#God's wisdom vs. man's wisdom

[magnusmodig]

||. gang i'm powerful i just watched all 5 45m episodes of AG.ENTS OF SHI.ELD that dealt with asgardians and asgardian history and i have so many thoughts and HEADCANONS rattling around in this brain

[lilac-sweet]

My interpretation of all the Solas endings:

I have been wanting to write about this topic for a while, since I’ve seen a lot of criticisms about Solas being out-of-character. IMO all the Solas endings are brilliantly written, and here’s why:

Solas breaks in 3 different ways:

1: Breaks his wisdom (Becomes Pride)

2: Breaks his pride (Becomes Wisdom)

3: Breaks his leash/conviction (Becomes more human)

1: Breaks his wisdom:

Solas has always walked the line between pride and wisdom: unlike pure spirits, he is able to fluctuate between them - just like Mythal with benevolence and retribution. This makes him more “human” and complex: he even instructs Cole in how being a “demon” and being a “spirit” essentially comes down to a choice we make ourselves.

So Solas is clearly aware of his own failings (just look at his name), but his greatest flaw is not changing in accordance with his own awareness. Due to his wisdom, he knows he is prideful, so he constantly asserts that he is NOT a god: this is as much to make others not worship him as the dread wolf, AND as a mantra to himself to keep him from becoming another Elgar’nan.

However, the limelight is an intoxicating thing, and with him choosing to carry the cross as the dread wolf, he invites that prideful corruption into his heart. It is difficult to truly believe you are not more special than everyone else when everyone else keep telling you how you totally are. As a spirit made man, he is still in danger of becoming what others view him as: he mirrors how you treat him in inquisiton, and he took the name of fen’harel (probably uttered by Elgar’nan) as a badge of pride.

We are told he treats everyone as disposable pawns in order to reach his goals, and we also see the truth of this in his memories. Some people argue that this is out of character for him, since he cares deeply for the elven people and their freedom. I don’t think these things are mutually exclusive: he simply rationalizes everything in order to reach his goal of helping the elves: even if that means sacrificing people

The thing that is so chilling about his character is that he was never meant to lead - he never WANTED to lead either: Mythal was the judge, he her advisor. Without her caring heart to guide his brilliant mind, he becomes callous and makes decisions based only on how best to “win”. This is not to say he does not have a heart, but that he believes he has to set it aside for the greater good: which is exactly where his reasons for leading the rebellion/ tearing down the veil and his methods for doing so contradict each other

He ends up losing sight of his initial reasons because the war makes him so calloused. I believe he shuts down emotionally and can not feel anything but apathy towards everyone when he puts on the mask of the dread wolf - as seen in how he treats the inquisitor vs Rook.

By making so many decisions with such dire consequences and not letting himself feel the weight of that (it would break him) he becomes separated from the “pawns” he uses and stops thinking of them as people. The world becomes a chessboard and a game to him, and that is exactly how a god would think.

That is also the reason he becomes so angry at Rook for saying he views himself as a god: he is so afraid of becoming that conceited, but at this point, the thing keeping him sane and keeping the dam of his pride sealed is the mantra: “I am not a god”. He KNOWS the truth of that mantra, but as this point he doesn’t FEEL it, because he has denied himself to feel anything for anyone in order to be able to get rid of them if logic dictates it.

Through his wisdom he understands why it is detrimental to believe yourself a god, and because of this he is in denial of his own feelings on the matter: he acts like a god, feels like a god, yet knows that he would become what he hates most by acknowledging it - that’s why he uses the mantra: it’s his last effort to stay somewhat grounded.

This brings me to the “I AM A GOD” ending. This is where the dam breaks: he finally allows himself to fully embody his mask; his pride; his demonic side.

By losing to Rook and co through force he is forced to admit to himself that he sees Rook and the world as inferior - he is the only one who can make it right and they are all children, who do not understand him (they shunned understanding when they used brutish force) because compared to them he is a GOD. He accepts pride and abandons the wisdom of staying grounded with the people - the people abandoned him so he abandons the people. He becomes what he has feared most becoming (it is also interesting that his biggest fear is to be alone - and a god stands alone in their arrogance).

He is truly lost to his demonic aspect in this ending and the dark colours of the ending picture reflect this. It is not difficult to argue this is the most tragic ending.

2: Breaks his pride:

Most schadenfreude ending in terms of outsmarting Fen’harel: proving to the world AND to Solas he is not a god and that he is not immune to be outsmarted by a mortal

It breaks Solas’ ego to be outsmarted, since his cleverness is his pride. It sets him free from his pride as it was the proof he so desperately needed: the people inhabiting this world are capable of being his equal and besting him at his own game. He is not better than them, or better put: his cleverness is not infallible. You could argue that a romanced Lavellan/ friendly inquisitor has already proven to be his equal in terms of wisdom, but then again, he has never truly been their adversary.

There is a maddening clarity to him when he finally says “and I am a fool”. I find the break of his pride to be heartbreaking: even though we are told it is a demon version of wisdom, we have seen Solas balancing both aspects - and his name also reflects how big a part of him it is. You could argue he becomes less of a person in both the Pride and Wisdom ending, but more demon/spirit. It is a loss of human complexity and he finally returns to the Fade more alike himself before he took on physical form.

Perhaps it can be argued this ending is the best one from Solas’ P.o.V without a romanced Lavellan: after all, she was the only thing that could “steal his attention from the Fade” or in other words: the only reason he would consider willingly taking physical form without being asked to.

3. Breaks his leash:

The third one is more complex (so bear with me here), because accepting your mistakes and growing in order to not repeat them requires human complexity. A thing Solas has avoided his entire physical existence. He is stuck in regret, yet would repeat all his mistakes again given the chance.

His avoidance of humanity is best seen in the contradiction of his disregard for lives and his conviction of freedom for the elves. His nature compels him to stand against tyranny and enslavement - to be a champion of freedom of choice and thought. Yet as a leader and a strategist he refuses to acknowledge that people matter in more ways than being pawns. He will grieve them later, yes, but his love for a person will never waver his decision if he deems their sacrifice the best course of action in the war - he will not even ask their consent (as seen with the Disruption spirit in the Fade memories).

He does not acknowledge that people are an intrinsic part of war and their lives matter in that equation. He struggles with his mistakes and the lives lost but he can not stop to think he might be going about it all wrong, because I imagine he fears if he factors in the emotional weight of his choices, it would impede his end goal, or worse: break him into indecision.

