#DOTF

[velinxi]

Mourning yourself again?

[Characters from DOTF]

[clownprince]

here have this excerpt from an interview that's making me... idfk i can't even describe in words my reaction to this. snyder you can't do this to me. holy fuck

(source)

[samwichshiro]

Starfire

[mqfx]

whoa he's bisexual I didn't know that

[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 🥲

[paper-is-paper]

(Big Spoilers for DOTF)

Sooo I sat down and read the entirety of Daughter of a Thousand Faces over the course of a few days. Since the series is on indefinite hiatus, I wanted to note down some plot threads that have yet to be resolved or addressed in season 1.

This series has taken over my brain and I don't know what to do with all these thoughts swimming in my brain. (elaborated thoughts below the cut and are numbered)

What is Swallowtail? is he a demon? a cultivator? or maybe secret third option (butterfly maybe)?

Why is Swallowtail so protective of Yuhua to the point where he's been ensuring that any potential suitors have been having "accidents"?

Why did Chu Tian choose to save Yuhua? He could have let her die and then boom no more blood pact, he's free to do whatever he wants with no restrictions. (1)

What's the butterfly lady (Hong Yang) going to do with Yuhua's severed finger?

What happens to the Ox Lady (Qing Yu)? Will she join Chu Tian? or will this be a moment of growth for Chu Tian? (2)

What is up with Shen Yitian? (3) and what happened to the rest of the true cultivators?

What does Leng Feng being a dragon prince mean for the careful balance between our main cast? How will he react to the fact that Yuhua killed one of his older brothers and now wears his face upon impromptu fox demon?

What did Leng Feng want to asks Yuhua?

Will Yuhua and Chu Tian resolve their conflict after the death of the fox demon? (I feel like the answer to this is obvious)

What is the ichor that some of the demons have been drinking? Who is the "master" behind its distribution? Where are they getting it from? (4)

Who has been sending the creepy letters to the A-Qing, A-Ying, and Co.?

What will become of Kai's Grandma? and will she ever find out that the real Kai is dead?

What role does Shen Chun have in the future?

Have Yuling and Yuhua come to a mutual understanding or is their relationship still antagonistic?

What are the details of Yuhua's mother's crimes? How might they tie with other elements of the plot?

What does war with the Bull Clan mean for our motley crew?

How will everyone react to Chu Tian and Yuhua's relationship?

(1) In the behind the scenes in chapter 42, Velinxi mentions that whether Chu Tian cares about Yuhua is debatable. I personally lean heavily towards the explanation that he does care about Yuhua, but I also think it's not impossible that it's an act or that he keeps her alive and trains her for more long-term goals. Either way, I fully agree the guy is definitely a bad influence.

(2) Chu Tian is convinced that Qiao Yu will eventually call for him and maybe join him. My prediction is that something will happen to her village that will then make her turn to Chu Tian for help or out of desperation. The other (less likely) alternative is that Chu Tian is wrong and Qiao Yu's continued rejection of him till her death shakes him so much that it sparks a growth in character growth for him. I also think that it could be a mix of both.

(3) This guy is hella sus. As @canary0 points out:

"...[Yuhua's] dad has to know, right? He knew what the only thing down there was. He had to have known what the only thing down there was. He had to have known what the only way to get back up and out would be."

I think that Shen Yitian is embodying the phrase "keep your friends close but your enemies closer" by asking Yuhua to stay closer to the family when she emerges from the well at the beginning of the series.

(4) I have a few ideas about this ichor, and I think it's related to Chu Tian in one way or another. It's the wrong color to be just Chu Tian's blood because his is red, but the glowing yellow eyes with slit pupils is a little too much of a coincidence to not be a deliberate creative choice.

Okay I have a lot more to talk about, but I want to cut this one off here otherwise we will be here forever. Please add some more questions if I missed anything, I absolutely adore this series and I can't wait to see a continuation of this story. In the meantime, I can chew on the mysteries of season 1.

[theartisticdoofus]

yuhua: he's just a little guy

us:he just a little guy

the guy: stomps a bull demon to a bloody mess manically

leng feng: ...

[t00obsessed]

?!?!?! Why, where did this come from, and where can I find it again

[reksigh]

back in town

[rennsdeaddoves]

Le Xiaolian

introducing Le Xiaolian (name means little compassionate one) the Dragon of the Jade palace and master of the peaceful ways.

Having been taken in by the wise sage himself, Master Oogway, Xiaolian grew within the walls and halls of the jade palace trying to lear of all the wisdom she could, but she was not alone in her endeavour for there was another young soul living in the Jade palace and he was an Kung Fu prodigy. The young cub Tai Lung shared the space with the hatchling and they were each others only true friends.

and while the two may have grown together they did not train together, the goals that they and their masters had for them being completely different. though it did not stop them from meeting outside the jade palace on assignments.

Xiaolian was often instructed by Master Oogway to travel long distances and attend lectures being given out by other Kung Fu masters, sometimes she was even encouraged to stay and learn from them for some months at a time.

Over the years her and Tai Lung grew closer, However nothing would become of budding feelings for the snow leopard was Denied his destiny and the ensuing rampage had him being detained and eventually sent away, far from the Valley of Peace where for the next 20 years Xiaolian wouldn't see or hear of him.

Heartbroken (but now knowing she was) Xiaolian dedicated this time to mastering the ways of peace and wandering all across China scarcely returning to the Jade Palace unless it was absolutely necessary for her to do so.

Until word that Master Oogway had chosen the Dragon warrior drove her back, but that hadn't been the only word she had heard. Her oldest friends escape also brought her back, hoping she would be able to save him before he could be rendered dead.

and she did, she stopped the Panda from using the Wuxi finger hold to its fullest extent and instead of destroying the leopard it removed most of his spirit instead.

the effort was slow, and the process long, but eventually Tai Lung was able to move freely again with her. Old feelings returned and finally something could be done about it.

but off in the world, threats from the heavens themselves arose, or more so, fallen celestial warriors made their presence known, plots that had been 40+ years in the making could now be carried out, and it was Xiaolian's duty to stop it, for she had ties to them all.

(yes i have redacted information on her character sheet because i actually want this to be a surprise lmao)

[gribblehusband]

displeasures of the flesh chapter 14 & 15 be like

[velinxi]

Stop laughing!

[Characters from DOTF]

[unorchido]

How would you ppl feel like if I were to finish a book I'm writting and then post them here somewhere

It would be about this guy (my sona) and what happened and how far they've come and what they've been through! Silly, hm?

I already started writting it a while ago, I'm writting it on google drive and the title is;

'Defence Over The Fence'

Tell me what you think and if I should even finish the first chapter,,,

[samwichshiro]

Enshrined

[mqfx]

OMG SHIFU'S HIDING DANMEI IN THE POCKET DIMENSION AHAHAHAHAHAH

[mothinasweater]

working on planning a swallowtail from daughter of a thousand faces cosplay! hoping to start on it after i finish sha hualing and such.