#DESTROY HIM BAHAMUT.

[ffxiv-smackdown]

[sir-adamus]

so Zettaflare is a ridiculously powerful spell, it's only been used like, three times in the entirety of Square Enix's canon as far as i've been able to sort out (even Bahamut and his variants typically tap out at Teraflare, sometimes Exaflare which is a million times stronger than Teraflare, but still a thousand times weaker than Zettaflare - and y'know, typically all they need because Teraflare alone can wipe out a planet based on how it's been used in lore), and only one time by someone that wasn't some kind of god

and that someone is Donald Fauntleroy Duck, the most powerful mage alive

and he's used it at least twice

the one time we see is the second time in KH3, when he obliterates a man on-screen

Mickey and Goofy's reactions to this implied he's done this before

who has Donald killed?

who was Donald fighting that forced him to bring out a spell capable of destroying a billion planets in order to kill?

these are the questions that keep me up at night

[meteorstricken]

As enjoyable as the jokes about Ultima panicking over Bahamut nearly destroying the world have been...it's occurred to me that they aren't quite right.

Instead, the outer space leg of the Bahamut fight was in fact a covert Ultima fight. How do I figure? Recall that in the Nexus of Origin, Ultima explains that several of his gave their bodies to become the hearts of the mothercrystals. They are a form that Ultima takes.

What looks like Bahamut consuming a mothercrystal heart is in fact Ultima possessing him.

When casting spells like Celestial Foundry or Zettaflare, the tell-tale circular formations of Ultima’s power are present.

And at last, when Clive and Joshua defeat the possessed Eikon, the mothercrystal heart departs from its body, releasing Dion. Clive then proceeds to destroy the heart, which shrieks like all the rest have.

The Zettaflare move was, in conclusion, something that Ultima was using to goad and test Ifrit Risen's potential in that moment, and was more than likely entirely in his control.

[flowers-of-tenebrae]

Random DotF musings pt. 1

(spoilers for the whole book)

A Savior Lost - Ardyn:

So I uh totally forgot there was an "animated prologue" to Ep Ardyn. I did watch it...back in 2019. That means between Episode Ardyn, the animated prologue and DotF, his story has been told thrice in three different forms. Huh. (Well it's par the course for FFXV tbh)

It starts off rough tbh, but I like how the author reminds us of Noct's "shaggy hair and wayward nature" in the opening paragraph. Then you realise it's set in chapter 13 so any slight amusement - at Noct's expense - becomes 😭

I've had DA brainrot, so the justice (Somnus) vs. vengeance (Ardyn) themes stood out. In executing his ideals of justice and governance, Somnus corrupts Ardyn's purpose (his calling) and leads him on the path of vengeance... Culminating in Ardyn doing unto Noctis/Somnus what Somnus did him: 1) Somnus slaying Aera before Ardyn vs. Ardyn stabbing Luna in Altissia, and ofc 2) Ardyn vowing to destroy Somnus' entire legacy and lineage (through Noctis), much like how Ardyn's past as the "savior healer and future king" was demolished/buried and how his wondrous future (as king with Aera by his side) was cut short. This all seems v obvious, but it sounds cool to me when framed with DA's concepts of spirits vs demons - i.e. "if you see them as a demon, they'll become demons and reflect your expectations back at you".

Also obv Jesus/Judas parallels

The last line goes hard ✍️🔥🔥🔥

Now, the train has clearly steered off the rails of canon and into new territory

Not a fan of them casting Bahamut as the big bad antagonist (so cliché). Like the way his speech (as an Astral) is formatted though

It's easier for me to accept the Noctis/Somnus and Luna/Aera parallels in 2024 than it was back in 2019. But even more important than those are the Ardyn/Luna parallels, which we can see taking shape in this part.

Verdict: A slog to read, denser than expected, less exciting bc I've experienced Ep Ardyn - and the animated prologue. Certain parts felt more like reading a "dry impassive timeline" than a story. (I still question Aera's judgement in telling Somnus.) But this chapter does set the stage, so I can see why they still included it. And it's worth re-treading for that last scene alone.

The Beginning of the End - Aranea:

There's anti-food promotion for once, too much of it really. (Ew stale popcorn)

We learn a little bit of Niflheim's past state and its decline. Cool

Omg mentions of Aranea's parents!? Do we know more about her parents than Iggy's?? 😂

Wow they have an aerial safety net system in Gralea (for dragoons...?) Also, Gralea 🔄 Garlean empire - yeah the ff devs weren't subtle (it's a FFXIV ref)

Aranea's penchant for nicknames strikes again -> Tiny = Diamond Weapon

I liked seeing more of Aranea's dynamic with Biggs and Wedge and learning a bit about the latter two. Not as much Aranea + Sol in this ch as I'd expected, but that's okay for now.

While not quite as impressive as [ME2 spoiler] Miranda giving her resignation to the Illusive Man, Aranea going "I really can't stand you" to Ardyn, winking, then diving off the edge of Zegnautus Keep is still pretty awesome

The ffxv devs keep trying to make me care about Loqi but it's never worked

BONUS: FFVI ref spotted! (dancing mad) + minor Tenebrae lore drop (they were a tourist trap /jk)

Verdict: Some parts were repetitive ngl BUT this was more engaging than the prev ch bc 1) it's new content, 2) ARANEA!! - however the action scenes would've been more exciting to play through vs. reading. I'm going to sound like a broken record here; I feel robbed we didn't get to play as her (DRG ladies ftw) and see her wink on screen 🥲

[estinininininen]

Varshahn:

Estinien:

Varshahn:

Estinien: . . . So, those are dragon scales.

Varshahn: yeah what about it HUH

Estinien: Did y'all . . . ?

Varshahn: . . . imprison or kill a dragon to get them like SOME countries would? No.

Estinien:

Estinien: ok cool

Varshahn: cool

Estinien: Good.

Varshahn: Good.

Estinien is then kidnapped by the Thavnair alchemists, complaining loudly the whole way, and no one knows if he's putting up with it cause Scion duties and this is just how he plays nice - he bitched all the way to Hraesvelgr, after all - or if he genuinely just forgot he could jump

