Nightfire

Well, things have been.. interesting. But because of a visual bug (days went from 229 to 235 for some reason), there will no longer be a day counter at the beginning of each post. Just a heads up

Currently, on the fence on how the plot will play out from here, but here's my main reasons for having the Burnings attack now; Sakura has like 2 days left on her lifespan Parrot and Forest, two very strong nichelings, owe them Almond and Blood Sky will likely be protecting Tiger's Eye (who also has lean body, so she can't really move freely across the mountain and no defense) They all have 4 strength and battle training, whereas the Frozens have minimal battle training and most have 2 strength. Because of defense, they'll do 1 damage to the Burnings, if not 0. Hurricane and Almond are expecting children, so they'll be relatively unable to fight The Frozens outnumber them, but the Burnings definitely outfight them. So we'll see how this goes.

Collision Course (222-229 days in) From perspectives of Onion and Parrot. Forest: "What the heck-" Almond: "What kind of fangs are those?!" Sakura: "I'm certainly never seen them.." Almond: "A blessing from Thornbush!" Blood Sky squirmed awkwardly. Blood Sky: "Well, what do we name it?" Emu: "Killer? World Ender?" Hurricane: "Absolutely not." Forest: "Maybe a name like Mother's. Thorn?" Almond: "Too basic." Blood Sky: "Tiger's Eye." A brief silence. Almond: "Perfect." Forest and Parrot went off to go hunt, but they saw something over the ridge. Parrot felt a surge of both terror and pride. Would he have to fight these nichelings? A child, expecting mother, and someone who saved him from the mountain's wrath. He wanted to repay a non-existent debt to them.. but how? Onion was surprised to see the saber-fanged nicheling. He had been told they existed, but never really believed that. Of course, that was until today. Iris: "After them!" Parrot heard the rest of the Empire race forwards past him and Forest. All were vicious and prepared for battle. Forest: "Some nichelings go back to Almond and Tiger's Eye!" Nobody listened. The anger in their head drowned everything Forest said out. Sakura and Onion faced off angrily. The claws of burning fires against the fur of frozen mountains; but fire always beats snow. Forest pulled Sakura back. Forest: "Calm down! He can get through your fur, so back up." Sakura: growling "Fine.." Forest shot Moose an unreadable look. The snows finally began to melt, after years of white. Parrot was surprised to see the blue-gray of the mountain; he thought the snow was always here, and there was no such thing as spring. There is no more Spring.. left by the seas to freeze. Blood Sky: "There's a balance bear attacking Almond and Tiger's Eye!" Forest: "Told you all! Come on!" Iris: "But we can defeat Moose!" Forest: "We need to help Almond first, we know where they are." Iris growled, but didn't hesitate in going to help Almond. Moose shot Forest a thankful glance, before running off. The Frozen Empire seemed to have all the cracks in the ice solidify for one moment. All the terrors of the mountain fell like snows and they united against the mutual threat for one day. No matter how many traitors, wars, and enemies we face, we will always be the Frozen Empire. As Fire Opal created her nest and Lichen grew up, Onion prepared to go fight the Frozen Empire. He needed to finish what his Mother started; to burn out all the snows and melt the ice, he would have to be fierce as fire. No matter what happens tomorrow, I will always be the Burning Empire, stronger than the burning of betrayal. As Fire Opal and Moose's next child was born, Onion went off to find and kill the Frozen Empire. "Wait!" Fire Opal and Moose went after Onion. Moose: "Lichen, stay with your brother." Onion: "What are you guys doing-" Fire Opal: "We have.. unfinished business as well." Moose: "We're coming with you." Onion: "Thanks.." After a long battle, the Frozen Empire defeated the balance bear. The snows descended on the mountain. A shriek of terror from Salvador was heard, and the Frozen Empire turned to see what was happening. Parrot saw Moose, Fire Opal and Onion on the horizon. The bones are that of a rogue that bred with Hurricane dw The Empires were on a collision course, and one was going to rise.. and one would fall.

Collision Course.

