u/Electronic_Theme_558

So, I'm writing S1 of my indie series- Rachel Raven. The first season will have somewhere between 8 and 12 episodes, depending on the pacing. I've finished the first two episodes, which have set up the introduction and the plot of the season. However, there are two characters I plan to introduce as main supporting characters that are actually very important to the season. Sean and Mac. I know HOW I'm going to introduce them. The problem is which episode I should introduce them in.

Rachel and Alley need muscle, so they look around town only to come across an underground fighting ring. Mac is the champion, and he agrees to join if Rachel can beat him in a fight. Which she does with some boost from her magic. However, episode 2 has just finished establishing the hook (It's a two-parter start), and episode 3 will lean heavily into Rachel being shown that she understands her powers but doesn't like using them due to an incident in her past. I won't spoil that part.

I'm not sure if I should introduce Sean and Mac in episode 4 or 5. I don't want to introduce them too late, but I want to give Rachel time to be established as part of the team. As well as the fact that Sean needs time to develop a close relationship with Rachel, as he knows who she is under the mask and acts as a brother to her throughout the series, I want to have time to establish that this will be the plan early on. Mac also, in later seasons, becomes Rachel's love interest when they're both adults later in the series (they're 3 years apart and season 1 ends with Rachel at 16 and Mac at 19, while the end of the series they're 25 and 28 respectively). I want time to establish them without them feeling rushed, and without Rachel's arc feeling rushed, which is hard to do with a 12-episode limit

I run a small indie studio with limited funding, and I've gone through five animators over the past four months due to funding constraints. I don't expect people to stick with a passion project that can't promise funding or pay up front.

But it was still demotivating for me to have so many people drop this project I've been working on for so long in such a short timespan. So, I got desperate. Originally, I only reached out to animators who'd given examples of their work or posted a lot on subreddits/discord servers, but I finally reached out to an animator who just gave a stereotypical 'Hi! I'm ____! I'm a 2d animator. Glad to be here.' comment and nothing else.

Turns out that person was a professional animator who has been looking to go indie for years due to corporate greed.

Worldbuilding context in bold print:

In this world, there are the ureguines and shadow sins. Shadow sins have their own language and allow their shadow masters to have more power; the stronger the bond they have with each other. However, shadow sins often get treated as a power source rather than a companion. And therefore they get routinely exploited, and since Shadow Sins can understand English but not write or speak it, they're seen as lesser by the broader public even though Shadow Sins are usually well-versed in their own language. The main character has grown up believing Shadow Sins are being treated 'as they should' but learns over time that what they're going through is wrong. A classic tale of racism against those who do not understand the language you speak. This series takes heavy inspiration from Pokémon, Hazbin Hotel, and Dante's Inferno, if that gives you a clue to the kind of story this will be.

Different Shadow Sins are found in different places. Wrath sins are found in Burden. Pride sins are located in Pride Tower. You can find Gluttony Sins hanging out on the beaches and shallow waters of the Bottomless Swamp. Sloth Sins love to hide in the canopy of the Sleepy Jungle. You can find the Lust sins all across the questionable stores in Lustrous. Deep in the Copy Caverns, Envy Sins lurk in the overgrowth. Beware of the Richman's Blood, for it's rumored that the place runs on the blood and sweat of other exploited sins and people alike, run by wild, untamed greed sins.

As you explore, you'll come across the Portal to Limbo, which has been sealed away for centuries on our side. No one really knows what's on the other side, only that it must be dangerous with how it's locked up for so long. Lastly, the beast lands. Wild, dangerous land. Rumored to be filled with hell beasts and monsters, not a city or building for hundreds of miles, except Calamity's Castle. Said to be the home of the greatest Shadow sin tamer and tracker to ever live. Many have gone seeking their guidance, most never made it home, and those that did claimed Calamity turned them away.

I am a fairly experienced writer with hard magic systems, but actually coming up with individual spells/unique powers is sometimes very difficult. I've thought about this a lot. I researched Dante's Inferno specifically. Dante's Inferno is a major inspiration for this series. Alongside the likes of Hazbin Hotel and Pokémon. I've worked on this prompt for about a week now. In Dante's Inferno, there are nine layers of hell. So I took the seven deadly sins and matched them up best with the layer that fit each sin. Which was hard because pride and envy didn't exist as layers in Dante's Inferno.