Meanwhile, in the meghaduta

Vrtra: hey Ahewann cancel DEFCON 1, this guy is cool. Total softy. Also kind of a dumbass. Of course I'll be glad to help clean up, I'm not going to make the maids clean up dragon piss. Ahem. Did I ever tell you about my brother Nidhogg? Yeah, the one I've avoided answering for a thousand years. Uh, well, yeah the dramatic asshole who went off the deep end, yes. Him. Too be fair it was about our sister, Ratatoskr - yeah, oh I'm actually really glad you remember what I said about her! She was a lot like . . . No, it's fine to interrupt, I got lost in memories for a second there. Ummmm, yes, I suppose it has influenced why I . . . hestitate telling everyone I'm the satrap. But Nidhogg took it way too far, yeah. He used to be a cool big brother, I swear. Knew how to get under everyone's skin, didn't put up with bullshit, but let kids climb all over him if it made them happy. Whenever I visited he was always swarmed by his own kids and all his niblings, and teaching them how to hunt and defend themselves against morta - Oh, but that was a couple Astral eras ago, sorry. Turns out Tiamat and Hraesvelgr weren't joking - yeah my other sister, Tiamat, the one who went into battle recently with this guy against, uh, yeah, the corrupted image of another brother of ours. Bahamut, yeah - yeah. The one who almost destroyed a continent, yes. Hraesvelgr? Hraesvelgr's our other brother who lived with Nidhogg for a long time - yyyyeah yeah you heard right, last time they met Nidhogg did call his dead mortal wife a whore and tore Hrae's wing off. Anyway! Anyway they were right, this guy really is like if you sucked all the filling out of a Nidhogg donut and tried to squish it into an Elezen. Yeah, sorry, that is the closest I can get to describing dragon aether stuff. Is he . . . yeah he's the guy who technically killed Nidhogg and spent his whole life training to kill dragons but like I just said, Nidhogg smooshed the two of them together. He's all but a dragon walking around in a mortal meat suit and seems mostly just embarassed by it. Kiiiinda looking forward to messing with his head more, honestly. Let's get the curtain ready. Ahewann, why do you look so scared?

[y-rhywbeth2]

Gods & Clergy: Bane #2

Link: Disclaimer regarding D&D "canon" & Index [tldr: D&D lore is a giant conflicting mess. Larian's lore is also a conflicting mess. You learn to take what you want and leave the rest]

Religion | Gods | Shar | Selûne | Bhaal | Mystra | Jergal | Bane #1 | Bane #2 | Bane #3 | Myrkul | Lathander | Kelemvor | Tyr | Helm | Ilmater | Mielikki | Oghma | Gond | Tempus | Silvanus | Talos | Umberlee | Corellon | Moradin | Yondalla | Garl Glittergold | Eilistraee | Lolth | Laduguer | Gruumsh | Bahamut | Tiamat | Amodeus | The rest of the Faerûnian Pantheon --WIP

-

Apparently, they are a beautiful combination of every dictatorship ever with some flavouring from the fucking mafia. They also sort-of have a Pope, and sometimes papal schisms.

Social Darwinism for everybody! And remember, Bane is always watching you - do not make him get involved, kiddies.

Can these people get any more delightful??

---

"The world is made stronger by mighty and ordered rule, with the ruled made to fear their rulers and to hate common foes. Weakness and frivolity should be publicly destroyed for all to see and heed. Good is but a shelter for weakness and the whims of those who profess noble goals. Evil is the true state of nature, for winning is everything, and oppression is natural. Fight against good, and exalt evil. Tyrannize and destroy the weak, so that all in time become better and stronger, everyone knowing their place and not daring to question or foment disorder. "Be a tyrant. Make others fear and hate you, but awaken in them hatred of others. Aid tyrants and oppressors, but if they disagree with you or fellow Dark Hands (clergy of Bane) over policy, or turn back from tyranny or oppressing others, shatter them. We are the forge that tempers rulers, to make them ever harder, stronger, and more evil. Laws and rules, not wanton chaos, should reign. Eliminate lawbreakers. Kill or thwart a good creature every day (kill is better). Bring down arbitrary law keepers, and aid the brutally law-abiding. Make others fear Bane—and fear you—whenever possible." - Yet more Banite dogma

Good is evil, and Evil is good. Good is a lie, and Evil is the truth. The one thing all Banites agree on is that implementing Bane's rule is the only good option for the world.

Banite teaching is clear that a world of firm laws and an orderly society is the only acceptable world to live in. Chaos exists only as a tool to achieve this, and is otherwise sinful. This ideal lawful and regimented society will, naturally, be a surveillance state. The overabundance of divination spells and artefacts used for monitoring thought crimes, and the rank "inquisitor," don't exist in the church for nothing.

Society will be made better when the weakness is purged. By punishing the weak, one of two things will happen; they will break, and either clear the way for the strong, or they will take on the hatred and use it to make themselves stronger.

Dissenting opinion is bad, it breeds chaos and undermines order - and Banites are quite firm in their opinion that nobody else is governing their lands properly.

Under Banite rule, people suddenly "going missing" is just a fact of life. Sometimes they turn up a little worse for wear and/or with a mysterious new personality. Often they're just not coming back.

The good news is that since the death of the last High Imperceptor in recent years, the church hierarchy has apparently fallen apart again!

Banites are no longer quite so united by one long, globe-spanning chain of command and are all splintered into factions, backstabbing each other and fighting over which leader's vision and right to lead is greater than the others'. The lower ranks scheme to take the place of their hated superiors, even as they bow and scrape and dance perfectly to the tune of every command.

Bane is willing to tolerate this to a limited degree, because it keeps his higher ranked followers from abusing their authority for personal gain if the lower ranks have space to undermine them when they're unworthy. A "healthy" amount of infighting will cull the weak and ensure he only has the strongest followers.

There are limits though; start rocking the boat too much and Bane will personally smite you dead in front of everyone to make a point.

The Dark One watches his clergy, keeping an eye on those with potential rising through the ranks, and those whose behaviours are a little erratic for his liking. He's known for speaking directly into their minds, or the minds of the followers around them. Although sometimes he turns away to focus on something beyond mortal ken, which can last years, which is when the infighting tends to get really bad. Elminster likens it to unsupervised rats in a cage, gnawing on each other in frustration.

A Banite who shows signs of weakness and "wavering faith" will be demoted... if they're lucky. Other possible fates include the standard Banite fare of maiming and potential death.

Banites in favour with their deity and superiors will enjoy luxury and promotions: Having fun is allowed as a reward for being a good servant, but is not something you're allowed to take for granted. That's "frivolity" and will breed weakness.

The church mostly gets things done nowadays simply because the lowest ranks of the clergy usually attach themselves to some charismatic mid-higher rank, becoming their obedient and fawning slaves in the hopes that by helping them rise in the ranks their superior will elevate them too. Through this, teamwork is achieved and shit gets done. In the higher ranks, where everybody's too afraid of losing their hard won power, this cooperation tends to die.

The head of a region's Banites is the Inquisitor, all of whom answer to the High Inquisior, who is regarded much like the Pope is by Catholics on Earth. Sometimes the High Inquisitor isn't providing their role as arbiter of Bane's divine will on Toril right, and one or more other Banites make the case for themselves as Bane's real High Inquisitor and schisms result with all the usual drama.

When Banites of equal rank clash on something, technically the deciding factor in who gets the final say is supposed to be who has the highest levels in the cleric class (and thus their higher personal status with Bane). If it's equal, then it comes down to who has the highest influence/reputation amongst the other Banites. Ultimately though, the biggest factor is actually which of them their regional leader likes best (you're either in favour, or out).

