, it tells the truth!"

"You said I didn't have any friends, but my wife is my friend." And I eat her. ~ Gerard of Greenleigh, to the defeated Rapunzel

#dimension 20 #dimension 20 spoilers #d20 episode of the day #neverafter #destiny's children

[peantbutter-honeycombs]

Canonade = canon

Me: holy crap the whole season is just fairytale characters wanting to make their own fix-it fics!

#neverafter #dimension 20 #puss in boots #pib neverafter #ylfa snorgelsson #princess rosamund du prix #prince gerard of greenleigh #pinocchio #mother timothy goose #d20 #d20 neverafter #zac oyama #emily axford #siobahn thompson #brian murphy #lou wilson #ally beardsley #brennan lee mulligan #d20 spoilers #never after spoilers

[utilitycaster]

I actually really loved the ending of Neverafter, but I struggled to get to it. I think the problem is that the episodes were either incredibly dense abstract lore episodes about the authors and the canonade, which is very much my kind of thing but is hard to keep up with with week-to-week episodes the length of movies, or were otherwise kind of meandering and felt like they were just killing time to the point that I definitely half-listened to a few episodes - still not entirely sure what the red gems were for tbh - and don’t feel like I missed much.

I also think this season had horror elements but the ending is pretty solidly not horror, which to be clear is probably why I liked it. With that said I think making the horror almost entirely “you are trapped in a story where you have no name and no agency” (ie, the thing the princesses were responding to and nixing the creepy aesthetic elements would have strengthened it. It’s funny because I’m not bothered by gore and so on, but I also don’t find it remotely interesting and given the final battle, it wasn't even relevant. Like I’ve said before, I can’t really do zombies not because they eat brains and look gross; it’s because they look like your loved ones while having none of their empathy or personality. So leaning into the horror of powerlessness and doom would have done way more for me than “there’s a WOLF in a GIANT GROSS SOUP.”

In the end it's sort of an impossible scenario in that I think you need the space the different core plot elements of the princesses, fairies, and authors are given, but I don’t know what I’d put in the place I’ve cleared of all the extraneous spooky shit. Honestly I think the best course of action might have just been to put like a hard stop on the length of non-lore episodes or to have changed the schedule to every other week or similar.

#me @ the end of the final episode: red gems. did they do anything. #not maintagging but feel free to interact #like i feel that brennan leaned into horror tropes that are heavily visual #and audio horror CAN be done but ime it needs a LOT of negative space. brennan's style is just not a natural match for horror. #(which is another post i want to make. having lots of thoughts today apparently.)

[suicidedating]

also details that I feel like were slightly glossed over or maybe I'm just insane for thinking they were clues : the fact that there was Fairy Dust on the lock to the canonade (knowing the fairies and what their objective is there's gotta be something going on there. also the fact that the fairies are failing in their objective should say even more about the canonade), the fact that alphonse described the stepmothers door opening before he got to the land of beasts and birds

#neverafter spoilers #dimension 20 #d20 neverafter #dimension 20 neverafter #neverafter

[big-gay-bird]

Y’all have NO IDEA how glad I am that Cinderella survived the battle. Like holy shit I love her, I love her character, and just everything about her.

But also!

Slant reading of the ending…. Glassbrairs kinda happened???? Like at least in that universe????

They missed out on making any of the princesses canonically sapphic tbh because I think there is SO MUCH potential in “fuck true love what do you want” to have the princess choose happiness through choosing to be with the gender you actually love. (Also explicitly Aro princesses too would have made a ton of sense, they could even be sapphic and aro, like show some if them in QPR with a woman and 0 true romantic love.) Also like, Pinocchio is such a bi character, they still coulda shipped him in the m/f way they did and had that confirmed. After ACOFAF I was thinking they were gonna be less cowardly about it but I can still read their stories how I want and ally made sure there was an elderly transmasc gay dad so like it’s something at least.

I might right an epilogue of Glassbrairs and their adoption of little red. Because if you think about, all stories about them are in the canonade somewhere right?

#neverafter #neverafter spoilers #dimension 20 #dimension 20 spoilers

[letsstopfightingit]

Upon learning that the difference between the rolls is how many full rounds will happen between the factions arriving at the Canonade

Ally: oh, it’s FULL rounds!

Siobhan: Rounds? Are you kidding me?

Lou: I’m going to cast

Ally: Banishment

Siobhan: I cast Web on Murph

Lou: Yeah, I cast Banishment on the actual man, Murph

Emily: I love him!

Lou: Murph, what are your stats?

[Murph is cackling hysterically while Zac pretends to punch him and Emily clutches him in a hug]

#neverafter #neverafter spoilers #dimension 20 #intrepid heroes #ally beardsley #siobhan thompson #lou wilson #emily axford #brian murphy #zac oyama

[underwaterbanshee]

I fucking love the commentary of what higher power perceives Mother Goose through the permeance of the ink enshrined in the Canonade. 

