#Alchemical Rebis (Headcanons)

[rebellious-loyalty]

((More Gender Things.

Most often, they are themself, which I've said before, but. Along with being Marika or Radagon or both, she is sometimes Radagon, and he is sometimes Marika. As I've also said, they're genderfluid, entirely so; though using the quote-unquote "opposite" pronouns is rare, it does/will happen at times. Sometimes they might use the same pronouns/presentation for an entire interaction; sometimes their pronouns might shift; sometimes their presentation might shift, with or without their pronouns, and vice versa.

I feel kind of like a broken record, but have this anyway.))

[flipside-phoebe]

Terror Dog analysis/headcanons just because:

(I posted these on my Discord a while ago but I figured I’d share them here too)

I was thinking about how strange it is that Vins Clortho seems so chill around Egon and Janine while possessing Louis. He cooperates with Egon and lets himself be scanned, even giving exposition about Gozer's history. When Peck comes to shut down the containment unit, Vins wait for him rather than doing it himself. Why is he so docile around his human enemies when he could simply kill them? Well, I have my own personal theory/interpretation:

I think that Gozer is only supposed to destroy worlds that are already on the brink of death. They are supposed to be an act of mercy and most of the races they traveled to welcomed them with open arms. That's also why Gozer lets them choose the form of the Destructor. This reflects in the Terror Dogs behavior. Vins thinks all the people about him are destined to die and want to die. So he's fine just hanging out with them until their time comes, almost like a cat (or dog) toying with its prey.

The trouble is that Earth isn't supposed to be destroyed yet. Shandor summoned Gozer too soon. Gozer and the Terror Dogs weren't prepared for humans to fight back, and it might be the first time mortals ever defied them so they aren't used to it.

(I also have a theory that the Gatekeeper and Keymaster have their senses dulled when possessing people, which is why they have some trouble locating and identifying each other. The effort of forcing all their cosmic energy into such small, weak vessels requires some sacrifice.)

We can see in Afterlife, Gozer and the Dogs have learned from their last attempt to end the world and take more direct action. While possessing Gary, Vinz destroys the proton packs around the pit of souls. He also reunites with Zuul much quicker this time. Gozer themself seems rather enthusiastic to face the Ghostbusters again too. This could just be me reading into things too much, but I like to think Gozer sees them as a challenge and enjoys fighting them.

Another thing I find interesting is that the Keymaster & Gatekeepers, ahem "ritual" to summon Gozer may be partially based on alchemy. The "Rebis" is the end product of an alchemist's magnum opus. A perfect combination of male and female traits to create "the divine hermaphrodite". I believe this is also related to the philosopher's stone and eternal life (ironic with Gozer being the god of death & destruction). There's an old alchemical illustration depicting this on the first page of Tobin's Spirit Guide too, if I remember correctly.

Finally, there's an interesting update to the Terror Dog's design in Afterlife with the addition of spurs on the back of their hind feet. It makes me wonder if these are defense against other creatures that could sneak up behind them. Could it be that there are even more powerful monsters that prey on them? Scary to think about…

[darkvioletcloud]

Happy Pride Month! I thought it would be a good time to ask for personal headcanons about Nosramus, LGBTQ+-related or general are both fine. I think the alchemist is pretty neat.

Happy Pride Month to you too! 💜

They're just general headcanons, but I headcanon Nosramus as originally being female and always having a bit of an androgynous edge to her. I like the idea of her being a gal because the first game doesn't have too many ladies, and I like the idea of a mysterious alchemist lady.

Through her studies of alchemy, she used her own body to create her magnum opus, the Rebis, and has both sets of sex characteristics, fully complete and functional.

The Creation of Life studies are related to her studies into the Rebis and the alchemical magnum opus. They probably would've come before the complete transformation.

I should draw Nosramus. I really love drawing long, flowing hair, and her Rapunzel-y white-gold hair would be so fun to do!

Sexuality and gender-wise, I can see Nosramus having an unspecified preference in partners of any sex or gender. She'd also not have a concrete view of her own gender, being fine with those seeing her as a man, woman, both, or neither. A very fluid and ambiguous sense of self-identity, I suppose. Her sexuality is "sure why not" and her gender is "cool wizard :)".

Which is kinda related to how I view my own sexuality and gender, but that's a topic for another time.

Anyway I'm also gonna plug a video I made on Marriages because it's related to this discussion. blease subscrub and ring dat bell uwu i love making videos

[rebellious-loyalty]

((I don't believe Marika orchestrated the Knight of Black Knives, or had anything to do with it, for that matter. However, it was what eventually cemented their decision to shatter the Elden Ring, since that night was what made them "search the depths of the Golden Order." I believe they discovered that removing/sealing Destined Death was a mistake, and that shattering the Ring to be Reforged by whomever became the next/Final Elden Lord was the only way to fix it. That said, I'm unsure if they -- in general -- knew/know what happened to Godwyn's corpse. Have to think about that more.))

[rebellious-loyalty]

((I go with a different translation for Radagon's Golden Order Greatsword. It only resembles the Full Moon Greatsword, the gift given to him by Rennala at their wedding, rather than being an altered version of it.))

[rebellious-loyalty]

((The first real crack in their faith in the Greater Will, came from being ordered -- forced -- to shun, cast out their own children. Themself chosen as Empyrean, a Numen leader, but otherwise seemingly unremarkable? Strange, but who were they to question it. A rival Empyrean, the Gloam-Eyed Queen, existing? Rattling, but simply proof that they must do better. But being told that their twin Omen children, their beloved first-born descendants, were to be reviled?

It was the seed of Marika's discontent, and Radagon's desperation.))

[rebellious-loyalty]

((Some Gender Things --

They’re usually themself, but sometimes specifically Marika or Radagon. (Asking for pronouns is best.)

They’ve always been themself -- even before the Greater Will quote-unquote "gifted" them physically seperated selves -- though reunification (and asexual reproduction) left them a bit disjointed.

When not masculine or feminine, their default state is an androgynous strawberry blond.

They haven’t considered a name for their (now slightly less than) fully merged self. "God of Order" is both a title and a placeholder name.

Pre-Shattering they were rarely their (mostly) merged self, though they’d still default to they/them pronouns.

Probably more to come.))