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"Uproar"
Summary and Mission Statement, Synopsis and About the Author, Glossary, Settings, About Purrsons, Illustrations and Written Excerpts, and FAQ
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"Uproar" serves as my launch into creative writing and illustration. It also doubles as a novelization of my life experiences and walk with God. The narrative follows the exploits of a "bold pärd" named Guess, a so-called "leopard" person of the Dentes sapientiae (meaning "Wisdom Teeth") species, also called Purrsons. Defying expectations, she changes herself and her culture on a fundamental level despite her culture's oft cited adage, "a leopard cannot change its spots" (Jeremiah 13:23).
"Uproar" asks and answers whether beauty is more than skin-deep and is or is not in the eyes of the beholder. Whether someone can change and overcome dysfunction and become well adjusted- capable of positively influencing society in spite of prejudice and any real or imagined deficiencies, is also explored.
"Uproar" by criticalion
"Uproar" Mission Statement:
"Uproar" is a Christian faith-based romance and adventure story in the vein of "The Lady and the Tramp", "The Aristocats", "Thumbelina", and "The Pebble and the Penguin." Themes and tropes commonly seen in spiritually destructive harem manga and anime (e.g., "Ouran Host Club"), adult American cartoons and animation (e.g., Fleischer's "Betty Boop"), and even Human-AI relationships are examined.
Finally, human and animal behavior (i.e. non-manogamous mating systems, female choice, and natural selection, etc., see: Kvarnemo, 2018) is also analyzed from a Christian perspective in light of the traditionally held Biblical Canon and Apocrypha, including: Genesis, the Book of Enoch (The Prophecy of the Animals), Leviticus, Deuteronomy, the Book of Daniel, the Song of Solomon, the Book of Job, the Book of Jeremiah, and the Book of Revelation.
Readers come away from "Uproar" knowing true, Christ-honoring friendships and romantic love can still exist despite ever-changing cultural norms (e.g., proliferation and acceptance of AI sexual partners) and predilection (e.g., "once you go black, you never go back"), political movements, scientific "proof" (e.g., eugenics and Social Darwinism) and society's often backwards expectations and conclusions regarding the ultimate intersectional nature and significance of race, religion, and sexuality.
Note: I do not use generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT, Craiyon, etc., in the creation of "Uproar" writings, lore, or imagery.
Some really old stab at depicting Wisdom Teeth clothing from c. December 31st, 2024 A.D.
The next artwork is from 2025. Like the piece from 2024, it seems OK.
Aaaand, the following is pre-2024...
They're all pretty bland, but it's a start. Again, seems like an OK jumping off point. I do want to continue creating concept art- take the time to draw some more clothing studies...
Note: I do not use generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT, Craiyon, etc., in the creation of "Uproar" writings, lore, or imagery.
"Uproar" by A. Faye (criticalion) - Excerpts One, Two, and Three
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Hey there! "Uproar" excerpts are tagged as #Written Excerpts and are posted (here: https://www.tumblr.com/criticalion/tagged/Written%20Excerpts/chrono) in chronological order from beginning to end.
Is the following TL;DR? That's okay! Feel free to favorite this page now and read later!
Surf frothed and foamed at the mouth of Twin Fang Bay.
Winds died and waters flirted with the shore again and again.
Home Cove, having been enrobed in fog, was left sight unseen. It was a vast cave with innards that had long since been gutted— gouged out and hollowed away long ago by masterful hands, also unseen.
Home Cove harbored a colony of thriving and single-minded people— called scimitar cats, so named for their lengthy eye teeth, a people otherwise known as "Purrsons."
And these Purrsons in particular had accomplished a great deal throughout the ages.
Having amassed both knowledge and wisdom, the colony slowly but surely crafted a sprawling and intricate series of spiraling stairs and paling. Made from logs hewn by the power of their own scimitars, the colony sharpened the endpoints of its lumber and arranged it in stacked outwardly facing stakes. The build towered high above and all its boughs were slathered generously with pitch.
Buoyed by the sea, the colony's sheer amount of handiwork bobbed almost imperceptibly in a watery cradle. And even as turbulent tides and the heavy foot traffic of its hundreds of cave dwellers continued unabated, the skilled worksmanship of these Purrsons endured.
The skeletal remains of enormous seafaring prey were deliberately strewn in and around each and every scimitar cat's dwelling. An abundance of tents with vaulted ceilings— made from the bony entanglements of felled whales and their rib cages, were pitched high and draped in a wealth of animal skins. Finally, a myriad of gaping shark jawbones— each lined with several rows of serrated teeth, crowned nearly every threshold.
Guess awoke with a start. Her eyes swam as she beheld her spots and stripes, as dark as squid ink, running the length of her lithe form. She shook involuntarily from the biting cold and felt her soot-colored nape toss.
Without a word, Guess arose and stretched her limbs. Groggy and listless, she left the warming comfort of her immense half clamshell— lined with a patchwork of sealskin rugs, behind with mincing steps.
Guess later stood in the doorway of her tent and waited for the sleep to clear from her eyes. Then, after having adjusted to the gloom of Home Cove, Guess reached for a makeshift net of woven kelp— with its sections fastened together with tight lipped-mollusks, with her scimitars.
But as the net dangled at eye level from a bony hanger, she tsked. Her sight had drifted upwards to the canopy of her tent. The abode, which would have been made complete with its own set of shark jawbones, was conspicuously absent from her tent.
“Not yet,” she thought aloud with latent anticipation.
Remembering herself, Guess dropped the net for a brief moment and inhaled deeply. With her mouth agape and its roof tingling, salty air met her nostrils and eagerly told her messages, both new and old.
She sampled air for only a moment however before her stomach dropped. With her tongue lolling— and after having parsed the run-of-the-mill, familiar scents like that of sea-salt and days old fish and shellfish, Guess cast a reluctant glance behind her.
Her lips peeled away, accentuating elongate scimitars in an instinctual grimace.
There, looking down at her from tents arranged in a half circle whilst also perched high atop a rocky outcrop, waited her “friends.” Each and every threshold of theirs was crowned with an impressive set of jawbones.
Barbed tongues began to wag.
"Hasn’t she ever heard of a reflection?”