Particularly within urban areas, Banites are usually hidden kingpins and crime bosses, working from the shadows. Those who seek power and influence may always turn to the followers of the Black Hand for aid; they are always happy to make friends and lend favours. You want to win the next guild election? You want to be governor? They can do that for you. They will employ bribery, kidnappings, blackmails, arrange assassinations, whatever it takes to get you in power. And then you will have that position you wanted, and you will owe it all to the Church of Bane, and to Bane himself, as their loyal puppet. You will obey every edict of Bane as yet another link in his chains. You will know that they did this for you, that they can do all this to you, and that everybody will know this should you go back on your end of the bargain.

The people who serve those people will also serve Bane, unknowingly. Eventually the entire city will serve, never realising who rules them, until one day the Banites' hold over the region is so ironclad that when they step forward to rule openly, and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

Banite infiltrations are highly organised, and are likened covert military operations, with the leaders given their tasks directly from Bane.

Through these methods, the Church takes over businesses, governments and even entire noble families.

Businesses are of particular interest, as Banites will seek to establish at least some degree of control over regional trade - especially contraband and other illegal businesses, and especially the trade of weapons and slaves. The money they make from this will go towards both the church and their own personal funds.

Few Banites are comfortable openly taking positions of power for themselves until they are certain that it is safe to do so. There's also that little drawback where your siblings in the faith will watch you carefully while holding their breath for a while, to see if you're as secure in your power as you seem to be - and then there's a target on your back because they all want your power for themselves.

Despite losing control, it seems some Banite presence lingers amongst the Zhentarim, where the divide between the cleric-based Orthodoxy and the reformist wizards lives on. The simmering tensions and would-be civil war are held in check only by the presence of beholderkin who will make an example of any idiots that try anything. Bane has no particular interest in seeing his clerics and mages fighting each other, and in most Banite circles the schism has died down. Some of them are even friends and "companions."

(Yes, even Banites have friends. Mr "frivolity should be publicly destroyed - make others fear and hate you" doesn't necessarily approve, but his followers are still only human[oid].)

-

"…Bane is rash, impetuous, and arrogant. He’s no patient, long-term schemer, but lives in the present moment (he wants results NOW). And his pride often makes him over-estimate his own prowess, and ignore his own faults." - Ed Greenwood

Going by some lore; Bane is also an unwitting puppet of Jergal (who is The long-term schemer), intended for one of the older deity's infinite supply of schemes - although his strings are not currently being pulled. He is the dead soul of a mortal man, imbued with divine essence and Jergal's portfolio of Tyranny. "Jergal [on his end] has no intention of treating Bane like a puppet until he has to."

Bane died long before the Three reached Jergal, and the god "stored" his soul away, recognising a similar "quenchless hunger to rule all, and be feared by all through the maliciousness and malevolent [attentiveness] of his rule."

Bane's memory of this has been removed by the Forgotten One, and he wouldn't believe you if you told him so. Whether the other two have had their memories so edited is unknown, but possible.

His original, pre-Time of Troubles holy symbol was intended to be a severed hand in a spiked black gauntlet, dripping blood from the stump (the middle droplet being the longest). The presumed reason for it not appearing in official Realms products is wariness of the Satanic Panic leading to its censorship.

[rydiathesummoner]

JILL IS STRONGER THAN WE THINK: No I'm serious, here's why (all the spoilers)

When I finished FFXVI my feelings about Jill were… ok she's fine. We got her in the party after her time in the Iron Kingdom so she was physically weak. Even her powers were not as strong as Titan or Bahamut. She shone bright when killing Imreann, but then seemed relegated to the background for the rest of the game. She's even captured twice and requiring her boyfriend to save her. In 2023 that's so tropey it hurts.

However after too much overthinking, I think she's pretty great. She's well thought out. The problem is that sometimes the storytelling is too subtle and as an overtired and always stressed modern gamer I missed a few things about Jill.

Thinking back, how was Ultima defeated? Why couldn't Ultima posess Clive? Not because of Clive's physical strength or his massive pecs, but because of his Will. In the end, Clive's Will did not break or falter. Ultima fights with physical strength sure, but he usually gets what he wants throughout the story by breaking people's Will.

Jill's Will never breaks. Not once. Even when facing death from Kupka. She lives through torture and abuse but always remains in control of her Eikon. A broken Will is an Eikon out of control.

Ultima causes Clive's Will to break at Phoenix Gate. He also loses control with Garuda.

Joshua's Will breaks after seeing his father killed.

Benedikta's Will breaks after losing Garuda. Garuda gave her a sense of power and control, especially over men (who had hurt her in the past).

Kupka's Will breaks by eating the mothercrystal to gain more power. He did this at the suggestion of Harbard, who worked for Barnabas, who, well…

Dion's Will breaks after constant frustrations with his family, and Ultima manipulating him into killing his father. It should be noted that Ultima had to work pretty hard for this one.

Barnabas had no Will the entire story. He volunteered it to Ultima. Arguably the most physically powerful Eikon was the weakest when it came to Ultima's machinations. He genuinely thought Ultima would let him be reborn.

Obviously this leads to Cid, who also has an unshakeable Will and maintains control during his short time in the game. Both Cid and Jill influence Clive to strengthen his own Will. So why did it seem to me the Cid was a strong dominant, but Jill was just kind of meh?

I feel like this is an area the writing could have used some tweaks. Cid showed his strong Will by defying everything Valisthea stood on and creating an entire movement about it. This was a huge part of the plot. There are scenes where Jill could have primed out of control to save herself (Kupka and Barnabas's abductions for example, a yellow-eyed eikon could probably break crystal fetters) but the game doesn't really put that idea into the player's head. "Oooh is she gonna go crazy before this big dude cuts off her head and destroy Rosaria?" like they could have shown her struggling, or her eyes turning slightly yellow before regaining control of herself.

Or since Barnabas was Ultima's puppet, the scene on the ship could have been used as a way for Ultima to try to break her Will, but she resisted. In both cases, her resolve didn't seem tested and she seemed more like a plot point. I don't think this is intentionally how her character was written, but a side effect of making Clive the entire focus.

Our human monkey brains tend to lean into a Might Makes Right mindset, but physical strength was not what Valisthea needed. It needed the strongest Wills to save itself.

[sparklecryptid]

Curse AU crossed with AtB verse becomes hilarious when you think about it as Bahamut frantically running around trying to make sure the Lucis Caelum line doesn't die out before his Prophecy happens. After all Ardyn's Curse is only picking up momentum and it's becoming increasingly difficult for LCs to have even one kid that lives to adulthood.

Just, Bahamut messing with probability so Regis has his various bastards and then staring at his work.

Bahamut: Eight should be enough. Surely, one of them will make it to adulthood and not get killed in weird accidents. I only need one for this.

*Ardyn swanning in into Bastards' lives*

Bahamut: seriously?!

*Ardyn adopting the Bastards and removing the Curse from them*

Bahamut: seriously?!