Without going into TOO MUCH detail, mostly because idk for sure if I'll even make this series in the future. I'm in the pre-writing/brainstorming phase of writing a series that takes place in a different world. With ureguines (a placeholder race I made up) that tame little gremalin creatures called Shadow Sins, and solve conflicts Pokémon-style by battling. Only, instead of the creatures fighting, the owners (also called Shadow Masters) connect with their shadow sin and use the powers granted to fight in combat. Here are a few rules for the magic system because I like hard magic systems with a lot of rules:

1. People who own a Shadow Sin are called Shadow Masters.
2. Shadow sins represent the seven deadly sins: lust, pride, wrath, envy, greed, gluttony, and sloth
3. Shadow Sins must be near their Shadow Masters, or their Shadow Masters cannot cast spells
4. Each Shadow sin individual would have its own look, but each one would look similar to the basic character bases
5. Shadow Sins are cute gremlin creatures that become more powerful the stronger the bond with their owner, but one problem.
6. Each shadow sin has a magical ability based on what sin they are.
   1. Each individual Shadow Sin can have between 1 and 3 abilities, while each Shadow Sin type has seven potential powers they can have: Lust is offensive, Pride is close-up/Melee Attacks, Wrath is brutal & violent attacks, Envy are attacks that mimic or copy others' capabilities or powers, Greed are attacks that only benefit the shadow master uses them (while not benefiting or even harming the shadow master's team or allies), Gluttony is most defensive attacks, and sloth is rest and healing spells.
7. The reason shadow sins are so easily enslaved is simply the fact that their powers aren't really usable on their own; they need an external conduit, and the shadow sins are tiny and physically much weaker than the ureguines.

Here are some of the powers I already came up with:

Lust:

1. Temptation's Whisper: Allows the Shadow Master to make themselves so attractive in the eyes of their opponent that their opponent can’t think straight or view anything else.
2. Desire's Wrath: Allows the user to convert their lustful energy into powerful blasts of energy that manifest as fiery projectiles that explode upon impact, causing emotional and physical harm by forcing the target to confront their deepest desires and fears in a sudden, chaotic attack
3. Ensnaring Embrace: The Shadow master can summon dark pink, almost blood red colored, whip-like tentacles that snag and stab opponents, depending on the Shadow Master’s skill/control over the Shadow Sin and intended position
4. Seductive Mirage: allows the Shadow master to create clones of themselves. The clones are temporary and will disappear if touched, but they put out an aura that drives people’s attention away from the real Shadow Master. This applies to everyone in range of the spell, and can become a liability when working in a team.
5. Lustful Whispers: Allows the user to whisper in the target’s ear seductively from anywhere in range, and it can be heard clearly. This can be used to speak with faraway teammates or to catch enemies off guard
6. Frenzied Obsession: The Shadow master can release a massive burst of energy that causes everyone in the area to obsess over a specific target. Again, this applies to everyone in range, so best not to use this as a team
7. Carnal Command: By locking eyes with the target, the Shadow Master can command their target to do whatever they please. This ability is a 1:1 ratio. Basically, after locking eyes, the Shadow Master gets to give only ONE command before having to make eye contact again. However, after eye contact is made, if a command is not said at all, the Shadow master can keep control of the target for as long as their stamina and training allow.

Gluttony:

1. Devouring Shield: The shadow master can summon a force field around themselves that can absorb incoming attacks, but the shield has a limit. Too many attacks and the shield bursts. The Shadow master must balance using the shield because the blast from the overloaded shield can cause harm to the Shadow master through the blast.
2. Adaptive plating: Allows the Shadow master to change the physical state of their body by turning their body fat into other materials. They cannot make themselves into liquid or air, but they can change into other solids. Rubber for bouncing, metal for protection, or glass for a frag grenade-style attack, etc. Note: this plating only surrounds the body and can be removed and manipulated as the shadow master sees fit.
3. Kinetic Chipped: Allows the shadow master to save up hits from an opponent over a set amount of time and, in one punch, hit with all that power at once

As for feedback, I've been considering having the series take place in hell, with the main cast being original/old religion-inspired demon-like species that live in said hellscape. But the problem is- while I would enjoy writing that kind of setting, it is very overused at this point. And while- yes- overused plots can still work... (Trapped in a video game - TADC, Isekai into a world where you get superpowers and save the day - Owl House/Amphiba, etc.) You really need to put your own spin on it for it to work. Which I do believe I can do.

