#But because of the exile and forced isolation

[moonagedaydreamsofrhiannon]

Perhaps the wilderness in Yellowjackets is not just a symbol of death. Perhaps it is also—in its own way—freedom.

In the wilderness, Lottie didn’t have to hide her visions for fear of being called crazy. She was exalted as a leader and a prophet. But when she returned, they called her crazy and locked her up.

In the wilderness, Misty didn’t have to be ashamed of her intensity and eccentricity. She was helpful, she was needed, she was important. But when she returned, they called her a freak and exiled her once again.

In the wilderness, Tai didn’t have to pretend to be something she’s not. Her other self was not a weakness but a strength, it gave her power, and kept her alive. But when she returned she had to suppress her urges and hide her other self, or lose everything.

In the wilderness, Shauna didn’t have to be small, and hide the fire inside her. She was angry, and violent, and powerful. But when she returned, she was forced back into a supporting role, forced to contain her darkness and her drive in order to fit a role she never wanted to play.

In the wilderness, Travis didn’t have to put on an act to fit the societal expectations of masculinity. He was feminine, and emotional, and soft—not the man of the group, but just another Yellowjacket in the hive. But when he returned, he was forced back into the cage—back into the closet—isolated, hardened, closed off and separated from the girls once more.

In the wilderness, Natalie didn’t have to feel guilty for surviving. She was the hunter, the provider, and the gun in her hands made her a savior, and a leader, not a killer. But when she returned, she was a killer once again, haunted by guilt, and outcast by society for the things she did to stay alive.

The wilderness gave them the freedom to be their truest and most authentic selves, but the cost was the blood spilled. The cost was their old selves. The cost was a place in the world upon their return.

Maybe the wilderness did not destroy them; it simply changed them into something new, something irrevocably different, something that would never—could never—fit back inside the narrow box of their old lives, and because they could no longer fit, society called them broken.

The wilderness freed them, but it never let them go. Because once you’ve tasted flesh and blood, once you’ve stared death in the face and overcame, once you’ve been to the very brink and seen the true depth of your own capacity for violence, once all the former markers of morality and success have become meaningless, in a world where survival at all costs is the only law, how can you ever go back to a world ruled by pointless, hollow, conventions? Once you’ve shed every remnant of your humanity, once you’ve run with the wolves, and howled at the moon, and become one with the ancient wild gods, how can you ever be a human again? Once you’ve had a taste of complete freedom, how can you ever be satisfied with a fake, insignificant, half-life, made up entirely of half-truths and haunting?

[titaniaqueenoffairie]

the Inner Circle’s Treatment of Nesta: Hypocrisy and Double Standards

I can never understand how readers still worship the Inner Circle after ACOSF (I’ve never really gotten it throughout the whole series, but let’s leave that aside for now). Before I got into the ACOTAR series, I always heard how the IC was hailed as the pinnacle of love, friendship, and understanding. But after reading it, especially in ACOSF, I couldn’t stand them and their behavior toward Nesta. I mean, their actions toward Nesta tell a much darker story—one of hypocrisy, double standards, and selective compassion. These are just a few points I can write about.

Nesta vs. Rhysand’s Trauma Rhysand went through unimaginable horrors Under the Mountain, and rightly so, the IC (and the fandom) shower him with empathy. But when it comes to Nesta? Suddenly, compassion has a limit. Nesta endured severe trauma during the war, was forced into a transformation against her will, and carried the guilt of her father’s death on her shoulders. Instead of receiving support, she was ostracized, judged, and treated as a burden. Why does Rhys get to grieve on his terms while Nesta is vilified for doing the same?

Weaponizing Morality The IC consistently acted like Nesta’s choices were morally reprehensible. Yes, she coped in unhealthy ways—drinking and isolating herself—but let’s not forget Feyre and Rhys’s questionable behavior (cough hiding Feyre’s pregnancy risks cough). The IC’s constant moral superiority over Nesta is exhausting when they’ve made their own fair share of dubious choices.

Cassian’s Enabling Behavior Cassian claimed to love Nesta but often enabled the IC’s mistreatment of her. He watched as Rhys exiled her to the House of Wind and stripped her of autonomy. If he truly cared, why didn’t he stand up for her? Love isn’t just about attraction—it’s about advocacy, and Cassian repeatedly failed to advocate for Nesta when she needed it most. (that, and won't talk about his behavior in CC3 because i didn't read it yet but i heard a lot of awful things)

“Tough Love” or Just Cruelty? Rhysand and Feyre framing their treatment of Nesta as “tough love” is laughable. Exiling her to a location where she had no escape and forcing her into training wasn’t love—it was control. The IC claimed to want Nesta to heal, but healing doesn’t come from stripping someone of agency. It comes from offering support, compassion, and the choice to heal at their own pace.

The Double Standards Around Amren Amren....... aaaaah Amren who’s often just as cold and abrasive as Nesta. But unlike Nesta, Amren is respected for her attitude. She’s seen as a “badass” who doesn’t take nonsense, while Nesta is labeled as cruel and ungrateful. Why is Amren allowed to be harsh without judgment, but Nesta is demonized for the same behavior?

[marmett]

the trend of ppl dismissing "good" characters as boring is so annoying. and like, i know the primary reason ppl dismiss wyll for it is the racism. but theyre also missing out on the complexities of how and why wyll is good.

protecting the weak is a classic trait of hero characters. wyll does this. but theres also this element of isolation to it. wyll is the protector, but hes also an outsider to the people he protects. w/ mizora hanging over him, the potential that hes turned into a devil, theres this sense that hes been socially isolated for some time. before joining ur group, he probably hadnt had stable relationships in years. other than mizora, his abuser who intentionally isolates him.

and this isolation is a direct result of him choosing to protect other people. he was exiled because he made his pact to save baldur's gate. he was turned into a devil because he chose to defy mizora to save karlach. actions that did material good for other people, but doomed him.

theres also this element where wyll is both less than his image as the blade of frontiers, and more than the legend. wyll is a warlock who made a deal with a devil, he is occasionally forced to kill targets at the behest of a devil. he potentially kills an innocent, and theres no guarantee he hasnt been mislead before. but wyll is also just as selfless and heroic as the stories say. he can easily choose to spare karlach, and face his punishment despite the fear and the cost. he willingly sacrificed his soul for baldur's gate, and possibly for a father who rejected him.

wyll primarily hunts monsters, but he also expresses empathy for them, and is willing to give anyone a chance to prove that they can be good. he isnt hostile to astarion for being a vampire spawn, he only asks that astarion not harm innocents. he gives a dark urge character another chance if they express any kind of regret after killing alfira. he even argues against astarion wanting to kill 7000 vampire spawn. he knows the dangers, but he cant see the justice in killing 7000 people who were victimized and transformed against their will.

wyll offers grace, mercy, and forgiveness to almost anyone who shows even a hint that they could be better. but not himself. he holds himself to impossible standards, and denies himself any sort of grace. when astarion compares what cazador did to him to what mizora did to wyll, wyll rejects it outright. astarion was a victim, but wyll does not view himself as a victim. the pact was his choice, and the consequences are his to bear.

ANYWAY. being good is far more complex than just being a "goody two shoes". theres so much depth and contradiction in how wyll is a good aligned character. and i wish ppl would stop seeing being good as boring and lacking complexity. insert ursula k le guin quote here.

[stonewall-if]

Stonewall Military Academy: the most brutal, merciless, and unforgiving boarding school in the country. Most recruits either desert or die by the end of their first year. It is where the fiercest and deadliest killers are trained and molded to be the military's steel fist. And it is not for the faint of heart.

Your late mother was once the most respected Commander in the military...until she turned against her country and was killed. Her betrayal killed important figures, left thousands dead, and almost made your people lose a war against a monstrous opposition that threatens the livelihood of your people every day.

Your family has gone into hiding since then, exiled and branded as traitors. But when you're forced to defend your sibling, you're given two options: death or become Stonewall's newest recruit, which is a death sentence in and of itself.

You choose Stonewall.

Your mother's betrayal has tainted your family, has made anyone with your last name hated and has exiled them in circles your family once commanded. You will be bullied, ostracized, even almost killed by your fellow recruits who believe you lower than dirt.

But that won't stop you. You won't be part of the 99% of recruits who die or desert. You will get out of here. You will learn about your mother. And you will live to see graduation.

Will you?