“She’s so ugly…”
“Yikes, her skin is too bold in this dark!”
“Why is she even doing that? Why isn’t she into whisker?”
“Uh, hello.” Guess quickly forged a weak smile. “You were waiting for me?”
There was no reply. Instead, a painful silence cornered her and sunk its teeth into her heart.
“I have this net, see.” Guess continued hopefully and unabated. Sadness crept into her voice. “It’s easier then say, diving. Try it?”
An immediate series of guffaws and poorly held back snickers met her ears and chased her out of the vicinity.
“It wasn’t that funny…” She said at last once finally out of sight. Her breath caught. "Was it...?"
- - -
With great effort Guess had— with frequent chunter, carried her netting beyond Home Cove to a secluded, rocky jetty in neighboring Twin Fang Bay.
Tides turned and waves were roused, suddenly doubling over as with smelling salts.
Meanwhile, there was discord within a colony of belching and bellicose tuskers perched precariously on nearby, steep headlands. And the headlands, stubbled with trees, plunged themselves deep into the heart of the Bay.
Guess tsked.
Endowed with mammoth tusks for which they were named, bulls several times her size carelessly muscled each other— and even some cows and calves, into a yawning deep studded with sharply honed rocks.
If one could kill such a brutish animal Guess remembered, it was considered a great honor worthy of song and renown.
To think! A barbarous animal conquered and its sun-dried shrunken head featured prominently in the dens of her people as a reward! While not as coveted as a shark's head, she remembered the tusker hunted by both her mother and father taking up space in their family den inspiring child's play in years past, with fondness.
Moments passed before Guess ceased contemplating her youth and scoffed at the barbarous animals again. She then turned her attention back to fishing.
Her fierce gaze read the nearby water.
Where she had once expected large fish, she now- like all her brethren fishing elsewhere in and around Twin Fang Bay, instead saw only dead and smallish throwbacks lazily drifting by. These fish paled in comparison to what scimitar cats like her and her ancestors even, were used to.
"I prefer a fresh catch," she tsked. "You know, a trophy." She mocked.
Waves climbed and fell repeatedly and seemed to roar in reply.
There was something else-- something known as "lungs" by those who frequented Twin Fang Bay. These vast pockets of submerged still air made diving difficult, hence Guess had developed netting for more effortless fishing as opposed to violently "collapsing" said lungs.
As the surf pushed, leapt, and shoved all around her, Guess carefully lowered one end of her kelp net onto nearby barnacles and mollusks so that it held fast in the current and its extremities were drawn along by it.
Then, quickly and without fear, Guess plunged into the water. Salt water immediately flooded her eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. It did not take long, but as she swam, Guess- with her dark pelage, seemed to disappear almost entirely in the murky deep. She was however a skilled swimmer and- with the help of strong coalescing water currents, easily threaded her way around the lungs.
The net meanwhile had since begun to drag, flowing in tandem with the incoming water and plumb against the rock. A portion of the net was also meanwhile flush against a lung. Guess smiled and sunk her scimitars deeper into her net. The immersed seaweed was tough- chewy even, and its taste was bitter.
With a grimace, Guess fought hard against the current and with great effort, cleared the water's cusp.
Guess almost immediately found a give on the rock and slowly crept out of the churning deep. With claws unsheathed and scrabbling and with the seaweed netting still held between her teeth, she then found herself on the opposite side of the jetty.
"Finally," Guess breathed. Her fur was soaked through and her sides heaved. She hitched the net's other end onto a few expectant, spitting mollusks and inspected her handiwork.
"Finally!" She exclaimed. "Now," she said scanning impatiently at her net for spoil. "Just hurry up and wait!"
"Do I hear an echo?" Rumor's ears settled in the direction of Guess's voice. The tip of her tail twitched angrily...
As she mulled her next move, something changed within Rumor such that her scent began to reek of a deranged and sickly relish- a warped sensed of humor devoid of conscience.
Her lips curled until her face had contorted into an ugly, toothy grin.
"Finally," she said between clenched teeth. "A new pin cushion..."
Rumor let out a roar and tore across the room. She then loped the length of the concubinage, stopping suddenly- stooped, frighteningly close to and nose to nose with Guess. Her breath reeked of aged fish sauce.
"Look at you!" Rumor shrieked. "Letting your so-called morality show in mixed company!"
As the other concubines shrunk back in fear and peeled away from her, Guess squared herself and hissed at the towering Rumor. Whether it was bravery or foolishness, Guess did not know. She had noticed Rumor's tell- unsheathed claws, nevertheless she refused to back down despite Rumor being more than twice her size. And what Guess did next was on impulse.
Guess clawed Rumor's face.
The claws of the pärdess dug rows so deep on the lē-əness's face that her scratched face yeiled a crop- beading blood which dribbled down onto her nose, whiskers, lips, and scimitars.
The chamber was deathly quiet for a moment, with each and every bystander aghast. A frightening expectation of what was to come weighed heavily on those who had beheld the exchange.
But Rumor balked. As the lē-əness struggled to see through welling blood, Guess meanwhile brimmed with grit. Her gaze remained fixed on Rumor, challenging and filled with defiance.
"Your vice is weakness," Guess said at last.
Rumor asked no questions and wasted no time. Her response was immediate. In a blur, Rumor slugged Guess across the face such that the pärdess fell down- hard, to the ground. Guess gasped and her head immediately began to ache and smart. Her vision blurred.
Rumor gave an unnerving laugh that rang out as her claws caught fast. She began to buffet the pärdess repeatedly, digging wells into Guess's flesh in a flurry of teeth and claws before finally dragging her by her soot-colored nape out into the open for all to see. Guess was lying prone and her blood smeered a bright red swathe on the polished white marble floors of the palace.
"There will be no courtship, Guess," She mocked. Her voice lilted and was sing-song. "If that is your real name! Your employment here is at will-" Rumor continued as she found Guess's tail between her teeth. She bit down hard until she heard the crunch of bone and heard Guess gasp again. "Your king's will, that is..."
Rumor laughed again and it chilled most- if not all, of her listeners. The Manticorps soldiers posted at every exit started, eager to leave their posts. Many felt daring enough to assist Guess and- to a lesser extent, their mistress, only to be summarily waived away by Queen Mother Rumor.