*Regis somehow managing to have a kid despite the Curse and the Ring working against him*

Bahamut: sErIoUsLy?!

Ardyn: Listen up, there are eight of you, at least one of you needs to become my pawn and destroy Lucis for me.

The Bastards: *share a Look*

Thanatos: Sounds boring. Kingdoms can crumble from anything. Count me out.

Persephone: Given who my husband is I'm afraid I will have to decline. It would be far to easy.

Ardor: Sounds boring, no.

Jules: Uh. No thank you.

(Ardyn: You're too precious for this world it was never going to be you.)

Bard: Honestly no, maybe if I got to record a killer soundtrack that plays as the kingdom of Lucis crumbles around me but other than that? No.

Mercury: ME? CONTROL A KINGDOM *laughter that goes on for ten minutes followed by 'FUCK NO'*

Jupiter: I would prefer not to get involved in anything that will make Sonitus yell at me.

*everyone turns to look at Ace*

Ace:....Look, your concerns are valid. But I'm already plotting the downfall of the Imperial Dynasty I have no time to lead another kingdom to ruins.

Meanwhile Ardyn has uncursed all of them and cant wait for everythign to turn into chaos when regis finds out about his eight other children

[tacticalgrandma]

I keep having Thoughts about Dread’s world state post-game. I don’t know if I’ll ever write a proper fic for it—if I did, it’d be a rambly multiperspective thing and I’ve never written one of those before. But here are the thoughts I have now:

After defeating the Netherbrain, Dread and Minthara want to take control of the Absolute, everyone else doesn’t. Tense standoff until Isobel offers to True Resurrect Gortash in exchange for Dread destroying the brain. Dread agrees, Minthara could become Absolute on her own, but chooses not to.

As they’re falling, Dread starts losing her illithid powers. She absorbs the astral tadpole fully, keeping her partial illithidication. Wyll and Astarion, who partook in a worm or two, go back to normal. So does Minthara, who also chose partial ceremorphosis.

Immediately after Minthara is furious and lost—especially after seeing that Dread’s retained her psionic powers while she hasn’t. She leaves for Menzoberranzan. Dread promises her they’ll meet again, Minthara tells her if they do she’ll kill her.

For the next few months, an assassin stalks the streets on Menzoberranzan, killing drow who carved out pieces of Minthara’s estate. The spree ends with the death of the Baenre matriarch and the descrecation of the House’s shrine to Lolth. Minthara then leaves the city for good.

Dread stays in Baldur’s Gate to see Gortash resurrected and Wyll inducted as the new Grand Duke. Aware that the people she loves most have, at best, mixed feelings towards her at the moment, she leaves. It’s the first time in her life she’s ever actually alone.

Dread returns to the illithid colony under Moonrise Towers. She picks up on Gortash and the Myrkulites’ study of psionics, and ends up establishing a psionic monastic tradition since WOTC isn’t going to. Us is her assistant.

Gortash leverages his knowledge of the Baneite strongholds to try to keep Wyll from exposing him to the Gate. Wyll realizes Gortash would only be making that offer if the Baneites were a danger to Gortash. Wyll agrees, under the condition that Gortash bring him his father’s remains so he can try to resurrect him.

Gortash reminds Wyll that a resurrection has to be willing, and asks him if he really thinks his father will come if he calls for him. Look my brain’s just kind of been stuck on a Wylltash hate hookup for a while. We’re probably doing Wyllstarion endgame here. If I ever write a postgame thing I’m probably not even doing this at all. I just think they could really fuck each other up in some neat ways and I keep thinking it.

Gortash got a taste of torture in the Banehold and will do fucking anything to not go back.

Wyll realizes he’s better than his father ever was at politics and it devastates him.

This is a bit of group hc with some discord folks—Wyll ends up hiring Astarion as his personal aide (secretary) to help with some of the legal and bureaucratic issues he’s unfamiliar with. Astarion thrives in his Joan Holloway era.

Wyllstarion drama where Astarion idealizes Wyll and feels like if he’s honest about some of the skullduggery he does on his behalf, Wyll will reject him and he’ll have to go back to the Underdark. Wyll worries he can’t live up to the image Astarion has of him, especially as he has to make hard, morally gray decisions as a leader.

Wyll becomes a tempest cleric of Bahamut post-warlock, to try to carry on Ansur’s legacy. He’s probably able to give Astarion some level of sunlight protection so people just think the grand duke’s bf is being dramatic with his umbrella and big floppy hat.

Lae’zel goes off with Orpheus to free the gith. The egg hatches soon after. Lae’zel immediately hands the kid off to Orpheus. Orpheus leads a revolution wearing a baby bjorn.

Minthara appears at the illithid colony one day, knowing it’s where Dread was most likely to go. Minthara doesn’t kill her. They reconcile. Minthara doesn’t have paladin or illithid powers so she’s an Eldritch Knight fighter now. She’s just like really shredded. She’s so jacked guys.

Realistically Karlach left the party when Dread agreed to work with Gortash. Knowing she’d either die from her engine or become a mindflayer without the artifact’s protection, she solo’d the Iron Throne. Gortash thinks no one survived it, but she managed to free a handful of the prisoners. Mizora made sure Ulder wasn’t one of them.

Gale’s bloody hand is still in Dread’s inventory.

Jaheira tells Wyll that as a Harper, she has a responsibility to hold those in power accountable and this will limit her ability to be a true friend to him. Wyll intellectually understands, emotionally feels like he’s constantly being abandoned and doesn’t handle it with as much grace as he could have. They probably reconcile somewhere down along the line and have a more Nine-Fingers-y dynamic. Just without the fucking.

Oh also more classes: Lae’zel is a blade warlock (great old one) with Orpheus as her patron. Astarion is a College of Lore Bard because I like having two people with Healing Word in the party. I mean because it’s in character. Jaheira’s a multiclass Gloom Stalker and Spores Druid. I still need to nail down Shadowheart but I think she’s a Beastmaster—I keep thinking of her postgame as a cleric bc Asheera fics, but I think in a Dread-helmed party she’d turn from gods more. Karlach was an Oathbreaker, in the NADDPOD antipaladin sense—not actually a fallen paladin, just a hellish version of one. Minsc is a wildheart barbarian with the aspect of the hamster.

[bloomandcoffee]

So The official Lyrics for “Ascension” just dropped...

...and it’s time for a musical analysis. A.k.a. I lost it because this song is juicy and the interpretation and analysis dragged me through a spin, and if I had to lose my mind, you all should too. 

Time for some interesting tidbits I've found with The lyrics of ascension, its musical cues, and phoenixflare (because bias, but I actually make good arguments for it! The song pretty much does it for me, to be quite honest.)

Warning: quite a long analysis

OK first of all, basics Here are the official lyrics, and here’s a video with the song for quick appreciation and reference. For context, Ascension is the song that plays in the final fight against Bahamut, when Phoenix and Ifrit fuse and they duke it out in space. 