Stonewall is an 18+ dark interactive fiction with minimal fantasy elements that follows MC to a ruthless military academy. Things such as explicit violence, death, bullying, and dark themes are prevalent.

Choose your gender identity and shape your recruit's personality.

Were you a bloodthirsty fighter--everything your parents wanted you be--or what people can consider a 'weakling'?

Fight violence with violence or confront your fellow student's violence with your words, or do nothing at all.

Rebel or become a loyal soldier. Fight for the High Commander's respect or be a thorn at their side.

Romance, befriend or become an enemy to a cast of characters.

Try to survive in the deadliest school in the country.

The High Commander: the leader of Stonewall. She is ruthless, bloodthirsty, and the source of nightmares for many. She doesn't expect you to make it here. Best to prove her wrong.

Your sibling: who is the closest person to you. Your actions saved them from a life of misery and you will continue to do everything in your power to protect them.

Roman [m] or Raven [f][RO]: your new mentor and trainer. R has long graduated as a student and is a full-fledged warrior working at Stonewall. They are cold, brutally honest, detached and unforgiving. They will push you to your limits, and they don't care how you feel about it. Really, they expected you to desert the moment you stepped foot into this place.

At least they're not unnecessarily cruel...which is the most you can hope for here.

Ivan [m] or Iris [f] [RO]: coming from the most powerful military family, I's bloodline has made them the most sought-after student in the school. Your mother also killed their father, so it is no surprise they hate your guts. They are at the top of the rankings, which means they are a bully, but a dangerous one. And they will not make your time here easy.

Marshall [m] or Maureen [f] [RO]: the bumbling, happy-go-lucky recruit that came in the same day as you. No one knows how the shy and easily scared M got into Stonewall...must be because they're from a line of powerful commanders. Still, they are nothing like their family, and you feel bad knowing the students are going to eat them alive. Stonewall will likely kill them before this year ends. Not your problem, right?

Enzo [m] or Eris [f][RO]: the child of the High Commander. No one wants to cross them, so no one talks to them. They are isolated like you but in a different way: they are fawned over while simultaneously being avoided. It seems like you may just be E's only ally in here (or not).

+more!

[scorpionickiss]

Asteroid Vulcan 4464

TW: trauma mentioned.

here i will try to provide my own interpretation on the asteroid :p i am not a professional astrologer so take everything with a grain of salt.

vulcan is the Roman god of fire and destruction. he was the second son of jupiter and juno and the husband of venus. sometimes, he would be summoned to calm down fires. he was the father of caeculus, founder of Praeneste. his greek equivalent is hephaestus. he is considered the god of oven trade, arms, jewelry, metalworking.

he plots revenge against his mother, crafting her a deceitful golden throne. he did that because she exiled him for being born ugly. after being thrown off from mount olympus, he landed into the ocean, where he was raised by a sea nymph, thetis. his interest for fire and metalworking happened there.

during his adventures under the sea, he found the remains of a fisherman's fire, thus an unextinguished coal fascinated him, as it was still glowing. he took this coal to his grotto and made a fire with it. in the second day after he ignited it, he noticed that ”certain stones sweated iron/silver/gold.” in the third day the cooled metal was formed into jewelry.

one day, vulcan's foster mother left the grotto to attend a dinner party in mount olympus, wearing a necklace that vulcan made for her. ultimately, she got noticed by juno, who asked where was the necklace from. having thetis' reaction, juno became suspicious and later she realised how her son became a blacksmith.

so, what could this mean in a chart?

IN MY OPINION it may refer to places where you are forced to work on under pressure of heavy emotions. it refers to places where you have to work on your own and with some support outside of your family. in can refer to places where you may feel abandoned and where you fear abandonment, even places that caused such fears. surely, it represents areas of life that causes most trauma for you and parts of yourself that you are forced to transform, but it is for the greater good because once those purified, you will meet so much prosperity based on the placement of the asteroid.

ARIES/1ST HOUSE  1, 13, 25°.

you may have had a lot of transformative experiences regarding your image, and the way you act. depending on how the 1st house behaves in your chart, you are forced to do whatever it takes to achieve your purpose and to make yourself heard. if any planets are in the first house, you are forced to work on any hardships caused by those planets.

TAURUS/2ND HOUSE  2, 14, 26°

if you have vulcan in this placement, i feel like you might have gone through narcissistic abuse. someone might have been overly possesive towards you. if you are a woman and this asteroid is in afflicted aspect (square, opposition and even semisquare) to neptune/saturn/jupiter, i feel like you might have suffered a lot because you had a lot of expectations upon you.

GEMINI/3RD HOUSE 3, 15, 27°

you might have had a lot of conflicts in your near environment. you might have been bullied a lot in school and maybe by your neighbours. you might have been mocked for the way of your speaking. however, over time, you might become a master communicator and might have a job in areas relating to communication.

CANCER/4TH HOUSE  4, 16, 28°

might have had an absent mother figure. a lot of pressure in the family and might have suffered because of people who have extreme views about homeland. because you suffered in your family, you might have had tendencies to plot revenge against them. your mother figure might have not supported you in pursuing your dreams. could grow bitter over mother.

LEO/5TH HOUSE  5, 17, 29°.

you could be a pretty isolated individual. you are a very creative individual but any creative endeavor of yours might have been shamed on. might have been bullied as a kid because of the way you expressed yourself. i think that drama could surround you, you might have been involved in drama during your childhood, which might have created psychological blockages that affected self expression.

VIRGO/6H HOUSE  6, 18°

you might have been shunned away for being too kind. i feel like you could have been the kind kid who got bullied a lot for no reason. could have some health issues that you are forced to work through, and you will be very blessed once you do. i feel like you are forced to work under a lot of pressure in your work place and this effort would be greatly appreciated.

LIBRA/7TH HOUSE 7, 19°

if you have this, i feel like you might have abandoment issues because of some past trauma related to relationships. you might have been criticised to how you connect to others and this might have led to an isolation. might have had difficulties in marriages, and the damage caused by them might have also made you isolated.

SCORPIO/8TH HOUSE 8, 20°

this is very intense. with this placement, and individual could have gone through a lot of transformative experiences while developing. this might have been very discouraging to them, and any time they tried to rise up they were punished. however, with this aspect, i feel like all these things forced you to reach a higher, purified version of yourself.

SAGGITARIUS/9TH HOUSE 9, 21°

you could be very fascinated with spirituality and be shamed for it. you could say that you are spiritually gifted, but there might have been times where people did not believe you. you might find yourself fearing abandonment from people from different cultural backgrounds. you could be very wise, but maybe nobody took you seriously until you grew up.

CAPRICORN/10TH HOUSE 10, 22°

might have been very affected by male figures, like father, boss, and such. IF you are healed, i feel like you could feel very secure around masculine people and benefit a lot from them and if not, i feel like some insecurities related to abandoment might arise because of their behaviour. if you are a woman, you could have female rage because such presences.

AQUARIUS/11TH HOUSE 11, 23°

might have abandonment issues because of friendships that were gained in an online environment or in large groups. i feel like you might be an idealsitic person, but people never respected your ideas until they actually saw achievements of yours if you had any. might be very quiet in friend groups.

PISCES/12TH HOUSE 12, 24°

with this placement, you might have been prone to delusions during developing. like saggitarius/9h, i feel like you could have be highly intuitive but people could take advantage because of that. you might have been idealising people and things and you might have suffered because of that. i think you are an empathetic individual, but you could have been shamed for it and shunned away.

A/N a more in depth study on this asteroid will be on my patreon SOON.

if these do not resonate, consult the PERSONA CHART of this asteroid. also, if the degree of the placement is low(close to 30°) it may mean that the impact of this asteroid might not be felt as intensely. (29° AND 18° MAY MAKE AN EXCEPTION) of course, the impact of this asteroid also depends on the other planets/points/asteroids surrounding it. - however, in my opinion, the intensity of this asteroid may not be smoothened in the case of the following placements of degrees: saturn/cancer/mars/mercury degrees are bound to saturn/cancer/mars/mercury/pluto.

want a reading for this asteroid?

how to read the persona chart of this asteroid

[ryuzakemo128]

MDNI 18+ Omegaverse Part 3

cw: isolation, cold weather, injuries, lovely things, overprotective price. mature language. angst.