The beating continued in this manner until every onlooker- both Manticorps and concubine, had winced several times. Then at long last, Rumor stood over Guess's body and beamed at the other concubines after having made an example of the pärdess.
"Do you see what I did?!" Rumor suddenly screamed at Guess. "You made me do it!"
Guess meanwhile flinched repeatedly, uncontrollably. Thoroughly traumatized, she did not rake Rumor's underbelly with her claws as she would have otherwise hoped- rather, she mewled like a newborn kit not yet old enough to open her eyes. Her tail was broken and her open wounds and tears bled freely. She hissed angrily in between sobs.
Rumor finally yelled to the crowd of would-be comfort women, "All of you should carry yourselves well, for your respective provinces- and kingdoms even, spoke well of you. In fact, if you let your guard down like this one here and you forget yourself then..." She paused. "Then any and all alliances between our peoples will be in jeopardy. Not only that, but you will find yourself among the wretched and rejected in my brothel city- or worse yet, the palace dungeon. So, if any of you came here voluntarily and are having second thoughts you may now pick your poison..."
There were audible complaints and whining, as if the assembled concubines had been told differently by their former guardians and had been fooled by word of mouth. They voiced their misgivings boldly and it appeared as if Rumor's handling of Guess had been lost on them. It was however apparent that most, if not all, had expected better- even royal, treatment.
"Now, now," Rumor chided. "That is why each of you will at least attempt at being toothsome before having an audience with my son, your king. You may paint your eyes with dyed minerals, craft and adorn yourself with resin jewels, study the full breadth of your king's edicts and genealogy in the palace library, and do whatever else you might deem necessary in order to meet or exceed my standards and those of your king; all in order to remain palacial fixtures..."
"Resin?! They don't trust us with whatever's in the vault!"
"Can you blame them? Just look at you!"
Most concubines were saying such things- huddled together, not one of them above sharing delight over the prospects of palace life. Save for Guess. Guess roared weakly, her voice catching on her own blood.
"You're all being had," she managed.
"Pay her no mind." Rumor said. She smiled eerily at the henning concubines and stooped again. Rumor then whispered darkly into the ears of pärdess. "My, I certainly am forgiving, Guess." She said. "Now, you may try to prove me wrong that your quaint fishing village ought to continue it's menial existence serving Manticore Kingdom interests. And that an upstart and bold pärdess such as yourself can change her spots- her intrinsic and yes, very low aesthetic value... in addition to your bottomless-pit 'depth of character,' which I sincerely doubt."
The lē-əness chuckled ominously and then thought aloud further, "Who knows," she said. Her voice began to climb. "Perhaps your inborn decadence and that other undesirable trait- yes, your physical darkness that muddies the gene pool, may yet prove useful to the King of Manticorps."
Rumor sighed as Guess coughed up blood. "My, my, who am I fooling?! You certianly are a Savage... You will make an excellent slave girl! It will be a good thing for you, the taming of your natural self I mean..."
It was a split second decision- painful and abundantly clear. Guess, while crying herself to sleep on the floor as she drifted in and out of consciousness after Rumor's gratuitous blood-letting, realized she must run away and seek asylum among the Intelligentsia. Storied and renowned Wisdom Teeth, Purrsons with surpassing physical strength, knowledge, and spiritual mettle. For if Queen Mother Rumor was this cruel, Guess reasoned, how much worse would her son, the King of the Manticorps, act!
"Now," Rumor said. "The whole lot of you ought to head to your assigned chambers and get some well deserved beauty-rest. And you there," Rumor yowled at the nearest Manticorps soldier. "Come here and get this mess cleaned up!"
- - -
"Uproar" Novelization: Excerpt Three
- - - Content Warning: Language and Racialism - - -
Gathering storm clouds smothered the moon and wept over the canopy...
A downpour began in earnest as an almost impolite series of jarring thunderclaps roused every sleeping forest-dweller.
Guess awoke with a hiss.
A bolt of lightning slit the night's throat. Guess felt her dark fur bristle, standing on end thanks to static and sheer, brimming irritation.
Guess stretched her limbs. And not long after, her body limbered and she came-to. Thunder drummed and her bleary eyes focused, pupils contracting and Guess's broken tail twinging with pain as she stretched.
Drops of rain began to bead on her whiskers, reminiscent of a spider's web being strung with morning dew and it wasn't long before her soot-colored pelt-- embossed with inky stripes, was completely drenched.
And then, as quickly as the storm began, the clouds had spent themselves.
The forest seemed almost thankful for the reprieve, exhaling a sweet-smelling, breathy fog that climbed high above the treeline.
Then there was another roar. It emanated from below this time-- far closer than that of the rumbling thunderheads, but by no means less threatening.
Guess peered down.
A lē-ən with a mane stared back.
"A pärd!" There was hunger in the lē-ən's voice. "And her skin... I see a ring-neck!" He marveled. "Is your skin bold?" He laughed. "Are you evil?!"
Guess bared her teeth, still looking down upon the bigger cat.
"You there, what is your name?" The lē-ən continued undeterred.
"Guess." The pärdess answered flatly.
"Well," he said. "I've no idea..."
Guess laughed. Her voice was melodic. "It’s a secret!"
"It’s, 'uh Secret?!' Well," he said. "If that's how it is, call me Hint! You gave me one, I guess!"
Guess brandished her teeth. "Whatever..." She said.
Note: I do not use generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT, Craiyon, etc., in the creation of "Uproar" writings, lore, or imagery.
The following is meant to be an exhaustive list of terms and definitions used by the Wisdom Teeth people. These words describe themselves, their God, and the world of "Anon," the place in which they live.
"Uproar" by A. Faye (criticalion)
"Uproar" Glossary:
• The Unknown God (noun) - 'T͟Hē,T͟Hə - 'ˌƎn-ˈnōn - 'Gȯd
:so named for the Apostle Paul's journey to Mars Hill in Athens, Greece (Acts 17:16-34). There he preached the Gospel to idolatrous Gentiles who were without saving knowledge of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Paul's teaching on The Son of God- who was crucified and resurrected for the forgiveness of sin for all those who believe in Him, was presented as the perfect scapegoat having no sin within. In this way Jesus was made known to them and others as the Christ or Messiah (Isaiah 53:5-8). The Urchin transmits such information to its listeners on almost imperceptibly high frequencies as it orbits Anon.