A Poisonous Privilege (216-221 days in) From perspectives of Onion and Parrot. Onion had always been pressured to live up to his mother's legacy. Moose never really wanted him, even though he pretended he did. But Moose did keep the powerful nicheling around, since he was Quartz's only living child. Opal at least made it clear she didn't want him. But for now, the nichelings of the Burning Empire were preparing for battle against a balance bear. Or at least, getting away from it. Parrot did, in fact, see them. So even if they escaped the balance bear, the Frozen Empire would be on their trail. Parrot himself didn't feel particularly murderous or genocidal. Actually, he was quite the opposite. So even when Forest had told him, that he was the child of Pine, a nicheling from the Burning Empire, he felt like denying it. But deep down, he knew it was true. Luckily, nobody else needed to know his lineage... Except for the Burning Empire. And if he got on their bad side.. they could ruin him. Onion, Opal and Moose were all preparing for Opal's child. Tomorrow, she could give birth, and expand the Empire. Onion thought that they were still to close to the balance bear, but of course, didn't mention it. Quartz hadn't particularly been a loving and caring parent. If he proved he could finish what she started, then maybe.. maybe she would finally send a sign that someone, dead or alive, loved him. The next day, Opal made her nest. Onion brought his head out of the clouds; for now, he needed to help his father and stepmother. Opal gave birth to Lichen, a broad-jawed male who could crack bones as easily as cracking nuts. The love they gave to the child was indescribably infuriating to Onion, but he curled his claws in and bit his tongue. Soon. Meanwhile, old Thornbush was taking the lead of the Frozen Empire nichelings. But she needed to stop. Not only because of her age.. because she wouldn't last another day. Thornbush was at her end. Sakura, her old friend, sat beside her, as well as Almond and Mud, and as close as she could to Forest and Salvador. It was time.. but then. A: "Mother. Before you're gone.. I need to know something." T: "Yes, my daughter?" A: blurting "Listen.. you've always obsessed over Forest, my entire life. I need to know.. did you ever love me?" Forest stared at Almond in disbelief, and pity. And.. envy? Thornbush stared between her two daughters for a long moment. But it was already too late. She fell into a pile of bones, joining her beloved mate in the afterlife. Almond stared down at her mother's remains for a long moment. And without a word, she curled into a nest beside her mother's corpse. Salvador was going to bury them, when- Parrot had seen nothing like the small child before. Its fangs were too small to be that of saber fangs. Its eyes weren't big enough to be that of a twisted-snout. It was something never before seen on the mountain of the Empires. It was the most powerful creature to ever walk the tundras.

oooooooooo 5th page

Sneak peak of upcoming plot. The ability to poison others is unknown to those on the mountain, but maybe Blood Sky has more history than they think...

Snowy Salvation (194-215 days in) I took very few screenshots, nothing interesting is happening Also. 5 hours on the file! Wooo The Frozen Empire continued to move throughout the island. The cold blizzard had lasted for what felt like years, but the tribe was getting used to it at this point. The Burning Empire subconsciously shifted closer to the Frozen group, Trying to find a new home to settle down in and have their children in peace. And eventual war. Another balance bear rolled up as Onion became an adult. They quietly slipped away. The Frozen group decided to set out for new territories. Half the group scouted, while the other half stayed with Salvador. Sakura was getting old, and she had dedicated her entire life to proving herself worthy of her powerful body armor. Once one who would throw others into the fire, and now one that threw herself into the fire. She had given up royalty; now with a new perception of the world, she had realized how terrible this world was, and how she could help others. And in some proud way, she felt she had succeeded. The Burnings and the Frozens were moving closer together. Soon, all doom might break lose on the frosty tundra. With the greatest weapon of the Frozens on her final few days, a young nicheling owing Moose his life, and a strange quest from a powerful nicheling from a faraway land, would these colliding icebergs be the end of the Empires? Unrelated to the plot, but Iris and Parrot both have the same rogue dad. And I'm pretty sure this was Silent's father as well. And, currently, it's getting harder to keep up with 14 nichelings with diverse and interesting personalities, so I might want to shift over to a way of storytelling where it follows one or two nichelings (probably Emu, Parrot, Onion, or Salvador, since they're all young) and not the whole tribe. I don't want to have so few screenshots over so many days, because large time jumps would make the tribe hard to follow. So give suggestions, and I will pick whoever has the most

Another sidenote (will be doing an actual post later today), but I was thinking about making another playthrough, and played on the potential playthrough's file, and I had identical twins, again. So, there's a correlation between identical twins and making a playthrough, I guess.

