#King Alexander III Lantsov

[stromuprisahat]

Siege and Storm- Chapter 11 (Leigh Bardugo)

Good.

“A lack of gratitude is unbecoming in a servant. You should wear the jewels my husband gives you.”

The Tailor

They both deserve much worse.

“You ungrateful whore,” sneered the King. ... “She is a servant, Nikolai. I didn’t have to force her.”

Ruin and Rising- Chapter 7

[stromuprisahat]

The Queen did no protecting. Apparently servants are free game in Royal household, and marking Genya as such was what did the trick, when Tatiana decided to throw her under the Tsar.

“She was under your protection, Mother.” “She is a servant!”

Ruin and Rising- Chapter 7

That color meant everything. It was a command to the Queen’s ladies that they shouldn’t greet me or acknowledge that I’d entered a room. It was an indelible line drawn between me and the other Grisha. It was a signal to the King that he could follow me into my chambers and press me up against the wall, that I was available for his use. That there was no point to crying out.

The Tailor

Oh, and we shouldn't forget the Apparat: Finally imprisoned THANKS TO THE DARKLING. (You're welcome, King and Queen Incompetent!)

“Lies!” said the Apparat. “Lies from a heretic!” But as he spoke, shadows began to bleed from his mouth. The people in the chamber gasped, backing away, trying to put distance between themselves and the priest. Zoya’s eyes focused on the Darkling’s hands, tucked into his sleeves but moving. “I believe this is your cue,” whispered Nikolai. One she was happy to take. Zoya slashed her arm through the air and thunder broke in an enormous boom. “Enough,” she said. “Seize him.”

Rule of Wolves- Chapter 46

Fates of antagonists in Grishaverse:

Jan Van Eck: Imprisoned (possibly put in an asylum).

Pekka Rollins: Lives a rich lifestyle with his son somewhere.

Tante Heleen: Her brothel went out of business. Lives a rich lifestyle, possibly started a new business somewhere else.

Previous King of Ravka who bankrupted the country, did nothing but rape servant girls: Sent off to live a rich lifestyle while he still can (shortened life because of his sickness).

Previous Queen of Ravka who did nothing but spend money and only protected her servants from the King. But later removed her protection from Genya and let the King rape her: Gets sent off to live a lavish lifestyle in sunny Southern Colonies.

Jarl Brum, a genocidal maniac, who revolutionized Grisha hunting, made new weapons, new strategies, new training systems just to hunt down Grisha in every corner of the world to kindap them, dehumanize them in countless ways, experiment on them and later kill them. The man who either killed Grisha after a sham trial or drugged them until they died, who forced Grisha women to get pregnant over and over while drugging them, the man who bombed Ravka's capital, who draws satisfaction from their suffering because he thinks Grisha are vermin and insult God by existing: Gets spared multiple times and later loses his rank. Because apparently, he's "only a product of the system and Fjerda made him that way". As if he wasn't the main force enforcing that system, as if he didn't brainwash children and made them make killing as many Grisha as possible their life goal.

The Darkling who fought for basic human rights for his people for centuries, made a school and a law to keep Grisha children from getting sold off and slaughtered and to give them education, placed older Grisha under the protection of nobles since Grisha were still formally King's property, didn't send unprepared children to the front lines like the First Army did, dealt with threats from Fjerda and Shu Han, kept Ravka functional even with the Fold separating the country: Gets killed by a bunch of schoolchildren and deserters who haven't even seen real war, his centuries of work gets erased and his name is more demonized than ever. In his absence, the Second Army is in shambles, the economy collapses, Grisha get kidnapped off the streets and get experimented on and dehumanized, Fjerda bombs the capital, the protagonists can't figure out any measures to ensure Grisha will be safe in their own country. Later he gets brought back to life only to be forced to clean up the protagonists' mess, makes Zoya a saint, gets made fun of because the narrative (the author) magically solves centuries of prejudice and genocide for Zoya to be accepted but shits on his attempts, gets eternal suffering while being fused to a tree as a thank you.

[aphroditelovesu]

Hi I hope you’re doing well 🥰. I just wanted to know what are you working on now and like what is soon to be posted I’m not rushing you. It’s not my intention. I just wanted to know what is coming up. Take as much time as you need. I just wants to know out of curiosity. I am a big fan of you work ❤️❤️❤️

You're not rushing me, don't worry! And thank you, I'm very happy that you like my writing!!! ❤️❤️ I have my current wips on the masterpost but I started to write some things that aren't there which I'll put here:

Yandere Light Yagami/Kira Headcanons [General] (Death Note)

Yandere L Lawliet Headcanons [General] (Death Note)

Yandere Misa Amane Headcanons [General] (Death Note)

Yandere Henry VIII/Anne Boleyn Headcanons [Poly!Romantic] (Historical Characters)

Yandere Caligula Headcanons [General] (Historical Characters)

Yandere Alexander the Great/Hephaestion Headcanons [Poly!Romantic] (Historical Characters)

Yandere King George III Headcanons [General] (Bridgerton/Queen Charlotte)

Yandere Anthony Brigderton Headcanons [General] (Bridgerton)

Yandere Hera Headcanons [General] (Greek Mythology)

Yandere Aphrodite Headcanons [General] (Greek Mythology)