Omegaverse Parts: Part One + Part Two + Part Three + Part Four

Masterlist

wc: 1311

Price noticed you were no longer on the base, all that working trying to find you all gone to waste because of General Shepard. His frustration grew each day you were gone. Each day you weren’t around the four. Did it matter that it was only a week? Fuck no.

What did the General hope would happen? Delay the inevitable? What kind of foolish man did they take Price for? When he found out you were sent down from a helicopter in the dead of night to Siberia? His blood began to boil. His temper began to rise higher levels.

The man was a monster, and you were his latest victim. The medical results came in. Not that you would ever get the chance to see them. To know what you are. Why people were so keen on taking you or killing you, or both. Not just a weapon, either.

“You can’t do that. You have no right to enforce that. It’s against protocol to send out an unknown operative.” Price argued. He tried making him see the error of his actions. He had to. Not many others were willing to stand up for you. He had to save you.

“Protocol can go to hell, Price. She’s special. The intel says so. We need her. And I will do whatever it takes to ensure she’s safe and on our side. Even if it means throwing her to the wolves and seeing if she comes back to us. That’s an order, Captain!” Shepard’s voice was cold, final. The conversation was over.

The medical evaluation you received years before your imposed, forced exile had always eluded you. Your results never even reached your own hands. They left you there in the middle of the forest with your Barrett M82, SIG Sauer P226, colt python, and a Bowie knife made from Damascus steel. 

Siberia wasn’t meant to be kind nor loving to you. It was supposed to have killed you long ago. They assumed you would be dead by now. Hoped to be rid of you by now. A detriment to what they wanted. Too much of an improbable, uncontrollable unknown. A freak.

The log cabin you made into your home was relatively small, easy to miss, and hard to find within the gusts often sweeping across the snowy landscape. The trees keeping the location of the log cabin a hushed secret. A stone fireplace and varying large cast iron pots and pans. 

Stolen from military vehicles you spotted along the road to a base in the area. Indirectly helping task force 141 from afar. Nikolai said, “Looks like some of their supplies were taken, no signs of a struggle, no signs of combat, and whoever it is. Knew exactly what to take.”

Captain Price remarked incredulously as he frowned deeply, “What do you mean by taken? Nikolai, they’re either stolen or they’re lost. It can’t be any more or any less simple than that. I don’t think ghosts exist to steal supplies from the back of enemy trucks. We would know otherwise.”

“Oh, but Captain, the world is a mysterious place, full of secrets and unexplained occurrences. Maybe, just maybe, there is something, or someone, out there we haven’t accounted for.” Nikolai cooed a little too cryptically for his own good. Possibly even too mysteriously for Soap’s liking. Like he knew more.

The snap of the bear trap's claws clamping onto your leg set out by Nikolai, “See? The little mouse came out to play.” He set out a nice steak within enough reach to tempt you. Purposefully trying to make you do something stupid enough to try stealing it from him.

Price managed to take a closer look at you, Nikolai’s mouse, who bit Price for trying to touch you without consent. Feeling your wolf like teeth into his hand. Digging into his flesh, not hard enough to break bones. But hard enough to leave behind a deep enough bruise.

Your jaw locked in, making it impossible for him to remove his hand. With every movement of his met with a low growl ripping through your throat. Refusing to let go. Price didn’t know what to think. But Nikolai seemed to have his thumbs up, soap and are distressed. Where’s Ghost?

Who knew ghost would be the one to find your log cabin first? There he was. Standing outside your log cabin, staring at the crate you were parachuted down from the military helicopter. Smelling your intense sweet smell of your previous heat. The scent still remaining on the fur blankets.

The place you still go into when your heat comes around again. Tally marks along the walls marking how many times your ‘heat’ came around. The thick, soft fur blankets soaking in the hot water in the giant metal tub in the shed. Which also served as your bath tub. 

Learning your scent could attract far more dangerous predators than you. You bathed once a day when you weren’t in heat. Twice a day during the period of your heat. Once in the morning, and once in the evening. As you found it to be rather productive for your benefit.

Price sniffed around the crate you used to live in before shifting to your cabin permanently. The scent of yours is stronger than any of theirs. Their combined scent could match it. But singularly? No. They’d be drowned inside your scent with enough ease. Like a Megalodon swallowing someone whole.

“I can’t believe we missed this. This is a fucking goldmine.” He whispered to himself. “Nikolai! Soap! We’re not the only ones who know she’s here. She’s been living here, right under our nose!” He waved his comrades over, getting their attention and to come closer to what he found. 

Their footsteps grew louder as they approached. Soap’s eyes widened as he saw the state of your living conditions. The way you’ve adapted. The way you’ve survived. It’s a miracle, really. “How long have you been out here?” He asked, his voice filled with a mix of amazement and horror.

You were patching your leg up and bathing in hot water, hoping to sterilise and clean the wound. It was the sight of your naked body that made them rather peculiar. You were a miracle wrapped inside the cold, tendency to bite people’s hands if they touched you without consent.

Your clothes discarded into the corner of your cabin. Soaking in cold water to get the blood from your clothes. The atmosphere of your log cabin, warmer than what you felt on the inside. After the stitches, your leg is wrapped in clean cloth. You were about to get dressed.

The door slammed open like the gusts of wind came through like a shout rather than a soft, sultry whisper. The four of them must have found you quicker than you suspected. Another 12 months living, surviving, on your own. 

The first to enter your cabin was someone you didn’t expect to see again. Considering the two of you yelled at each other like you wanted to rip each other’s throat out. “What the fuck do you want?” You spat, your teeth still clenched from the pain of your wound.

“To bring you back. You’re in no state to be alone, you’re in no state to be left to pick up leftovers to live off again. I don’t want to hear your protests because frankly, I don’t care. You’re coming with us.” Price's voice was firm, but there was a hint of concern in his eyes as he stepped into the cabin, the warmth of the fireplace hitting him like a welcoming embrace.

You stared at him. Shocked. In total state of shock. Price heard the meek, “I can go back now?” Soap helped you get dressed and patched up. Ghost packed up your things, because he knew it was valuable

[the-raven-and-the-tower]

Viago de Riva; forgotten son with a found family of assassins (a brief but angsty dive)

Born one royal bastard of many to King Fulgeno II of Antiva, Viago was born without a lot of choices, but one very large one;

Exile or the Antivan Crows.

VIago was the only one of all Fulgeno's bastards that chose the Crows, a choice that put him on a path of shadows and blood. Turning his back on the only home he has ever known for the ruthless world of the Crows, Viago had to forge his own house and find his own family, turning his back on a royal lineage that never wanted or acknowledged him.

Viago has walked in both worlds, where betrayal can come from any direction and alliances are often temporary - in either world, his survival has hinged time and time again on his vigilance and natural mistrust of others. More than once, the only thing that has kept him alive was the way he builds tolerance to poisons and insists on testing everything he eats. I have to wonder if Viago has ever truly rested, he's always alert, always keeping one step ahead of all the threats on every side - always in danger, both as a bastard who could be seen as a threat to the legitimate line and as a Crow Talon surrounded by ambitious assassins.

And then there's his relationship with Teia 💜

I love the humanity of Viago's struggle to love and be loved. As a royal bastard, he would have been inherently unwanted and constantly reminded of his illegitimacy - daily reminders to ingrain a perpetual sense of unworthiness and isolation into him. I love the honesty of how he struggles to open up and be vulnerable, even with someone like Teia from within the world of the Crows.

The two of them live in a dangerous world, where personal relationships can become weapons in the wrong hands. Viago has every reason to shy away from Teia (and sometimes does), yet that inherent need for perception and connection drags him out of safety and back into her arms, time and time again.

All of that to say loooooooooooook at this fourth draft of a letter Teia is helping Viago write to send to his dad about the situation in Treviso with the Butcher.

King's Draft: Action on Behalf of Antiva

As Seventh Talon, I give notice that the Antivan Crows have drawn a contract against the enemies of Treviso, the Antaam. (Teia)

Teia, the Seventh Talon, is writing to inform of the situation, rather than Viago (Fifth Talon). We don't know if she's stepping up to protect Viago from his asshole father or if Viago doesn't speak to the king often on principle (he does in prior Dragon Age content), or if this is simply how it is done - maybe there's an existing agreement among the Crows to avoid political complications by keeping the king and his son seperate. Any way the cookie crumbled, I like these crumbs.

