Jeremy knew coming here that James' children would be rats. His friend had been open about that. He had specified they were larger and more expressive than mundane animals, with even their skeletons being stretched to slightly more human-like proportions, even without being fully humanoid. If rats were furry potatoes with short legs, then these were... Well, for one, they were much bigger than ...
2025-11-20 21:07:37 +0000 UTC View PostStanding by their school's entrance, a quintet of young rodent siblings waited for their adoptive father and his friends to come fetch them to go back home and play games.
When put like that, Goliath had to admit they had an odd life, with a strange family history. But he loved it all the same. Everyone at school was so nice, Mr. Pteryx taught them lots in class - even if studying all tha...
2025-11-13 16:32:39 +0000 UTC View PostJames stretched as he rose from his desk, his arms high in the air and his back curved, though still retaining baseline human proportions and flexibility. It may not sound like much, but when you had to consciously think about having bones to keep them, it was easy to slip up and do a little more than the norm. Thankfully, he was normally a rather calm and quiet person, so he never did any big ...
2025-11-06 21:53:40 +0000 UTC View PostTechlord rolled his neck as he finished installing a little surprise for any would-be intruder on the Shadow Den's roof. The security system upgrade was taking some time away from his Tech Mech Mark Two project, but he figured it was still better to do things that way. Besides, the new Tech Mech was already operational enough to serve as a mobile artillery platform. Not quite the fighting suit ...
2025-10-29 21:55:12 +0000 UTC View PostMesker Duskenfer the Third took a sip of his wonderfully sweet tea, the magic coursing through his black fingers warming the cup just enough to be at the perfect temperature. It was, simply put, the perfect cup of tea. As usual, really. He had become a master at brewing various tinctures, from herbal drinks to complex potions. He was no true alchemist, that much he could admit. He simply lacked...
2025-10-22 15:20:31 +0000 UTC View PostEvadelyn groaned from where she was collapsed on the floor, her tentacles a noodly mess knotted together that weighted down on her body. Sunburn scoffed, watching her struggle to get up before giving up, and he pressed his foot harder down on her back - or rather roughly where her back was under the many appendages covering it. The way said appendages squished weakly was even more pitiful, lack...
2025-10-13 20:08:46 +0000 UTC View PostThe depths of the slums were home to many, many things, most of them quite terrible. Beasts, creatures, wild undead... Frankly, the only reason a somewhat mundane life was even possible there was because of the various local powers who kept some form of order around their holdings, prompting the locals to choose between a dangerous, free life amidst filth and monsters or servitude under wannabe...
2025-10-07 16:48:06 +0000 UTC View PostWhile James and friends were having a lovely time with Maria down in the Sunken City, a very different though related situation was developing in Zalcien's Hero Union Headquarters.
Mecha Man, currently in a red lobster-themed armor, groaned as he dropped his head on the table he was sitting at, the inside of his helmet letting him go through footage, reports, comments, memes... In other w...
2025-09-30 21:34:38 +0000 UTC View PostMaggie's reaction to the Shadow Den was... To be expected, truly. A place stewing in undead energies? With spooky ghosts and strange creatures? Of course she'd think the setting was awesome. It only made sense. There was a sparkling awe in her eyes as she looked at everything in and around the formerly abandoned orphanage.
"Nine be damned, when you said ghost nuns, you really meant it. Wh...
2025-09-21 19:40:30 +0000 UTC View PostJames, Jeremy, and Maggie walked in line behind the infused guard leading them through the tunnels of Zalcien's sewers. Not any tunnels, mind you, those were cleaned and maintained by Silhouette's forces. No refuse or smells here, those were more like secondary maintenance tunnels. Pristine and perfectly welcoming to civilians unused to the more disgusting side of life.
"So... Jerry."
... 2025-09-12 21:29:29 +0000 UTC View PostThe day after Silhouette's interview, things in Zalcien were... Busy, to say the least. The topic of the Patchees' fate had been brought up before, but always in passing and, truth be told, most had forgotten about the poor creatures after the initial shock involving the death of their maker. Silhouette's announcement brought the topic back to the foreground, and there was not a single soul in ...
2025-09-05 19:58:14 +0000 UTC View PostThanks to his training to improve his multitasking, James had no trouble continuing to chat with his friends, his phone hidden inside his body, while also giving a live interview on TV. Facing him was a man in a dapper green suit, and while his style might lead one to think otherwise, James could notice he had quite the impressive physique beneath the fabric. This was a man used to activity. Dr...
2025-08-30 17:46:29 +0000 UTC View PostHardCored - Chatroom JamesIsInTheDark: You know, after everything you've said about it, I might give that show a try. TechnoGogo: You really
HardCored - Chatroom
JamesIsInTheDark: You know, after everything you've said about it, I might give that show a try.
TechnoGogo: You really should. I love the parallel making-of series w...