Yandere Ares/Aphrodite Headcanons [Poly!Romantic] (Greek Mythology)

Yandere Apollo/Hermes Headcanons [Poly!Romantic] (Greek Mythology)

Yandere Hades Headcanons [General] (Greek Mythology)

Yandere Nikolai Lantsov Headcanons [General] (Shadow and Bone)

Yandwre The Crows Headcanons [Platonic] (Shadow and Bone)

Yandere Kol Mikaelson Headcanons [General] (The Originals)

Yandere Aerys II/Rhaella Targaryen Headcanons [Poly!Romantic] (Game of Thrones)

Yan!Moms Daenerys, Cersei and Sansa Headcanons [Platonic] (Game of Thrones)

Yandere Dragon Riders Headcanons [Platonic] (How To Train Your Dragon)

Yandere!Teacher Seokjin - Imagine (BTS)

Yandere Rhysand/Feyre Archeron Headcanons [Poly!Romantic] (A Court of Thorns and Roses)

Yandere Cassian/Nesta Archeron Headcanons [Poly!Romantic] (A Court of Thorns and Roses)

Yandere Barbie Headcanons [General] (Barbie)

Yandere McCall Pack Headcanons [Platonic] (Teen Wolf)

These are the ones and they will be posted over the days/weeks, I don't have a certain date, but they will be posted eventually! ❤️❤️

[ricardian-werewolf]

Thank you for answering my ask @corpsebasil - here’s how my idea of that prompt is going: basically my idea is based HEAVILY on the 1995 Richard III set in the 1930s where he’s a fascist dictator.

Kate Beckinsale plays Cecily-Anne. She’s jaded and also unsure of her political leanings in her father’s hellscape; but I love her!

*********

London, 1931.

Cecily pushed her chair back from the desk, and swiveled aimlessly in her seat.

On the desk before her sat a simple, cream embossed letter headed with the seal of a two headed eagle grasping within its claws a mace and three arrows. Three rounds of checks by her father’s advisors had ensured the letter to be free of toxins or poisoned ink. Still, she dug around in her desk drawer and removed a pair of simple, inexpensive leather gloves.

Slipping them over her hands, Cecily held the paper between her thumb and forefinger, and began to read the beautiful calligraphy that spilled across the page. She’d been expecting this letter since she was a mere 3 year old girl, and her father, as compos mentis as he was in 1916, had signed her away in a betrothal deal to secure England’s future.

He’d mistakenly assumed the nation-state to be a mere emissary of the Russian Empire, which would collapse within a year's time. But this state had problems of its own. A swathe of darkness that covered the entire middle of the country and created two from one single state, brought what seemed to be endless war down upon the people’s heads. It was no place for an English princess to marry into. Its royal house, while eight centuries deep into the ground, was small, and prone to marrying one's own cousin. So, the King - Alexander III, had spread his net out into Western Europe to provide a wife for his small, royal spare of a son.

Rumors spoke of a sickly boy, prone to creating chaos wherever he went. Apparently also the black sheep of the family, the boy had left court at 16 to join the army as an enlistment. Some rumored him to be harboring Grisha abilities, but since he was the spare, no one bothered testing the poor thing. Regardless, he’d done his two years of service, seen action in the northern expanses and then gone off to apprentice with a Fjerdan shipbuilder and Zemeni gunsmith. The rumors from court also proposed that he spoke 7 languages and couldn’t sit idle. But, he was charming enough to manage to hold out on this proposal for a shocking 15 years.

Maybe no one assumed Father would remember it’d be a thing he would bother to keep in his head once he got corrupted by the desire to kill his brothers?

Cecily shook her head. Her father was a murderer and power-hungry, but he wasn’t stupid. His bloodthirsty behavior masked a cold and calculating mind that could turn entire armies to fleeing the battlefield with their tails between their legs. He’d been the first to use mustard gas on the Lancastrian forces in the wake of the Great War, but since the Lancastrians mainly polled from men not drafted into the BEF, no one had any idea of the ways gas could be combatted. Yorks’s army of veterans slaughtered the lancastrians at Barnet Heath easily enough.

But now the Wars of the Roses had come to a bloody and frightening end. Cecily rubbed her arms with her palms, and stripped off the gloves. Casting them into the rubbish bin across her solar, she picked up the letter, kicked her heel-clad feet up onto the desk, and began to read the letter from one Nikolai Lantsov.

To Her Highness, Princess Cecily-Anne of England, Lady of Gloucester and Oxfordshire, Princess Royal.

Cecily harrumphed in pleasured surprise. It was something to write to her so openly, but at least it seemed this Prince had done his research. Too many others simply went by “Her Highness,” and left it at that. The added nicety that made Cecily smile was that he’d gone for the correct spelling of her name. Too many called her Cecile, which while the french spelling, was something entirely different. She scanned the letter further.

Instead of inquiries into her health; studies or the like, Nikolai Lantsov had instead endeavored to inquire about which books she loved to read. Did she have a preference for history? Her languages, he hoped, were numerous, and he inquired into her love for certain types of guns in hunting. Archery seemed to be a particular favorite, along with tinkering. Cecily slid open her desk drawer and rolled a small glass cylinder between her hands as she stared down at the letter further. The longer paragraphs inquired about what she did in school, was she privately or publicly educated? He hoped to know if she had gone to university. Had she served in any capacity for the state or civil service? Could she drive, or was she chauffeured? How was her governess? Harsh? Kind?

