#Elden Ring does this better than anyone else

[caelichythcat]

get this man a fromsoft voice acting job

[katyspersonal]

Idk if I've asked you this before

but what are your thoughts on Millicent's sisters in Elden Ring?

Hey Bim! No, you haven't asked this before, and sorry for the delay :pensive:

I've been thinking about the sisters for some time, but moreso conceptually than developing the characters on their own (this one is for later I guess)! But, I agree with the interpretation that Malenia's spawn are fractions of her self. Millicent is the one we can judge by, she is the dignity and pride Malenia had forgotten when she gave into Scarlet Rot, the courage to live and perish as herself rather than persist to see herself become something else.. The side of her that would rather amputate her own limbs that are afflicted by the Rot the most, after all. I personally ended up focusing on this "loss" aspect in my interpretation of the girls, and with them I've found their weapons of choice can tell us something?

(Images by Zlofsky ( x ), careful though, this is a large compilation of references)

So, Malenia's spawn having two "types": one are the stronger kind, which is also the one capable of blooming (Millicent and the sixth sister but about her later), and another are more "underwhelming" in comparison (Mary, Maureen, Amy and Polyanna themselves). And whereas the former result from cracks in Malenia's strongest, most fundamental qualities, the latter are loss of memories and influence from the important people for her! Scarlet Rot eats away memories; Malenia has to repeat to herself that she fights for Miquella like a mantra to not forget, and he is the most important person for her, so it would only be expected she barely can hold others in mind, if at all..

Amy was the one who made me think this way, since she is using Flowing Curved Swords! They were once wielded by the blind swordsman that taught Malenia to battle the way she does, and I thought Amy reflects Malenia forgetting her mentor, or having the impact he had on her as a person slowly vanish. Following this idea, Mary reflects Malenia's memories about her connection with Finlay fading. She is using Halo Scythe, a weapon wielded by commanders of Malenia's army of Cleanrot Knights.

Heck, now that I think of it, maybe Malenia didn't recognize Finlay upon waking up at all.. At the very least, I think Scarlet Rot definitely attacked their connection.

The Treespear Maureen uses is even less personalized and belongs to the guardians of Leyendell, but I think if we are to choose a Golden Order person that influenced Malenia the most, that'd be her losing memories of Godwyn. The statue depicts both Miquella and Malenia being hugged by him, and Golden Order was still a large part of her life apparently, even if Miquella (and herself) had to abandon it as it'd avail them no help with her condition..

Polyanna actually had me puzzled for a bit, because the Blade of Calling she uses is very much associated with Melina within the story.. but in fact, this is a very possible answer too - Malenia should have known Melina, if Melina knew the "previous owner of Torrent" who so far seems to have been Miquella! And they could have been close too, like if she was a third sibling standing in the shadows. (All three are also associated with types of a butterfly <:3) It could even be a reason why the sisters instinctively gravitate towards dressing up this way x)

Melina cherishes life in all its forms, no matter how broken or struggling. I'd imagine she would be another person to help Malenia to love herself. Sure, these people all loved Malenia, but Melina could offer a sort of unique support, de-focused on Malenia's recovery, and it would be so helpful should Malenia doubt her life could ever get better... Who else would reassure Malenia (or anyone) that life was worth living, even if so painful and dangerous, even if it was to be shortened and full of wrestling with inner horrors for every next day of it?

....soo, yeah, I think this is a working interpretation for now! Malenia's rune offers recovering if attacking right after taking damage and it is explained by her spirit of resistance, so sides of self that she'd lose persisting for some longer even if in other form feels appropriate for me! (I also have this theory that when something bad effects the body of an Empyrean they will spawn an "alter ego" to defend their integrity as one, so Radagon was a defense against a curse from Giants and Trina was a defense against FF, so being permanently afflicted would mean frequient alters lol) Personalities of the four sisters would be taking the effects associated people had on Malenia and how she remembered them. Polyanna is the only one helping us to fight that guy for the golden needle, determined and autonomous like Melina, Mary the only one who survives the battle with Millicent, being the last one standing like Finlay tended to be. Always restless Amy and diplomatic Maureen (source: dude trust me xd). I will get back to this properly but this is roughly the direction I want to work in!