2025-08-19 15:54:22 +0000 UTC View PostJames and Maggie had devised a plan to welcome Jeremy to the Shades Of Penumbra properly. Well, Maggie had the idea of making something alon
James and Maggie had devised a plan to welcome Jeremy to the Shades Of Penumbra properly. Well, Maggie had the idea of making something along the lines of a surprise party, but was thankfully deterred by James' argument that their mutual friend would...
2025-08-12 21:14:15 +0000 UTC View PostZalcien, while far from the biggest or richest city in the ACS, had plenty of Heroes. It was a misconception that only big cities had a large Super population - yes, statistically you were likelier to run into a Cored person in an urban area than in the countryside, but that was merely a side effect of having more people there in general. In truth, the real difference in the Super population be...
2025-08-05 18:03:09 +0000 UTC View PostBy the time Arachnanny was done designing her costume, Sarah could barely recognize herself. The cape of oranges and pinks was one thing, a
By the time Arachnanny was done designing her costume, Sarah could barely recognize herself. The cape of oranges and pinks was one thing, a clear, minimalist pattern designed to represent dawn, but it was merely the signature piece of an entire ensem...
2025-07-29 20:05:52 +0000 UTC View PostNarrated by Thomas Miller.
2025-07-23 17:00:20 +0000 UTC View PostNarrated by Thomas Miller.
2025-07-23 16:59:23 +0000 UTC View PostNarrated by Thomas Miller.
2025-07-23 16:58:32 +0000 UTC View PostAnd thus began an impromptu fashion show. When Scareowl finally came out, Sarah hadn't expected him to be already wearing his new suit - or
And thus began an impromptu fashion show.
When Scareowl finally came out, Sarah hadn't expected him to be already wearing his new suit - or a prototype of it, as Arachnanny quickly clarified. Still, it looked fully finished. And, while a part o...
2025-07-23 16:31:32 +0000 UTC View PostThe day had finally arrived for Sarah and her team to receive their official Hero suits, replacing the bland uniforms they had been given as
The day had finally arrived for Sarah and her team to receive their official Hero suits, replacing the bland uniforms they had been given as trainees.
Well, they were still trainees. There was no doubt about that. But the fact that they would n...
2025-07-17 17:35:39 +0000 UTC View PostHardCored - Chatroom MagicIsTragic: Man, I'm worried. I know I shouldn't be, but I can't help it. KillLaKrill: Why are you worried, exactly?
HardCored - Chatroom
MagicIsTragic: Man, I'm worried. I know I shouldn't be, but I can't help it.
KillLaKrill: Why are you worried, exactly?
MagicIsTragic: Today is...
2025-07-08 19:38:01 +0000 UTC View PostJeremy had... Very mixed feelings, at the moment. On an elevator to the depths of the Sunken City, a place he never thought he'd set foot in
Jeremy had... Very mixed feelings, at the moment.
On an elevator to the depths of the Sunken City, a place he never thought he'd set foot in, at the side of a boss who looked a little closer to a Villain than most people would feel comfortable ...
2025-07-01 21:18:48 +0000 UTC View PostNow, since black and white was Shades Of Penumbra's color scheme, one could be forgiven for thinking that when James referred to someone in
Now, since black and white was Shades Of Penumbra's color scheme, one could be forgiven for thinking that when James referred to someone in black and white, he was merely talking about clothing, such as Larry's and Barry's suits. This, however, wasn't...
2025-06-24 21:35:13 +0000 UTC View PostA few days later, James - well, Silhouette at the moment - was back in his office, overseeing the recruitment of new personnel to Shades of
A few days later, James - well, Silhouette at the moment - was back in his office, overseeing the recruitment of new personnel to Shades of Penumbra. But not inventors this time around, no, all of those he planned to hire had already officially joined...
2025-06-17 21:42:50 +0000 UTC View Post"Techlord, Doctor Decanov. There is something else I'd like to discuss, if you have the time."
The two inventors, currently busy putting the finishing touch to the automated defense system they had almost completed installing in the Shadow Den, turned around to look at their employer. That, or the slime living puppet he used sometimes. The two had gotten better at seeing ...
2025-06-10 21:40:35 +0000 UTC View PostNarrated by Thomas Miller.
2025-06-09 21:36:13 +0000 UTC View PostIn the depths of the Sunken City, in what was once an abandoned haunted orphanage, a large group of people was busy. To say the group was peculiar would be an understatement. It was composed of armed and armored mercenaries, their otherwise impressive look ruined by their babbling about, but also of phantoms, both nuns and children, happy to have something to do, of an undead tree creature, her...
2025-06-03 21:07:03 +0000 UTC View Post"So?"
"I can confirm this thing is authentic, and that the agreement's wording is exactly as she presented. No hidden clause or secret trap. Simply ensuring non-aggression for five years, with a promise to meet again a week before it ends to decide to renew it or not while it's still active."
James was somewhat relieved to hear Blake Black say that, though ...
2025-05-27 20:47:44 +0000 UTC View PostNarrated by Thomas Miller.
2025-05-21 17:50:22 +0000 UTC View Post