The song starts with Brass & Heavy chorus but the moment Ascension is name dropped into the song is at the culmination of Joshua and Clive fusing. Afterwards it also introduces a solo of violin. A violin solo is indicative of Dion. You learn this from the OST where he fights Odin earlier in the game. This could feasibly be a nod to two things: 

1) You would think The Ascension aspect in its true form is The fusion of Ifrit and Phoenix, but since this Dion's/Bahamut's fight it's instead a clue that true ascension is what spurned the fusion in the first place: stop Bahamut, save the people and save Dion (Joshua) & Destroy the mother crystal, Protect Joshua, defeat this corrupted form of Bahamut (Clive). 

 2) This Ascended form will bring back Bahamut to his senses no matter how terrible the struggle (Brass & Heavy mournful Chorus turned again to violin solo)

3) The lyrics for that moment go as follow:

In courage, conviction (through the night) We find our redemption (find our light) That we might make our ascension

I could hazard a guess and say that the fusing of the eikons represent Forgiveness/Redemption for what they did to each other at Phoenix gate (otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to do it).

However I think it's important to point out that, even before mentioning fire further into the song, Through the night / Find our light  is also reflected in Joshua's/Phoenix theme with  From Dark light be reborn and rise from Shadow / and Shadow in the Night. 

 Night (and night as shadows) are prevalent in Joshua's/Phoenix theme and It's especially notorious since it's the only instance in Ascension where Night is mentioned. One would think "ah it's because Phoenix's theme started the night of phoenixgate”, and yeah that could be it, but why then not do more allusions on Ascension since it's also nighttime?

(Also it’s worth pointing out that the violin solo after Phoenix and Ifrit fuse is also overtaken again by brass instruments and the Chorus. So while there's hope, it's just heralding the beginning of the struggle to break Dion free)

...and Speaking of free

let's get to our next bit:

Burden shouldered Seven worlds of teardrops falling to the sea Bitter seeds, these, e're yearning to be Free! Holy Mother set us free! Strike our irons, be our

All those meta about Dion's burdens being too heavy on him, chaffing him down, making him bitter and not being able to do naught else but bear it??? Here you have your confirmation!

“Burden shouldered” is obvious the interpretation. 

“Seven worlds of teardrops falling to the sea” is a double punch because it could allude to the fact that Dion cannot allow himself to cry in a moment of weakness (he is Bahamut, the Symbol, The champion of the Empire, the Hope bringer, His Father's son) and so the seven worlds worth of tears shall fall into the sea -that is, the place where nobody can differentiate whether it's a tear or just seawater. It also alludes to the fact that, all of this is happening in an isle, surrounded by sea, but instead of his rage falling there, it rains onto the people of the dominion.

“Bitter seeds, these, e're yearning to be”: Through the time of shouldering the Burdens of the Empire with all the privations they entailed and never being recognized for them -even loathed and schemed against!- Dion has grown bitter, and was yearning to be.

Free!

But how, Oh, how does he believe he will find Freedom? 

Through Greagor, The holy Mother. Unsurprising given that he's a Scion of Sanbreque. 

And what does he envision the freedom granted by Her to constitute?

Free! Holy Mother set us free! Strike our irons, be our Solace Temperance Virtue Vengeance

Keep these words in mind (especially vengeance), because they're about to take you on a spin as did me when I realized the turn around.

After the crescendo of what Freedom through her guidance entails, this hectic section of heavy contrasting chorus, brass and tense strings ends with:

Firmament over us Fundament 'neath us

He wants to reach The firmament, leave everything beneath. Do you know who else is spurned to fly over the Firmament, and contemplate the nothingness below? Yes, you guessed it: The Phoenix. Look up to the heavens / The firmament reddens / Throw open your wings and fly! & Look down to the nether / Bid Farewell Forever / Throw open your wings and fly!

But unlike the Phoenix, there's no guiding light in the firmament, no Dawn to look forward to. Dion wants to escape it all, to Rise through the firmament, to leave it all, the chains, the guilt, the horror of what he just did behind, seeking the guidance of the Holy mother and the freedom she represents. 

Again, this section ends with a strong statement of brass and strings. You could even say it's an ultimatum, and the presentation of Dion's current emotional turmoil amplified by the Crystal's/Ultima's madness.

... and then, we go back to the strings, tense, but more prevalent before once again, trying to be overtaken by the brass instruments. And so, the chorus, milder now, assuaged somewhat, continues with the brass not being as prevalent as before (and I'm about to lose it):

Take flight into the starry heavens On high, celestial procession Fire on ruby mountaintops To guide us to the word of god(dess)

We all know this. We are all aware of this. 

"Take flight into the starry heavens", yes we are fighting in space, Dion was able to break through the firmament and leave. 

"On high, celestial procession" Dion, mad with grief, guilt, bitterness and a yearning to be free stands supreme among the stars. A procession fit for a King about to end it all. Even though we know this isn't what Dion, so full of love, of dedication and tenderness for his people would want.

He needs to be stopped from his madness, to be hold gently, to be calmed down, guided through his grief back to safety. and behold! Here comes Ifrit Risen the Phoenix (with extra help). 

"Fire on ruby mountaintops" This is self explanatory, Joshua and Clive have arrived, together, an ascended form with all the implications their ascension meant. But again, Phoenix, focus on the phoenix whose main Motivation is Dion. He arrives to 

"To guide us to the word of god(dess)" the us in this case clearly means Dion, who pleaded to Her before for freedom. Yet it is the Phoenix, who arrives and will guide him to the word of god(dess). The word of the goddess in this case means freedom since that's what Dion yearns for and pleaded to Her.

And what, pray tell, is the phoenix's guidance (also, High Sanbreque priests who? It's the Phoenix, Joshua, the one that will become the true guide to the word of the Goddess, not they who conspired against Dion, who bought into Anabella's scheme) to what true freedom, what Dion's answers and yearnings are?

Solace Temperance Virtue Ascension! 

(Bold done by me, but the exclamation mark is in the lyrics) 

Ascension The type Phoenix and Ifrit got at the beginning, that's true freedom, punctuated for emphasis. Not the Madness Bahamut has become after absorbing the crystal, that’s not Acension. 

The phoenix will guide Dion to it, to true freedom, to true Ascension So this was right where I lost it.

(it's also worth of note that "Ascension!" has an exclamation mark, while "Vengeance" had none, just forceful intonation!)

Ok no. I lied. I was THIS close to lose it, but I held on just by my nails. The song, with now a hopeful tint continues with:

Guide our spirits ever higher And higher and higher and higher, higher! On wings of Faith We'll rise again

"Wing of faith" we know refers to the phoenix, who is guiding true the word of the Goddess. (Phoenix, not Ifrit because who of these two has the wings? Thought so) and with it, Bahamut and Dion will rise again, hinting that they will not die by the end of this fight, but survive and rise again, better (and free, hopefully) and THEN. THEN!!!! Bahamut's string solo theme without brass instruments finally plays and I actually LOST it. If that isn't a confirmation in musical form I don't know what to tell you. Excuse me for a moment while I SCREAM

The song continues and yes the brass now accompany the string solo of Bahamut's theme. Now, instead of being overtaken by it and the chorus as it happened previously in the phase of the fight before this, when the chorus starts it's a whispers and it flows, it doesn't overtake.