And I am not sure whether this one is going to count in this context, but...

This is a big flower not far before Malenia's arena, and next to it you pick the same traveller set the sisters are wearing! I think this could be a sixth (known) sister, but of a similar kind as Millicent; coming from Malenia's core traits rather than memories and connections. But if Millicent is her pride and dignity willing to return to her after giving a crack during battle with Radahn, which one would this sister be?

I am thinking, maybe her faith in Miquella being able to find the solution wavered some time? It would be a crack in her hope and faith. And this sixth girl had a similar pursuit to return Malenia what she had lost, only, she succeeded. We get Miquella's Needle from Malenia after defeating her, and I don't think this is what Unalloyed Gold Needle "turns" into; the designs are too different for that implication IMO:

So maybe Malenia had HUMANITY RESTORED when this sister brought Miquella's Needle to her? I concluded this needle is "useless" for her condition, but simply holding one of the tokens of Miquella's talent and effort helped to recollect that sense of knowing he will always figure something out?

_________________________

I might find a different interpretation later, for the last one especially, you just never know for sure with Soulsborne games! But these are my thoughts at the moment! This post.. turned out unexpectedly sad for me, not gonna lie hhhytfhggfg It still was helpful to actually organize my thoughts on the topic, thank you for the ask!

[unusualindigo]

Rewriting my Elden Ring fic was the best idea I've had in a while, I'm so excited to get to the DLC so I can fully flesh out my ideas.

Speaking of ideas...

Does anyone else hope Miquella, rather than being a boss, is just effortlessly charming and able to renew the hope we players have for a better tomorrow?

I'm really tired of all the Griffith comparisons, especially since Annatar of LoTR fits Miquella's actions a helluva lot better.

More importantly, I enjoy thinking that Miquella is just patiently awaiting our aid in the Lands of Shadow, ready to send us off in the right direction the moment we arrive like the good leader he's been built up to be.

Camden (my tarnished): Now then, where to begin...

Miquella, cheerfully appearing behind him: Oh, first you'll want to fight the omen lion, then...

Camden: Ah! L-Lord Miquella?

Miquella: Hm? Oh, right. We haven't met. Yes, I'm Miquella. Please, hold the lord for now. As I was saying, next you'll need to find my brother Messmer and-

Camden: Another brother? Does this family tree know no end?

Miquella: *squinting* Your hair's red...

Camden: ...I'm the bastard of Rykard's bastard.

Miquella: Then don't judge. Now, where was I?

[luminary-vazre]

Herein lies the critical difference between a protagonist and a hero.

We, the tarnished, are the protagonist. The story revolves around us, and it focuses on the bloody path we carve. Whether or not we're a hero is very much up for debate- especially with some of the paths we can walk. Who is to say the next great golden age, an age of peace and prosperity, wasn't to be under the reign of Eleonora, violet bloody finger? Severed from her connection to mohg, her bloodlust may have waned. What difference is there between us and her? What difference is there between us and Vyke? And Gideon? Are we truly that much better than the man who had his spies scout out the other demigods and likely planned to ambush whatever tarnished came closest to the elden ring and steal it for himself? Does being the one doing the killing personally give us any more of a moral highground than him?

it's why the fight backed by the song Those United In Common Cause is probably my favorite from the DLC, both story-wise and thematically. This is a fight that was always going to happen. It wasn't preordained by fate, it wasn't decreed by Marika, or Miquella, or anyone else that this fight occurs. Leda's ideal world and ours are simply incompatible.

Who is to say Elden Lord Leda (or w/e her title would have become) wouldn't have lead the lands between to peace and prosperity, under her god Miquella and his consort? Or the potential of Elden Lord Thiollier, and his goddess St Trina?

The only thing separating us from everyone we put down on our warpath is that we won.