Backstory time wooooo This is turning into a giant Avengers level crossover between all my tribes, and I like it Another tribe I had, an older one, was called the Root Tribe. The leaders were a monarchy named the Root family. Naming systems in the tribe went like this; (Family name) (Rank) Family name was the name of your bloodline; for example, the Roots always had their name being with Root. Then, your rank, which could be; Sky-Jade-Opal-Ruby-Diamond-Root. Skies are banished or servant nichelings. They are the lowest of the low and looked down upon. Most lose or abandon their family names. Jades are the children of the tribe. They live to prove they are worthy of their family's name. Opals are lower classed, but still respected. Most Opals are trained to do work for the Roots, such as take down threats or protect the tribe. Rubies are middle class. Higher than the Opals, but still vital for the tribe. Most are berry, nut and root gatherers, and are responsible for the tribe's food supplies. Diamonds are the highest rank any non-Root nicheling can achieve. Report directly to the Roots, and act as generals and leaders to the tribe. They exceed anyone else in fruit gathering or fighting, therefore making them a great aspect of the tribe. And the Roots. The royal bloodline is strictly defended, but still relatively active throughout the tribe. The tribe is dependent on them. Fire Opal is from the Fire family with her respectable rank. But what would a Root tribe nicheling be doing, searching the island for a quest given from the Roots, when she should be back on the island quelling the threat of the Blood family, a powerful bloodline that directly endangers the Roots? Maybe this is more like a spoiler than an actual backstory, but it's still necessarily cool for more backstory. Maybe next I'll get my Moons tribe to join in.

The Burning Empire (189-193 days in) Will be posting another backstory post in a minute or two. Prepare The balance bear descended on Sakura, but her thick skin allowed her to block every blow it threw at her. Almond was incredibly angry at the balance bear, too. (I love her expression) Then, Forest went in with the killing blow. Another balance bear on the island, defeated. Sakura and Forest made a good team. Forest also went, afterwards, to meet her younger brother, Emu. He was a lot like her; vicious, powerful, but deep-down, soft and loving. She knew that she would train him well. Opal, although hesitant, decides to become mates with Moose. She loved the twisted-snouted nicheling, but she wanted to finish her quest first. But maybe.. maybe her task would take longer than she planned. (Nothing interesting happens for a while, so this is day 191.) The rebel group began a journey to track down the Frozen Empire. Opal's new plan was foolproof, if they timed it accurately. After all, plots to do stuff like.. what she was doing.. would have to be foolproof. She was trained for this moment, she wouldn't blow it. Almond had her first child, Salvador. A scarily good fruit gatherer that would be useful for any island but this one. M: "'Rebel group' don't have the same ring as 'Frozen Empire'. We need to pick a better name." Opal thought about her old tribe, and realized an idea.. Op: "What about the Burning Empire? Frost can't spread if it's all burnt out." And it's something dear to me. M: "That's a good name. the Burning Empire, to destroy the Frost."

true

Completely unrelated to everything on the playthrough, but this area of like 40 squares has 6 permanent nests, 2 dead bodies, a tree, 3 fruit bushes, 2 rocks, 1 rabbit burrow, and 1 cactus. My luck on this file that probably won't become a playthrough is like x100 but on Frozen Empire I get 3 balance bears every 20 days. What the heck

A Flame in the Snows (183-188 days in) Woah! A stalling positive post? We haven't had that since.. since never! Moose had found a new nicheling to join the rebel group, and invited the beautiful red nicheling into the tribe. M: "If you help us, we'll give you everything you desire." ?: "Sounds appealing enough." M: "What's your name?" ?: "Opal. Although I used to be Fire Opal." M: "That's a.. weird name." Op: "Well, I came here to do.. a job. Once you help me finish it, I'll help you." M: "Fair enough. What's your job?" Op: "Don't tell a soul.." Meanwhile, Blood and Almond had become mates. Not under the best of circumstances, but certainly not unexpected. Don't know how to write romance leave me alone They began expecting a child. Forest felt a bite of jealousy, but she had to focus on defending the Empire, being the strongest nicheling here. Opal and Moose had done something unbelievable; defeat a balance bear. The two were both powerful, almost as if they were trained for the occasion of killing something potentially dangerous. Thornbush sheltered against the snow and created a nest. Her final child with Wikku.. she would defend it with her life. Forest glared towards the balance bear. Her final sibling; she could feel her determination fight off the chills of cold pulling her back. After all, miracles can only arrive at the worst of times. Saber fang child lets goooooooooooooooo Onion had grown into a strong teen, but he could tell how weak his mother had become. Q: "Onion, It's almost my time to go." O: "But.. what about Moose and Opal? You told me that we would all take vengeance on the Empire together! You can't die now.." Q: "You must be strong, my son. Will you defeat the Empire nichelings and make me proud?" The determination in Onion was as strong as his cousin's. Except for a different reason.. O: "Of course. I'll make them bleed as much as you have, mark my words." And just like that, the nicheling that had split the iceberg, the nicheling that had tricked several, the nicheling that lost all her mercy years ago, upon her arrival on the mountain, fell into a pile as bones as quick as the snow fell to the ground.