It is not the Antaam. (Viago)

We aren't required to give His Majesty a point-by-point, but he's your blood, Viago. It is a courtesy to let him know we are going to war. (Teia)

"He's your blood, Viago." I don't know if this is a reminder of his unique ability to bridge two vastly different worlds or if it is just a reminder of political significance, but either way it struck me as significant. Despite his royal blood being a source of personal pain, it provides Viago leverage in ways that other Crow Talons could never wield, not even Caterina.

The occupying Antaam are strong, driven, fanatical. They cannot be reasoned with because reason is just a weapon to be resisted. They can be killed, of course, but removing a leader does not remove their desire to be led. They are a force we must contend with, but they are NOT Treviso's true enemy. (Viago)

A name, Viago. Contracts require a stabber and a stabbee. (Teia)

Teia (child street thief turned Crow) is the pragmatic and operational, focusing on fulfilling the requirements as a formality, while our baby boi Viago the Strategic is firmly honed in on reality and understanding the details. Teia wants to take the next step to move forward, Viago wants to understand the problem before making the next move. They are so different and I love the way their differences lend their relationship strength, rather than pulling it apart.

Teia, you know my doubts. The Butcher took the city too easily, and there is dealing with the gods there that I dread to know. But I fear that the true enemy of Treviso is not known because they ARE known, merely unrevealed. (Viago)

"The Hand That Leashed Treviso." Is that nebulous enough? (Teia)

I like this. Sarcastic, yet she's showing that she's listening to Viago's concerns and hearing them.

Yes, that is a series of someones we can eventually kill. But not something we can send my father. (Viago)

And he acknowledges being heard, but points out the impracticality of presenting such a target to his father. Again, I think it's fucking significant that he refers to Fulgeno as his father and not as the king. Whether he's tying himself verbally to his unique position, subconsciously reacting to his abandonment by the royal family or just responsing to Teia's "he's your blood" earlier, it feels powerful. Like the kick in the gonads I'd like to five Fulgemo.

On to draft five, then. Neri, begin again. (Teia)

It says a lot to me that they're having this entire conversation in front of their scribe. Doubtless someone sworn to secrecy already, it just strikes me as wholesome that they're comfortable having these disagreements in front of Neri. They may not agree yet, but they're committed to it. And their disagreement has no weight on their opinions of each other.

Viago de Riva, Fifth Talon Andarateia Cantori, Seventh Talo Transcribed: Neri de Acutis

[hrizantemy]

I was searching for quotes to talk about something else, and while I was searching, I found this, and now I wanna rant cause it pisses me off.

“There were only a few blocks in the city like that. When I’d asked Rhys about them, about why they had not been improved, he merely said that he had tried. But displacing people while their homes were torn down and rebuilt … Tricky.” (Chapter 4 of ACOFAS)

So... Rhys was aware that people, other than Nesta, lived in the same apartment complex as her. He also understood that it was tricky to renovate, much less tear down, an entire apartment building that people lived in, even to improve it. Yet, it became no problem when he needed to punish Nesta.

He set his plan into motion the day before the intervention, meaning the residents got a one day notice that their home was being torn down. More over, there's no indication that he found them somewhere else to stay, or if it would be acceptable to them. I mean, with a day's notice, they don't really have a choice, do they? It's that or the streets.

On top of that, he didn't even rebuild or renovate them for the original tenants to move back into. It was a shelter for those displaced by the war, which is all well and good, but where have those people been in the last year, while Feysand built their fifth mansion? In the teaser at the end of ACOFAS, Cassian is about to knock on Nesta's door, and as he does, he acknowledged that both the town house and house of wind are empty, because they all stay at the river house, so it wasn't either of those places, even though the citizens, seemed to be able to come and go from there freely.

“As High Lady, I hosted weekly open audiences with Rhys at the House of Wind.” (ACOFAS Chapter 4)

If I remember right, the go there for star fall too, so clearly there isn't an issue with people coming and going. Was there some secret exit Nesta was never told about? How do people not find the entire thing suspicious?

And let’s not forget—the entire intervention was planned behind Nesta’s back. She had no warning, no say, and no chance to prepare. Rhys had already decided the day before that she was losing her home, meaning that no matter what Nesta said or did in that room, the outcome was set. This wasn’t an intervention; it was an ambush. They gave her an illusion of choice while making it clear there was only one “acceptable” answer: obey or be cast out. And worse? The others just stood by and let it happen.

Feyre, who should have understood what it felt like to be powerless, didn’t hesitate to use her High Lady title to force Nesta’s compliance. Cassian, who knew how much Nesta hated the House of Wind, didn’t argue against her being trapped there. Amren, who claimed to be Nesta’s friend, mocked her in front of everyone and stood with them instead. And Rhys? Rhys acted like he was being merciful, like this wasn’t about control, as if tearing down an entire apartment complex overnight wasn’t an extreme punishment over drinking and meaningless hookups.

And let’s talk about the hypocrisy of the Inner Circle’s “concern.” They spent months watching Nesta spiral, judging her from a distance, but did any of them try a real, genuine conversation with her? Did anyone sit her down before this and ask her what she needed? Offer her options that weren’t just “get better on our terms or be exiled”? No. Because it was never about Nesta’s well-being. If it were, they wouldn’t have waited until they were personally inconvenienced to act. They wouldn’t have forced her into a place they knew she’d feel like a prisoner. They wouldn’t have ripped her home away from her overnight without a second thought for the people who lived there.

The worst part? Rhysand frames it like this was some great kindness, like they saved Nesta from herself. But you don’t save someone by taking away their choices. You don’t save someone by punishing them for grieving the wrong way. You don’t save someone by isolating them under the guise of help. What Rhys did wasn’t help—it was control wrapped in the pretty lie of “what’s best for her.” And the fact that nobody in the Inner Circle questioned it? That just makes it even worse.

What makes it even more infuriating is how Rhys gets to play the benevolent ruler while doing the exact same things he would never let another High Lord get away with. If Tamlin had done something like this—had forcibly removed a vulnerable person from their home under the guise of “helping” them—everyone would be up in arms about how controlling and abusive it was. But because it’s Rhysand, the so-called progressive, feminist ruler, it’s somehow acceptable? It’s somehow for Nesta’s own good?

This wasn’t just about Nesta—it was a show of power. It was Rhys reminding everyone that he had control over them, that their homes, their choices, their lives were ultimately in his hands. If he could do this to Nesta, Feyre’s own sister, then what chance did any regular citizen of Velaris have? He made a conscious choice to tear down that apartment complex overnight, without warning, to send a message. Nesta wasn’t just being punished—she was being humiliated, made an example of, and the collateral damage? The people who also lived there? They were just an afterthought.

If this shelter was so important, why wasn’t it prioritized before? Why wasn’t it part of the many rebuilding efforts after the war? Why did it only become urgent when it gave them an excuse to strip Nesta of her independence? They had the time, the money, and the resources to build an entire mansion for Rhys and Feyre, but they couldn’t be bothered to create a shelter for displaced citizens until it served their agenda? It just proves that this was never about doing what was right—it was about controlling Nesta under the guise of righteousness.

They gaslight her into thinking this was all her fault. That if she had just behaved the way they wanted, if she had just healed the way they deemed acceptable, none of this would have happened. They make her feel like the problem, when in reality, she was a grieving, traumatized woman who needed support, not exile disguised as an intervention. But no, instead of meeting her with real compassion, they met her with control, force, and punishment. And somehow, Nesta is the villain? Absolutely not.

They rip away her autonomy, humiliate her, isolate her in the House of Wind, and then act like she should thank them for “saving” her. But saving someone means meeting them where they are, not dragging them somewhere they don’t want to be and forcing them into a version of healing that only benefits you. And let’s be real—their idea of “healing” was never about what Nesta needed. It was about making her palatable to them, easier to deal with, more like who they wanted her to be.

And what really gets me? The double standards. Rhysand and Cassian both use drinking and sex as coping mechanisms, but when Nesta does it? Suddenly, it’s a problem. Suddenly, it’s out of control and dangerous. Cassian drinks just as much, but nobody’s forcing him into an intervention. Rhysand literally spent years letting his trauma dictate his choices, but Nesta doesn’t get that same space to process? Instead, she gets punished for grieving the wrong way.