The emotional weight of the war and the lives lost, his mistakes and his position as a leader - not an advisor, are so against his spirit nature that he suppresses these issues instead of dealing with them like a person. He becomes prideful because he shuts other options out. His way is the only way.

He sees everything fall apart: everything he does: disaster is sure to follow: The blight, trapping the elven gods, the murder of Mythal (x2) - yet he can not stop. He does not know how. He is desperate for a way out - a way out of regret and feeling the weight of his mistakes - he pushes on because that is his only option lest he truly faces what he has done and the pointlessness of it all. All the lives he has sacrificed need to mean something - that is what he sacrificed them for. How can he face that he killed them and not have an excuse for doing so?

In the last ending he is forced to talk about these things: the Inquisitor tells him he is forgiven if he just stops. Yet this is not enough - he has sacrificed Mythal (and in ways himself) to reach his goal and it can not have been in vain. Here Mythal jumps in and helps him carry the weight of it all by shouldering it beside him. He finally lets himself feel the weight of it all and it breaks his conviction. Mythal releases him from her service: the leash of service to not only Mythal, but to her dreams and visions for the elven people; the very reason he was made manifest in the physical world, and so their very long and increasingly painful relationship comes to an end. He gets closure. He allows himself to grow and so he sets out to undo his mistakes: to sit with them (the blight) and truly do the best he can to heal what can be healed. It is the most difficult ending - a true apology: he has to pull a Bharv.

It is also the ending which was foreshadowed if you chose to let Varric help Cole in inquisition. I might get into this more in another post, but essentially he becomes more human by dealing with his shit and growing. It is a warm thought that the best ending is the ending Varric helped make way for.

It wraps up the story nicely as well: he enters the Fade a human, just like he entered the physical world a spirit, underlining the complexity of his character arc.

This is also the only ending in which he can end up with Lavellan: I think it is poetic that she can only join him if he becomes more human, less spirit; a mix of both Wisdom and Pride. He has to accept his humanity and the weight of a human heart - metaphorically, he has to make the choice to finally enter the physical world and all of its complexities of his own volition: and there he finds her waiting.

[windsweptinred]

Things I want need want to see in kaos season 2

All the Olympians. Give me the patron saints of all dysfunctional families everywhere in all their chaotic glory!! 

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised! FOR KAOS! 

Dennis avenged! May your greatest of sins curse you Zeus. Doom be upon you in the name of Dennis the kitten. 

Riddy x Caeneus / Prometheus x Charon reunion. Or at least whispering sweet nothings to each other on the docks of the Styx like tragic Shakespearean lovers. 

Ariadne Regina. Seeing my queen RULE

Caeneus Almighty. The power of love bay bay!! 

Besotted puppy dog Dio. Just give Ariadne a riding crop, cause that god is going to be so whipped!

Prometheus trickster supreme. He's free, has got wit/wiles/wisdom and a heart of fire. And he's not afraid to use them!

Cassandra… That's it. Just more Cassandra. 

Humanity triumphant. The Riddy and Ari, powerhouse tag team we want and deserve.  

The Fates and the Furies (see Cassandra and repeat). 

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps… 

It's Persephone with a steel chair! Persephone strikes the killing blow on Zeus, physically or metaphorically. No one hurts her man. 

Caeneus and Riddy, Hades and Persephone 2.0. Let the myth be true for them, let them see each other. If only for a season. 

Orpheus tearing his life apart in a metaphorical destruction of self. To be ‘reborn’ anew. 

The Prince that was promised… Heir to the throne Dionysus

Olympian civil war shenanigans. Zeus vs Hera vs... Take a stand Hades, we know you can do it. Do it for Persephone!

Apollo and Dionysus playing tug of war with Orpheus. (I knew him first! He's an artist, he's under MY dominion! My prophet! No my prophet.) 

Bonus

Persephone: I think this belongs to you? Dionysus: 😲🥹🥰 

Dennis: 🐈‍⬛❤️

[tolkienpinupcalendar]

Sluttiest Tolkien Character: THE SEMIFINALS (Round 6)

Finwe vs Turin

art by @fil3t ; @redreyenotarget

Propaganda under the cut ↓

Finwe:

Listen...I wouldn't fuck him, but he's the only canonical elf who could reasonably be accused of sluttiness, LaCE compliant

The only elf to canonically have two spouses. Also, the dude had five kids when all the other Unbegotten Elves had 1-3 (Elwë & Luthien, Ingwë & Ingwion. Olwë had 3 kids). Also also, he basically let his kids do whatever they wanted, even withholding a scolding when Kid #1 pointed a sword at Kid #3. It seems like Finwë just had kids for the sake of Doing The Do with his wife and having a big family for no canonical reason.

Literally petitioned the Valar to change the law to allow him to marry again

#the gods literally rewrote elven law because of this guy's dick. cmon. #he couldn't keep it in his pants to save his (or miriel's) life

#he changed the history of the elves by not being able to leave his d in his pants #like he didn't have some special power or a world changing plan he just wanted to do the deed lmao

#channeling my inner valinorean aristocrat hearing of the noldor king's scandalous remarriage for the first time and voting finwe

#guys PLZ finwe was the first slut he invented it

#we gotta respect the OG #known mostly for fathering kids with multiple women?!

#i barely go here and dven I know finwe deserves this

Turin:

he’s got more hoes than names. almost everybody he meets immediately wants to fuck him. man or woman, elf or human, noldo or sinda, none are immune to joining his army of simps. elves don’t even care if he’s a doom magnet bc he’s just too irresistible to them. they’ll choose his hot human ass over wisdom any day. both a father and his daughter want him. elves see him and immediately forget about the laws and customs. WHO else is doing it like him?

#EVERYONE who met turin wanted him #wherever he went he got people fucked over because they were so Down Bad for him

#androg was not Like That over turin and beleg for turin not to win

#turin’s sluttiness has a body count both ways 

#turin’s so irresistible he banged his own sister #granted neither knew they were siblings #but dude had everyone ready to risk it all(and die horribly usually because of it) for him

every single elf Túrin meets either wants to adopt him or get in his pants. everyone who fucks him dies horribly, but #worthit. an engaged couple broke up because they both wanted a piece of that hot human ass. his dick caused the fall of a kingdom. literally so sexy he caused political turmoil. he died young but he made every slutty, slutty year count. he’s also pretty heavily queer coded, as close to bisexual as you can get in a story written in 1917. 