I've been writing canon divergent fanfiction for almost 8 years now, so taking an existing plot and putting my own spin on it is kinda my entire writing style, but I'm worried others may hear- 'Demons in hell being morally questionable' and think 'Knock-off Hellaverse.' Which fair, this series takes inspiration mainly from Pokémon, Hazbin Hotel, and Dante's Inferno. I've heard Viv got inspiration for Hazbin Hotel from Dante's Inferno, too.

Then, there's the language I have made, which is more of a rough translation to English, where Shadow Tongue does not have any lowercase English letters directly translated to their writing system.

Lastly, the map is a rough concept art for the map of the hellscape/land that the main cast explores.

I am a fairly experienced writer with hard magic systems, but actually coming up with individual spells/unique powers is sometimes very difficult.

Without going into TOO MUCH detail, mostly because idk for sure if I'll even make this series in the future. I'm in the pre-writing/brainstorming phase of writing a series that takes place a different world. With ureguines (an original race I made up) that tame little gremalin creatures called Shadow Sins, and solve conflicts Pokémon-style by battling. Only, instead of the creatures fighting, the owners (also called Shadow Masters) connect with their shadow sin and use the powers granted to fight in combat. Here are a few rules for the magic system because I like hard magic systems with a lot of rules:

Shadow Sins must be near their Shadow Masters, or their Shadow Masters cannot cast spells

1. Demons who own a Shadow Sin are called Shadow Masters.
2. Shadow sins represent the seven deadly sins: lust, pride, wrath, envy, greed, gluttony, and sloth
3. Each Shadow sin individual would have its own look, but each one would look similar to the basic character bases
4. Shadow Sins are cute gremlin creatures that become more powerful the stronger the bond with their owner, but one problem.
5. Each shadow sin has a magical ability based on what sin they are.
   1. Each individual Shadow Sin can have between 1 and 3 abilities, while each Shadow Sin type has seven potential powers they can have: Lust is offensive, Pride is close-up/Melee Attacks, Wrath is brutal & violent attacks, Envy are attacks that mimic or copy others' capabilities or powers, Greed are attacks that only benefit the shadow master uses them (while not benefiting or even harming the shadow master's team or allies), Gluttony is most defensive attacks, and sloth is rest and healing spells.

Here are some of the powers I already came up with:

Lust:

1. Temptation's Whisper: Allows the Shadow Master to make themselves so attractive in the eyes of their opponent that their opponent can’t think straight or view anything else.
2. Desire's Wrath: Allows the user to convert their lustful energy into powerful blasts of energy that manifest as fiery projectiles that explode upon impact, causing emotional and physical harm by forcing the target to confront their deepest desires and fears in a sudden, chaotic attack
3. Ensnaring Embrace: The Shadow master can summon dark pink, almost blood red colored, whip-like tentacles that snag and stab opponents, depending on the Shadow Master’s skill/control over the Shadow Sin and intended position
4. Seductive Mirage: allows the Shadow master to create clones of themselves. The clones are temporary and will disappear if touched, but the put out an aura that drives people’s attention away from the real Shadow Master. This applies to everyone in range of the spell, and can become a liability when working in a team.
5. Lustful Whispers: Allows the user to whisper in the target’s ear suductively from anywhere in range and it be heard clearly. This can be used to speak with far away teammates or to catch enemies offguard
6. Frenzied Obsession: The Shadow master can release a massive burst of energy that causes everyone in the area to obsess over a specific target. Again, this applies to everyone in range, so best not to use this as a team
7. Carnal Command: By locking eyes with the target, the Shadow Master can command their target to do whatever they please. This ability is a 1:1 ratio. Basically, after locking eyes, the Shadow Master gets to give only ONE command before having to make eye contact again. However, after eye contact is made, if a command is not said at all, the Shadow master can keep control of the target for as long as their stamina and training allows.