Let’s talk about how the Inner Circle treats Nesta’s trauma like it’s something she owes them to fix. Like she should be getting better on their timeline and in a way that makes them comfortable. But what did they ever do to actually help her before this? Feyre never once genuinely tried to reach Nesta without judgment. Cassian would show up to her apartment when it suited him, but did he ever try to truly understand why she was pushing everyone away? Amren, who Nesta thought was her friend, turned on her the moment she didn’t act how Amren wanted. And Rhys? Rhys had been looking for an excuse to control Nesta from the moment she refused to bow to him.

What’s even more disgusting is how they used Feyre’s pregnancy as a weapon against Nesta. As if Nesta, the same person who risked her life to save Feyre twice, would ever wish harm on her or her child. They act like she’s a danger, like she’s this uncontrollable force, when in reality, they just couldn’t stand that she wouldn’t submit to their version of what a “healed” Nesta should look like.

The truth is, they didn’t want Nesta to heal—they wanted her to conform. They wanted her to stop being difficult, stop reminding them of their own failures, and stop making them uncomfortable. And that’s not love. That’s not care. That’s control. They acted like she was choosing to self-destruct, like she was deliberately making their lives harder, when in reality, she was just drowning and no one threw her a lifeline until it became inconvenient for them. Where was this intervention months ago, when she was spiraling? Where was this support before they decided she was an embarrassment? They didn’t help her because they cared—they helped her because they were tired of dealing with her.

Rhysand’s entire inner circle is made up of people who have coped with their trauma in violent and self-destructive ways, but only Nesta gets treated like a threat. And the fact that they expect her to be grateful? To look back and thank them for tearing apart her life, forcing her into isolation, and treating her like a burden?

[queenvhagar]

While I really do love the early idea of Rhaenicent as in a young Rhaenyra and young Alicent have a very close, quasi-romantic, deeply meaningful bond in their early years, at a certain point it just becomes one-sided, and at a further point in the story, it becomes unrealistic and unreasonable.

Once Viserys announces his intent to marry Alicent, and she of course has to accept because her father and the king tell her she must, and she's a young daughter of a second son in a feudalist monarchy, it's like a switch has flipped for Rhaenyra in that past this moment no amount of effort on Alicent's part can do anything. From that moment, the relationship is just Alicent giving, giving, and giving to Rhaenyra until ultimately she has nothing left to give.

Alicent tries for years to mend the relationship between them and foster a positive relationship between herself, Rhaenyra, and her children. As her father is pushing for Aegon as heir, Alicent instead praises Rhaenyra and defends her to her own father, her husband and king, and the ladies at court. She proclaims that Rhaenyra would be a great ruler and goes out of her way to support her. She convinces the king to let Rhaenyra embark on a kingdoms-wide tour to personally select her own match among hundreds of suitors, something literally no other noble woman has ever had the opportunity to do before. She comforts Rhaenyra about the prospect of getting married and having children. She takes Rhaenyra's word and defends her against allegations that could have her disinherited and exiled, as it did Saera Targaryen, defying her own father and standing up to the king, even at the expense of her own father being sent away from court and her isolation in the Red Keep. Time after time over literal years Alicent gives to Rhaenyra and tries to mend the relationship, despite having done very little herself to merit any huge attempt at reconciliation with her.

And what does Rhaenyra do with all of this? From the moment her father announces his intent to marry Alicent, the relationship is dead to her. Her first reaction, despite recognizing Alicent's powerlessness in the situation, is to call her a whore. She spends years ignoring Alicent's attempts to mend the relationship, only interacting with her to passive aggressively reference Alicent's new position as queen. She refuses to interact with her half-brother, a literal baby, insisting he is just "Alicent's son" and therefore only a threat to her. She insults everyone at Aegon's birthday party, yells at the king in front of the court about how she thinks she's above duty and tradition, and storms off into the woods overnight, only to return covered in blood giving Alicent and her toddler a death glare. After being given an extended tour to choose a match thanks to Alicent's influence with the king, she returns and almost immediately makes fun of how romantic Alicent's situation is of being forced to be a broodmare locked away in a castle. She throws away her chance at picking her marriage by being seen in a brothel with her uncle. She lies on her mother's grave to take advantage of Alicent's support for her and cover her own ass which results in Alicent being left all alone in the Red Keep (and after this conversation she goes back to acting like Alicent means nothing to her).

Alicent gives, and Rhaenyra takes. Until Alicent just cannot keep giving. Then, once the giving stops, the narrative wants her to be seen as this ultimate villain. She's evil for not giving to Rhaenyra again and instead refusing to marry Helaena to Rhaenyra's bastard son (a desperate proposal to try to cover her own ass that would've made Helaena a political hostage when the bastard issue would eventual boil over). She's evil for not giving to Rhaenyra and instead showing anger when Rhaenyra's sons attack Aemond and cut out his eye and Rhaenyra demands that Aemond be punished. She's evil for not giving to Rhaenyra and instead supporting a Velaryon who is rightfully upset that Rhaenyra's bastard son is usurping his throne. And she's evil for ruling the kingdoms with the Hand of the King while Viserys is dying and Rhaenyra is off living unbothered on Dragonstone (and not "giving" Rhaenyra the responsibilities as heir she already should have been doing on her own).

I understand the young love was once there, and for even longer, Alicent alone seems to have been trying to restore that relationship, despite her relative powerlessness as a non-Targaryen in the Red Keep. But at a certain point, when someone has repeatedly treated you like you were nothing to them, when someone has repeatedly used you for their own benefit and then tossed you aside, when someone takes advantage of you and takes you for granted so many times, when someone shows you they will throw you and yours under the bus so easily to save their own skin and shows you they cannot be trusted to show any concern about your well-being...

At some point that affection is realistically and justifiably lost. It would certainly be gone after Driftmark. There is no world where Alicent could consider the relationship mendable past then (and thus no world where she actually means what she says at the dinner). And it is appalling to see that somehow despite it all the writers seem to want us to believe that after Blood and Cheese - Helaena's sanity destroyed, Alicent's young grandson slain in cold blood, all in Rhaenyra's name - that somehow Alicent holds out hope of rekindling lost love with Rhaenyra. Not when Rhaenyra has only ever taken from her. Not when Rhaenyra has never supported Alicent or her family in any meaningful way.

Alicent is not so desperately sabotaging to herself and her family that she would yearn to rekindle a situationship she had briefly literal decades ago and that she tried for years to fix to no avail. It's over. As it should be. Anything else is character assassination and some poor attempt at depicting the Alicent of the show as some peaceful martyr to a "feminist" queen who should be revered because *checks notes* a prophecy and white stag shows that she is pure, righteous, and has divine right to rule so she can do no wrong and anyway apparently *checks other notes* Alicent's son is a drunken r*pist who assaulted an original character created by the writers to make him look worse than Rhaenyra.

[slowcatsisland]

Your Thoughts on dating Zoro? Would he fall for women or men? Thinking about popular ships like Zoro x Sanji or Zoro x Robin/Tashigi/Hyiori? ❤️❤️❤️

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Roronoa Zoro Thoughts: Emotional Intelligence and Ability To Date

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Tw guys my opinion don’t hate me☝️

Okay so ima explain my understanding of Zoro’s character and his possibility of being romantically involved with another person and then my thoughts on Zoro’s popular ships.

To me, Zoro is a physical representation of a protector, a predator, and loyalty (and death but that’s not fully realized). He prioritizes the safety of the people important to him, burdens himself to evolve into a stronger swordsman for the people close to him, and sees more value in actions rather than words.

He used to be someone that was living for himself, until Kuina. Then he was living for his shared promise to become the greatest swordsman, until Luffy. Until Thriller Bark, Sabaody, and his exile in Muggy Kingdom. Now he lives for his crew, to ensure Luffy’s dream and through Luffy achieving his dream Zoro will achieve his own (plus him actually having another duel with Mihawk). Yk what I’m saying? He still has a goal, but it has changed to encompass the Strawhats as a whole with a special bond towards Luffy.

There’s this tiktok editing account called ._avxmvx_ and they have such good edits that I feel like speak for Zoro’s character- just a side note hehe

••

Okay guys, me personally, I don’t see Zoro being interested in dating. It’s not anywhere near the top of his list in canon. Plus he’s sort of the newest addition to the characters that embody death in One Piece and he has that whole ‘walking Asura’s path’ thing going on.