[gwmingm]

Archons Lore but with HSR Paths because.

Venti — The Remembrance; he took his best friend's form, is a bard who remembers and tells the stories of others so they aren't forgotten, Fuli coded behaviour, clearly has some whacky shit going on with him i.e his voice lines about meeting the traveler.

Zhongli — The Equilibrium; only ever makes fair contracts, a very mysterious man who also seems to know more than he lets on, a background deus ex machine of sorts i.e the chasm interlude quest when he saved Xiao, influencing things just as HooH does.

Ei — The Hunt; So deadset on achieving eternity for her people, caused bad things with the sakoku and vision hunt decrees, as Lan brings both destruction and salvation, a very fierce and powerful warrior.

Nahida — The Erudition/The Abundance; god of wisdom who is the face of a literal tree of knowledge, duh. Rukkhadevata snapping the purest branch of the tree to create her gives heavy Yaoshi vibes a-la Tomie.

Furina — The Preservation; girl kept acting for five hundred years and never once wavered as said by mirror-her, tenacity that would make Qlipoth proud. Their ideal for justice being the continuation of existence, sacrificing both her humanity and divinity for her people. It's plain simple.

Mavuika — The Destruction/Harmony; Initially, war. But knowing Hoyoverse plus the dropped Natlan Teaser, they're probably gonna take her and her nation's themes in the way they did with Penacony's Harmony vs Order subplot. (And from the first two Natlan Archon Quests, I was kinda right.)

The Tsaritsa — The Nihility/Finality(?); Still not 100% because we still don't know her story, probably more attuned to the destruction due to her and the Fatui's goals and actions and "burning away the old world". But I can see her as a Self-Anihilator like Acheron or the Stellaron Hunters.

[loving-family-poll]

2nd Ultimate Incest Tournament - Round 2

Propaganda under the cut

Jesus/Mary:

And then Jesus did fucketh his mother amen

Cmon man it’d be really fucking funny

It's never gonna happen BUT imagine if the last poll ended up being Jesus/Mary vs Lestat/Gabrielle. Heavenly Mom/Son VS Trashfire Creatures Of Darkness Mom/Son

Technically double incest due to the Holy Trinity: Jesus is God, which means he's both Mary's son and Mary's Father. Insert "calling your son Daddy" joke here

We wouldn't have Michelangelo's Pietà or Fabrizio De André's La buona novella concept album without them

Mary pretty much pushed Jesus into performing his own first (official/canonically recognized) public miracle at the Wedding at Caanan. If she hadn't spoken up? Not only would the wedding itself been a disaster and tanked the couple's reputation, but Jesus would have spent his life being like "uhm, but I should wait for a REALLY important occasion to use my divine power..." until like Lazarus

What if you were young and pure and unused to much besides life in a temple and your entire existence was shrouded in prophecy and mysticism to the point you were Chosen by God as the vessel for His own incarnation but then said incarnation turned out to be like. Just a child, besides the occasional weird Unearthly Wisdom Moment or early miracle. And what if you loved that child above anything else, despite having been forced to flee from your homeland due to his very conception putting you at risk of persecution and death, despite having had to give birth to him in rather miserable conditions, despite your husband almost leaving you over him. And then it turned out your child was never yours to begin with, but the whole world's sacrificial lamb, and you had to watch him suffer through one of the most excruciating forms of torture in history after the betrayal of his friends, and watch him be mocked and insulted and denied a chance of salvation right before that, to the point that even he, who had previously literally walked on water and raised the dead from their graves, eventually lost hope and despaired. And his last, anguished words were for his silent Father, asking why He'd abandoned him, but you were there the whole time, there near the cross you knew you'd watch him die on, and he'd tried giving you one of his own disciples, the one he loved the most, as another son to lessen your pain, to give you someone else to live for, but how could he ever expect you to be able to love again like that?

Gerard/Mikey:

brothers from new jersey. grew up spending a lot of their time together in the basement. we've all heard of flowers in the attic time for flowers in the basement. disgustingly in each other's space constantly. weird offputting freaks you met at a house party or basement show once. they share dawn of the dead in their list of favorite movies which i think is just kind of cute.

went to a smashing pumpkins concert together and decided being in a band is what they wanted out of life.

became the vocalist and the bassist for one of the most influential emo bands of the 2000s. as with any band that tours, especially in early days when you're not that popular, just a lot of room sharing and being noticeably in each other's space. people also consistently joking that they can read each other's minds.

gerard wrote "brother" about mikey and it's suspiciously close to another song he wrote ("summertime") which is straight up one of the most heartwrenching love songs mcr has ever come up with which is really really saying something. not to downplay brother either, because its pretty crazy. actually im just submitting summertime and brother as propaganda.

gerard has, on stage: licked mikey's nipple, pantomimed giving him a handjob, and generally groped him.

my personal favorite is the time gerard had to physically pick up and move mikey to keep him from getting set on fire from stage pyrotechnics.

they also look nothing like each other until they really really do which isn't exactly propaganda so much as porn material. you put glasses on gerard or take glasses off mikey and get them looking the same way and they look literally like the same person

in an interview gerard described teenage mikey as ‘wearing tight, black clothes’, ‘looking like a hooker’, and ‘looking like a piece of chicken’

gerard has gotten up close and personal with mikey during performances of destroya (a song in which 90% of the lyrical content is him moaning) to the point where during a performance one of their bandmates yelled ‘get away from your brother’ at him

gerard also ran a hand through mikey’s sweaty, sweaty hair and along his jaw, then licked it

gerard has written frequently about incest, and when asked which of his characters he related to the most said one who was in love with her brother

gerard is into lots of strange stuff (vomit, piss, inflation, potentially guro) it really would not be a stretch for him to be into incest

This Gif (https://www.tumblr.com/gerardcest/764335264300744704/why-does-he-touch-his-brother-like-that?source=share)

[misstallulah]

Is Crowley Lucifer? A Theory Based on Biblical Parallels and Good Omens Narrative ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻

The series Good Omens, created by Neil Gaiman and based on the novel co-written by Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, features an intriguing character named Crowley, a demon with a unique relationship with good and evil, distinct from that of other demons. This theory explores the idea that Crowley might actually be Lucifer, the Prince of Darkness, based on parallels between his characterization in the series and the biblical figure of Lucifer.