Slot3.nichesave Good luck

The Next Generation (179-180 days in) By now, Thornbush was also fretting about Forest's whereabouts. She paced around and settled on a stump, looking across snowdrifts. She couldn't see up the sloping mountain, but anyone could look down and see anything. Look down... Moose and Quartz were now stressed over a balance bear and keeping Onion safe. If Onion survived, he could finish what his parents started; a new generation of the tribe with the rebel group. Meanwhile, Thornbush curled up in a hotspring, thinking about Forest. Although she would never admit it, Forest was definitely the golden one for her skills and saber fangs. Since she and Wikku were considered the leaders of the tribe, when she died, she knew she would want Forest to be her successor. Almond comforted Thornbush, but she couldn't help herself, and felt shots of jealousy for her sister's success. It wasn't her fault she was born inferiorly. Meanwhile, Forest and Parrot discovered a trail leading down the mountain. Upon looking down, Forest had spotted glimmers of pink fur and could hear talking down below. Parrot didn't say anything, but his tail whisked excitedly. New friends! But his gut told him that he wasn't going to like these new nichelings. Forest and Parrot continued down the slope, and by now, Wikku spotted them. W: "Thornbush! Look!" The way Thornbush's face brightened when she spotted Forest caused Almond to feel such strong hatred she thought she would burst into flames. Everything revolved around Forest, and she was all anyone cared about. Almost as if Almond didn't exist. Fine. Be that way, Mother. I never loved you either. There was also something else Wikku spotted, that nobody would be excited to see. Thornbush ran in the opposite direction of the danger, terrified of losing her unborn child. ?: "Help! There's a big murder monster and it's going to kill me!" W: "Hold on, get behind me." ?: mumbling "t-thank you." S: "What's your name?" ?: "Hurricane.." S: "That's.. pretty." H: mumbling again "thanks.." Parrot and Forest were coming closer to the Empire. Almond felt stabs of envy as she saw her sister's powerful, graceful form and almost extinct saber fangs. How lucky is she? Hmph. The balance bear descended on Wikku and Blood, both determined and angry. Parrot and Forest arrived. Forest was excited to see her mother and father again. Wikku turned his head away from the battle and ran to meet her.. just as the claw of the bear descended down on his head.

Shade might be possessing children of the tribe to warn them for when Shade sends balance bears? And if they don't survive, they're portrayed as weak and deserving to die? Maybe Shade is seeking vengeance against Len's bloodline and family for something they did?

2k views! Tysm everyone!!

maybe..

A Growing Empire (175-178 days in) Sakura and Thornbush had their children. Sakura's looks like Quartz O_O The first child, Sakura's, was named Iris. So pretty And then Mud, Thornbush and Wikku's child. Thornbush wanted to be excited for Mud, but all she could think about was Forest. T: "Where's Forest?" W: "I- I don't know." B and A, probably in sync: "Whose Forest?" T: "Your sister. She went missing when you were born." S: "She went to go find Pine, Moose and Quartz. I tried to stop her, but she was insistent. W: "Where did she go?" S: "I don't know, she ran off and wouldn't stop." Thornbush and Wikku's silence said a lot. Where was Forest? What happened to her? Was she alive? Was she hurt? Was she.. dead? What happened? Forest, meanwhile, had found young Parrot. She felt bad for the little pink child, and decided to bring him back to the Empire. Quartz and Moose were being chased by the balance bear, but Quartz had her second, luckily healthy, child. She named him Onion. Because if he wasn't healthy I would literally cry Thornbush pushed her worries about Forest to the back of her mind; she believed her daughter would survive. Instead, she paid her attention to Almond; Blood and Almond were sticking close to each other constantly. She had a sneaking suspicion of why. Then, a balance bear broke though a small snow barrier. Moose yelped and hid as it growled in anger. Parrot then grew into an adult. Although Forest hadn't known the little nicheling for long, she felt proud of the pink male. F: "Follow me, Parrot. I want to show you something." P: "What?" F: "The Empire." Forest hopped onto a stump and looked across the Empire proudly. But her face quickly dropped and she realized something was definitely wrong. The old home she had grown up in.. There were two possibilities, and both started with A. Attacked.. or abandoned.