Although I do like reading about/the dynamic of Zoro with a person that is either the representation of a higher being (ie, Luffy being the god Nika through his devil fruit yk smth like that) or of things associated with gods (example being person with relations/undertones of say wine, grapes, floral, earthy colors, with a personality summed up in a few words as indulgent, capricious, joyous, and fiendish because all of these things are alluded to the Greek god Dionysus.)

Zoro being paired with someone with religious and spiritual energy and ties is something I personally enjoy because Zoro is a character that is morally grey, has no belief in a higher being, has accepted damning himself for the sake of others, and actually has in canon relationships that have religious implications (guys Luffy and Zoro trust me bro)

I like dynamics like those paired with Zoro because I think it’s something that challenges his way of viewing the world when he’s surrounded by someone that encompasses a higher influence that’s not attainable by people but it’s not forcing him change yk??

••

Zoro is also a character with a stunted emotional understanding and capacity for empathy in my opinion.

I say this because of his parent’s death at an early age, a heavy training focused childhood, the death of his only close friend, and the isolation of his teenage years when he left Shimotsuki village up until he met Luffy.

This isn’t to say that he doesn’t feel emotion and can’t joke around (pre time skip funny Zoro come back to me pls) but overall I think it’s easier for Zoro to not engage with others on a highly emotional level and in emotional situations Zoro is most comfortable looking at things rationally as best he can without adding subjectiveness onto the situation (think Water 7, his opposition to Usopp rejoining the crew without properly apologizing and atoning.)

Zoro also actively tries to squash his feelings imo which is kinda sad. (Think how in drum island he tells himself to squash instincts and so now he’s not shown to be cold even in punk hazard and the beginning of egghead he was just toughening it out.)I think he does this because his mind associates the best swordsman with strength and not being influenced by your surrounding.

Which is why I think Mihawk is the reason for his stoicism post timeskip.

Now, this relates back to his ability to be with someone romantically because it probably wouldn’t be easy for him to. Especially not emotionally. It probably would be uncharted territory for him and if he wanted it his partner would have to work with him and teach him and build up his ability to understand others emotions and the ability to sympathize/empathize.

••

Now, gender wise, I actually can’t give you a clear answer on what I think Zoro’s preference would be. I feel like Zoro’s preference is more of a scale that looks at character traits and actions rather than identity and appearance.

In all honesty, I could see Zoro having an easier time becoming involved with a man rather than a woman. I don’t have much reasoning for it though, it’s just a feeling.

Perhaps his comfortability in his masculinity? Maybe because of how obviously dense he is when it comes to women? Maybe his past relationships of Saga and Kuina? Idk

••

So, in canon Zoro being in a relationship is a no go imo. (Edit: asexual man) Now let’s discuss my thoughts on Zoro’s popular ships.

I don’t ship Zoro with anyone, however I do appreciate the dynamics of some of his ships because I view them as something deeper than romance.

To me, a lot of Zoro’s ships are understood as a soulmate- you feel right in my life and I want to be around you type of way I’ll protect you no matter how bloody the future is- not a -I really like you I wanna kiss you and have sex with you and you can talk to me all about your feelings about the world- type of way

Not saying that the ladder can’t or isn’t presented in fandom media, it is just something that I don’t prioritize seeing in Zoro ships.

••

Zoro x Luffy: I appreciate Zoro x Luffy again in a more subservient dynamic.

(Omg I saw a post like a year ago saying smth about how Zoro is Luffy’s in a way none of the other strawhats are because he hasn’t ever betrayed or left the crew and out of the romance dawn crew he’s the only one that hasn’t done so ugh I wish I could find the creator I’d love to tag them)

I like exploration on how devoted Zoro is to Luffy and I do think that they have a bond that is deeper than just friends or captain and first mate.

But I wouldn’t call it romantic or sexual. It is natural, it is inherent and instinctual, it is almost religious imo

I also don’t think that Luffy is interested in dating.

Because of this, I do think that the ship works in certain ways. (u understand what I’m saying?)

••

Zoro x Sanji: I feel like this has potential as a ship but there’s things that need to happen before yk.

First, Sanji needs to acknowledge and heal through his trauma. Of his childhood, guilt, body, Germa, and especially his relationship/perspective of men, masculinity, and women.

I think Zoro could help him through it, if they ever talked about it. But I doubt they would. At least not explicitly. Maybe roundabout but something so minimal the implications could be lost easily on either of them.

But Zoro’s lack of emotional understanding is also called into play here. This is something that Sanji is very good at. He’s emotionally aware and attune to those around him. They are opposites in this way. But pairing them together isn’t good imo in a ship way. Yk?

I like the ship dynamic in how they complete each other in different ways. I read a post before about Zoro’s association with the number three and Sanji’s representation of the number three. Sanji’s humanity compared with Zoro’s brutalism or strength. They are strong in different ways. They are vital to the crew in different ways.

They work as a duo more than a ship to me though. I don’t see them romantic, I don’t see them sexual, but I do see them as sort of kindred flames or something of soulmates.

They belong in each other’s world and they do need each other but they won’t admit it. Yk?

••

Zoro x Robin: guys no.

I’m sorry but I just don’t support this ship at allllllll.

I do understand the evidence that Zorobin shippers bring up. They are alike, they do have a good dynamic, they respect each other, they are vital to the crew, but it’s just mid.

I feel like I don’t like it that much because regardless of Zoro’s loyalty to Robin as shown, Zoro doesn’t really interact with her fondly. Yk? Like I don’t remember seeing them just kinda chit chat for a second. There’s always something that is the catalyst for them to interact as far as I understand.

I also don’t think that Zoro is the best significant other for Robin. He isn’t what Robin would want nor need.

I say this due to his emotional intelligence, his aloof personality overall, and his dedication to training. I also say this because of Robin’s intellectualism, childhood experience, and personality. I feel like Franky is just so much better for her (sorry guys rip Frobin from my dead body.)

••

Zoro x Tashigi: I do not see this as a ship. I don’t like it particularly as a ship either.

I liked Tashigi and Zoro’s first dynamic when they first interacted with each other in Loguetown when Tashigi and Smoker were originally introduced.

The way that Tashigi was a female swordsman that looked just like Kuina, Zoro’s dead friend. The way that this made Zoro uncomfortable and he couldn’t handle it.

I loved it. I thought it was so interesting for Zoro’s character. I wish they kept it in post timeskip because it would’ve changed their behavior (or at least Zoro’s) towards each other in Punk Hazard.

I feel like this also ties into Zoro’s emotional capacity as well because he understands why he’s uncomfortable but he doesn’t try to change it- he only ever tries to run from her and increase their distance.

So, I don’t see nor support this as a ship, but I liked it a lot when Zoro was uncomfortable around Tashigi.

••

Zoro x Kuina: I do not view this as a ship either.

I think that Kuina was best as Zoro’s friend and the added complexity of romantic feelings at such a young age plus her death is just a lot. It’s a lot for Zoro.

I also don’t feel like it suits Zoro either. Loving her like that would better suit and origin story for Sanji ykwim?

Plus I like how Kuina was his goal and it intentionally wasn’t romantic. I liked the friendly deep connection between two swordsman.

I also don’t think that Kuina would have viewed Zoro like that even if she properly grew up.

••

Zoro x Hiyori: Hmmmmmmmm.

I kinda have mixed feelings about this one.

At first I didn’t like it. I didn’t understand why Hiyori liked Zoro and to be honest I still don’t.

The only reason I really see is because he wasn’t attracted to her and protected her physically. Plus he’s a strong swordsman like her father.

I actually really really like Hiyori’s character, but I feel like it might’ve been a mistake to add her feelings towards Zoro into Wano by Oda. But I do really like how she didn’t necessarily act on it. Sure, she had some damsel in distress moments and did flirt with him, but she kept her priorities straight and helped free Wano.

I really respect her for that. I wish that more female characters were done properly like her.

Zoro also clearly showed no interest towards her. The most he cared for in relation to her in my opinion was her father, Oden, her brother, Momonosuke, and the blade Enma.

Zoro also wouldn’t be willing to have feelings for her. She isn’t a part of the Strawhats and has no future with them. She isn’t hugely impactful towards the Strawhats as a whole. His loyalty wouldn’t ever be able to be in two places at once like it would be if he loved her yk??