The Angelic Origins of Crowley and Lucifer Crowley recounts how he himself initiated the fall of man, suggesting that he was one of the rebellious angels. This clearly echoes the story of Lucifer, the most beautiful and powerful angel created by God, who rebelled and was cast out of Heaven.

According to biblical tradition, Lucifer, whose name means "light bearer" (from Hebrew Helel and Latin Lucifer), was the most glorious and closest angel to God. In Isaiah 14:12-15, it is narrated that Lucifer fell: "How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!" This biblical passage is traditionally interpreted as a metaphor for Lucifer's fall, who in his arrogance sought to elevate his own throne above the stars of God but was instead cast down to the realm of the dead.

Lucifer was thus a being of light and great beauty, similar to how Crowley is described in his angelic form in the series—a former angel who loved the beauty of the universe and, as suggested in the novel, might have even participated in its creation.

Rebellion and Fall Lucifer, according to the Bible, was cast out of Heaven because he rebelled against God. This rebellion is described primarily in Ezekiel 28:12-17, where it is said that Lucifer was created perfect but his heart became proud due to his beauty and wisdom. His fall was inevitable as he sought to exalt his throne above God Himself and was ultimately cast down. In Good Omens, Crowley frequently expresses feelings of rebellion against both the heavenly and infernal orders, showing a disdain for the rules imposed by both Heaven and Hell. Crowley is often seen acting in his own interest, and although he sometimes seems to assist Hell, he is never fully loyal to it, preferring to follow his own moral code. This behavior might reflect Lucifer's rebellion, who did not simply want to be a servant but aspired to greater autonomy and power.

Ambivalent Relationship with Aziraphale Crowley's relationship with the angel Aziraphale is central to the series. The two are close friends despite being on opposite sides of the good vs. evil conflict. This relationship could be seen as an echo of the relationship that Lucifer had with other angels before his fall. Lucifer was loved and respected by other angels, and his betrayal was a source of great sorrow for Heaven.The Bible does not directly mention friendships between Lucifer and other angels, but the idea of a fallen angel maintaining bonds with those he left behind is a theme found in many interpretations of the fall. Lucifer, even after his fall, would have remained a charismatic figure capable of influencing others, and this might be reflected in the dynamic between Crowley and Aziraphale, where there is an understanding and affinity that surpass their natural differences.

The Fascination with Free Will A central theme in Good Omens is free will, a concept that Lucifer himself embodied in his rebellion against God. According to many theological interpretations, Lucifer did not accept God's plan that required angels to serve man, a being considered inferior but endowed with free will. Lucifer’s rebellion was motivated by a refusal to serve a plan that saw him subordinated to humanity. Crowley, more than any other character, is obsessed with the idea of choice, often lamenting the rigidity of celestial and infernal rules. At various points, he shows a certain understanding and sympathy for humanity, which has been endowed with free will—a characteristic that Lucifer envied and desired.

The Name and the Serpent Metaphor In Good Omens, Crowley is often associated with the serpent, a symbol of original sin and temptation. In the Bible, in (Genesis 3:1-5), Lucifer is identified with the serpent that tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, saying: "You will not certainly die, for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." This act of temptation led to the fall of man and the introduction of sin into the world. This parallel is evident in the series, where Crowley himself transforms into a serpent to tempt Adam and Eve, reinforcing the link between him and the figure of Lucifer. The association with the serpent, a symbol of deceit and wisdom, strengthens the idea that Crowley might be a modern representation of Lucifer.

Love for Humanity An intriguing aspect of Crowley’s character is his surprising love for humanity, a characteristic not commonly associated with demons. Although Lucifer in biblical tradition is often viewed as the tempter and destroyer, some interpretations see him as a promoter of knowledge and free will—gifts that, if used wisely, can elevate humanity.

In Ezekiel 28:17, it is implied that Lucifer was punished because "your heart became proud on account of your beauty," but there is no mention of disdain for humanity. Some theologians suggest that Lucifer might have seen humanity not only as inferior but also as an object of love and compassion, and that his rebellion was an act of protection for humanity against a divine order he saw as unjust.

In the series, Crowley is not only concerned about the survival of humanity but also shows a genuine affection for the human world, its complexities, and contradictions. This love can be seen as a distorted but sincere version of Lucifer’s original love for humanity, which led him to rebel against a divine order he perceived as unjust. For example, Crowley is visibly distressed at the prospect of the Apocalypse, an event that would bring about the destruction of the human world he has come to care for.

Crowley as Lucifer: A Fallen Angel's Hidden Identity and Love for Humanity While there is no explicit confirmation in the series or the book that Crowley is actually Lucifer, the similarities between the two characters are striking. Crowley embodies many of the attributes and stories traditionally associated with Lucifer, such as the angelic origin, rebellion against divine order, and association with the serpent tempter. This theory offers a new perspective on Crowley, suggesting that he might not simply be a demon but the Demon par excellence, fallen from grace to follow his own path, carrying with him a complex and tormented love for humanity.

[lasandra]

Super Massive End Game Veilguard Spoilers Under the Cut!

Seriously. If you haven't finished playing Veilguard, DO. NOT. READ. So I finished DA:tV and I have been really trying to sort out my thoughts... And well...

