Valentine (23 [yikes])

Redemption by amnesia - the villain forgetting their crimes. They begin living a normal life, or possibly even forge a new path of virtue. They don’t even understand why the heroes keep so close to them, why everyone gives them dirty looks. Or maybe they were told their past and have to live with a guilt they can’t quite fully feel.

Redemption by empathetic experience - maybe the villain was young when they started down the wrong path. They learned the worst from evil mentors/parents, and it isn’t until they have an experience that shatters their paradigm that they realize they can/should be different. Usually these experiences humanize the people around the villain, and villain, feeling empathy, decides to change.

Redemption by de-aging - the villain reverting back to a younger age. Even if they remember what they’ve done, the heroes would likely refuse to kill them. And the younger they are, the less likely they’d face any punishment.

Redemption by whump - the villain facing unbalanced retribution. Their torture is too much for the heroes to bear. “They don’t deserve this.” The villain being taken care of in a way that changes their whole relationship with the heroes. They can’t go back to living the way they did before.

Redemption by “death” - the villain being sentenced to death and actually dying. By some means, magical or scientific, they come back to life. They technically satisfied the sentence and can carry on living, however that may go. Or it was done in secret, and they get a second chance living in anonymity.

Redemption by common enemy - “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” The villain and hero team up to stop a bigger, worse threat. Even though villain has done terrible things in the past, the hero can’t kill or hurt them now, not right after they helped.

Redemption by family - nothing is more humanizing than a villain that cares about their family (and vice versa), and the hero can’t let villain die while their child is watching. Also looks like a brother, a mother stepping in when villain needs them most. Advocating for them, believing in them when no one else would.

So we have a new mod @natk2002 who has graciously volunteered to maintain the Whumpapedia!

Major cleanups have been underway and a new link has been created.

Please continue to use the submission links that are in the pinned message on the top of this blog. We appreciate all the kind messages and questions asking about the blog and spreadsheet!

His voice was hoarse. It was always hoarse, right up until the end.

You didn’t think much of it at the time. Of course you wouldn’t stop fighting. What he was doing to you — to both of you — was wrong. There’s no way in hell you were going to just lay down and accept it.

Then weeks went by. Months, probably. Maybe years. It was hard to tell. And it never let up. And you watched him get quieter and quieter. Watched him struggle less and less each time he was taken away.

You tried talking to him. Reminding him how unfair this was. Stoking his fire. You think it helped, for a time. But he began to always give the same reply. “I’m just so tired.”

It was lonely now, without him. You tried not to dwell on it. Tried not to think about how the pep talks you were giving yourself are the same ones you used to give him. Tried to focus on staying alive.

You’re vaguely aware that you used to be determined to stay alive until you were rescued. Or until you had a chance to escape. You haven’t thought that way in a while. You’re not sure when you started trying to stay alive long enough to warn the next one.

I feel like there’s so much potential:

-Trainer comforts Whumpee afterwards, telling them what a good job they did and rewarding them somehow

-Trainer hates their job but knows it’ll help Whumpee in the long run

-Whumpee constantly having to remind themselves “it’s not real it’s just a drill it’s almost done” to stay sane during it

-Whumpee becoming afraid of Trainer accidentally, even when they know it’s not their fault and they’re really just helping them

-Trainer going just a bit too far…on purpose…but they’d never tell Whumpee that

-Whumper being surprised when Whumpee barely flinches at any of their tactics due to their preparation

Here’s what you’ll need to know! Learn all about the wonders of the human body and add scientifically-accurate drama to your stories.

MALNOURISHMENT

DEATH: average - 21 days (3 weeks), max ever recorded - 70 days (2.3 months)

6 HOURS: grouchiness and hunger due to lack of glucose.

24 HOURS - 48 HOURS: hunger very apparent; pains in stomach; body has entered ketosis and is using fatty acids as energy.

72 HOURS+: muscles begin to get broken down for energy.

You will become: increasingly depressed, irritable, hysteric apathetic; decline in concentration, comprehension and judgement; social isolation and withdrawal; possible self-harm.

If your character doesn’t eat for 5 consecutive days, they are at risk of Refeeding Syndrome. This is extremely dangerous and can be fatal.

recommended reading:

The Minnesota Starvation Experiment

Psychology of starvation based on the above experiment.

DEHYDRATION

DEATH: average 3 days; some live 8 - 10 days

for the calculations: TWV = total water volume in body; average adult loses 2.5 litres of water per day.