• The Urchin (noun) - 'T͟Hē,T͟Hə - 'Ǝr-chən
:a satellite visible from Anon's surface that communicates with its inhabitants with regards to the Unknown God. Appearing to have sustained heavy damage over generations from the sun's outbursts, it now has a decaying orbit and limited capability to transmit any further knowledge of the Unknown God. Gaps in Wisdom Teeth knowledge of Biblical concepts, i.e., covering nakedness (modesty) and unity in Christ despite ethnicity, have yet to be learned and addressed (Genesis 3:10-11, Genesis 3:21, Psalm 133:1, and Galatians 3:26-28).
• Anon (noun) - 'Ǝˈnän
:the placename, or toponym, of the lands and planet of the Wisdom Teeth people.
• Addendum (noun) - 'Ǝ-ˈden-dəm
:the name of Anon's sun.
• Amend (noun) - 'Ǝ-ˈmend
:the name of Anon's moon.
• Undercoat (noun) - ˈən-dər-ˌkōt
:the skin tone underneath an individual's fur growth.
• Bold (noun) - ˈbōld
:used to describe a dark skin tone or general darkness.
• Hyphen (noun) - ˈhī-fən
:used to describe a multiracial individual (offensive), also called "hyphenated."
• Italic (noun) 'ī-ˈta-lik
:used to describe a light skin tone.
• Manticorps (noun) - ˈman-ti-ˌˈkȯr
:a cult-like and violent militant brotherhood and secret society of able-bodied fighters under the leadership of the King of the Manticorps. Well known as a faction that participates in various kinds of ritualistic violence and hazing, perhaps the most important example involves creation and receipt of their storied armor. This particular rite of passage, called "Forge Ahead," demands that up-and-comers be faceplanted by the King of the Manticorps, survive suffocation, and cast their own armor from the mold.
• Manticore (noun) - ˈman-ti-ˌkȯr
:a mythical creature with features of that of a lion, dragon, and scorpion. Featured prominently on the flag of the Manticore Kingdom.
• Bite Guard (noun) - ˈbit - 'ɡärd
:a special division of the Manticorps consisting of its most brilliant minds and skilled fighters. The personal protective force for the King of the Manticorps.
• Forge Ahead (noun) - 'fȯrj - 'ə-ˈhed
:a ceremony characterized by violent hazing by which Manticorps soldiers gain their armor.
• Crown (noun) - 'kroun
:the highest rank of the Manticorps (leader), a.k.a., the King of the Manticore Kingdom.
• Dragon's Teeth (noun) - ˈdrag-ənz - ˈtēth
:the second highest rank of the Manticorps. Also called "Dragon".
• Eyes and Ears (noun) - 'aɪz - 'an(d) - 'irz
:the upper intermediate rank of the Manticorps, a.k.a., "Eye Teeth".
• Indentured (noun) - 'in-ˈden-chərd
:the lower intermediate rank of the Manticorps.
• Baby Teeth (noun) - ˈbā-bē - ˈtēth
:the lowest rank of the Manticorps. Also called "Milk Teeth".
• Maw - Maw (noun) - 'mô - 'mô
:an affectionate term used in place of "mother."
• Paw - Paw (noun) - 'pô - 'pô
:an affectionate term used in place of "father."
• Lungs (noun) - 'ləŋz
:massive air bubbles and pockets found within a water body spanning the entire vertical expanse, a.k.a., water column-- no matter how small or large, featuring prominently in both large and small bodies of water. Thrill-seeking Purrsons frequently dive through these phenomena.
• Falling Up (noun) - 'fȯliNG- ˈəp
:water does not fall visibly on Anon, instead it rises quite obviously as it evaporates.
• Due - Claw (verb) - 'dü - 'klȯ
:a large-scale martial art and defense technique enabling the user to contend with and prevail against armies alone. Most forms involve concentric circling, dodging, and utilization of Purrsons as shields.
• Ear Boxing (verb) - 'ir - 'bäksiNG
:a martial art, defense technique, and competitive combat sport which solely uses the forelimbs to "cuff," "claw," and "backhand" opponents.
• Bridge the Gap (verb) - 'brij - 'T͟Hē,T͟Hə - 'ɡap
:terminology used to describe an exploration of an alternate level of consciousness using narcotics. Decried by many who venerate the Unknown God.
• Ninth Life (noun) - 'nīn(t)TH - 'līf
:an alcoholic beverage with many varietals made from the milk of prey animals, also called "death wish."
• Lightning in a Bottle (noun) - 'līt-niŋ - 'ən - 'ā - 'bä-tᵊl
:an alcoholic seltzer beverage made from fizzy mineral geyser water and fermented fruit juice. It is usually imbibed before, during, and after celebrations, also called "message in a bottle."
• Sour Puss (noun) - 'sour - ′poo͝s
:distilled white vinegar.
• Whisker (noun) - '(h)wiskər
:an aspirate narcotic derived from the seed head bristles of the dandelion plant often used to "bridge" or "bridge the gap" or otherwise explore an alternate level of consciousness.
• Lint (noun) - 'lint
:a vesicant and chemical warfare agent derived from hair balls that causes a wasting away facial disease called "face melt." Developed at Far Cry.
• Face Melt (noun) - 'fās - 'melt
:a disease that wastes away and causes flat, brachycephalic facial features.
• Looking Glass (noun) - 'lo͝okiNG - 'glas
:a special crystalline helm with reflective peripheral properties used to determine placement of an enemy not within a direct line of sight. Developed at Far Cry. Also called "kaleidoscope."
• Guar Gum (noun) - ˈgwär - ɡəm
:a poultice believed to increase fertility when applied topically. It is made from the boiled skeletal remains of deceased gwär people and greenery.
• Mane-Eaters (noun) - ˈmān - 'ēdərs
:a coalition completely made up of pagan female Wisdom Teeth with sentiment in opposition to lē-əns and male "Wisdom Teeth" in general. The leading female is known as "Cutlass." As a group Mane-Eaters are the primary consumers of guar gum and other "magical" items. A rival faction of the Manticorps, The Smitten, The Whelps, and Intelligentsia.