Cecily spun in her chair and continued to read, grimacing to herself. How the letter had gotten past her eagle-eyed father perturbed her. Unless…

She shook her head. Impossible. He wouldn’t dare send her off to Ravka to get rid of her. She was important to her father. Too important. Though she hated his fascist leanings with a blinding passion, Cecily couldn’t conceive of the idea that her own father would marry her off simply for convenience. But he was a man of centuries. She was, too. In a way. Shaking her head again, Cecily sighed, and dropped the paper back onto her velvet-desk cover. She got to her feet and moved to part the curtains.

Glaring out over Bloomsbury, the English Princess Royal licked her upper teeth, and rubbed a hand over her eyes. If she was being married off as a means of convenience, at least her husband wouldn’t be a bore. She’d tracked Nikolai Lantsov’s childhood with the same detail the Cheka did to anti-communist dissidents. She knew all there was to know about him, and she knew also that Ravka’s beloved royal spare princeling needed a wife desperately. This must have been done behind her back.

Whipping her gold wire-framed glasses off, Cecily pressed her forehead to the cool glass, sighing deeply. The letter awaited a reply. She would need to give it at least a day’s thought, though some part of her wanted to give a simple telegram back containing just one word: Yes. She would shirk the shackles of fascism for the wilds of a country lurching towards hopeful democracy. Balls and promenades would fill her days. She’d need to brush up on her Ravkan before she left. And if she showed just too much interest, her father could cancel the wedding on the grounds of defection. She must not appear to be overjoyed over a chance of breaking from her fathers’s fascist roots. At least, not yet.

There would be screenings. Ravka must appear gullible to the mantles of English Fascism. The ideas of Molesey and Spode had to whet the Ravkan palate. According to the papers, a communist sect of the Duma was in talks with Nikolai to be the major political party. Nikolai advocated for restricted capitalism or democratic socialism, taking from the Nordic states and their programs that worked to offset the Great Depression. He must appear to squash them.

How Cecily hungered to send more than a cursory note back indicating her interest!

She returned to sitting at her desk, pulled pen, paper and ink bottle to her, and began to pen a note in Old Ravkan. Let her father’s spies attempt to translate that! She copied out the bare bones of the letter in English, and had Nikolai’s title written out on that envelope. Slipping it into her outgoing mailbox, Cecily pocketed the other letter and grabbed a stamp from her upper desk drawer. She was just about to place it on the English envelope when a knock came at her door. Right.

Lehzen.

Her governess, cruel, callous, and somehow not a hundred year old vampire - yet she acted as such. Cecily rolled her eyes and settled back in her chair. She did not kick her feet back up on the desk, nor did she slouch. Her hands were folded neatly in her lap, and she pushed her spectacles up her nose to hide the evident glint.

“Come in.”

The double doors swung wide and in a swirl of 1850s woolen skirts and black velvet edging, Louise Lehzen marched into the room. Stopping once on the edge of the persian carpet, the governess curtsied to her charge, and then sat herself neatly in the wing-backed chair opposite Cecily. Whipping open a vietnamese-esque wooden-hand fan, Lehzen rapped the fan’s ribs on the edge of Cecily’s desk.

“Your correspondence to Prince Nikolai?”

“There,” Cecily pointed to the English note, and watched Lehzen examine it.

“You have no stamp. How are you planning to send it? By carrier pigeon?”

Carrier volcra. All the rage in Ravka apparently since the last Sun Summoner hopped the twig on her first Fold crossing. A shame. She was a cartographer and all!

“Here.” Cecily held up her pointer finger, to which the penny stamp was stuck. Lehzen sighed.

“You are much too old for your childish games, Princess.”

“I could say the same, Baroness.”

That retort earned her a hard whack across the knuckles with said fan, and Cecily winced, refusing to show the pain in her face. She shakily unfolded her clenched fist and breathed out in a steady stream through her nostrils. The longer she held out, the less painful it would be. The Baroness was getting into her twilight years and Cecily knew that she was the last person this woman would ever dare to educate. Nevermind that it wasn’t much beyond the greatness of the British Empire and how to run a household of hundreds of servants, ensure that the finances were set and a million other little things. Lehzen had doubted the likelihood of Nikolai continuing as Cecily’s betrothed.

Nikolai had proved everyone wrong, and Cecily gloated in that fact.

Finis.

[stromuprisahat]

waldensblog:

#this could have been a tale of the darkling being cast as a villain only for alina to learn about the oppression by the monarchy #and then they reconcile join forces and overthrow the monarchy together #but alas no

You know? This passage makes me laugh because for once because…yes the Darkling probably loathed having to submit to a foolish and arrogant man and maybe that should tell you something about why he did what he did. He kinda had to given that the King is the absolute monarch and it probably wouldn’t go over well if the Darkling (who already has a stigma attached to his name) tried to defy him even if it was in the best interests of Ravka

The King is clearly a foolish and arrogant person with too much power, so much power that even a living saint like Alina isn’t immune to his threats. I wish this moment for Alina had been expanded upon more because I like seeing her make connections between her role as the sun summoner with the Darkling’s role as the leader of the second army. Also, I would’ve liked to see Alina question the monarchy more because how is it that this “dissolute fool” ended up in charge of an entire country in the first place? How is it that he is able to exploit and abuse Grisha and his subjects with impunity? Do you really want to continue a system that created this kind of ruler? These are questions that deserve answers.