Gluttony:

1. Devouring Shield: The shadow master can summon a forcefield around themselves that can absorb incoming attacks, but the shield has a limit. Too many attacks and the shield bursts. The Shadow master must balance using the shield because the blast from the overloaded shield can cause harm to the Shadow master through the blast.
2. Adaptive plating: Allows the Shadow master to change the physical state of their body by turning their body fat into other materials. They cannot make themselves into liquid or air, but they can change into other solids. Rubber for bouncing, metal for protection, or glass for a frag grenade-style attack, etc. Note: this plating only surrounds the body and can be removed and manipulated as the shadow master sees fit.
3. Kinetic Chipped: Allows the shadow master to save up hits from an opponent over a set amount of time and, in one punch, hit with all that power at once

That's all I have for now. like I said, I'm trying to get 7 abilities per Shadow Sin species. I also made some concept art if you want to see it let me know.

edit: Decided demons and hell were a little overused at this point lol

Without going into TOO MUCH detail, mostly because idk for sure if I'll even make this series in the future. I'm in the pre-writing/brainstorming phase of writing a series that takes place in hell. With demons that tame little gremalin creatures called Shadow Sins, and solve conflicts Pokémon-style by battling. Only, instead of the creatures fighting, the owners (also called Shadow Masters) connect with their shadow sin and use the powers granted to fight in combat. Here are a few rules for the magic system because I like hard magic systems with a lot of rules:

1. Shadow Sins must be near their Shadow Masters, or their Shadow Masters cannot cast spells
2. Demons who own a Shadow Sin are called Shadow Masters.
3. Shadow sins represent the seven deadly sins: lust, pride, wrath, envy, greed, gluttony, and sloth
4. Each Shadow sin individual would have its own look, but each one would look similar to the basic character bases
5. Shadow Sins are cute gremlin creatures that become more powerful the stronger the bond with their owner, but one problem.
6. Each shadow sin has a magical ability based on what sin they are.
   1. Each individual Shadow Sin can have between 1 and 3 abilities, while each Shadow Sin type has seven potential powers they can have: Lust is offensive, Pride is close-up/Melee Attacks, Wrath is brutal & violent attacks, Envy are attacks that mimic or copy others' capabilities or powers, Greed are attacks that only benefit the shadow master uses them (while not benefiting or even harming the shadow master's team or allies), Gluttony is most defensive attacks, and sloth is rest and healing spells.

Here are some of the powers I already came up with:

Lust:

1. Temptation's Whisper: Allows the Shadow Master to make themselves so attractive in the eyes of their opponent that their opponent can’t think straight or view anything else.
2. Desire's Wrath: Allows the user to convert their lustful energy into powerful blasts of energy that manifest as fiery projectiles that explode upon impact, causing emotional and physical harm by forcing the target to confront their deepest desires and fears in a sudden, chaotic attack
3. Ensnaring Embrace: The Shadow master can summon dark pink, almost blood red colored, whip-like tentacles that snag and stab opponents, depending on the Shadow Master’s skill/control over the Shadow Sin and intended position
4. Seductive Mirage: allows the Shadow master to create clones of themselves. The clones are temporary and will disappear if touched, but the put out an aura that drives people’s attention away from the real Shadow Master. This applies to everyone in range of the spell, and can become a liability when working in a team.
5. Lustful Whispers: Allows the user to whisper in the target’s ear suductively from anywhere in range and it be heard clearly. This can be used to speak with far away teammates or to catch enemies offguard
6. Frenzied Obsession: The Shadow master can release a massive burst of energy that causes everyone in the area to obsess over a specific target. Again, this applies to everyone in range, so best not to use this as a team
7. Carnal Command: By locking eyes with the target, the Shadow Master can command their target to do whatever they please. This ability is a 1:1 ratio. Basically, after locking eyes, the Shadow Master gets to give only ONE command before having to make eye contact again. However, after eye contact is made, if a command is not said at all, the Shadow master can keep control of the target for as long as their stamina and training allows.