Sdlkajshdfklajhsdfklajhsdflkjahsdklfjhaskldfjhaskldfhj I CAN'T!!! My dudes I am SO conflicted!!! Solas is the only character I have ever come across that I both love to pieces and want the best for him but I also want to beat him until he is a puddle of bruised yolk and cracked shells. This dude KILLED VARRIC FOR REALSIES! I am not okay with that. My Hawke's GOING to hunt him down when she finds out. If the Tevinter Magisters can get into the Black City then dammit so can she. And when she does, I am not sure even Lavellan can save him. Amelia (My Hawke) has lost so many of her friends/family/loved ones she can't handle this anymore. He also killed God's gift to elves Felassan. It's been over a decade since I read The Masked Empire but I don't remember there being a great reason other than him being upset that Felassan failed. Dude has GOT to stop killing his friends lol. Especially the hot ones. Like. Come on. As if that wasn't enough, he manipulated Rook. I love my first Rook (Carwyn de Riva) so much that I am STRUGGLING to play another playthrough with any of the other Rooks I had planned. To see that he manipulated her with blood magic... Stopped her from being able to mourn Varric with the others properly.... AND tricked her into that prison??? He didn't think she'd be able to get out. Luckily she had plot armor because if she hadn't gotten out I would find a way into Thedas to rip him apart myself. *Aggressive breathing noises* I feel very normal about this, obviously. Seriously though, guys, I came THIIIIIIIS close to tricking him with the fake dagger even knowing that Lanaya (my Lavellan) wouldn't have gotten her happy ending. JUST so I could see the LOOK on his face when he realized ROOK outplayed him at his own game! At the SAME time however... The idea of sending him into the Black City alone... hurts me lol! I don't want him to suffer. Dude has suffered a lot and honestly, I'm not entirely sure his being a friend-murdering ass is *entirely his fault... The longer I sit with everything, the more certain I am that Solas didn't really have a choice. Seems very much like he was sort of bound to the will of Mythal. Maybe I've missed something, I'm not as lore-savvy as I once was. But in the end when Mythal tells Solas that she releases him from her service and only THEN (NOT when Lavellan BEGS him to stop) is he willing to do the right thing? I don't know. It just reminded me SO much of his personal quest in Inquisition where his Wisdom Spirit friend had been bound and twisted against its purpose. If it works anything like what we saw in Inquisition with whoever drank from the Well of Sorrows, who's to say when something was him vs the will of Mythal? It could be a bit of a stretch but, there's certainly room for that interpretation, I think. And if that's the case, then he doesn't deserve the hell that awaits him. It's also the only interpretation I can really accept Lanaya still wanting to be with him. Varric was her friend too. While forgiveness is something I give freely, I cannot imagine reconciling with a man who did what Solas did without him having been essentially forced into doing it. *Sighs deeply* I saw the different versions of his endgame images... Shit man. The only way this man gets a happy ending is with Lavellan. Dude looks so miserable and gloomy in all the other endings. Moire (Trevelyan) was Solas' friend. She wouldn't want to send him off to be alone in such a terrible place. That would seriously eat at her. (Rook wouldn't care. Her give a damn was busted after he betrayed her for the twenty-billionth time.) It can never be anything but a complete and utter rollercoaster with this man! I do think that the ending I got with him was as good as it possibly could have been though, given everything. Sorry for this really poorly written rant. I needed to get this out of my system and it's almost 3am lol.

[faith-of-the-wheel]

Ares/Thracian "Dionysos", A cognate of Rudlos?

This is one I will add for a more personal reason, but I think he has some connections. I'll explain but bare with me and acknowledge I consider more a UPG association than anything else. Perhaps someone here will find my shot in the dark interesting.

One of the twelve Olympians, son of Zeus, god of war, battlelust, courage and civil order. He is also associated Masculinity in general and modern Hellenists/Hellenic Polytheists often share the Personal Gnosis that he is a patron of mental health and one's struggle with it.

Now first, let me lay out a few facets of Ares I consider notable to this list. Although he is sometimes depicted as a mature, bearded man, especially after his syncretization with Mars, he is also often depicted as a spear-wielding(a common symbol to the cognates of Rudlos), nude, beardless youth, an ephebe. This brings to mind the connections between the ephebes and nude fighting, and the Koryos.

He was and is often shown diametrically opposed to Athena, Goddess of strategy, craftsmanship, and wisdom. Many misconstrue this as characterizing the "strategic and humane" warfare of Athena to the "savage and cruel" warfare of Ares. This could not be more wrong, as we have many stories of Athena encouraging, well, warcrimes, and Ares respecting another's honor.

The more accurate dichotomy is a much older, pan Indo-European one. One of defensive vs aggressive warfare. I have written earlier about the idea that Rudlos was the god of aggressive war, the marauding Koryos, counter-posed to the defensive Perkwunos, who protects the people and village from such raiders, and humanity at large from the demons of chaos, like Wṛ́tros. It is also widely accepted that Athena was formed from lesser, individual cults of palace goddesses, patrons of the individual homes of rulers, and later the cities they ruled, who later melded together into the panhellenic Athena, who likely takes her name from Athens and not the other way around as myth relates to us.

The crux of my theory is that rather than be actually being descended from the original PIE gods associated with these two forms of war, Ares and Athena sort of stepped into the molds they left behind, Ares particularly so.

The etymology of the name Ares is traditionally connected with the Greek word ἀρή (arē), the Ionic form of the Doric ἀρά (ara), "bane, ruin, curse, imprecation". Walter Burkert notes that "Ares is apparently an ancient abstract noun meaning throng of battle, war." Beekes has suggested a non-IE, Pre-Greek origin of the name. The earliest attested form of the name is the Mycenaean 𐀀𐀩, a-re.

The epithet, Areios ("warlike") was frequently appended to the names of other gods when they took on a warrior aspect or became involved in warfare: Zeus Areios, Athena Areia, even Aphrodite Areia ("Aphrodite within Ares" or "feminine Ares"), who was warlike, fully armored and armed, partnered with Athena in Sparta, and represented at Kythira's temple to Aphrodite Urania. In the Iliad, the word ares is used as a common noun synonymous with "battle."

He was also known by the name/epithet Enyalius. In Mycenaean times Ares and Enyalius were considered separate deities. Enyalius is often seen as the God of soldiers and warriors from Ares' cult. It has been suggested that the name of Enyalius ultimately represents an Anatolian loanword, although an alternative hypotheses treat it as an inherited Indo-European compound. The meaning is still unknown however.

Now, while it is indeed possible that Ares was a Pre-Greek(or perhaps even foreign) deity adopted by the Greeks, his character lines up closely with the IE idea of deified abstractions. The PIE's believed that if any idea exists, their must be a god who rules over it. In the absence of assigning it to a previously worshiped deity, they would deify the abstraction itself, this is the origin of the PIE god Xaryomen, Roman Fortuna, the various female night personifications throughout the IE world(Nyx, Nott, etc), among many others.

However there are two issues. First, his name is not IE in origin. It's seemingly a common noun, one widely adopted by IE people but still strange nonetheless. The second is his breadth of myth and variety of cultic practice, which is extremely strange for a supposed abstraction. For example, in parts of Anatolia, he had an oracular cult.