Characters don’t have agency--it’s the best authors that give that illusion but anyone who has done any sort of media critical commentary will remind viewers and readers over and over that characters don’t make choices. The closest story-telling can get is through the communal act of actual play.

But from a meta perspective, to take this natural 20 fear even deeper, the content of the NeverAfter isn’t only written by the original authors. Fanwork is also being created. 

The perspective of their stories is constantly changing and more versions are being written and more asterixis are volleyed about all willynilly by uncaring content creators who only care about a good story, then after the GrimDark fairytale retelling resurgence of the early 2000s, no wonder the archetypal Step-Mother is swallowing every mother she can get her hands on.

#neverafter #neverafter spoilers #dimension 20 #dimension 20 spoilers #fun fact about me #for two years in college #i put on a scifi fantasy writing symposium #because of where i lived #we had access to a lot of well known names in the biz #it was a three day conference #on writing and fantasy sci fi things #i am living a dream with this season #i fucking love it so much #also one of my other blogs i did commentary on kdrama for funsies

[fictional-library-tournament]

Prelims round 1, poll 19

Propaganda

Scarlet Devil Mansion Library, Touhou:

It's said to have books of all kind, in thousands of different languages, and about countless different things. Some of the books were written by the librarian herself, Patchouli Knowledge. The was also probably one of the first recognizable set pieces in the windows touhou games, being the fourth stage in it's introductory game.

The Lines Between, Dimension 20: Neverafter:

Contains all versions of every story ever written, told, or imagined - free existential horror with every checkout!

"You're nothing more than scratches of ink on someone else's piece of paper."

The Lines Between is a massive place between stories, and staffed by diverse and deific librarians who are just doing their best, such as Glossary, Key, Legend and Index. The library is physically made of books, scrolls, and parchment. Its areas include the Hall of Stories, the Canonade, the Tower of Tales, and perhaps most remarkably: a brilliant view of the Auroratory. It is a beautiful aurora borealis of voices, preserving auratory stories that aren't necessarily written down. It is possible to swim up and into the Auroratory.

Fort Maria Library, Star Sable Online:

(All images come from ssoblr users)

So this is not necessarily a public library and it was abandoned for a long time (as far as we know) but the druids have it up again recently in game. It was built as part of Fort Maria centuries ago by the time of the game, and holds books from all those eras.

It is a gorgeous and expansive place with secret passageways, rare tomes, fluffy seats, old abandoned research, a lot of study areas, old relics, a moving bookcase to a portal cavern and even its very own library ghost!

It is, in my opinion, one of the most atmospheric places in the game. Even without sound on it is gorgeous and bring across its intention incredibly well, and with the sound on it is incredibly eerie. The music here is very limited and quiet, and the player’s footsteps echo through the library.

I feel like whatever you’re researching, you will find something on it in here. It feels like a place you could spend your whole life reading in, and still only have read a tiny fraction of the books there.

the citizens of jorvik (fictional star stable online island) keep all the witchcraft books in there and all their super secret and cool magic books, it was closed for years and it's very mysterious. one of the coolest characters (mrs. holdsworth) in the whole game hangs out there a lot, and it's home to a cute little capran named beatrix and she took her name from her favorite book. the only way you get in the library is by feeding her snacks and reading her books and she's also one of the coolest characters in the game (imo). also beatrix is friends with one of the horses in the game and she often is seen playing with the horse so :) OH and also there's a full heckin portal room in the lower floor!!! with a little pond and a portal that at some point the main characters (the "soul riders") get kicked in by the evil guys (the "dark riders") into this place called devil's gap (despite the name there's just one witch basically vibing in the gap potentially helping out the evil guys but we haven't figured that out yet). and it's gorgeous, if you're worrying about looks. the inside is all wooden and home-y and the portal room is also very pretty eye candy, it's very glow-y.

Bookholm, The City of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers

None

#fictional libraries #tumblr tournament #books & libraries #fictional archives #libraries #archives #tumblr polls #poll #Touhou #Touhou project #scarlet devil mansion #patchouli knowledge #dimension 20 #d20 #dropout #dimension 20 neverafter #neverafter #sso #ssoblr #sso fort maria #star sable online

[nayod789]

Once upon a time…

Everyone had the opportunity to tell their own story.

The words reverberated through the Canonade, shaking the briars around Rosamund's heart. Mother Goose closed his book.

It was done. And yet, friends, enemies, and tenuous allies remained silent and still, waiting for the world to end, or for the fighting to continue, or… something. A better life. A better story.