Just saw that post about how the DLC makes us contend with how the Tarnished became Elden Lord in the first place and tbh Yeah. Yes an age where everything is so much better is ideal but like Miquella you are brought up by this world and have war in your veins. And so you pull out your sword and kill and kill because if you don't, then another order will come around. If you don't, then someone else might take your rightful place as Elden Lord - or at least, that's what we think. 'We are the main character, so it is our right. It is our destiny.'

Maybe there really was a chance for a better world, had someone else gotten there in the end. Oh well. We are the Elden Lord, now. The rest must contend with it.

Yeah, I think it’s a VERY interesting angle that a lot of people somehow haven’t even considered�� there’s sooo much discussion as to the morality and decisions of all the demigods and other NPCs, justifying their actions or not. But what about your own?

You slaughter almost everything in your way, and a lot WILL get in your way, and refuse to allow you any other choice. To achieve your own goals, you have to make those decisions, and you have to kill. You will burn the erdtree itself, you will return destined death. You will kill one of the last remaining giants, if not THE last one. Did every other demigod not believe they, too, were also justified in their measures? What carries YOU through to the end, regardless of your own intentions? Are YOU any better or worse than they?

You really are just another cog in the machine, another contender who brings about so much death and destruction. The only thing different is that YOU are able to win, and actually bring about the age you seek. Are you even justified in that? And how could you possibly achieve these ends in any other way, when war is the only thing this world is built on?

And it’s wonderful, an incredible touch on top of the game’s carefully-crafted themes and story already. You’re so woven into it you may not even realize until it’s too late— or even not at all!

[csmeaner]

Does anyone else find themselves projecting when it comes to prices in CS?

I purchased a CS custom. It was about $1000, which was a price I was OK with because I now realize I’m dumb as hell. At least I could afford it. A fool and their money…

Meanwhile, I’m not doing well with a traditional tablet set up for digital art. A pen display tablet would be a major QOL upgrade (I’ve tested one out–the difference was massive), and a nice one will cost me around $600 - $1200. All depends on the brand, screen size, etc.

I said, wow, that’s too expensive. Just a day or two after I had no problem with a $1000 custom.

Which made me stop and think. No, that tablet isn’t too expensive and I wish I hadn’t spent my money where I did. It’s this stupid drawing that’s too expensive. Why didn’t you make something similar yourself? You could have hired someone at a quarter of the cost to turn it into a nice ref sheet if you were that desperate for something pretty.

This isn’t the first time this has happened. Something that would increase my QOL (ex: a better art tablet) or make me happier (ex: tutoring for my art because I suck) is “too expensive” but somehow these stupid adopts have flown under the radar.

I don’t know if it’s actual projection or some sort of anchoring bias, but now that I see it, it’s so fucking obvious. Mod Shit, I'm mad at myself. I’m selling this drawing and buying myself a tablet.

Buy that fucking tablet anon! Fuck buy a filet mignon too!

What got me out of cs was always thinking about something else the money could be spent like an OLED switch is 350-400usd or a new laptop is 1000-2000usd easy. even smaller things like fucking doordashing dinner for 80usd made a better reasoning than a fucking adopt. cult of the lamb is 25usd on steam right now. elden ring’s fucking 60 bucks. lots of video games are the same price as adopts and even go on sale and can be enjoyed for hours on end. a fucking grem does jackshit

[rib-bone-xylophone]

Id have to disagree on that, I feel like the majority of people have entirely misconstrued miquellas character. As a matter of fact all of the characters, but especially miquella, ranni and marika. They aren't meant to be these manipulative villains as most people try to portray them but morally grey tragic figures. They are all of them born into a broken world that forces them to fit into a rigid status quo sacrificing their freedoms, and so they decide to burn it all down and create a new order for the sake of their beliefs and their loved ones.