[stromuprisahat]

Remember Alina, you DON'T have any rights...

Siege and Storm- Chapter 12

Another Grisha to drag out of bed in middle of the night?

Or are there other hostile groups we're not shown?

I've read antis with this opinion. Tragic.

As if they didn't pay for that privilege with their freedom and lives...

Alina still doesn't quite realize, how does ~that~ translate.

You're a serf, you're the Sun Summoner.

... doesn't sound so empowering, does it?

As if "they" never needed the Darkling before her, as if "they" offered Grisha a place to live out of goodness of their hearts. As if the Darkling couldn't destroy the whole capital, when push comes to shove. Yet somehow, they're all free game.

Serf, honey, that's what you are, Crown's slave of different name, and that's why the Darkling wanted things to change.

Looking at this passage, I'd love to read the King talking like a KING:

“He thinks she can be trusted,” the King quavered. “We’re not so sure. Her escape from the Darkling seems a very unlikely story, but we cannot deny that Ravka might have a use for her services.”

Yes, Alina is less than a person for him. Why not refer to her as if she weren't even present? Addressing people below one's station in third person...

In short- "If I decide to get rid of you, nothing will stop me from doing it. I don't need a reason, for there's always one."

Remember, Alina? You're ... the Sun Summoner. They need you...

Alina's confidence would be more applaudable, if she weren't strong only thanks to two amplifiers, and her repertoire included more than shining and the Cut.

Was this how the Darkling had felt? Yada, yada, let's stop him! Why does Alina always have these flashes of reason, if they never turn into something more?! On one hand she realizes what he has to keep enduring for the scraps of power ensuring he'll be able to work for his people, on the other he never quite makes in out of the shadow of her bigotry (Pun totally intended.) to become a human being worth active empathy in her eyes. The best she does is offer him decent burial.

[doyouknowthis-grishaverse]

(It was very tempting here to simply not put an option to love this character)

[wesper-ao3feed]

devil won't you bargain with me?

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/aK2DNTz by DancingShadows9174 The demon Dirtyhands loves making deals. But it seems this human king doesn’t know what he’s getting himself into when he signs a contract with Dirtyhands, only to renege on it. The consequences that follow were in the fine print, but now that means the king’s bastard son is Dirtyhands’ responsibility for a bit, and that doesn’t feel like a very fair trade off. Or, A Hades and Persephone type story where Kaz is Hades and Nikolai is Persephone, and Alexander III is a bitch. Words: 686, Chapters: 1/12, Language: English Fandoms: Six of Crows Series - Leigh Bardugo, The Grisha Trilogy - Leigh Bardugo Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: F/F, M/M Characters: Kaz Brekker, Nikolai Lantsov, Alexander Lantsov III, Vasily Lantsov, Nina Zenik, Jesper Fahey, Inej Ghafa, Original Characters Relationships: Kaz Brekker/Nikolai Lantsov, Inej Ghafa/Nina Zenik, Jesper Fahey/Wylan Van Eck Additional Tags: POV Kaz Brekker, Alternate Universe - Demons, Alexander III is a bitch and I have created this tag just to say that, Vasily is a bitch too, Resurrection, Murder, murdering the person you just reserrected, Demon Deals, Bargaining, Faustian Bargain, Contracts, not reading the fine print of a contract you're signing, Past Assassination attempt, Abduction, Kidnapping, kidnapping someone purely for collateral, and then falling for your collateral, A Tale as Old as Time, Inspired by Hades and Persephone (Ancient Greek Religion & Lore), watching your collateral sleep, not because he's handsome or smthg, don't be ridiculous, Enemies to Lovers, Kind Of, Kissing, Boys Kissing, Broken Bones, Rated T for fuck words, and also violence, can't forget the violence, Canon-Typical Violence read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/aK2DNTz

[stromuprisahat]

The Darkling antis:

When I see bullshit like, "The Darkling is Ravka's villain. He's evil personified." I feel like shooting myself. The worst thing is that these people think they are superior and more intelligent in general terms and in reading comprehension... It's a pity.

Of course, the Darkling is the worst thing Ravka has ever known ! Certainly not :

- The wars against Fjerda and Shu Han, that have lasted for centuries.

- Racism.

- Sectarianism.

- Persecution.

- The Lantsov line in general with the king and queen currently leading the country to poverty for their personal pleasure.

- The incompetent, lazy and rapist actual King.

- Jarl Brum.

- The apparat, and his goddamn religious cult.

- Baghra who for all we know would let Ravka burn.

Yes of course. The Darkling is the worst thing Ravka has ever known ! The ultimate evil ! Seriously people who think that, fuck off or buy yourself a brain.

[ricardian-werewolf]

propaganda under the cut. (Spoilers for KOS and ROW). Nikolai info taken from the grishaverse wiki.