Ware ye the madness The breeds inside us Tides of fury flowing, ebbing Mists of malice whorling, wending Veil of Nothing, never-ending Dare not seek what lurketh down beneath No!

It its frantic however, even when it states that the turmoil is waning. It's both a reassurance and a warning, conveyed by the crescendo of the chorus and culminating in the following statement:

An Evil Hiding from the sun Blinded, he screameth eschaton immanent

This is ultima btw. It's a warning about ultima.

What, pray tell, does Eschaton mean anyway? It can't be the Zettaflare, right?

 Indeed, this is what Eschaton means (via Dictionary.com)

Theology. the final age and the consummation of history, including the Last Judgment and the defeat of evil, the eternal blessedness of the righteous, and, in some traditions, the creation of a new heaven and earth:

FUCK YOU ULTIMA

[shellem15]

Finally decided to just compile a list of my headcanons for cr gods here, because their insane dynamics have infected my brain and made it physically impossible for me to get any of my own worldbuilding/writing stuff done. This is for the gods in general, I'm doing a separate post for just my favorite trio (Asmodeus/Sarenrae/Pelor) later.

So the Raven Queen's predecessor helping her succeed him and them being in love has been made canon, but I'm just gonna say here that that was basically my theory beforehand and I made an entire goddamn post about it (before downfall even aired, mind you) then deleted it because I thought it was dumb. Anyways. Just getting that off my chest.

On that topic, I think that the Old God of Death (whom I will, from here on, refer to as OGOD) had a very "pagan-woods deity" vibe going on before he was axed. I think it contrasts nicely with the Raven Queen being a god "of wizards" and of mortals in general. It could also explain why he was seen as a "tyrant", cause maybe he had a big "no resurrection. Ever." policy, which drove wizards to necromancy as a loophole. As an extension, I think he would have had some strong wolf symbolism, cause wolves = death is a tale as old as time (Again complimenting the Matron's Ravens). Think Neverafter's Big Bad Wolf and Puss in Boots 2's Wolf/Death. I also imagine OGOD was very close with the Wildmother and the Crawling King (before the betrayers got locked up).

OGOD, as the god of fate, knew ahead of time that the mortal who became the Raven Queen would seek him out and, eventually, be his demise.

The Moonweaver, as the goddess of love and protector of lovers' trysts, on some level knew about their relationship and what was to come. She's never told anyone this.

The Changebringer and the Stormlord are best friends. Freedom and challenge, storms and the wind, they come hand in hand. Bet they would rock up to a protest in sick leather jackets waving flags and punching cops in the face.

The Changebringer and the Everlight are very, very close. Avandra was the one to find her after Asmodeus' betrayal. Something something the unbreakable bond between freedom and redemption. In addition to Kord they form their own little trio.

The Changebringer has a plethora of myths and folklore about her, a lot about her screwing over Asmodeus' plots (and just being a trickster god in general).

I imagine that they were rivals while in Tengar, but it was more a playful, childish thing than any true animosity. This changes, obviously.

Speaking of screwing, she and Asmodeus have definitely hate-fuck3d before. Both of them refuse to acknowledge it, but it totally haunts him at night.

On this note, Avandra's vestige "the Kiss of the Changebringer" (canonically stolen from her by the Lord of the Hells), was given that name because he distracted her with a kiss while stealing it. She beat his ass for that later.

Avandra couch-hops in the other gods domains. They tolerate this to varying degrees.

Upon Vordo the fateshaper's death (or whoever Ihana, the Weaver of Time became but my theory is Vordo), Ioun (Knowing Mistress) became the eldest of the gods, followed by the Scaled Tyrant (Tiamat) and the Platinum Dragon (Bahamut). They are old and act like it. Meemaws and peepaw.

Ioun, being the eldest of the gods, has witnessed most of her (surviving) siblings' original spawning into existence within Tengar. I wonder if they were "born" from the trees in the Orchard of Possibility?

The Ruiner (aka Gruumsh aka Shosti) is younger than Ioun, Tiamat, and Bahamut, but older than most of the other gods. He gives older brother vibes not gonna lie.

The Ruiner and the Stormlord were bros before the Schism. They definitely got into huge battles with each other and had a lot of fun. Gym bro energy.

The Ruiner didn’t join the Betrayer's side out of malice for mortals, he just thought destroying Exandria would be a fun time.

The Ruiner really likes breaking the All-Hammer (Moradin)'s stuff. Actively goes out of his way to do so.

The Crawling King (Torog) is disliked by most of the gods. The Betrayers especially hate him. He's a living reminder of their pain and all they have lost.

The Lawbearer and the Strife Emperor were close before the Schism, but afterwords became bitter enemies.

The Platinum Dragon and the Scaled Tyrant are basically an old divorced couple. The bickering and shade throwing is a sight to behold. Especially since they're dragons.

Tiamat is basically an over-glorified guard dog for the gates of Hell in Avernus. This her way of paying rent to Asmodeus for technically living within the Nine Hells. She hates this, and they tend to avoid each other.

The Moonweaver, the Archheart, and the Spider Queen were a polycule before the Schism. Lolth has definitely tried to eat them before, to little success.

They're all super into weaving, for obvious reasons. And all can play string instruments.

Lolth and Zehir are in constant competition to murder as much of each other's followers as possible. (This isn't even headcanon its literally just true)

All the Betrayer Gods (minus Asmodeus and vecna) have a group-chat where they just trash their brother. Just pure complaining.

The betrayer gods are constantly ragging on Asmo for fumbling the Primoridal bag. Whenever they bring it up he gets so mad.

 All the Betrayers bully Vecna. He is not invited to the Betrayer God lunch table. They give him swirlies in the bathroom whenever they catch him.

Prime Deities have a group chat where they trash the Dawnfather. The Everlight isn't on it because it'd upset her. Asmodeus has absolutely infiltrated the group chat.

Primes can recite the Dawnfather's spiels word by word. They lip-sync it when he's not looking.

The Betrayers do this exact same thing with Asmodeus' rants.

A big celebration was thrown for the Wildmother and the Lawbearer's wedding. Corellon decorated and was super bridezilla about it (despite not being the bride).

Can't decide whether its pre-schism for the fluff or post-schism for the angst. If its pre-schism then torog walked melora down the aisle (or whatever the equivalent is) and cried about it.

It was a super awkward moment for everyone else.

Either way the wedding quickly descended into godly revelry and then lots of unspeakable violence.

Corellon definitely hosted a lot of orgies. Both pre and post schism. And just parties in general. They also tended to end in a lot of violence. 