I like Hiyori, I like Zoro, but I don’t like them together

So. The ship is okay I guess. I don’t ship it and I don’t support it however. I also don’t ever see it happening in canon. I also think Hiyori wouldn’t like Zoro if she really got to know him and would be better with a different person.

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Heheh this was nice to write about I enjoy Zoro’s character. Kinda long too

Thanks for reading

Mwah 😽

[dailyadventureprompts]

Villain: Cult of the Earth in Arms

Camped out in remote mines and fortified wilderness compounds, these zealots toil and train and stockpile for a war that may never come, dreaming of the day they will march to glorious victory over their hated foe.. whoever that happens to be week to week.

The cult has many names and supposed patrons: deposed human kings, exiled gnomish geniuses, scornful aspects of dwarven gods. All of these are mere proxies for the cult’s true master Kurtulmak, a bitter god of warfare and mining who takes the form of a kobold who’s ire manifests as poison that dribbles from both his jaw and tailbarbs. 

Like many gods of wicked war, Kutulmak cares nothing for whatever cause his unwitting cultists call him to, feeding instead off of their resentment, suppressed fear, and ever mounting bloodlust. It doesn’t matter whether they are a paranoid militia prepping for a conflict they will never see, or bitter partisans waging guerrilla war against a populace long since seeking peace, they all feed Kurtulmak’s desire for intractable conflict and indelible resentments. 

The cult of the Earth in Arms tends to operate in isolation, pertaining to self sufficiency while raiding, extorting, or fleecing others for what they need. They entrench themselves in an area, filling it with traps and hidden fortifications, while sinking tunnels deep into the earth in search of resources that can help to fill their arsenals. Iron for blades and armour is obviously prized, but copper and tin for cannons and saltpetre for blasting powder are likewise prime targets. Often they will use captives to work these claims and the foundries they feed, as the cultists often consider drugework below the dignity of born warriors such as themselves. 

Adventure Hooks

An uptick in disappearances puts the party on the trail of a slaving operation, funneling bodies into a band of backwoods cultists working a hidden gem mine. After they’ve cleared the bastards out, the party might have the opportunity to make the operation legitimate if they put in the elbow grease and promise the authorities their due. 

The local lord thought he was very clever, operating a hidden foundry out of the old dwarven ruins to produce weapons and artillery in preparation for a campaign against his liege. As it turns out the reason the ruins were abandoned in the first place was because they sat on top of a magical layline, and all the smelting and quenching has attracted the attention of several rogue elementals.  Now there’s a scattering of earth-hulks marauding through the countryside and a team of mephits who’re flitting about with a cannon in tow. 

After suffering a crushing defeat, the general of the imperial army fell back into the mountains, her forces becoming little more than bandits in ensuing years until her scouts came back with news of drakes nesting in the region. Nearly a generation of arduous training and rearing since her defeat, she’s returned to retake the lands she lost with a flight of lesser dragons at her back.. Lands the party just happens to occupy. 

Artsource

[ashleymilesphil]

WHERE IS JUSTICE / WHERE IF HUMANITY ????‼️

A Cry for Help: The Reality of Being LGBTIQ in Exile🌈

This video speaks for itself. A young, innocent gay man, beaten brutally by a hostile local community—this is the harsh reality we face as LGBTIQ refugees in East Africa. When I say that we endure persecution, I mean *this*. This is the daily battle we fight for our right to exist, love, and live like any other person.

This young man, just like countless others, deserves to live his life freely, without fear of violence or hatred. Yet, because of who we are, we are treated like outcasts, subjected to brutal attacks, and silenced. The ongoing civil war in South Sudan only makes it worse, leaving us isolated, without protection, and exposed to more violence and hardship.

To the world watching this video, I ask: *Where is our justice?* Why are we forced to live in fear, hiding who we are, and fighting to survive every single day? We are human too, and our lives matter. Please, this is not just a cry for attention but a cry for help, for support, for action.

If you’re reading this, I urge you to *do something*. Share this video, spread our story, and help us find a way to escape this endless persecution. Your support could make the difference between life and death for people like this young man and the rest of us living in exile.

We cannot survive this alone. Please, stand with us.

https://gofund.me/4d80b32c

[jewish-vents]

anon who pointed out the ways leftists refuse to recognize israeli jews as refugees and dehumanize them here -

a commenter replied “undocumented immigrants to the US aren't stealing ppls houses and genociding them and supporting those who do” and all i can think about this is, why are you able to offer grace to all refugees and immigrants to america when certain people commit crimes, but not the same to israelis?

the majority of israelis have not and are not actively stealing houses or killing palestinians. and yet online leftists generalize them as thieves and killers, subhuman settlers, people who are deemed evil and deserve to suffer exile to countries they have no roots in, bombings, social isolation outside of israel, and death.

the majority of undocumented immigrants and other refugees to america are not violent criminals or gang members, yet right wing politicians and republicans generalize them as thieves and killers, rapists, people who are deemed evil and deserve to suffer deportation, to be locked in cages at the border, jail time, or death.

how are these different? everyone involved is human. why should all immigrants, documented or undocumented, suffer because of the actions of gangs or drug cartels or terrorists? why should all israelis suffer because of the crimes of individuals in their government and military?

when the surrounding mena countries forcibly kicked jews out at the threat of death, with raids of jewish communities that had been there for over 1000 years, stealing their belongings and taking their homes and synagogues, what else are these people called if not refugees?

america had refused to take more than 40k jewish refugees from germany, and these people fleeing persecution did not have the money or time or availability to relocate to the other side of the planet. where were they supposed to go, if not israel? what about poor holocaust survivors, who tried returning to their homes only to be driven out by their neighbors? what are they, if not refugees?

im tired of people treating jews without an ounce of understanding. people fleeing will go wherever they can to be safe, and at the time, it was israel. that does not make them colonists. it doesn’t make them evil, especially when many people were forced to leave behind their homes against their will.

if you wouldn’t blame refugees of war torn countries, or immigrants trying to make money and a better life for their families, why are you blaming jews, who have suffered multiple mass displacements and killings in the past century?

tired of the hypocrisy.

.

[yanderes-galore]

A romantic concept of Darth Maul (Star Wars) if you will?

Sure! I think he's a neat (and tragic) character within the universe he's in. Although at the same time... his motivations are rather simple.

Yandere! Darth Maul Concept

Pairing: Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Manipulation, Possessive behavior, Violence, Murder, Kidnapping, Isolation, Biting, Marking, Forced relationship.

Maul, like Vader, is another apprentice manipulated by the Sith.

Except his manipulation came first.

From a young age he was fed the seeds of being a Sith due to his fighting prowess.

Nowadays all he really knows is hate.

There's just... so much to hate.

Especially after Kenobi sent him into exile.

Maul, despite having his mind put back together, probably never recovered from his thirteen years of isolation on a trash planet.

Maul is described as obsessive already in canon.

He's this way towards power, revenge, hatred, and rage.

He embodies so many negative emotions due to the Sith who manipulated him.

Using his training, Maul survived death through hate and became ruthless and manipulative.

He's not afraid to use fear to make others obey him.

Although... He is not devoid of care.

Maul is shown to care for his mother and brother(s).

So if he found interest in someone to be his partner, that care is shown even if he's mostly intimidating.

Although, his behavior isn't going to change much just because he cares about you.

Maul is the type of person to murder innocents to lure Jedi out to kill.

Naturally Maul will also want to isolate his obsession.

He feels you're all he needs and you're one of his obsessions.

I can see Maul breaking a Jedi in to corrupt them if he likes them romantically.

It would drive him insane at first as he's supposed to kill Jedi.

But the idea of breaking this specific one in, of corrupting them, making them his...

He'll let that slide.

Other alternatives include you not being Jedi or Sith, probably still Force Sensitive but you haven't chosen a path.

That or you're an adult Sith he found a way to manipulate into listening to him. (Like an apprentice or something after your own master was slain....)

Regardless, as expected of a Sith like him, people will die.

Maul has been shown he's capable of kidnapping if it aids him, and obviously murder is instinct.

That alone makes him terrifying.

But when he takes over Mandalore?

Even worse.

Maul does anything for power... and with that power he plans to make you obey him too.

Maul seems like he'd break you down just to build you back up.

He enjoys obedience, be that willingly or through fear.

The love of a Sith is twisted, especially with Maul.

While Vader has loved once and would seem more "caring" to the one he adores.

Maul has always known being a killing machine.

His love for you would be more rough, maybe primal in a way.