Threads:

Threads is a 1984 British-Australian apocalyptic war drama television film jointly produced by the BBC, Nine Network and Western-World Television Inc. Written by Barry Hines and directed and produced by Mick Jackson, it is a dramatic account of nuclear war and its effects in Britain, specifically on the city of Sheffield in Northern England. The plot centres on two families as a confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union erupts. As the nuclear exchange between NATO and the Warsaw Pact begins, the film depicts the medical, economic, social and environmental consequences of nuclear war.[2]

Nikolai Lantsov is a former King of Ravka. He is the second son of Alexander III (though later revealed to be the biological son of Magnus Opjer). He spent many years undercover, taking on a variety of jobs and hobbies.

Personality and traits

As Sturmhond, he appears to be cocky and brash, always "using ten words when two would have sufficed." He is rather mysterious; no one is able to tell where he is from or what his real name is. Sturmhond is said to have the respect of his crew, not their fear; he is able to retain their loyalty without resorting to threats of power plays that Alina has seen the Darkling employ, and it is said that he "does things his own way," implying that he abides by his own rules rather than conventional ones.

He is shown to be proficient with a number of weapons and is always seen to be bearing an assortment of weapons, including a brace of pistols, several knives, and a sword. He seems to have a particular fondness for the sword, even being willing to instruct Mal in the use of it. Usually, Sturmhond is observed wearing a bright teal frock coat with gaudy gold buttons and huge cuffs that Alina thinks would be more at home in a ballroom than on a ship's deck. When Alina and Mal dine with him, he shows a preference for fine cooking – the ship's crew includes a chef employed for this purpose. In conversation, he is jovial and intentionally lighthearted; though, when he is challenged, he betrays a much harder edge.

Alina and Mal are impressed by Nikolai's ability to appeal to the people around them and present them with a persona that they want to see. During this time, he shows himself to be extremely socially intelligent and willing to do whatever he can to manipulate the public into supporting him. He is really fair and just and cannot stand the mistreatment of innocent people. Nikolai is very intelligent and is said to excel at practically anything he tries. Nikolai suffers from being told he is ‘Nikolai Nothing’ by his brother and comments about his parentage but he hides his insecurities and does his best to satisfy everyone. He is adored by the public.

Skills and abilities.

Nikolai is a gifted fighter, swordsman, and marksman having learned to fight in street brawls as a child and serving in the First Army.

Nikolai is a natural leader, diplomat, and strategist.

Nikolai is a master actor able to pass off as Sturmhond which helps him be very manipulative and persuasive with his natural charisma.

Nikolai can juggle.

In King of Scars and Rule of Wolves, Nikolai is able to use his monster form while remaining conscious. He can fly and use his fangs/claws.

Nikolai can pilot airships and fighter planes, dating back to his experiments with his ship the Hummingbird.

Nikolai is a gifted inventor, when he was a child he turned a priceless Lantsov clock into a bizarre contraption.

[stromuprisahat]

Siege and Storm- Chapter 11 (Leigh Bardugo)

Assuming Alina's not wrong- how the hell can Nikolai have spies in Grand Palace, and then be all surprised his daddy's a rapist?! In previous book Genya says the worst thing about his assaults is that everyone knows. How come Prince Exile wasn't informed about King's frequent transgressions against his servants? Especially if there is an all- encompassing law against rape and Nikolai intends to get the throne through abdication of his predecessors?

Who is he lying to? Us or just himself?

That said, I'm curious how much of Tatiana's refusal to let Grisha near her husbands is healthy causion, and how much her Fjerdan upbringing?

[stromuprisahat]

theweeklydiscourse:

Now that you mention it, “He turned on his own Grisha” is so silly because what else is he supposed to do when his soldiers turn on him? Just let them kill him? The moment they decided to switch sides was the moment they decided to become his enemies and last I checked, generals tend to not spare their enemies. Also, trying to spin the Grisha draft as him stealing Grisha children might be the funniest charge of all. The text discussed it as though he was throwing children into a sack and sneaking off into the night with nefarious intent. Oh the horror! How will the children cope with regular meals, training, and socialization with members of their community? Obviously a draft isn’t ideal, but the Grisha are dealing with threats to their lives from multiple sources which makes the draft at least a better alternative to being kidnapped by the druskelle

Nikolai's political moves very likely support further rise of hatred towards Grisha. When he abolished their draft, either he "only" leaves them without protection if they're just "unchecked", or the otkazat'sya serfs have another reason to despise them for their sudden freedom, when ordinary servitude remains.

There's also the teeny-tiny fact the same country that was actively organizing hunts of Grisha is suddenly "run" by a King openly favouring people belonging to the very same group. If nothing else, his known weakness for Zoya should be a huge issue, since "Grisha can cast spells on men", and Genya... well, she might've poisoned the previous Tsar, but the new one conveniently deposed him in his secret private military base, then freed the poisoner in (staged) trial... That's nothing anyone might argue with, right?

But hey- I'm totally buying even the nobles let him sit on the Throne for three plus years... No revolt, naaaaah!

And no, the Darkling hardly turned on his own people, when the majority of them was either slaughtered by the ruling regime or followed him.

Why Nikolai is more of a villain than Aleksander

This post is an inspiration from one of anon asks.