If I had the time, I would love to!

The Alliance (165-174 days in) Forest heard screeches of pain and terror from the distance. She climbed back up the mountain, and found a freezing Pine, getting attacked by a balance bear. Beyond, a small child was sitting with the rabbits. The child then grew into a teen. P: "Mother! Get up!" F: "Don't get too close!" Parrot didn't hear her over the terrible screeching. And after a moment, Pine and the balance bear had both vanished. P: "Mother! Where are you?" Parrot realized how cold he was, and started sobbing. F: "Wait! Come over here! There's a hotspring over here!" Parrot was running off now, in the opposite direction. Forest tried to follow, but her own body couldn't withstand the blizzard. 2 days have passed. Sakura accidentally bred with a rogue, and Parrot has grown more. The balance bear separated the two. Forest was focused on getting to Parrot, when suddenly- M: "You. Creature!" Forest whipped around. She glared down at Quartz and Moose. F: "I would simply kill you right now. But you helped me find Pine and her child." Q: "Child? Pine wasn't supposed to have any children, I told her that." F: "Well, that's a shame, you entitled rat. But now, her child is running away because balance bear. I won't kill you if you help me get to him." M: "What makes you think you can kill me?" Meanwhile, Thornbush, Wikku and the Empire were on the edge of the world, chased by a terrible predator. Where have I seen this before Sn: "Sakura?" S: "What?" The female's sleek powerful body was now littered with scrapes and bruises, and she looked exhausted. Sn: "I know you want to protect the Empire.. but I'm an old nicheling." S: "Don't say it-" Sn: "You go on with the others. I have to do something I should've done for someone else a long time ago." S: "But-" Sn: "It's my time to go." The Empire pressed on, but Snowchaser knew what he had to do. He jumped onto a stump, and let out his final cries of satisfaction. Last time, she wasn't satisfied. Forest leaped past Moose and shoved him into the path of the balance bear. M: "Hey stop it-" Moose was pinned, and could do nothing. Quartz was in shock, her head behind held by Forest's sharp claw. Forest shoved Quartz over, too. F: "Clear a path!" Q: "Fine! Fine!" Forest brushed by the two nichelings, hiding behind rocks as Moose tried to fight off the predator. Moose and Quartz got by, too. F: "Feel ashamed of yourselves. This was Pine's deathbed." Moose felt a gapping hole open up in him. Pine was like him; tough, twisted, and brave. But now? He could never become mates with her. Quartz felt like the numbness from the snow had hit her like an avalanche. She didn't expect to feel anything about death; after all, she preferred to be giving it to others. But now that she knew someone she genuinely liked was gone? For the first time in her life, Quartz felt something that wasn't anger or pity or disappointment. Almond, meanwhile, had met a wanderer. Looks like Snowchaser tbh, the terrible irony A: "Who are you?" The male, though, didn't respond. He jumped onto a rabbit and caught it easily. Parrot had heard a cry of happiness. He looked over, and saw the nicheling who had called out to him, plus two nichelings that looked like him. P: "Who are you?" F: "I'm Forest. These two monsters are Moose and Quartz." Quartz didn't want anything to do with the child. Moose felt like this was Pine, right in front of him. But they couldn't become mates. A: "HEY. YOU." The red male looked up. ?: "Oh, hi." A: "What's your name?" ?: "Blood Sky. But you can call me Blood. Or Sky. I don't care." A: "That's a funny name. Well, I'm Almond. Nice to meet you." Sakura and Thornbush then set up their nests, and prepared for the next generation of the Empire. Little did they know that Snowchaser hadn't had the only tragedy. Or that maybe, during the greatest blizzard of the island, there had been a single miracle. Or the fact that this cursed island could ever have a miracle at all.

Considering posting more often, either a post every Saturday/Sunday, Friday/Sunday or Friday/Saturday/Sunday. Which sounds best?

worked well!

Deadly Hills can drive the most experienced of people to the brink of insanity