Consider his mythic origin for a moment. His birthplace was said to be Thrace, and he was believed by the Greeks to be the progenitor of their people. There is no well known obvious cognate of Ares is Thrace, so it is likely an association made by the Greeks because of the Thracian's martial skill and perceived warlike nature. However the cult of a Thracian god referred to as "Dionysus" was very widespread. Most believe him to be a separate deity. His connections to prophecy, poetry, war, and his identification with Apollon could indicate some connection to Rudlos, but his association with a solar cult feels potentially contradictory, at the very least could go either way because Apollonian influence and Rudlos-Dyeus identification in neighboring Anatolia.

Okay, enough rambling, let's get to personal, 100% UPG crackpot theory. When the IE Greeks encountered the Pre-Greek, Anatolian, and Minoan cultures, we know they adapted much of their culture and religion. Consequently, many IE deities were lost or altered beyond recognition. Rudlos's cult started to disappear before the Mycenaean age, and was then re-adopted/altered via Anatolian Apollon. During Rudlos's initial disintegration, most of his war-related aspects may have jumped ship and been given over to a newly formed/adopted deity, Ares/Enyalius. His aspect/son Leudhero may have influenced Dionysus in a similar manner.

To be clear, we will not considered Ares a cognate of Rudlos moving forward but I thought I would give you something I've been pondering while I continue to work on the next parts for the Rtkona series.

[teleit]

I've fucking had enough

Tiktok PISSES ME OFF. It's unbearable. The number of media-illiterate people per square meter has exceeded my tolerance. At some point, I won't be able to stand it and will break my vow not to explain to idiots on the Internet why they are idiots - this will make me an idiot, because I will waste my strength, time, energy and nerves on useless attempts to hand over grains of common sense to empty-headed consumers who have never opened a book in their lives, and therefore are not capable of analyzing more complex moral dilemmas than My Little Pony.

HOWEVER

Stop driving me crazy with the "poor show!Luke was only five years old in Driftmark, an innocent baby, this is the worst death in the entire Dance of the Dragons" bullshit comments and tiktoks BECAUSE IT'S NOT

Yes, in the book, Lucerys Velaryon was five years old when he gouged out the eye of Aemond, who was ten. He died at fourteen, while Aemond was nineteen. This was not an adult killing a child, these were two teenagers with a five-year age difference. Still bad, I agree.

However, in their wisdom, unavailable to us mere mortals, the writers of HOTD stuck the chronology in a blender along with their fetishes, poorly executed agenda, sexism, racism, nepotism and a dozen other problems, turned it up to maximum and fed us the most vomit-inducing smoothie ever.

For some reason unknown to me, Aemond is officially sixteen in episodes 8-10 of season one. God knows why, but he left us and so we can't ask him. Lucerys is officially fourteen, so there's a two-year age difference between him and Aemond.

So in Driftmark, which takes place in 124 AC (again, unlike the book, which took place in 120 AC, but there's no point in complaining, believe me, I tried), Aemond is ten, Lucerys is eight. That's not a big age difference, right?

Moreover, since Jacaerys, Baela, and Rhaena are also sixteen at the end of season one, we get the following picture - Aemond is not fighting little kids, but his peers. He's 10, the twins and Jace are about 9-10, Luke is 8.

Yes, it was different in the book, but you know what else was in the book? A sound timeline, sound logic, complex characters, moral dilemmas, need I go on?

Lucerys was fourteen, making conscious decisions like mocking the man he had mutilated, knowing there would be no consequences, and running away like a coward when he was alone with the man. He was wrong about that. He still didn't deserve to die, but calling him an innocent angel wasn't right.

Aemond was sixteen, making conscious decisions like threatening his nephew to remind him that his ass couldn't be covered forever. He couldn't expect Luke to fail to discipline Arrax, who would provoke Vhagar. He could assume that an angry Vhagar would retaliate despite her orders. He was wrong about that. He still deserves blame for his actions, but if the fandom is so vocal about how a fourteen year old boy is not responsible for his actions, shouldn't a sixteen year old boy get the same innocence card?

But if we go back a little earlier, say six years, shouldn't a ten-year-old child receive the same treatment as an eight-year-old? Why is one boy, who had to fight off four peers, considered a monster, since he took a stone and insulted the offenders, and the second is a little defender, since he took a dagger to hit his neutralized enemy with it?

This wasn't the "hydrogen bomb vs. coughing baby" situation the book portrayed. This was two teenagers, one with a bigger stick than the other.

[loredrinker]

Solas Before the Veil

Firstly, spoilers below...

It hit me yesterday - my whole perspective on Solas through the spirit lens has been shaped by the Veil as it exists now, this physical barrier separating the Fade from the physical world. 

But Solas made the choice to form a body in a time before the Veil existed. 

In the pre-Veil world, spirits weren’t alien or separate entities. They existed naturally alongside the elves, Titans, and dwarves. The Fade wasn’t a separate realm - it was woven into the very fabric of the world. There was no “crossing” into the physical realm because spirits were already a part of it. They weren’t outsiders; they were neighbors, collaborators, even friends. 

This realization has my mind spinning. This is why I love Solas as a character: the layers, the vastness of interpretation. 

No Veil. No twisting of purpose. 

There was no Veil for spirits to be pulled into or corrupted by. In those days, they didn’t “crossover” in the way we think of now - they used lyrium, the blood of Titans, to form physical bodies. 

His transformation likely wasn’t tied to the risks of corruption that spirits face in the post-Veil world (still a possibility). Without the trauma of “crossing” the Veil, spirits like Solas could become physical without risking their essence being warped (I'm not saying experiencing human emotions and the shock of being human wouldn't be traumatizing). In this context, it's not Pride vs Wisdom. Instead, it’s the natural struggle of a spirit becoming man. 

I am reforming a lot of Solas thoughts - from his connection to Mythal, to his pride, his decisions, even his relationships. Oh my god. Bear with me, this might ramble – this came up during Christmas dinner with my sister, and we ended up debating it over a lot of wine afterward. 

The world before the Veil wasn’t governed by absolutes like good and evil, or even spirit and demon. Those are oversimplifications. 

What if lyrium, the blood of Titans, acted as a stabilizing agent? A way for spirits to create physical forms without losing their identity or purpose? That would be so different from the chaotic, dangerous processes spirits face in present day Dragon Age. 

Still thinking this through.

Anyway, this is shifting how I see Solas, his choices, and what it means to be a spirit-turned-man (immortal man). 