Time and time again antis have accused Aleksander of several hideous crimes without understanding the monarchy of 19th century Feudal Russia and what serfdom entails. Due to this lack of understanding(or willful ignorance), Aleksander is studied under a harsher light than Nikolai and other characters. I blame the author entirely for this, as she never gave Aleksander a voice until much later. In books 1-3, he is only projected to us through Alina who had nothing but disdain for him.

On the other hand, we see Nikolai, who was a prince and then a king, who did not do much for the country or Grisha. However, his actions are softened by LB and antis. He is considered a 'flawed' human who did his best. His manipulative actions are treated as an act of strategic brilliance while his mistakes are treated as an act of desperation/helplessness.

So, let me first start by explaining some of the vile accusations thrown at Aleksander and then contrast it with some of Nikolai's actions.

He sex-trafficked Genya.

In Book 1, the author herself says two key points 1) Grisha are no better than serfs and 2) After their training, Grisha are either posted in the borders or sent to serve in affluent households. So Genya was not a unique case. This, again, is the price Aleksander had to pay for the Grisha to live. Genya had to be sent as a child because an adult Genya could not get as close to the Queen as a child would and it worked for a while until the Queen turned on her. This were an understanding of serfdom is needed. A serf can be released only by the master not by anyone else. Aleksander cannot take her away and relocate her somewhere else. And if the antis had read the 'The Tailor' they would know that in spite of the challenges, Aleksander did give her a choice- to disappear forever or exact her revenge and it was Genya who chose to stay.

He committed genocide in Novokribirsk.

Even if we ignore Alina's unreliable POV, Zoya's POV tells us that only a part of the city, near the docks was destroyed. So what Aleksander did was just a warning and not a 'genocide'. Antis keep forgetting that Grisha's enemies were not just Fjerda and Shu Han but Ravka itself. Had the coup had succeeded, he not just wanted Fjerda and Shu Han to back off but the First Army soldiers as well. Book 2 shows how his paranoia were not unwarranted. Through Fedyor's story we learn how they were attacked in their sleep and how First Army conducted sham trials and slaughtered them. This alone shows how Ravka's sentiments about Grisha was not much different from Fjerda or Shu Han. So in the event of the coup, Aleksander had no choice but to issue a warning all of his enemies.

He is a predator/abuser.

This is the one that makes me laugh the most. Girl, he is an immortal. He has no choice. All his age-appropriate past lovers are long dead and buried. What is he supposed to do? Remain celibate? They often bring up the kiss near Baghra's hut as an example of his predatory nature. But what manipulation happened? That dummy fell for Alina and high-tailed from there.

Let me draw a comparison to show what actual manipulation and predatory behaviour looks like. (1) Nikolai who is about 7-8 years older than Alina, forcibly kissing her, against her will, in front of hundreds of people just to better his chances for the throne. (2) Mal who punishes Alina for flinching at his advances by getting it on with Zoya. (3) Baghra, who preys on Alina's fears/insecurities and turns her son's one true immortal companion, against him. These are actual manipulations, not the one Aleksander did.

A predator/abuser needs to have constant access to his victims. In LB, own words, Aleksander rarely stayed at the Little Palace. Compared to him, Nikolai, Mal and Baghra had more access to Alina and they did actually succeed isolating her.

The Stag amplifier

Then the stag incident is treated as a sign of his manipulation and perversion. This where we need to apply our critical thinking and ask the important question who benefits from this act? It certainly was not Aleksander.

Let's rewind the clock a bit, Alina who was the Sun Summoner and a key political figure ran away from the Little Palace. Aleksander did not know if it was an enemy attack or something more sinister. He lies to King, who would have his head for this mishap and, searches for her only to learn that she run away on her own violation. So the girl, he hoped to be his ally became a threat. He was forced to reveal his hand sooner and speed up the coup. People need to understand that Aleksander is not an ordinary, lovesick boy, he is a war general and Alina has proved herself to be unworthy of his trust. So he put a leash on her. This not a question of morality but a question of ethics, much like the trolley problem.

He turned on his own Grisha.

They were deserters for god's sake! and was fighting opposite him. They forfeited his protection the moment they joined hands with the enemy. So he was treating them as a normal enemy.

He stole Grisha children.

He did what Charles Xavier did in X-Men. Grisha powers were tied to emotions and are instinctive. Without proper training they are bound to hurt normal people. Not to mention, if the Grisha were born outside they were either killed or sold to pleasure houses. And considering Ravka's anti-Grisha sentiments, he did what he had to do to keep them safe from actual predators.

Now let's talk about some of Nikolai's actions and let's not forget that he was the King/Prince of Ravka.

Sent his father on a luxury retirement instead of punishing him for his crimes.

Used Genya's trauma to make himself the king instead of offering her justice.

Did not care or investigate the genocide of the Second Army soldiers even if the said soldiers were serving the crown. He punished none of the First Army soldiers and was happily brown-nosing them.

Was happy to start a Civil war even after knowing the kind of king his father was. For a 'peace-loving' person (we have seen him in KoS and RoW ass-kissing useless feudal lords instead of using his authority), he did not attempt to negotiate with Aleksander.

Starved his people so Aleksander would have no choice but to use his Grisha to cross the Fold to get supplies. Again for the antis crowing about Novokribirsk, what do you call this?