He's possessive, I can see Maul nibbling on his obsession's neck or shoulder to vent that.

Maul doesn't plan to attack you or hurt you physically (much).

It's those around you who are in the most trouble.

Normally, in Maul's culture, the female chooses the male.

However, it's obvious he's playing the rules differently here (especially if you aren't even female or a different race)

You can't choose any other partner if they're dead, right?

Even then I imagine Maul still tries courting you, it's just you... don't have much of a choice but to accept him?

You can barely even speak to others without hearing that signature noise of a saber being activated.

You and his family are what he cares for other than revenge and power.

Although, in Maul's life, he loses his family eventually.

When left with nothing else, Maul becomes even more suffocating.

He hides you away, and as much as he'd rather not, restrains you.

You're the only person he has now, the only one he needs.

To him, you should feel the same way.

He's your partner, your mate, you'll need him as much as he needs you if he isolates you

Maul is a yandere who would force you to need him.

He'll force you to be addicted to him, to give into desire and have him as yours.

Why fight him when he can give you all you want?

He can read you, he can give everything...

Just give in to him...

You're his to corrupt, his to have, his love... and ultimately, his to own.

[not-that-n]

I think Kotor 2 is a really funny game when it comes to the average analysis of it's themes, because it managed to create such a compelling antagonist that most people just kinda get lost into trying to analyze her words and actions through her apparent philosophical stand when she is just written to be a great hypocrite, something that they almost always fail to mention in the average analysis of Kreya's character.

Like she makes some points, that sometimes helping others without thinking about your actions can hurt them more than you could imagine and says some other things that are almost true but she frames them as a philosophy of might, you shouldn't help others because you are depriving them of their strength, because through suffering there's growth, through struggle you reach enlightenment, through individual freedom you reach apotheosis. She then reaches the conclusion that God, aka the Force, is the biggest chain of all and to be truly free is to kill the force, to reject fate completely.

She acts like she has some sort of moral high ground over the sith and the Jedi when in reality she is not much different. In a way, she does have some beliefs she follows without question, she still uses the force and if you ask her about it she admits the hypocritical nature of her argument, first comparing to a poison and then saying that that's just an argument of an old woman trying to justify it. She always talks about how there are no chains, how you must be completely free of fate because there's no determinate outcome, whatever happens being a result of your strength, yet she still betrays you by the end because there must always be a Darth Treya, there must always be someone that directly betrays the order in it's moment of need. That's fate, that should, and will, always happen.

I always read her admiration for the player originating from our achievement of her goals without becoming hypocrites like she is, something I'm sure she is aware of as hinted by her dialogue in her last fight. The player rejected the force, reject fate, through strenght of will alone, using it more alike a weapon than a dogma, but the player, in a way, still uses the force mostly as a way of unknowingly influence others, their strength is not in self isolation in pursue of the strength of an individual through the death of morals and complete freedom, but instead in connection with others.

In the dark side ending the player becomes Kreya, a hypocrite that acts on their own desires, on their own impulses, because they can, afterall they had the strength to reject the force once so they are strong enough to do whatever. On the light side ending the exile takes the correct path, not following Kreya but transcending her, becoming better than her, understanding that you can overcome the chains of fate not through individual freedom but through connection, in the light side ending you archive what Kreya never could.

I always read Kotor 2 as a story of abuse and trying to grow out of it, in this case Kreya being the abuser, breaking both Scion and Nihilus causing them to become what she hated the most, and the player character being her new target, the exile being able to either follow the narrative's themes and be able to grow despite the abuse or fail and become the abuser themselves, perpetuating the cycle, the chain, that I always read as what the force is supposed to symbolize in this story.

Kreya is a spiteful person that believes that she can not grow, that she can not change and become better, she accepts herself in her own hypocrite nature because of this belief, she understands that through her own argument, one of complete freedom and transcending any chains that bind us, she is a failure like the rest of her students because she follows her own chain, she believes she most perpetuate the cycle of abuse.

That's the reason why I always disagree witht he concept that Kreya steals the show from both Scion and Nihilus because both of them are different outcomes that the exile could have become, both are victims of abuse that thought they couldn't change.

There's this one study I always think about, how kids that came from abusive households were more reluctant to let go of their parents, and Scion reminds me of this, rejecting Kreya at every opportunity but being unable to let go of her, she defined who he became as a person, a failure in both of their eyes. That's why he is so mad when you are going to confront Kreya, he thinks of you as her favorite, as the one that didn't become a failure, as someone who could reject and grow from their abuse when he couldn't. And I always found so interesting that the way you beat him os through words because, well, because you try convincing him that he can change, that he can grow, you beat him not through a fight, through a show of strength, but through showing, arguing, that the abuse he went through is not an unmoving chain, that he has the capabilities of change. And he doesn't believe you, never does, he would rather die than think about that, that admit you are right, he reacts the same way Kreya does, dying rather than admit they were wrong. It feels incredibly tragic that this happens because you know it could end up in another way, you are that other possible outcome.

And Nihilus is a simpler character because most of the content related to him was cut, but I always read him as the complete rejection of Kreya, as doing the exact opposite of whatever she said even when it still ends up hurting him, becoming a shell of what he was once. That said, most of that is just me guessing something that would fit with my reading of the themes and is never actually said in the game, it's kinda hinted but I admit there's not enough information to confidently say that.

Anyways, my point is that I find kotor 2 quite a compelling story and, while I understand why most people only ever discuss Kreya, I feel slightly disappointed that most discussions of the game never really talk about anything else the game presents

[canonkiller]

thinking about king lindworm again from the perspective of the lindworm. to be born something different from your family, to know it deeply, innately; to be cast out or hidden away from the people you were meant to know because of it, because of the shame that you were born something monstrous, a blame that will rest on your shoulders; to demand what you would have been given if you were like them and to have your efforts fail because you are monstrous; having to make yourself vulnerable - equally vulnerable, from an outside perspective, but to open yourself to such great potential for harm, being more fragile than others because of how much it takes to reach vulnerability of the same intimacy - to be seen as something worth loving. the lindworm desires his birthright as the eldest prince, not as a monster; him being the eldest prince does not keep others from only seeing him as something inhuman, something cruel and terrifying.

and I do think in the lindworm tale that there is an expression of this kind of violent grief of self acceptance, a literal shedding of the protective layers of the self until you are presenting your innermost being, raw and bloody, and saying, this is what I have to protect. this is what others do not believe i am. many versions have the shedding and subsequent night with his wife as being painful and visceral; shedding skins too deep, lashed with cloth and the wounds cleaned with milk before they can be held gently. the lindworm rarely expresses a desire to remain vulnerable, wanting instead to keep his shed skin, to return to it when the night is over and they are no longer alone. to be loved as he is in the daylight requires a sacrifice of dignity that he has never been granted the safety, the luxury of; the love does not come for the public self without exposing the private self, and that is something he has been kept from expressing because he is a monster, forced into isolation where none who see him are willing to meet on that intimate and vulnerable ground, because he is not human like they are, does not look human like they do.

with the lindworm specifically, as the story goes, this exposure is a mutual vulnerability. the maiden on her wedding night, instructed to wear extra clothing to coax the lindworm into shed, is baring herself as well, to the extent she would a human lover; there is an angle to be taken here, with her extra layers being an order from others, that these are layers of reservation that have been taught, and in shedding them she is opening her own self to the lindworm rather than believing those teachings, rather than believing the lindworm is a dangerous monster. there is also the angle that this is a risk she would choose to take with others like her, that the lindworm is specific in being something she is requested to be vulnerable with, that the action would not occur otherwise. is there pity in this love? maybe. I think there has to be, somewhere, that or sorrow, a quiet mourning for how much had to be hurt to reach this, how much had to be lost.

king lindworm is not beauty and the beast, where the monster was a human cursed to a different form. the lindworm was born a lindworm, and has never known anything else; when he returns for his birthright as thd eldest son, the privilege of being we'd is given to him, though the human brides he takes see only a monster. I do not think the lindworm is a tale meant to empower the maiden: it is not a story about revenge, or about the cruelty of kings, or about justice. in king lindworm, two people are vulnerable with each other. the maiden does not re-dress herself in false layers; the lindworm does not desire being human, only to be king - as he is, as he has always been, in isolation or in exile for being born the way he was. i think the lindworm is grieving himself.