Since this post talks only about miquella I'll say my peace on him, that his "luring" and his mind control are so entirely misconstrued. Yes miquella did bad things with it such as his control and usage of mohg, I don't mean to say he's a perfect angel, but for example the band of people joined in service of miquella all had a similar goal and free will to a certain extent, they were merely influenced to serve their goal and not kill themselves. Ansbach is still allowed his doubts and his unwillingness to serve a new master without assurance, leda is only tranquilized pretty much so she does not murder her entire band of allies as is implied she did with the needle knights, once the charm is broken hornsent still does not kill anyone else, believing miquellas promise and only faltering when his revenge is fulfilled.

And my final point, miquellas age of compassion is not some plot to control the world. He was born into an ultimately violent and suppressive world, his siblings are almost all rejected by or themselves reject the golden order. Malenias incurable scarlet rot, the omen twins, the prince of death, ranni who cast away her empyrean flesh, rykard who fed himself to the serpent. And at the end of it all even his own mother, Queen Marika the *Eternal* rejects HER OWN golden order and starts the shattering, enacting a cycle of countless death just like the ages before her that she tried to rectify, and now look at her, crucified, impaled and trapped within her divine erdtree. Miquella abandoned his flesh, his lineage, his love, because everything he ever held dear was ripped away from him cruelly, tormented by this world he was born into. He was the only one in truth blessed under the golden order, a perfect child, eternally youthful and golden, incredibly wise and caring, pious and loving, respected by all and even feared by some for his might as "fiercest of the demigods". So of course miquella abandoned his love, he had to sacrifice every single thing he had left to ascend, his love, his blood, his morality. He had to sacrifice everything to ensure he would be able to bring about his age. An age free from the harm, suppression, hatred, colonization and lordship of the past, an age where all beings have an equal chance at love and life where the laws of nature themselves don't declare you an omen, a misbegotten child, a curse, a pox, a stain.

Miquella had to sacrifice everything he had, because he simply had nothing to lose anymore, his sister was doomed to rot and bloom, his brother doomed to live in death eternally.

Miquellas tragedy is that no matter how perfect of a being he was, how blessed by heaven itself he was, it didn't matter because he would lose everything, none of his plots would come to fruition, his curse of senescence meant nothing of his ambitions would ever flourish and grow.

Miquellas tragedy is that he failed everything and everyone he ever loved.

Sorry for this long ass rant but I've been itching for an excuse to disseminate and dissect this concept of miquella as a Griffith figure, or a villain, he's tragic, just like everyone else in elden ring honestly. Every single child of marika, and marika herself, have suffered great tragedy, and inflicted tragedy upon others because the point is not who is the villain, the point is that pain always has a source, the "gods no better than men" as stated in the mending rune of perfect order, are quite literally no better than men, they have experienced trauma just as well, they are also fucked up, their divinity has no implications of perfection

Haven't played Shadow of the Erdtree yet, but I have seen the bosses and know the basics of the lore. If I had to pick a song that defines Miquella I'd probably go with...

"Pet" by A Perfect Circle.

Why? The lyrics give off a vibe of someone or something luring the listener in and making them completely dependent on the singer while appearing to be kind and safe.

[two-crabs]

OC Questionaire

Inspired by the questions that the @nosebleedclub​ posted! Any excuse to talk at exhaustive length about my new DND character! 

Name: Amity Eugenia Wright-Wilde  Epithet (if applicable): She fights under her “Elden Wright,” her brother’s name Age: 20 Pronouns: she/her Appearance: she’s a dark-haired, ruddy-cheeked halfling who stands at a yard and a quarter; she’s wide-hipped and broad-shouldered, and properly stout. above all, though, she is strong.   Attire: during the day she dresses in the long skirts and lacey sleeves required of her, but in the ring she wears her brother’s old shirts and waistcoats, and tucker her hair up into one of his hats. 

Color Scheme (if any): earth tones, shot through with bright reds and golds.  Weapon(s) (if any): her dagger for when she’s being discrete, her bow when she’s showing off, and her fists when all else fails. 