• Pitcher (noun) - ˈpiCHər
:a Mane-Eater who buries the dead at Holdfast Tar Pits.
:a ceremony of male child sacrifice performed by Mane-Eaters. It is erroneously believed to encourage youthful appearance and bodily function in its practitioners.
• Cutlass (noun) - ˈkətləs
:a term for the leader of the Mane-Eaters.
• Purrson (noun) - 'pərs(ə)n
:a catch-all term for all Dentes sapientiae.
• Intelligentsia (noun) - 'in-ˌte-lə-ˈjen(t)-sē-ə
:a name for the forward-thinking philanthropic secret society of warrior scholars opposed to the Manticore Kingdom and other totalitarian regimes.
• The Enclave (noun) - ˈT͟Hē,T͟Hə - ˈän-ˌklāv
:the meeting place of the Intelligentsia.
• Iconoclast (noun) - 'īˈkänəˌklast
:the highest rank of the Intelligentsia (leader), a.k.a., "Mastermind."
• Ideologue (noun) - ˈī-dē-ə-ˌlȯg
:the second highest rank of the Intelligentsia, a.k.a., "Otherwise."
• Scholastic (noun) - skəˈlastik
:the intermediary rank of the Intelligentsia.
• Idealist (noun) - 'ī-ˈdē-(ə-)list
:the lowest rank of the Intelligentsia.
• Hidden History (noun) - 'hid(ə)n - ˈhist(ə)rē
:archives meant for the idealists of the Intelligentsia to discover while developing their skills as warriors and scholars. Any unique discovery on philanthropy, law and order, martial arts, and even science or music informs what's called their "theorem" and determines their future placement within the order.
• Forbidden History (noun) - 'fərˈbid(ə)n,fôrˈbid(ə)n - ˈhist(ə)rē
:restricted reading material designed solely for the Ideologues and Iconoclast of the Intelligentsia. Regarded by the well-informed as a written series of disclosures throughout the ages regarding the Intelligentsia. Includes eyewitness descriptions and confessions- deathbed and otherwise, found nowhere else because of their inflammatory nature.
• Theorem (noun) - 'THirəm
:a thesis orally delivered by prospective idealists among the Intelligentsia. Success determines admission into the order and rank. Also called a "paradigm."
• Academy (noun) - 'Ǝ-ˈka-də-mē
:the place of study of Intelligentsia members.
• The Smitten (noun) - 'T͟Hē,T͟Hə - ˈsmi-tᵊn
:a rival faction of the Intelligentsia, Manticorps, Mane-Eaters, and The Whelps. All of its members are defanged Manticorps washouts and dishonorable discharges seeking revenge on the King of the Manticorps and his Kingdom. Also called the "Smitten Coalition."
• The Whelps (noun) - 'T͟Hē,T͟Hə - ˈ(h)welpz
:a rival faction of the Intelligentsia, Manticorps, Mane-Eaters, and The Smitten. All of its members are "abandoned" child soldiers and runaways. Left without parents after a sudden, suspicious, and violent disappearance, all of them have become juvenile delinquents gaining a great amount of experience as cunning thieves. Young and foolish, most are more concerned with fun and games or enjoying disorderly conduct than finding their parents.
• Natural (noun) - ˈna-ch(ə-)rəl
:the so-called "natural state" of Wisdom Teeth-- believed to be all at once brutish, dumb, and in need of subjugation and subjection by the learned and fit.
• Denature (verb) - 'dē-ˈnā-chər
:the process by which a "natural" individual joins high society, i.e., usually only when a Manticorps soldier makes rank.
• Sophisticate (noun) - 'sə-ˈfi-sti-kət
:a successfully "denatured" individual.
• Savage (noun) - ˈsa-vij
:"natural" individuals enslaved by passions and/or other Purrsons.
• Civil (noun) - ˈsi-vəl
:comprised of royal and other well-bred individuals usually learned and fit with indentured servants and outright enslaved Wisdom Teeth under their care and control.
• Untamed (noun) - ˈˌən-ˈtāmd
:an individual unaware of and ignorant of The Unknown God and His teachings.
• Tamed (noun) - ˈtāmd
:an individual well-versed in teachings of The Unknown God, e.g., "All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:7-8).
• Scimitar (noun) - ˈsi-mə-tər
:elongate and curved cuspids, a.k.a. "sabreteeth" rooted in the maxilla. Also called "twin fangs" and "cutlery."
• Pard (noun) - ˈpärd
:a "leopard". An arbitrary description usually based on circular throat markings ("ring-neck") and perceived criminality, aggression, and hypersexuality that ultimately lumps "snow leopard", "leopard", "clouded leopard," and "cheetah" analogues together. A people of forgotten nobility well thought of only as entertainers, athletes, and performance artists. The face of the "natural" and "savagery."
• Bob (noun) - 'ba:b
:a "bob cat." A proud people perceived as preening and overweening whose vanity is left unchallenged by the permissive and doting, both from within and without on account of their wealth.
• Ser - Ser (noun) - 'sər - 'sər
:a "serval." A hardworking people perceived as "happy" slaves.
• Cara - Cara (noun) - 'ker-ə - 'ker-ə
:a "caracal." A peace-loving people renowned for their hospitality and altruism.
• Guar (noun) - ˈgwär
:a "jaguar." A people nearly driven to extinction by sell-outs and genocidal Mane-Eaters who use their dead as charms. Even though many have ring-neck, they are deemed attractive and often "pass."
• Coug (noun) - ˈkü-g
:a "cougar." A people with strong women often perceived as loud and domineering. The majority are Mane-Eaters, a matriarchal society sacrificing the majority of its young males in a pagan rite called "youth retention."
• Leion (noun) - 'lē-ən
:a "lion." A people well-liked and of nobility that is often guilty of nepotism.
• Tig (noun) - ˈtī-g
:a "tiger." A people of nobility romanticized and perceived as a model minority.
• Teething (verb) - ˈtē-t͟hiŋ
:the process in which baby teeth erupt from the gums. Also used as a saying for "growing up" or "grown."