That's it. I can't think of anything else. Feel free to add on to this list if you want.

[aphfanficwriters]

Monthly Members' Fics — Sep 2024

Portbra Confession by FangsofLightening (Brazil/Portugal) There was one last thing Brazil had to do to finish celebrating his independence. However it ended, it couldn't be left unsaid any longer. Title says it all really

It Was Always You — Chapter 1 by Delgumo (America/Canada) Matthew visits Alfred's apartment to drink on his birthday. Alfred confesses his feelings in a way that will change their relationship forever. Matthew, distraught, denies his advances but Alfred refuses to give up.

On the Cusp of Blooming by smuttyandabsurd (Indonesia/Netherlands) Netherlands surprises Indonesia with an unannounced visit.

Breaking the Dragon Head — Chapter 5 by NashTea (Fishandnear) (China/Russia) Set against the backdrop of illegal and deprave scientific advancement, where debauchery runs rampant; Ivan Braginsky, inner circle member of a secret criminal organisation dubbed as "World Meeting" have finally made his move onto the founder, Wang Yao. Ivan seeks to crack apart everything Wang Yao strive to hide and destroy in his past, haunting him as the ghost he have forgotten. Disgruntled associates forcibly recruited under Ivan's team have started stirring too, waiting for just the right time to bring Ivan down.

The Convocation of Kings — Chapter 8: The After Years by ChibiDashie (England, America, China, Germany, North Italy, Japan, Austria, Hungary, Russia, France, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Original Characters, Minor Characters) A followup to "The Joker's Dreadnought" Time has passed since the great razing of the Spades Kingdom, which killed hundreds, if not thousands, of her own citizens and tore a hole within the hearts of the ones chosen by the Gods and their people. Despite this, the Spades have rebuilt what was lost to them from this great catastrophe. One day, the Spades invite their neighboring kingdoms for a great fête to celebrate the kingdom's recovery while honoring those lost in the calamity. Little do they know that one of the most revered idols of the Spades, the Faerie Queen Titania, traveled to the Spades as a messenger on behalf of the Dragon King, Bahamut. When the nobles convene to diplomatic talks between man and beast, there are so many more mysteries unraveled within the meeting, that even the noble ones chosen by the Gods begin to question the knowledge passed down to them for generations. Who is right? Who is wrong? What is a truth and what is a lie?

Stolen from a movie by Anonymous (America, Germany) (The idea, the idea was "stolen"). It happened out of nowhere; not everybody came back.

Sunder — Chapter 20 by Delgumo (America/Canada/Russia, America/England, Lithuania/Poland) Serial killers Alfred and Matthew just want to elude capture and remain free to commit their ghastly crimes. The arrival of a new killer into their New York territory gets them noticed by some of the area's nastiest organizations and their comfortable life is harshly shaken.

[ransprang]

Ko-fi Request

thank you to our anon ko-fi supporter <3

if anyone else would like a paid fanfiction this is the link to our ko-fi :)

Show me your wing (Sephiroth x reader)

Your colleague stumbled at the door of the briefing room as you stood there, engaged in conversation with the scientists. "Y/n, the Shinra director is asking for you in his office," they informed you. You sighed, a little annoyed. "Alright, thanks." You were dressed in a dark blue dress, exuding professionalism, with your long dark hair flowing over your shoulders. Your white stiletto heels complemented your outfit, clanking against the metal floor as you left the room. SOLDIERS saluted you as you passed, abandoning their conversations.

You reached the director's room and approached his desk, with Sephiroth leaning against a spare desk nearby. "Thank you for coming," the director said. "We have a mission for you." You scoffed, showing your reluctance. "You know I don't usually take on missions. Why don't you ask those who do?" Rolling your eyes, you directed your comment at Sephiroth, who stood there with a soft smile, taking the jab in stride. The director appeared concerned. "So, neither of the 1st Class SOLDIERS is going to accept any missions? Great."

Sephiroth chuckled and spoke calmly, "Y/n, we've rarely seen you in combat. Come on, this one's for you." Annoyed, you turned away, realizing he had declined this mission just to watch you fight and be entertained. "Get a grip, I'm out," you told the director. Then, facing him once more, you added, "I'll coordinate the mission with the other SOLDIERS and step in if absolutely necessary." The director nodded, "Very well then. Sephiroth, we've been too lenient on you. Take this one." Sephiroth nonchalantly got up and responded, "As you say," before leaving.

On the day of the mission in Banora village, Sephiroth arrived as you stood alongside Tseng. You spoke into your microphone, "Ten o'clock, Seph, there's a mob." Sephiroth echoed, "Backup." Tseng gave you a sidelong glance. "He's determined, isn't he?" You were furious, stomping your foot and marching off in his direction. Sephiroth could easily take down Bahamut alone but had called for backup against a mob. It was a clear indication that he wanted to see you fight.

When you reached the location, it was empty. Sephiroth had already cleared the area, leaving only the two of you. "What a waste of my time," you muttered, turning to leave. But then, you felt the cold silver of his katana against your neck. Instinctively, you used the dagger you kept attached to your thigh to fend him off. You managed to deflect Sephiroth's attack smoothly, saying, "Try harder next time." He wasted no time launching another rapid attack, and you defended yourself expertly, not allowing a single scratch.

Your eyes narrowed in anger. How could he make you do this? He knew you despised fighting. You began to attack him as he shifted to defense, tears welling up in your eyes as you fought furiously.

Tseng made his way to the location upon hearing the clamor of blades clashing. He shot his gun through the air, snapping both you and Sephiroth back to your senses. You were both too powerful to hurt each other. He had orchestrated this merely to derive amusement. In a moment of fury, you took your knife and slashed into your upper arms, allowing the blood to drip to the floor. "Are you happy now?" you demanded before walking away, leaving Sephiroth behind, looking amazed and shocked.

Later that day, you found yourself in the training room, trying to release the remaining adrenaline. When you heard the door creak open, you stopped and turned around to see Sephiroth stepping in, his boots echoing on the floor. "You are so mysterious... why don't you want to fight?" he asked. You relaxed, keeping the blade in your hand lowered. "I can fight, but must I? I don't want to destroy anything. I prefer creating beauty, art, organizing a team..." Both of you fell into silence, but it felt like he understood you. Your only other friends had been Genesis and Angeal, but recent events had changed their circumstances.

Sephiroth drew near, using his gloved hand to touch the fresh cut you had made earlier in the day. You whimpered softly as he leaned in to kiss your forehead. He remained quiet as he embraced you tightly, and then, gently taking your hand, he led you to his room. Both of your bodies ached from years of pain, but on this day, your heart longed for love. Sephiroth showed care and tenderness, though he may not have recognized his own need for the same love, you certainly did.