(This thought made me think of an awesome 10 part breakdown I read just before Veilguard came out from @nadas-dirthalen.  They have amazing insight and concepts related to Solas, Lyrium and Titans that I need to reread if I'm going to go further with these thoughts).  

MYTHAL PERSUADING VS BINDING

I stand by my belief that Solas, despite his reluctance and hesitancy, chose to take a body. Where I once saw that choice as something that helped him avoid becoming completely twisted (as per this post), I’m starting to see it in a different light. 

I’ve never quite bought the theory that Mythal might have bound Solas. This perspective makes even more sense in this context (to me). 

How could Mythal have bound him? There was no Veil that would force a spirit to change. Lyrium was needed to create physical bodies. She couldn’t physically force him into corporeal form against his will because the act of using lyrium to transform a spirit into a body would require cooperation. Sure, it’s possible that in the pre-Veil world, spirits were metaphysically bound to serve beings like the Evanuris. But that kind of binding was different - a spirit might be compelled to act in service while still remaining in its natural form. 

The act of physically transforming into a body with lyrium, though? It’s physical. It would require active engagement with lyrium’s magical and physical properties.

For the transformation to succeed, the spirit would need to align its will with the lyrium. Does that sound right? The body it forms would reflect the spirit’s essence, and that process seems like it would require both consent and intent. Solas had to choose to take on a physical form by engaging with the lyrium. 

And Mythal would have needed Solas to act willingly. Binding him would’ve completely undermined the very wisdom she sought from him. If she needed his insight and perspective, she also needed him to act freely. We are led to believe a spirit of Wisdom can’t function under compulsion. (Spirit of Wisdom Codex: "I am not certain the spirit would have talked so freely had it been shackled at the time.") 

So, if a spirit has to actively engage with lyrium and use its own will and essence to shape a physical body, then Solas didn’t just choose. He committed. (And let’s take a moment to appreciate what a fine body he shaped.) 

Solas’s reluctance to take a body, as per his warnings to Mythal about the risks of using lyrium, tells me he understood exactly what the transformation entailed. He knew the dangers - not just to himself but to the morality of what they were doing, including the horrifying reality of exploiting Titans for their blood. And why wouldn't he? He was a spirt of Wisdom. 

There’s no question that Mythal persuaded him, manipulated that persuasion, appealing to his purpose, emotional manipulation - but she didn’t force him. 

He still agreed. 

He wasn’t drawn to physical form for power or glory but out of a sense of...what? Duty, loyalty and purpose? To Mythal? He didn’t take a body to dominate or conquer the physical world. He did it because Mythal needed him as a counterbalance to the growing chaos and imbalance caused by the Evanuris.  

And then? He regrets it. Big time. 

That regret, to me, is so telling. Regret is a reflective emotion - it stems from owning up to your own choices. If he’d been bound or coerced, his feelings would’ve leaned more toward resentment or anger at Mythal. Instead, he’s consumed by regret because it was his decision in the end. 

NO BINDING – NO TWISTING OF PURPOSE 

As a man, Solas struggles with pride - not as some twisted perversion of Wisdom in this context, but as a human emotion. 

Solas’s decisions are just so much more painful, awful, delightfully complex, and utterly infuriating because of all this. The layers! They’re impossible to ignore. And honestly, the whole Mythal geas thing always bugged me. It felt too simple, too black-and-white. Something about it didn’t sit right. 

If Solas was under her geas, how could he choose to walk away from her? How could he burn her vallaslin off his face? Some say Mythal marked him with the vallaslin as soon as he took bodily form; others think it came later. Does anyone actually know? Either way...the vallaslin might have been more symbolic since there’s no evidence Mythal used it to enslave her people (or is there? I'm too impatient to look right now). 

But if it did have magical enslaving powers? That makes Solas’s agency even more impressive. Despite that, he still chose to remove it – successfully. (Let's say Mythal did have some sort of magical power over Solas, could the burning off the vallaslin have severed that?)

Anyway...getting distracted. Sorry!

Ok, so lyrium. It’s the blood of Titans.  Titans are "earth," so by taking on a physical body, Solas connected himself to the earth. He became man - human in a way he wasn’t before. 

Pride isn’t some monstrous force he has to overcome. It’s an intrinsic part of who he is, shaped by his choices, struggles, and human experiences.

Solas is what he has always been, a man, all too aware of his failings.  

Solas has been revealing who he is all along.  

Anyway, I'm still thinking through a lot of this and how it might change more perspectives (like how I view the various endings, how his time with the Evanuris shaped him, the Inquisition time). Lots to chew on and things may shift again for me. But I’d love to hear other thoughts - even if it’s to tell me this doesn’t make any sense or if I got anything wrong.

[pugzman3]

A lot of people try to use science as a means to disprove God. Some Christians may fear science because they don't have the ability to defend the bible against what is spoken by "popular" scientists. Several things though, first off the Bible wasn't meant to be a science book; that's not what it's about. If God wanted it that way, he would have made sure it was produced that way. Secondly, in Genesis 1:28, man was told to multiply, and subdue the earth. How can that be done...without science? God gave us science for that, but also so we will learn things like this video speaks of and realize how amazing it all is. It's so we will get a glimpse of his abilities to create. But the scientific community has become much like the rest of the world, promoting a life devoid of God. There are indeed a LOT of believing scientists whose voices are kept quiet by a wicked agenda, (I've told you, everything goes back to God vs the devil), and there are a lot of scientists who the more they learn, the harder it is for them to deny a divine creator. But the world doesn't want people to know this. There is a spiritual battle going on, God has already won, but the little g gods aren't going to go quietly. Choose your side before it's too late.

