The History of Snack Kingdom, Part 2: Dark Winter Rising

By Catty von Catacean · 2026-07-11

Yami took the reins of WHL and immediately rebranded. The alliance would no longer be called The Whales. It would be called Dark Winter Rising — DWR — and Yami promised a gentler era. More collaboration with the NAP 10. Less of the scorched-earth certainty that had defined Carebear's tenure. He was not going to be a dictator. He was going to build something.

And he did. The NAP 10 under Yami was a serious, disciplined operation. DWR, TRM, IDN, EUR, KOR, LFG, NWO, POL, TTC, and BBQ aligned around a single goal: win the first SVS. Every resource saved. Every troop preserved. Brothers in Arms declared off-limits — no wasting troops on entertainment when the state had a future to build. Yami's favorite ally was an alliance called Let's Grind for Glory, which tells you everything you need to know about the philosophy. Savvy Honey and Pumpkin lectured and nagged everyone to save save save. The NAP 10 was not playing around. They were preparing.

DWR chose their Headquarters location with characteristic precision — positioned between facilities and resources, strategically sound, built for long-term dominance. They were laying the foundations of a state that would win. Everything was deliberate. Everything was for the good of the state.

The good of the state did not, it should be noted, include HAVOC. HAVOC was not in the NAP. HAVOC was never asked if they would be part of NAP or follow NAP rules. It was expected. HAVOC built their HQ directly next to DWR's. For laughs. When Whaleslaughter began attacking DWR tiles out of boredom, DWR arrived with SMASH, Monkey, and Yami and burned HAVOC's HQ and every banner they had. This was the correct response to the situation. HAVOC relocated to the other side of the map, which was also the correct outcome. Europa did not agree but Europa was not consulted.

Before the first Brothers in Arms, Whaleslaughter messaged every player in the state one at a time trying to organize a rebellion. She posted on HAVOC's notice board that they intended to break the agreement entirely. NAP spies reported back. DWR prepared a response. HAVOC behaved perfectly — it had been a lie, a provocation designed to see what DWR would do. DWR burned HAVOC completely at the opening of Brothers in Arms. Whether this was justified punishment or heavy-handed overreach depends entirely on which side of the NAP line you were standing on. Both sides have always been very clear about which side they were on.

With the first Sunfire Castle battle approaching, Whaleslaughter sent message after message trying to convince NAP alliances to break ranks and have a real fight. Nobody moved. The NAP held. Yami was crowned the first president of Sunfire Castle, and Dark Winter Rising became the first rulers of State 2128, exactly as planned, exactly as deserved.

It was a genuine achievement. DWR had built something real — a disciplined coalition, a winning state, a presidency earned through preparation and spending and serious intent. The fact that a small purple alliance on the other side of the map was making jokes about fire did not diminish any of it.

Not yet, anyway.

Were you there? Share your memories of the DWR era in the comments.

—Catty von Catacean, reporting.