• Toothless (noun) - ˈtüth-ləs
:an insult meaning "foolish" or "old" and even "ineffectual." Also a term for a Manticorps washout. A dishonorable discharge of a Manticorps soldier with knowledge of state secrets can sometimes warrant sabretooth removal prior to their leaving or banishment from the Manticore Kingdom.
• Pulling Teeth (idiom) -ˈpʊlɪŋ ,ˈtēth
:describes an otherwise painful process.
• Saber Rattling (idiom) - ˈsā-bər-ˌrat-liŋ
:describes intentionally aggressive or belligerent foreign policy meant to intimidate a foe.
• Sour Puss (noun) - 'sour - 'poo͝s
:a Purrson with an incredibly bad disposition.
Note: I do not use generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT, Craiyon, etc., in the creation of "Uproar" writings, lore, or imagery.
"Uproar" now has its own Q&A section! If you don't see an answer to your question, feel free to submit it via the Comment and Questions tab!
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Q: Is your story meant to be a comic or a book?
A: It's meant to be a book with chapter break illustrations. Turns out I enjoy creative writing and illustration way more than comic creation.
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Q: Is your story intended for children or adults?
A: "Uproar" handles mature subject matter and is not meant for children. I have written it so it reads like a piece of modern adult xenofiction, e.g., Watership Down and Tailchaser's Song.
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Q: Did you intentionally refer to "cheetahs" as "leopards"? In Spanish, the words "leopardo," "guepardo," "leopardo de las nieves," and "leopardo nublado" are related.
A: It was totally unintentional. I'm not fluent and I was unaware of this. Works out nice seeing as I wanted ethnic labels to be somewhat arbitrary!
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Q: Are "Wisdom Teeth" people or animals? You called them "Purrsons" at some point. Please clarify!
A: Purrsons are sapient- not sentient, aliens living on a remote exoplanet located somewhere elsewhere in the cosmos. You can read more about them in the About Purrsons and Glossary sections.
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Q: Is (character name) based on an actual person, place, or thing?
A: Most characters in "Uproar" are composite characters. Although the narrative depicts my life experience- some names, images, and likenesses have been changed.
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Q: Do you take commissions or requests?
A: I do take requests, but it's usually on a case by case basis. I'm not interested in taking commissions at this time. If you have an idea for a request, send me a direct message via Tumblr.
Note: I do not use generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT, Craiyon, etc., in the creation of "Uproar" writings, lore, or imagery.
"Uproar" Revised Guess Character Design and Reference Sheet: Partially Completed Saturday, May 2nd, 2026
I am pleased to have partially completed this reference before a Sunday, May 3rd, 2026 A.D. deadline, which fell on a Sabbath day.
I so enjoyed drawing this more anatomically correct design. This new reference look leaps and bounds more aesthetically pleasing than previous iterations...
A more rigorous and more detailed reference of Guess is needed, as is a thorough species reference. I would like to complete both at some point in the near future.
Until then, I think a day of rest will do me some good...
Note: I do not use generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT, Craiyon, etc., in the creation of "Uproar" writings, lore, or imagery.
On Writing Vividly and Originally in Opposition to Creative A.I.
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Description is an essential part of prose. Powerfully written and unique imagery can facilitate sensory experiences unlike those produced in any other form of media. When descriptions are vivid, prose becomes ambient and evocative- both intellectually and emotionally stimulating.
More than just word choice, specific language used to describe character(s), dialogue, setting(s), and even while providing exposition, can earn a reader's attention and interest.
So use your dictionary. Use your thesaurus. Write pithy dialogue and write succinct exposition. Write with purpose. Answer the question of what, if anything, you are trying to declare with your narrative and write accordingly.
"But what if I want to be verbose?"
[Girl], have you ever read Tolkien?!
More than just resolving cliffhangers, specific language used to craft writing style(s), thematic content, literary device(s), and interpretations of subject matter, can elicit engrossment and eager page-turning.
And in an increasingly fast-paced world- together with the proliferation and the creative breakthroughs of Artificial Intelligence, a.k.a., AI, it is likely your target audience is not only inpatient but hard to impress.
That said, use of vivid description, especially when concise and emblematic, should not be underestimated.
In a world of instant gratification, vivid description with great delivery can successfully challenge and subvert your reader's expectations. It can also subvert the new creative status-quo presented by AI technology, thus making a name for yourself.
So, buck the trend of fan-fiction and swim against the slush-pile current.
It's time to war against the machine.
Note: I do not use generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT, Craiyon, etc., in the creation of "Uproar" writings, lore, or imagery.
"Uproar" Novelization Book Cover: Saturday, May 23rd, 2026
Here is a book cover created for the "Uproar" novelization. Pictured is the main character, a female "king cheetah" or "Cooper's cheetah" analogue named "Guess." She and the text are drawn at a resolution of 300 dpi.
I said in a previous post that this project was in development for about a year when it actually started- from writing to world building, artwork, and lore, etc., circa 2024 A.D. Some related material I produced even predates said year.
I wanted to accomplish at least a couple things with the cover artwork...
I first chose a high contrast B/W color scheme then added a blue reminiscent of fine china hinting at Guess's fragility. I also used heavy line weights to allude to the nature and gravity of the narrative's social commentary.
The almost ethereal and floating pelage hints at a later metaphysical arc of the narrative and is in reference to the Scripture (Jeremiah 13:23). At that point, Guess's fur coat is used by her as a weapon- with her power manifesting very much like mini gun, and not only functions as a part of her physical identity but is also an indicator of her anger and angst stemming from her ongoing identity crisis.
Lilies are also included in the artwork (see: Luke 12:27-28):
"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these..."
Finally, while still looking into Biblical beauty standards (see: 1 Peter 3:3-4), I've been thinking about how I might write Guess's arc...
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight."
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So, what's next for "Uproar" and this blog? Sharing written material!
Note: I do not use generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT, Craiyon, etc., in the creation of "Uproar" writings, lore, or imagery.
The two main characters of "Uproar." Although their relationship has a rocky start, the two of them do eventually become an item despite how they appear to onlookers and to themselves.
Even if he's italic and he's from Whisker Meadows? He must use whisker, right?! Isn't that why he's a Manticorps washout? And her... even if she's a ring-neck and her undercoat is bold- isn't she evil? She must be! That, or just really unintelligent!