Assuming that your character does not eat, drink or absorb any moisture.

9 HOURS/2% TWV: thirst, discomfort, dry skin, loss of appetite; 50% loss of performance for athletes; elevated body temperature, rapid heartbeat, fatigue, dizziness when standing, decreased fluid secretion (sweat, urination, tears, etc).

24 HOURS/6% TWV: sleepiness, severe headaches, nausea, tingling in limbs.

36 - 72 HOURS/ 6 - 15% TWV: no urination, seizures, muscle spasms, shriveled skin, fainting, vision dimming, delirium.

72 HOURS+/15% TWV+: Organ failure.

recommended reading:

dehydration on the psychology wiki.

SLEEP DEPRIVATION

DEATH: not known, but can stay awake for 11 days; max chronic sleep deprivation ever recorded (until death) - 6 months.

NOTE: This does not mean you can stay awake for 6 months. It means you can survive that long with chronic sleep deprivation - going days without sleep and then sleeping once or twice.

24 HOURS: mental ability impairment of someone who has blood-alcohol content of 0.10%; everything is worse - emotional control, memory, attention, decision-making, hand-eye coordination.

36 HOURS: hormonal spikes everywhere; losing time; lack of motivation; head buzzing like you’re dehydrated.

48 HOURS: microsleep, regardless of what you’re doing (you fall asleep for 1-30 seconds and then become disorientated);

72 HOURS+: say goodbye to higher mental processes like decision-making and planning. Also, say good bye to saying goodbye because even simple conversations are hard.

80 HOURS+: … and hello, hallucinations!

recommended reading:

this article of a soldier’s experience with sleep deprivation.

Here’s what you’ll need to know! Learn all about the wonders of the human body and add scientifically-accurate drama to your stories.

MALNOURISHMENT

DEATH: average - 21 days (3 weeks), max ever recorded - 70 days (2.3 months)

6 HOURS: grouchiness and hunger due to lack of glucose.

24 HOURS - 48 HOURS: hunger very apparent; pains in stomach; body has entered ketosis and is using fatty acids as energy.

72 HOURS+: muscles begin to get broken down for energy.

You will become: increasingly depressed, irritable, hysteric apathetic; decline in concentration, comprehension and judgement; social isolation and withdrawal; possible self-harm.

If your character doesn’t eat for 5 consecutive days, they are at risk of Refeeding Syndrome. This is extremely dangerous and can be fatal.

recommended reading:

The Minnesota Starvation Experiment

Psychology of starvation based on the above experiment.

DEHYDRATION

DEATH: average 3 days; some live 8 - 10 days

for the calculations: TWV = total water volume in body; average adult loses 2.5 litres of water per day.

Assuming that your character does not eat, drink or absorb any moisture.

9 HOURS/2% TWV: thirst, discomfort, dry skin, loss of appetite; 50% loss of performance for athletes; elevated body temperature, rapid heartbeat, fatigue, dizziness when standing, decreased fluid secretion (sweat, urination, tears, etc).

24 HOURS/6% TWV: sleepiness, severe headaches, nausea, tingling in limbs.

36 - 72 HOURS/ 6 - 15% TWV: no urination, seizures, muscle spasms, shriveled skin, fainting, vision dimming, delirium.

72 HOURS+/15% TWV+: Organ failure.

recommended reading:

dehydration on the psychology wiki.

SLEEP DEPRIVATION

DEATH: not known, but can stay awake for 11 days; max chronic sleep deprivation ever recorded (until death) - 6 months.

NOTE: This does not mean you can stay awake for 6 months. It means you can survive that long with chronic sleep deprivation - going days without sleep and then sleeping once or twice.

24 HOURS: mental ability impairment of someone who has blood-alcohol content of 0.10%; everything is worse - emotional control, memory, attention, decision-making, hand-eye coordination.

36 HOURS: hormonal spikes everywhere; losing time; lack of motivation; head buzzing like you’re dehydrated.

48 HOURS: microsleep, regardless of what you’re doing (you fall asleep for 1-30 seconds and then become disorientated);

72 HOURS+: say goodbye to higher mental processes like decision-making and planning. Also, say good bye to saying goodbye because even simple conversations are hard.

80 HOURS+: … and hello, hallucinations!

recommended reading:

this article of a soldier’s experience with sleep deprivation.

But while cancelling Nitro and boycotting Discord CAN be a form of protest, it sadly may not be effective. Why? Bc their hands are tied due to the recent trend in age verification bills worldwide.