:readmore:

Rosamund didn't have the strength to push herself up, but the briars heeded her thoughts. Her breaths were ragged, automatic, and, by her guess now that blood had stopped flowing from the wound that killed her, unnecessary. Short-lived. The briars were weakening, as well, their fervor dying with their host. They still kept her heart beating, though.

The others began moving. Timothy helped Scheherazade to her feet and observed the wreckage. The Princess Elody ran to the body of the Frog Prince, joining the Big Bad Wolf. Pib joined Baba Yaga. Pinocchio, the Stepmother.

They had loose ends in their stories to resolve. They hadn't seen what she did, didn't know what she was. It was Cinderella that came to her, gently helping her the rest of the way up.

"Snow did a number on you."

"Yes. Yes, she did. But… we get to write our own stories now."

Cinderella's face held steady, but Rosamund could see the terror of that sink in, alongside the realization that this path was open to the princesses all along.

"Does that… do we get to make edits? Changes to what has already happened?"

Rosamund knew she was at an ending of some kind, but… not like she was slipping into a new life.

"No… I don't think we do. I think…" the briars around her heart faltered just once, causing her to hiss in pain. Cinderella put a hand on her back. "I think we just live on. For as long as we can, as freely as we wish."

Cinderella sat with this for a moment. "Well. Fuck. "

Sleeping Beauty rasped out a chuckle. "I bet the next version of me will fistfight the Wicked Fairy and win."

"A free Cinderella… I could be a dashing knight. I don't… I don't know if I would want to fight if I didn't have to, so maybe for sport."

"I'm certain you would be wonderful." Rosamund smiled. "You still could, here. After you all rebuild."

Cinderella existed next to her in silence for a moment, Rosamund's "you" hanging heavily.

"I… see now that our plan was misguided. I'm deeply sorry for the pain I caused you and your allies. We were… taken by fear and despair, and-"

Rosamund held up a shaky hand. "We were all scared. It's okay. I understand."

Cinderella let out a shuddering breath, then shifted to take more of Rosamund's weight under her shoulder. "That… that aside. Would you like me to escort you to any of your allies?"

Rosamund looked around the ruins of the Canonade, saw the Wolf and Elody escorting the Frog Prince to rest. In the wake of the Wolf, confused and scared, was Ylfa. Ylfa, human.

Cinderella followed her gaze, and started moving before she could speak. As Ylfa saw them approach, she moved to meet them part way.

"Hello, little girl," Rosamund beamed, briars and blood and all, "how are you?"

"I'm confused, that's for sure."

"Me too. But, we'll figure that out." She looked to Cinderella. "There's a lot to figure out, but we can help each other do that. Do you have anywhere to go?"

"Um… I don't… is Timothy here?"

"Yes, he's just over there."

Little Red grinned, just a little wolf-like. "Gosh, he's so cool. You are, too. Also very pretty. TIMOTHY!!"

And off she ran, jumping over bookcases and going to the man she was traveling with when Rosamund first met her.

"Cute kid, when she's not the embodiment of death itself."

"That's just little sisters for you," Rosamund shot back, but she broke into a harsh cough.

The briars were getting weaker.

"Would you check in on her every once in awhile? She needs someone to tell her about… anything that's not grandma or death related."

Cinderella nodded. "I… haven't had very many good role models when it comes to being sisterly, but I'll do what I can." Her gaze drifted to Mira's body. "I should… fuck, poor kid."

Rosamund went with her over to Mira. Even as they heard Elody sob as the Wolf took the Frog Prince into the shadows, the Wolf appeared in front of them.

The Wolf was made a little less godly by its tiny orange top hat, but it still carried the weight of death.

"Would you place her on my back?"

Cinderella did, and death took another princess away.

Rosamund and Cinderella sat, and they talked. They talked about nothing, about the silly moments in their grand adventures, about loves that were written and loves that could have been, about life and indecision and fear and joy. About what they gave up. About how, if they didn't live in this horrific world, they may have been close friends- or they may have been petty political enemies.

But they lived in this world, and they made these choices. And Rosamund's Third Upon a Time was fading fast.

By the time the conversation lulled, Rosamund had leaned slack against Cinderella's glass armor, and her voice was just a whisper. She couldn't see anymore, and the briars around her were wilting and falling limp.

"Cinderella?"

"Yes, Princess Rosamund?"

"Please… if nothing else… would you… live happily? Even if… the world… freaking sucks."

"I will, Princess Rosamund. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do so."

The briars stopped.

#dimension20 #d20 #dimension 20 neverafter #d20 neverafter #neverafter #rosamund du prix #cinderella #ylfa snorgelsson #neverafter spoilers #dimension 20 #alternate ending #neverafter finale spoilers #major character death #hurt/comfort