Yes, despite all the prejudice they do eventually tie the knot. He loves her and she loves him. By the end of the narrative they've overcome society's predilection and their own.
These two have been drawn to scale. I'll have to draw the pair doing something fun! You know, after species reference images, an animation, a painterly book cover, a few more written chapters, and maybe even some illustrations...!
"Uproar" by criticalion
Evolution of "Hint" and "Guess" Character Designs:
Hint's design was originally inspired by cauliflower. I referenced Tibetan mastiffs and lions and wasn't satisfied with the results... I do like Hint's beaded mane still.
Guess went through no small amount of transformation as well... a lot of awkwardity, playfulness, and a bit of fading violet in these designs. I favor the current reference for now.
Note: I do not use generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT, Craiyon, etc., in the creation of "Uproar" writings, lore, or imagery.
Anon, the planet of the Wisdom Teeth people, is unique. Evaporation- not precipitation, is physically visible, land masses are migratory, massive air pockets populate all bodies of water, and the rays of Addendum- the planet's sun, are incredibly bright.
List of Settings with Descriptions:
• Twin Fang Bay and Home Cove - A long coastline with deep waters scattered with massive boulders. It is by far one of the best places to fish. Attached is a sheltered inlet known as Home Cove, home to a tribe of Wisdom Teeth that farm fish and make use of rear tunnels emptying out into rolling coastal scrub.
• Whisker Meadows and Prey Prairie - Places of tall grass with many herds of fenced in domesticated prey including skull-caps (buffalo) and woolers (sheep). It is also the origin of "whisker"- a farmed narcotic, as well as farmed edible nondrug items like cattails and flowering dandies, a.k.a., dandelions.
• Mammary Chain Mountain Range - A series of mountains nursing many different tribes of Wisdom Teeth- not all of them friendly. Home of the Intelligentsia.
• Tear Line Ridge and Called Bluffs - An almost non-negotiable rocky path with sheer drops and cliffs.
• Yawning Mouth Caves - A series of caves with bared dripstones.
• Yawning Mouth Canyon - A series of steep-walled gorges.
• The Wastes - Places of scorched earth and mass graves and the site of prior Manticorps-Intelligentsia battles. The seat of power of the King of the Manticorps, called the "Manticore Kingdom."
• Eggwash River - A river awash with fish roe at select times during the year.
• Crying Eye Waterfall - A massive waterfall emptying into Eggwash River.
• Hard Sleeper Geyser - The largest geyser known to exist. It erupts very irregularly and is considered dormant. When it does erupt it is considered ominous by pagan Wisdom Teeth.
• Whale Nose Geysers - A smattering of geysers that regularly erupt in concert like a pod of whales.
• Rib Cage Crystal Caves - A cave of gigantic white crystals arranged in a way reminiscent of an animal's rib cage. The home of the Mane-Eaters.
• Holdfast Tar Pits and the Catacombs - A bubbling graveyard of asphalt with a deadly embrace dangerous to both prey and predator alike. The dead are often surrendered to specially reserved tar pits at this location for long-term preservation. After burial, those that tend the pits- called Pitchers, carefully remove the fossilized bodies for showcase in dens and haunts as idols for Mane-Eater ancestral worship. Most of those who worship the Unknown God meanwhile detest this practice and choose to bury their dead elsewhere. Also called, "Toehold Tar Pits."
• Hot Temper Desert - A desert with unmatched heat.
• Skipping Stone Cascades - A hidden oasis with smallish waterfalls in Hot Temper.
• Far Cry Forest - The hidden origin of "lint", a vesicant and chemical warfare agent derived from hair balls that causes a wasting away facial disease called "face melt." Far Cry also has an underground research and development site for war-machines, personal protective equipment and tactical gear, and super soldiers, etc., and is managed by the King of the Manticorps.
• Cold Snap Ice Caps - A migrating icy labyrinth with a series of interconnected ice caves and tunnels constantly changing shape and layout because of ice melt.
• Backbone Mountain Range - The farthest reaches of civilization known to exist. It is a barren mountainous region with few natural resources.
Note: I do not use generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT, Craiyon, etc., in the creation of "Uproar" writings, lore, or imagery.
"Uproar" by A. Faye (criticalion) - About Purrsons
"Wisdom Teeth" Species Taxonomy:
Species Taxonomy - Dentes sapientiae - /'den-ˌtēz ˈseɪ-pi-ənti-aɪ/ - Binomial nomenclature for a sapient species of lactating monotremic sabertoothed felid with scapular pouches otherwise known as "Wisdom Teeth" also colloquially known as Purrsons.
"Uproar" by A. Faye (criticalion)
"Wisdom Teeth" Physical Description:
Males are typically more robust than females. Males stand at 5'6" (1.7m) or less at the shoulder and weigh at most 500 lbs (227 kg). Total length measures no more than 10' (3m) including the tail. Females stand at 4' (1.2m) or less at the shoulder and weigh 425 lbs (193 kg) at most. Total length measures no more than 7-8' (2.13-2.44 m) including the tail.
Appearance is reminiscent of several different types of Earthly big and small cats, e.g., bold "pärds" (melanistic leopards), italic "gwärs" (luecistic or albino jaguars), and "lē-əns" (lions) etc.
That said, there are some crucial differences between them and their animal analogues. Unlike mere animals they all have opposable thumbs, saberteeth, retractable claws and whiskers, embossed pelage, tearduct and muzzle markings, a single pair of mammaries, scapular pouches, and the potential for bipedal and quadrupedal gaits.
Some dentition is physically intimidating, specifically the large curved cuspids, a.k.a. "saberteeth," "eye teeth," "twin fangs," "scimitars," or "cutlery," rooted in the maxilla used for strangulation and severance of spinal cords of live prey. Incisors, while substantially smaller, are used for tearing flesh. Other teeth include premolars and molars-- and so-called "wisdom teeth" (third molars) that erupt later in life or (rarely) remain impacted.
Lifespan:
Extremely long-lived, with some attaining years numbering in the hundreds.
Unique Adaptations:
The species regularly engages in advanced tool use.
Also worth mentioning is that the Wisdom Teeth people demonstrate a huge capacity for complex and abstract thought.