List 5 images associated with your OC (OC “Starter Pack”): wrapped knuckles bloody from impact; heavy makeup over a black eye, the cuffed legs of pants too long for her; a leather punching bag swinging in an empty room, a copper wall-mounted bell still ringing in her ears come breakfast

What is one concrete/external goal your OC hopes to attain: be the best fighter her ring has ever seen What is one abstract/interior goal your OC hopes to attain: stay free  What is your OC’s favorite memory: the first time she rode a horse  What is your OC afraid of: being trapped  Is your OC spiritual/religious: nominally, but not enthusiastically 

Does your OC have a best friend: antony used to be, until he became her fiance. and then things got complicated.   Does your OC have a rival: a new one every night  Does anyone/anything antagonize your OC: she sits int he back of the room, next to her trainer, a cool cloth to her swelling lip. “we live in a society,” she says, and gets up to face her next opponent.  What is your OC’s family like: cold, distant, with high expectations, and so much money it has become burdensome.  Does your OC hate anyone: her brother, a little, though she’d never say it out loud.  What does your OC find attractive: competence. and strong hands. 

What does your OC excel at: knocking out men twice her size in three blows or less.  What is your OC’s weakness: she is both spoiled and relentless, and is more than willing to put herself and those around her in harms way to get what she wants  Does your OC wish they could change anything about themselves: amity believes herself to be perfect, merely born into the wrong circumstances  Is your OC stubborn: to a fault Is your OC manipulative (or vulnerable to manipulation): manipulative is harsh. amity is a good liar.  Is your OC self-aware: no. she is profoundly in denial. 

What kind of trouble does your OC get in, if any: ...does sneaking out of the house dressed in her brother’s clothes to box in a secret fight club count?  Does your OC change for better or worse in your story: don’t know yet; the story hasn’t begun!  What do your other OC’s think about your OC: i think amity would scare the shit out of most of them. What makes your OC feel safe: knowing she can defend herself physically  What makes your OC happy: training, being outdoors, the brief glimpses of the friendship she used to have with antony

What is your OC’s biggest secret: what’s bigger, keeping the secret fight club from her family, or keeping the fact that she’s an heiress from the men she fights?  Will your OC be all right: that’s up to my DM! 

[katyspersonal]

Guess who isn't fucking done yet or I've been concluding...

So yeah, after having pondering about this in recent posts, I really think it makes the most sense Marika herself called Radagon to become her consort instead 🤔

Greater Will simply created life in general, starting with Metyr whose Fingers helped with the landscape, ending with Elden Beast/Ring who ensured the power to (re)shape laws of nature by those who Two Fingers "bless" to do so. Neither of these forces care about specifics of who the current God marries; Greater Will is 1/2 of the One Great and too external, Two Fingers wouldn't give a shit even if some Tarnished spread Omen Curse onto every living thing as long as 'person I gave mod rights to Does A Thing'. Marika, though? She IS a person with coherent preferences and principles in this group!

Marika's priority as a God has been to create a better era "glistening with life", and prooooobably the world in which what happened with Shaman village could not happen (wow that aged like milk, but still). But past some point the "honeymoon" phase with her divinity passed, and she started to wonder what else she could do besides growing plants and healing wounds! And why would she, or anyone, do anything else with it! Where exactly that power draws from, what are the roots, what are the limitations, what are the risks. All that! "Those blissful early days of blind belief are long past".

She decided to comprehend the thing! Maybe because something started to show through the cracks, maybe after Erdtree stopped spilling blessed dew, maybe after the initial priority of 'wanting the better world' was satisfied and peace came! She is a very scholarly type, that would not be satisfied to "simply exist" even should all goals be accomplished; her bedchamber is full of scrolls and stone plate scriptures!

It would make the most sense to have Radagon, basically a Tumblr sexyman version of the Golden Order, close to her that she wished to study it! Golden Order Fundamentalism is a lot like Radagon comprehending himself and setting clearer principles than unconscious primal sentiments of 'light and life good fire and dead bad' fsdhfhds

Perhaps doing so was cold towards Rennala, but being a God is kind of a huge deal. It entails many plans, priorities and duties for the sake of the world in general which require some sacrifices and some people have to get hurt on the way. Comprehending the laws of nature would absolutely benefit the world in perspective, whether there was a serious incentive or it simply "was about time"! It is not that she could basically live with Carians every day too xD Her place, as a God, is in the Erdtree! Again, divorce selfie jokes are peak comedy and I am dead serious, but in the end I believe Radagon likewise prioritised the duties that come with "caged divinity". They are with Marika in this together.