Sephiroth kissed your lips as he fell on top of you on the bed. You opened your legs and straddled him as you let your wet panties grind against his leather pants. He began dry humping you as his kisses got deeper. Sephiroth suddenly got up and took off his leather coat, as you scampered to take off your dress. You both were completely naked, you had never been in this position with Sephiroth before despite always being attracted to him.

He leaped forward closing the gap between you two as he entered your entrance with his massive dick. It stretched you out as your closed your eyes in pain, he smiled looking at your state but naturally thrusted slowly, eventually increasing his pace. As you both neared orgasm he stopped, Sephiroth lifted himself in a plank position to look you in the eyes. You were in euphoria and gave him a smile which he returned.

Your eyes widened as he brought our his majestic wing, it flared behind him with feathers flying around the room as one landed next to your cheek softly touching your skin. "Your turn, y/n" he said as he was still inside of you. You bit your lower lip, you never used your wing, hell you never even fought on missions. Your heart thumped knowing no ones ever seen yours. You closed your eyes and your wing opened up behind against the bed. It was beautiful, just like Sephiroths, but yours was on the opposite side. If you two became one youd be a two winged angel. Sephiroth smiled, "good girl" He went back in and began humping.

Sephiroth caught pace again, bringing back the heat and build up to the orgasm you could feel his dick go in and out. He hugged you tightly as your legs straddled him. He used his wing to wrap you as you used yours to wrap him. It was like a cocoon of feathers. As you two orgasmed together, Sephiroth grunted and you left out a loud moan digging your nails into his back.

You both stayed there hugging and wrapped in each others wing for a while. Sephiroth whispered "maybe you will create life today" you softly smiled as you dug you face into his neck gently getting caressed by his soft white hair.

your wing,

Admin Sav

[goldenteaset]

A Small List of Things I'd Like To See in GBF's 10th Anni Event

I highly doubt all of these will happen (especially when they sometimes contradict each other), but let me dream!

The casts of the previous anniversaries teaming up to take on Bahamut

Lucilius and Lu Woh bonding/brooding over their shared desire to destroy Bahamut

Sariel finding and entering "the rainbow" (Interdimensional Void) and reuniting with Belial again

Seofon having a mind battle with his Boundary self

For extra cheesy goodness, during said battle he manifests the Eternals to help him win ("It's not cheating if you need help, right~? I'll still win though.")

Belial and Lucifer leading the Primarchs one last time against the Moondwellers, with Sandalphon at the head and the 6 Dragons alongside them all

Ellis returning, and the "spare him" option in Home Sweet Moon finally gets paid off with him figuring out why that happened/defecting

Altima and Raybury also returning to turn the tide

Lucifer and Belial punching the Void open for Sariel, knowing exactly what to do without saying it aloud

Sandalphon, Orologia and Nehan all overworking and getting angry at each other for it ("He's being nonsensical!" said simultaneously)

A new look for Lucifer, officially retired and loving it

Danchou somehow falling through the Sky and Belial diving down to save them

Orologia interacts with everybody

The boss raid is Lyria and Vyrn's "original forms" as the Girl in Blue and Primordial Dragon, respectively

Fediel going gaga over all the possible dyads running around

And the most self-indulgent of them all:

Offering Belial to join our crew comes complete with an entire list of choices for how to do so, complete with pet names and possible threats

Belial has unique lines for each choice

Orologia and Vyrn have unique lines for each choice (since they're Danchou's parents)

[pricklepicklepie]

Pls don’t feel obligated to draw for all these but 2, 5, 12, 14, and/or 17 for the Tav ask thingy 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Thank u em!!!!!! I doodled for a few! Lol also sorry, kinda long

2. What relationship did your Tav have with their family/guardian(s) growing up? Has that changed with age?

Sazed idolized their father and looked up to him growing up. They primarily lived with their very cruel aunts, so being with their dad was fun and a nice reprieve. They might not have completely understood him growing up, he was very good at hiding his emotions. One day, he just disappears off the face of the planet, and since then, Sazed has always remembered his kindness and how his presence was a counterbalance to a childhood of abuse. They wonder what happened to him and miss him.

But I think…. If Sazed had a personal quest, part of it would be learning that their father sold them for diamonds to resurrect their deceased mother. That certainly twists and destroys Sazed’s perception of him.

5. Did your Tav have any formal or informal employment? If yes, what was their job? If no, how did they make ends meet? How did they feel about it?

They were taken in by a dwarven man in their early twenties and he set them up with a job at his gem/jewelry shop! Sazed works as a piercing artist and salesperson mainly and rather enjoys it. They wanted to eventually learn how to make jewelry of their own. They were not the best employee to start, but thankfully, their mentor didn’t want to give up on them.

12. What opinion does your Tav have about the Gods?

Probably very indifferent. I think Sazed would like learning about them, but doesn’t have a drive to worship anyone or seek their favor/power. I think, of all the gods, the one that maybe stirs a slight feeling of reverence is Bahamut.

14. How does your Tav feel about the city?

Loves the city! City kid! Going from that to going camping every day was a big, uncomfortable change! They are not a happy camper.

17. How good of a liar is your Tav? How do they feel about lying?

It’s not as preferable as twisting the truth or being persuasive, but they’ll not hesitate to lie if they think they should. They’re quite adept at it, having learned over the years that sometimes the best way out of a sticky situation is a well-placed and believable lie.

[icharchivist]

In a way, present day Sandalphon is a great foil to Lucilius, because he also doesn't get answers from the god-like figure he looks to, but Sandalphon knows that his creator loves him and loves him back

TRUUUUE.

Like i mean, Sandalphon and Lucilius were already foil because they were basically driven to madness by the fact they were clearly created by a higher being and they had no idea why, even more so learning later that their creator (Lucifer and Lucio) didn't even know why they were created (Lucifer didn't know Sandalphon's purpose/Lucio doesn't even know how he happened to have a clone). And both of them tried to destroy the world if only so that the absent figure they're blaming for their pain would pay attention to them.

but Sandalphon learnt he was loved, and that his creator would drop the whole world if he had to, if only Sandalphon could be happy. And being loved by the person he devoted himself to at least was enough for Sandalphon to try to figure out how to give this love back to the world around him, the world his beloved loved so much.

while Lucilius is still left on mute by Bahamut, and Lucio treated him more like a curious experiment than someone he could care about (credit where credit is due Lucio still was developping his people skills), and even there Lucilius was already too far gone anyway.

Sandalphon foils people in wmtsb in such a way because everyone who has huge impact on the story is craving for love and recognization or pure free will, and Sandalphon was the one who managed to reach that by being loved by his creator who freed him from all of his burdens, while the rest of the antagonist are left abandonned in some way, and while the Astrals have learnt to be self reliant it left the one primal who stayed behind even more starved for it than they could be.

anyway many thoughts but yeah the way Sandalphon foils Lucilius even more because they were much more similar than Lucilius was to Lucifer actually, which enrages Lucilius, but Sandalphon managed to move past that. Lucilius, meanwhile, is still stuck in this homeostasis he hates so much.

crazy huh....