#the ratgrinders

[patronsaint-ofmystery]

brennan literally said that the ratgrinders underestimated the bad kids. they don’t know how real adventuring parties are fluid and communicative. they don’t realize that they’ve actually worked for their success, and that it wasn’t just handed to them. they’re so jealous of the bad kids that they’re blind to their genuine strength.

[sapphicmuppet]

Fabian K.O.ing Ivy on one turn and threatening to skin her alive. Riz screaming at Kipperlily about how much she sucks and calling her a freak. Fig sending Ruben to coil wires for her for eternity. Gorgug telling Oisin to say hi to his grandmother and then he DIED. Riz telling them to decapitate Oisin so he couldn’t be revivified. Absolutely fucking insane it’s times like these we remember what actual batshit killers they are and I love them

[crypitick]

I Don't Want Your Money,

I Dont Want Your Crown.

See, I've Come To Burn Your Kingdom Down.

Kipperlily Copperkettle & Buddy Dawn || Dimension 20: Fantasy High: Junior Year

[cannibalgender]

The thing about Kipperlilly Copperkettle to me, is this. If you’ve ever been an emotionally neglected child, or a child that struggles significantly with mental health but is able to keep up a facade of normalcy, you often start to wish you had ‘real problems’ to justify the emotional turmoil that you’re in, or to receive adult validation and support. If I was really struggling, someone would notice. Someone would help.

Imagine being 14 years old. A freshman in high school. You are lost and you are angry and you may or may not be receiving any care or attention at home. Your grades are perfect, but you’re still not receiving the validation you so desperately crave. And you see him. The boy in your class, the only one on your academic level. And he is getting that recognition. And his problems are like ‘this giant dragon killed my dad’ and the solution is ‘I’m going to tear it up with my teeth’ and everyone applauds and affirms him as he destroys the thing destroying him

But you’re struggling, too. You want to tear with your teeth, you itch for the feeling of blood hot in your mouth. You are so angry. Your problems aren’t anything you can bite into. You are the problem. You’re 14. You’re so angry your skin feels too tight and no one sees and no one cares.

And then an all powerful force, a g-d dead and buried, kills you and all your friends. And she says…your problem, it can be a solution. It can save your friends. Come back. Come back to me. Tear with your teeth. Lie and cheat and steal and kill and be enough. Be enough because you’re angry. You’re 16 years old. You take the deal.

[deconstructthesoup]

Still thinking about the Ratgrinders who were revived.

Mary Ann, of course, is functionally the same, and we love her for it. She was working for the bad guys because she was shatterstared, now she's not, and she apparently has a thing for Gorgug. She just happily exists with her Quokki Pets and her friends.

But the others... hoo boy.

Ruben doesn't remember anything. How is he gonna go from there? How is he gonna handle losing a year of his life, dodging autographs from people who like music that he didn't make but he also did, and just overall feeling an intense disconnect? Did he run up to Lucy all excited to see her again, not knowing that the last time she saw him was when he was taken over, and he killed her? Does he get weirdly confused whenever someone mentions the name "Wanda Childa?"

Ivy, what about Ivy? She remembers the stuff she did, was it in a haze or was it clear? Does she have times when she's going about her day feeling pretty good about herself, and then she remembers some of the shit she said as a mean girl and starts to feel sick? Does she see Fabian in the halls and immediately go the other way, not because she's scared of him, but because she knows that she kind of deserved what she got? How much of her old personality lines up with the girl who sneered at anything she considered uncool?

And Oisin. Every day, he's reminded of the fact that his actions not only led to several people getting hurt, but his ancestor getting killed. Every day, he has to sit in the same class as Adaine, who he definitely liked but can't face, because the year he finally talked to her was the year when his crush was twisted and corrupted. Does he remember the moment where he helped Kipperlilly kill Buddy with clarity, or is it just a haze? Does he remember toying with Adaine's feelings, and is he hit with a brick-ton of self-hatred whenever she's around? Was that little message a hint of his true self peeking through?

It's. It's a lot. These poor kids. Jesus Christ.

[adrastea-moon]

kipperlilly apparently has a problem with the bad kids getting preferential treatment at school, but the ratgrinders have only ever fought rats and spiders, which means their party somehow made it to junior year without having to do the mandatory sophomore year quest that’s worth 60% of their grade.

like the bad kids had to go on an incredibly dangerous, almost impossible quest where nearly every member of the party was killed at some point and which required them to give away all of their money, leaving multiple members in financial trouble, just to be able to pass sophomore year. meanwhile, the ratgrinders either didn’t have to go on a quest or it was so incredibly easy that they didn’t have to fight a single monster to accomplish it.

so which party is getting special treatment again???

[islandoforder]

the thing is like. as an overwhelmed teenager who was just killed by a system that didn’t protect them properly and wants above all to live, yeah i can see pledging yourself to an unnameable rage god, like you should be angry your school just shipped you off to die alone in the mountains on your spring break.

that said, given gorgug, kristen, adaine, and riz have all died and not pledged themselves to a rage god, i simply know that adaine in particular will see this as simply a skill issue

[the-greatest-magic-of-all]

The idea that Kipperlily and the Ratgrinders might have underestimated the Bad Kids is wild to me and makes them look so foolhardy.

Like,,, yeah no the kids that fought an Ancient Red Dragon their freshman year, took on a Nightmare Deity as a school project, and saved the world from Eternal Darkness during their summer break definitely don't know what they're doing and are totally incompetent at defeating foes. That tracks. 100%.