Gluttony:

1. Devouring Shield: The shadow master can summon a forcefield around themselves that can absorb incoming attacks, but the shield has a limit. Too many attacks and the shield bursts. The Shadow master must balance using the shield because the blast from the overloaded shield can cause harm to the Shadow master through the blast.
2. Adaptive plating: Allows the Shadow master to change the physical state of their body by turning their body fat into other materials. They cannot make themselves into liquid or air, but they can change into other solids. Rubber for bouncing, metal for protection, or glass for a frag grenade-style attack, etc. Note: this plating only surrounds the body and can be removed and manipulated as the shadow master sees fit.
3. Kinetic Chipped: Allows the shadow master to save up hits from an opponent over a set amount of time and, in one punch, hit with all that power at once

That's all I have for now. like I said, I'm trying to get 7 abilities per Shadow Sin species. I also made some concept art if you want to see it let me know.

Here is some of the script:

Scene 2:

Rachel runs through the woods, the trees and bushes blurring past her as she hops from branch to branch. Rachel stops on a branch, and Vanhalla appears next to her, slightly fading, showing she’s a spirit. Vanhalla rolls her eyes.

Vanhalla (annoyed): “If you keep running like that, you’ll fall.”

Rachel chuckles. Closing her eyes and goes to jump to another branch.

Rachel (cockily): “Relax, Vanhalla, I’m blind, not stupid. I have every branch memorized by now. Besides. I need to get through the forest fast, and the trees are the fastest- AHHH!”

Rachel slips and falls out of the tree. One of her arms is visibly broken.

Rachel (in pain): “Ow… Fuck. Ok, maybe I was a little cocky…”

Rachel stands up, holding her arm. She takes a breath as she sets the bone back in place with gritted teeth before a magical sound is heard along with bone crackling. Her arm is healed in seconds.

Rachel (annoyed): “Well, that was painful.”

Vanhalla scoffs.

Vanhalla (annoyed): “Don’t act as if it affected you that much. Your regeneration handled it.”

It was Rachel’s turn to roll her eyes.

Rachel (half joking): “You know, for a spirit that shares a physical body with me, you don’t really seem to grasp the difference between physical pain and being able to heal the cause of that pain.”

Vanhalla turns away.

Vanhalla (annoyed): “Whatever.”

Vanhalla fades away, returning to Rachel’s subconscious. Rachel smiles. The screen fades to the next scene.

You can view the full script here: Patreon

Kinda like MLP fans are called bronies or Whovians from Doctor Who, or Trekkies from Star Trek. Just thought it'd be fun to call fans (people who actually enjoy the show and don't over criticize unnecessary plot points) sinners

edit 2: My dad literally uses his past relationship to justify verbally and emotionally abusing my mom and me for years and refusing to get help. So, sorry if I'm not very sympathetic to his problems!

So, I'm in a bdsm poly relationship. I am also a victim of physical abuse in grade school by my teachers. My dad is very immature and is still recovering from an abusive relationship (I should say, he being immature and his abusive ex are unrelated to each other, but both facts are relevant to the story).

Sometimes my dad will bring up that bdsm is abuse and just an excuse for abusers to hit their victims, and that the 'consent' is forced compliance. Now. I am pretty open about my sex life (with permission from my partners), and pretty much everyone knows we do bdsm like every Friday, just not the specifics of what we do, because we do have SOME sense of privacy. Mostly to avoid being interrupted by phone calls or unimportant matters. Well, my dad started on one of his rants at a family dinner and started making my partners uncomfortable because they are doms and would NEVER hit someone abusively or push me past my safeword. Well, seeing my beloved girlfriends uncomfortable, something in me snapped.

"Well, Dad, I actually quite enjoy being hit. Really makes me wet." Now, parents don't like to hear about their kids' sex life at all, but my dad still views me as a child, not the 25-year-old adult that I am. So, hearing his kid talk in a very sexual tone about being hit, he pauses, stares me down, and just mutters- "Wh-what?"

"Yeah, every Friday, I love being tied down and bruised with paddles." One of my girlfriends choked. The other laughed at my dad's expression. My dad stood up and stormed out of the restaurant, leaving my mom and us to split the bill. Pretty sure a couple at a nearby table was red as hell too.

edit: Figure I should say, that my dad brings this up A LOT.