[katyspersonal]

Honestly, thank you for calling Messmer a fascist I feel like so much of the fandom just ignore the way he is written for the sake of a more simplified and commodified character they can lust over. Not only is it weird to completely deny such an important part of his character that affects the wider narrative (not even getting into real world implications) it just makes him more boring! This is a Fromsoft game where very few characters are ever even close to morally pure. And yes, Messmer isn’t as pure evil as he was presented in the trailers, that doesn’t mean he’s a good person. A lot of people take away the main twist of the storyline as “the Hornsent were the bad guys the whole time and Messmer was completely in the right” when that’s just not the case. Sorry for ranting in your ask box I just thought you might like to hear out my case lol x)

First not going to lie, frien, I start to have some personal concern because of the messages like this. 😔 I am getting the type of messages like "thank you for doing this Elden Ring thing when everyone else does that Elden Ring thing" + followed by jab at the fandom for not paying enough attention or variants! There was "thank you for actually having positive reading of Nanaya when people portray her as agent of chaos", then "thank you for writing Rellana with her own ideology when people portray her as just Golden Order simp", then "thank you for writing Messmer and Marika as fucked up when people make them wholesome mother-son bond"... now this too

I want to say that I do not blame you, or anyone who sent previous messages I mentioned! And I am glad that you find enjoyment and understanding in how I analyse and write Elden Ring things! Like, yes, I am happy that it resonated with you when by your own admission, it is not something you see often! ...that being said, I really do not fit to be the "face of opposition" if you can even call it that! xD I am very meticulous in my analysis (against my will, autism is just like this) and try to not have any bias but instead fixate on what the writer really wants to say, but I should be more critical with compliments that I accept! Don't want to get my ego bloated with comparisons fshhddhsf I accept the compliments for my posts! Just not the '...unlike the rest of the fandom' part if this can be helped!

^^^ On the subject, Messmer said this phrase even in the first, gameplay trailer, and it already made me raise my eyebrow! Saying that "impure" creatures do not deserve to live is really wild, however, it didn't look to be Miyazaki's average jab at religious crusades... yet xD

^^^ Then THIS stuff in the second trailer. Basically, I was already labelling him fascist before the DLC dropped 🙄

I was actually really... delighted to find out that Fromsoft touched such a huge topic? Even though it is called 'Crusade', Miyazaki's jab at religion leaned more towards Inquisitors of Hornsent! Messmer lived up to my expectations from his character and MORE! He is not even wiser than burning all traces of history and culture, had it not been for his Knights beings better than this! Honestly, Fromsoft raising the topics of fashism and genocide is one of their biggest Ws so far, and something I will always love SOTE for!

Above all I agree that even if you ditch everything about 'subtext', 'media literacy' and 'obvious implications', the story about "justified genocide" doesn't really offer anything interesting narratively! Making a whole nation/race/whatever 'inherently evil' and their genocide as heroic act....? It doesn't offer anything: no meaning, no fuel for self-reflection as society, no awareness of real world parallels, no philosophical debate about horrors of revenge cycle...

Doesn't offer anything interesting, except for.... yeah, making Messmer more approachable to simp for. Well, everyone knows what I think of such characters:

Debate about media literacy and subtexts in Elden Ring is very tricky, and I've learned the hard way when Mohg beaten the allegations! (my confidence was shattered that day fhddhsf) It is hard to draw the line where 'obvious implication' ends and 'but they did not DIRECTLY say it...' starts! So yeah, when logic and reading deep ends, I think feelings can help. Messmer is a horrible, horrible person, and genocide is the worst thing humanity can fall into. Is making one character (maybe two, as Marika is connected) more "likeable" worth larger story with meaning, rising such significant topics? I don't think so!

As for Hornsent........ sighhhh...