Jeremiah 10:10-15

10But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. 11Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. 12He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. 13When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. 14Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. 15They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

[agentcalypso]

my (mostly) coherent thoughts on the wisdom saga

written during first listen/the livestream this time bc i have shit to do tmrw so forgive me if i miss some stuff (will prob do a part 2 once i have a spare hour or so)

(also spoilers)

𓅓 LEGENDARY 𓅓

first off there were over 100k ppl in the livestream by the time the saga started which i think is a record so good job winions

MICO's voice fits telemachus SO well its not even funny

and like he also has a bit of jorge's voice in him and it's just. augh /pos

the L-L-L-L-Legendary :D

ok but you can hear his voice get just the tiniest bit softer when he starts talking abt the suitors/penelope

ARGOS :DDDDDDDD

MAN OF THE HOUSE

also the animatics are SO GOOD

ANTINOUS YOU BITCH /POS

"WHAT YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT CHAMP?" LMAOOO

12/10

𓅓 LITTLE WOLF 𓅓

THE ART??? HELLO??????

i hate antinous /pos

but also his voice is sooooooooooo good

this. this is just street fighter (/pos)

ATHENA WITH THE QUICK THOUGHT

"Whoa, this is so sick!" i love him <3

god teagan sounds sooooooooo good

i did not expect him to lose but it makes sense so im not complaining

10/10

𓅓 WE'LL BE FINE 𓅓

athena looks so pretty in the art omg

athena opening up? holy shit

"my time with you's been splendid, the best day of my life" telemachus you got beatne to a pulp are you okay

i like the new lyrics for telemachus' part better tbh

TELEMACHUS FALLING THROUGH HER LMAO

9/10

𓅓 LOVE IN PARADISE 𓅓

THE TIME DIIIIIIIIIVE

gigi hitting HARD with the animatics again

CALYPSO'S FACE WHEN HE TALKS ABT PENELOPE LMAO

also calypso's animation is so flowy i love it

"last i checked goddesses can't die ^_^"

it was at this point the livestream died for "policy violations" i think youtube just hates us

pov: you are in the epic the musical discord at 11:44 p.m. EST

THE OG STREAM WENT FROM 110K TO 4.6K IN LIKE THREE MINUTES LMAO

i came into the new stream to jorge cackling like mad and i think that sums up the general energy of my reaction to this whole saga pretty well

the glowy effects on her are so cooooool

damn poor ody :(

fuck you jorge /pos

"i have to see her" vs. "he needs my help" pick you poison

10/10 -1 point for youtube being a little shit /neg

𓅓 GOD GAMES 𓅓

luke. just luke

wolfy animatic :D

the harp strings are so fun

love hephaestus' animation omg

also hephaestus being voiced by jorge's dad is so cool :D

aphrodite. that's it that's the post <3

i still maintain that you can do the camp rock march to ares' part idc

ATHENA DANCING LMAO

BEAST MODE ZEUS HOLY S H I T THE GROWL

"is she dead?!" i love him but yea there's a reason ares isn't the smart war god

THE FLASHBACK??????? HELLO???????? I WILL BE THINKING ABOUT THIS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

OH SHIT ARES WAS RIGHT

12/10

in conclusion idk what kind of crack got put in this saga specifically but consider me hooked

[tolkienpinupcalendar]

Sluttiest Tolkien Character: Round 5

Adar vs Turin

art by @redreyenotarget

Propaganda under the cut ↓

Adar:

His name is literally Daddy and we know why ;) His whole deal is looking gorgeous and traumatized and falling in love with his worst enemies (Sauron to Galadriel to Elrond and on and on.) Besides, who doesn't love a man (Uruk) covered in black blood? Adar could get it, in both Joseph Mawle and Sam Hazeldine forms, but we admire Hazeldine for committing so fully to the "single dad newly divorced and ready to FUCK" version of the character in season 2. And who doesn't love a devoted father?

god just look at him. that man gets pegged

Turin:

he’s got more hoes than names. almost everybody he meets immediately wants to fuck him. man or woman, elf or human, noldo or sinda, none are immune to joining his army of simps. elves don’t even care if he’s a doom magnet bc he’s just too irresistible to them. they’ll choose his hot human ass over wisdom any day. both a father and his daughter want him. elves see him and immediately forget about the laws and customs. WHO else is doing it like him?

#EVERYONE who met turin wanted him #wherever he went he got people fucked over because they were so Down Bad for him

#androg was not Like That over turin and beleg for turin not to win

[jerktournament]

ROUND ONE - Louie (Pikmin) VS Scaramouche (Genshin Impact)

!! PROPAGANDA BELOW !!!

LOUIE: "single handedly caused his employer to go in massive debt. stole the food supplies of 3 people tasked to save their homeplsnet from starvation. tried to kill his employer snd coworker twice."

SCARAMOUCHE: "He's a terrible, terrible, terrible guy I adore him so much. Would hate me if he actually met me (I don't care though). Started off innocent and kind and loving but was abandoned by his mother figure, betrayed, and had another childhood friend die, all at the age of 1. Entirely disillusioned with the world. Tried to become god at one point because mommy issues go brrr. Has committed war crimes. The sassiest little man. Will literally listen to your opinion on a topic that you have studied for years and obtained the opinion from a renowned professional in the field and basically tell you that you're weak and not driven enough to use the gifts you have, and then immediately leave. Would probably die if he ever had to genuinely apologize. Proof that short people are angrier because they are closer to hell. Enjoys drama. He's a tsundere in a thousand ways but my favorite is when he abandoned the names he was given by mortals, as he will "never again regard any of them as his companions" and then a while later allows you to name him. Also have I mentioned he has a thousand names? I haven't even listed them all. He also had titles like Shouki no Kami, the Prodigal and Everlasting Lord of Arcane Wisdom, but that was back when he was god for a day. He's my numero uno little man and also made me realize that all my faves are men that would treat me badly"

[firequeenofficial]

Okay, so I've been listening to Epic the Musical on repeat for the past week and going insane about it. Today, I'm Losing My Mind Over My Goodbye.

"You've grown soft - your dead friends can attest." vs many of Ody's friends and crew dying later on specifically because he decided to no longer be soft.

"What's a title that a goddess could lend if I'll never sleep at night?" vs "I no longer dream , only nightmares of those who've died." (The Underworld) Except now, he has no one to blame but himself.

"You're not looking for a mentor" vs Ody calling out to Athena in the end of Love in Paradise (I didn't catch this the first time and now I'll never stop thinking about it).

"I'm not looking for a friend" vs "I had a friend before" in We'll Be Fine, and just the entirety of God Games.

"Why's your life spent all alone?" vs Athena specifically seeking out Telemachus in the Wisdom Saga.

"One day, you might understand. One day, but not today, for after all, you're just a man." vs "When does a man become a monster?" in Thunder Bringer.

Ody tried to blame all his troubles on Athena, but once she was gone, they just kept coming back, and he kept becoming darker until reaching breaking point in the Underworld and Thunder Sagas.

Also, Legendary (Telemachus' first song) coming so close to echoing The Horse and the Infant (Ody's first song) but not quite going all the way made me feel so many things.