Both males and females have a scapular pouches located on the dorsal side of the body.
While walking upright (bipedal locomotion) is possible, it is virtually unheard of, with most individuals navigating their entire lives on all fours (quadrupedal locomotion).
Diet:
Most individuals enjoy an omnivorous diet consisting of animal and plant proteins, fruit, dairy, greenery and whole grains. Farming and fermentation are widely practiced.
Behavior:
This species has developed a wide range of vocalizations to communicate, including but not limited to: hissing, roaring, chirping, purring, chuffing, and whistling. They are also capable of using a variety of facial expressions like teeth baring, smiling, flehming, and grimacing.
Wisdom Teeth using their "cutlery" on one another with the intent to shed blood is considered taboo, disgusting, and disgraceful.
In addition, unlike the extant species of big and small cats endemic to Earth, so-called hybridization between Dentes sapientiae does not exist between individuals- only miscegenation. Assertions to the contrary are seen as incredibly disingenuous by some (Psalm 133:1 and Galatians 3:26-28).
Most Wisdom Teeth tribes are incredibly social and have cultivated an oral and written history over several hundred generations spurred by interest in and the advent of the Unknown God.
Written language is usually crafted with burnt-end reed pens and impressionable woodblock stamps coated with colored molten wax or tar. In rare cases, glow worms affixed to cave walls bent into the shape of certain characters are used to communicate.
Hubris- and more generally: sin, are among the many foibles common to this species first exposed by the incomplete oral and written history of the Unknown God.
Habitat:
Populations are mostly found denning along coasts, in caves, thickets, prairies, and mountainous areas.
Reproduction:
Scent glands are brightly colored, excrete oily and gender-specific pheromones, and also function as an attranctant to the opposite sex. Besides the glands located on the dorsal side of the ears, additional glands are located on the forelimbs, rib cage, inner thighs, and flanks.
Although Dentes sapientiae are monotremes, females have mammary glands that produce milk. Lactation continues until young are finally weaned by the age of two (2) years old (at most). Incubation and gestation of eggs lasts about forty-five (45) days and mates take turns rotating eggs with a deft "soft mouth," or otherwise handle their eggs gently by mouth until they finally hatch.
Hatched young are mostly kept in scapular pouches.
Pair bonds are usually lifelong and forged by an array of initial courtship behaviors performed by males with an emphasis on female choice. These behaviors include but are not limited to: dancing, combat, singing, and trophy hunting.
Most pair-bonded and sexually-active individuals produce egg-laid litters of up to twelve kits every estrus (once or even twice yearly) usually beginning at the age of maturity.
Note: I do not use generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT, Craiyon, etc., in the creation of "Uproar" writings, lore, or imagery.
Various "Guess" Character Designs: Choose Your Favorite!
"Uproar" has been in the works for over a year now and I'm looking for votes on how best to represent Guess- the main character, in my artwork.
Choose your favorite design (below) and if you're feeling generous maybe even leave a comment!
Choice 1: Melanistic Leopardess
Nose ring, bells, and shackles are physically represented and donote slavery. Dark pelage is included.
Choice 2: "Spotless" Cheetah
Design is simple and easier to draw consistently than the average cheetah. No dark pelage except for "ring-neck" with a soft and kind expression.
Choice 3: "Queen" Cheetah
Bold character design traits that seem threatening and sleek. Like the previous design, "'Queen' Cheetah" makes definitions of darkness arbitrary as part of the critique "Uproar" makes on society.
Note: I do not use generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT, Craiyon, etc., in the creation of "Uproar" writings, lore, or imagery.
Aware she would just be an unloved bride among many others, a young pärdess in search of freedom and true love flees bondage and the King of the Manticorps’s harem on the eve of their wedding night.
In a surprising turn of events, an unlikely romance between she and a kind-hearted lē-ən just washed out of the Manticorps unfolds shortly after her escape.
And as embarrassing news of her uncovering travels fast throughout the kingdom, the King of the Manticorps maddens and vascillates between hatred and jealousy as the hunt begins for the runaway comfort woman, his least favorite confidant and once untouched concubine- and her bold accomplice.
But word of mouth is kind to the pärdess. As she travels and gathers allies of her own to challenge the King of the Manticorps and prevent an evil "One-World", many Wisdom Teeth in his kingdom hear of her exploits and seek to emulate her fearless behavior.
Suddenly, marrying for love and remaining faithful to such a one becomes more enticing than scandal and vice. Stories of the devotion the pärdess and her mate show one another becomes legendary.
All of this enrages the King of the Manticorps such that arranging the deaths of the pärdess and her mate becomes all-consuming.
Blinded by unbridled rage, the King of the Manticorps also devotes himself to crushing this social upheaval- called the "Uproar" by many onlookers the pärdess inspires, without impunity.
The bond the pärdess and her mate have is tested for a final time when they and their many assembled friends- most of them members of the Intelligentsia (a secret society of philanthropic warrior scholars devoted to forward-thinking and opposition to the Manticorps and other totalitarian regimes), finally challenge the King of the Manticorps. Without fear of declawing, defanging, or death, the pärdess and those like her put an end to the "Uproar" in a way truly worth remembering.
"Uproar" by criticalion
About the Author:
"What happens when one letter in a word is silent? What happens when that same letter is removed?
Whether the letter is a consonant or vowel, that letter's addition or removal can change the word's meaning entirely.
Remaining silent when faced with injustice, disparity, and evil is meaningful too.
That is why, for me, remaining silent is not an option. Instead, sharing topical, well-crafted, exciting, and uplifting stories that edify readers, share the Gospel, and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ is my goal.
Because besides sharing my testimony, "now really is the time to know Jesus," the author and perfector of [our] faith!
Follow this account for all my Christian-themed creative endeavors (e.g., "Uproar").
I hope my work encourages viewers like you to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life[!]"
---criticalion
Note: I do not use generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT, Craiyon, etc., in the creation of "Uproar" writings, lore, or imagery.
Why are you christians such hateful people? Why can’t you leave queer people alone?
I am a woman over thirty who was raped at the age of four while at preschool. The woman who did this had no business being there. I have since forgiven my attacker.
Queer people, just like everyone else, should not be put on a pedestal.