Stole Grisha inventions like corecloth etc in the name of unification and supplied it to First Army. Read point 2 once more to understand the cruel nature of this act. He felt Grisha were hoarding better supplies but did not question why the First Army were having subpar things because if he did then the blame would rest on his father and his corrupt noble supporters. So he chooses to steal using the unification propaganda. How noble!

Sent Grisha who were not of age to war fronts and missions. Why not send the First Army? Are there no highly skilled people in the First Army for such things?

Manipulated and used Alina to establish himself. Atleast Aleksander 'manipulated' her for the betterment of Grisha, Nikolai did it for himself.

Destroyed everything Aleksander did for Grisha in the name of unification. Or should we call it erasure? He erased centuries of progress and left them without protection.

He claimed Aleksander used his Grisha selfishly for 'his' wars and then shamelessly sends his minions to recruit them from other countries.

If Nikolai was indeed a just and kind king as the antis claim him to be, why didn't he announce Grisha as a protected class? Why didn't he offer them equal rights as a Ravkan citizen? Through his own spies he knows what is happening to them in Fjerda, Shu-Han and Kerch and yet knowingly he lets Zoya abolish the rule of finding and securing the Grisha children (which mind you, saved Zoya from child marriage).

Aleksander was not just a person, he carried the history of the Grisha that was rapidly being erased. He built a place to pass down that knowledge, their culture and practices. If Grisha were not tested and found, who would save them if they died from wasting sickness, who would offer them protection from slavers and Fjerdans? Once again in the name of 'liberation' Nikolai had truly pushed them into hiding. Without these laws what happens when anti-grisha sentiments raise again after a few centuries? He removed every true protection and erased a targeted group's shared history in the name of liberation.

In the end, Nikolai did not protect his country nor the Grisha. He is in no way the hero of this story nor is his echo chambers whom he calls friends. I could go on and on. Truth is, it is not my intention to minimize things like SA or genocide. These are heavy topics and should be treated as such. Readers or antis who throw around such words should know the weight of such words. I hope this sheds some light on the hypocrisy that resides in this fandom.

Thanks for coming to my TED Talk!

[stephanythedramaqueen]

Here’s the thing because I cannot believe Alina would just willingly throw her support into the Lantsov monarchy. If Alexander III hadn’t sexually abused Genya, Alina wouldn’t have any personal beef with him. Despite the fact that the Old King would still exploit the Grisha while being a bigot to Alina’s FACE!

“It is my word against hers,” the King said, waving his finger at Genya. “I am a King—“

I stepped between them. “And I am a Saint. Shall we see whose word carries more weight?”

“You shut your mouth, you grotesque little witch. I should have had you killed when I had the chance.”

It honestly says it all. He sees them as witches, he sees them as a thing to be used and he insults Alina in the presence of everyone!

And the worst part is that none of Alina’s inner monologue reflects on that. She doesn’t note how he generalizes all Grisha into witches and sub-human. She doesn’t come back to the fact that his bigotry is very much alive and well and he’s the effing king. The head of the state that dictates much of which decrees passes into law is a bigoted fool. And she doesn’t want to kill him? Blames the Darkling for ever making moves against this piece of trash and all his line? Aleksander was right!!! this motherfucker and all his ilk deserves to choke.

And yeah, I’m sorrry to say, Nikolai too.

I obviously I don’t think he’s trash or bigoted at all like his father. But he stood by and watched his father call Alina a witch without defending her from this particular discrimination, or at all try to change his father’s mindset about Grisha as a whole. It wouldn’t change the Old King’s ways of course, but the point is that I wanted to see Nikolai stand up for the Grisha in the moment that it mattered the most, not whispered promises and ideals behind closed doors.

And this is exactly why I think he’s pretentious and trivializes the Grisha plight if only if it is for his own ambition to rule.

The monarchy was trash. The Darkling was right. And Alina couldn’t care less about the crisis of the socio-political situation her kind are living in. If Aleksander wasn’t so lonely and craved to end his solitude with his immortal equal that is the Sun Summoner, he would have had much more success in making the country safe for his people.

[stromuprisahat]

Vasily's not-so-subtle fuck you goodbye

Siege and Storm- Chapter 22

First, note Nikolai's place in order of succession.

Now, a tiny barb regarding his... well-known parentage.

Yeah, the timing is no coincidence. Someone planned to do the whole "Right in your face!" thingy on Nikolai's birthday specifically.

If this worked out, it would've been a splendid move. Securing alliance against the Darkling, achieving written peace with one of Ravkan perpetual enemies and elegantly getting rid of a wannabe claimant to Vasily's rightful place.

Nikolai can continue to be useful out of sight. There's no problem with Stormhond, there is with insolent bastard at Court.

What's hilarious- Vasily's "gift" puts his father's into perspective:

What could've been a sign of recognition is turned into a mockery.

Vasily's father was privy to his journey north and therefore likely his intentions regarding Nikolai's fate. This is a delicious "Get off our backs, bastard!", wrapped in precious stones.

This could've been such memorable last words!

Shame it will take nichevo'ya a few more sentences to arrive... :(

[wazafam]

Netflix's Shadow & Bone series, based on the bestselling books by Leigh Bardugo, has a rich mythology and vibrant characters; here it all is explained. The gritty, dark fantasy Netflix series was first announced in January 2019 with Eric Heisserer (Arrival) serving as showrunner, creator and executive producer, with Bardugo herself also serving as EP on the series, guaranteeing it will stay faithful to the spirit of the books.

Bardugo's series of novels has earned itself a large and faithful following thanks to their intricate world-building, an interesting system of magic, and unforgettable characters. The scope of the new upcoming Netflix TV show is ambitious; thus far Bardugo's "Grishaverse" consists of six books: the original trilogy, a mostly unrelated duology set in the same universe, and a direct sequel to the original trilogy meant to pick up where the events of it left off. Rather than adapt them all exactly in order or cut the duology out completely, the approach Heisserer is taking is to weave both stories and sets of characters together in an intertwining narrative.

Related: Everything We Know So Far About Netflix's Shadow & Bone

With the crossing A plot, B plot approach of both stories being adapted simultaneously, that means the series will introduce an awful lot of characters into a universe that's brand-new for many viewers. In order to prep for Shadow & Bone's anticipated release in April, here's a handy breakdown of the books and how the series differs from them, the characters, and the world of the Grishaverse.

The original Grishaverse trilogy consists of three books, Shadow and Bone, Storm and Siege, and Ruin and Rising. They tell the story of teenage orphan, Alina Starkov, who grows up in an orphanage in the kingdom of Ravka with her best friend and fellow orphan, Malyen Oretsev, or Mal. Both Alina and Mal are conscripted into the Ravkan army but Alina, who has never been good at anything, doesn't take to it the way Mal does.

They're sent on a mission to cross the Shadow Fold, otherwise known as the Unsea, an unnatural tear of absolute darkness full of monsters that has split the once-great kingdom of Ravka in two. During the dangerous crossing, their regiment is attacked by the monsters, called volcra, and Mal is brutally injured. In her fear and panic, Alina exhibits a rare and to-that-point dormant power that saves his life while changing hers forever, for it's revealed Alina's power may be the key to saving their war-ravaged nation.

Soon, Alina is whisked away to the capital Os Alta, to be trained as a Grisha, the magic users of the world. Her greatest champion, and source of confusion, is General Kirigan, a.k.a. the Darkling, the ultra-powerful leader of the Grisha and head of their magical armed forces. As Alina's power grows, she learns more about it – and that someone may be using her as a pawn for their own ends. Suddenly, Alina has to learn how to carry the burden of being the country's great hope while navigating the pitfalls of royal intrigue and betrayal, all the while fighting her attraction to her mentor, the Darkling, and worrying about Mal and how he fares on the front lines.

Related: How Shadow & Bone Is Avoiding The Witcher's Timeline Confusion

Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse is a rich tapestry of magical fantasy and gritty, realistic conflict. It's set in a fictional world that mirrors ours, with the various countries in the world being based on real-world countries and cultures. Ravka, where the majority of the action of Shadow & Bone takes place, is modeled after 18th-century Tsarist Russia, with its capital Os Alta, serving as a stand-in for Moscow. But other countries are visited in the book series, including Kerch and its capital, Ketterdam (the Netherlands and Amsterdam), Fjerda (Scandinavia), Shu Han (Mongolia & China), Novyi Zem (American & Australian colonies), and the Wandering Isles (Ireland).

When the story opens, Ravka has been embroiled in a long civil war after the rebellious Darkling's first attempts to depose Ravka's weak-willed king, Alexander III. As a result, the people of Ravka are no strangers to military service, but Ravka's has two separate militaries: those who practice the Small Science - what we'd call magic - known as the Grisha, and who serve in the Second Army, and the non-magical people (referred to as otkazat'sya by the Grisha) who serve in the First Army. The two Ravkan armies sit uneasy with each other, with the First Army fearing the Grisha's magical power and influence, and the Grisha often having a disdainful disregard for non-magical people, fueled in part by the fact magic users used to be persecuted. Understandably, the kingdom of Ravka is tired and impoverished due to its constant state of war with itself and hostile nations that would seek to take advantage of the inner turmoil, with the royal Lantsov family ruling over it all.

The Grisha are separated into three magical groups: Corporalki, Etherealki, and Materialki, each with their own subgroups and uniforms. Of the three, the Corporalki are the highest tier in the Second Army and the most feared magic users, as their magic is the kind that manipulates the body at the smallest molecular level, bringing either death (Heartrenders) or life (Healers). The Corporalki are identified by their crimson red kefta uniforms.

Etherealki are also powerful and an important part of the Second Army as they deal with the elements, manipulating air (Squallers), controlling and creating fire with a flint focus (Inferni), and those who can control water (Tidemakers). Squallers and Tidemakers are especially important to the Navy and a pair are found on every Ravkan ship, their blue keftas denoting them as Etherealki.

Related: Cursed Season 2 Theory: How Nimue Could Be Saved From Death

Lastly, the Materialki may not have skills that are as flashy as the first two branches, but without their magic, the Ravkan armies, and Ravka itself, would fall apart, for Materialkis, also known as Fabrikators, are able to manipulate inorganic material to create incredible weapons and inventions. The Durasts can manipulate any solid object, whether it be glass, metal, stone, wood, and more, while Alkemi deal in more alchemical matters, such as poisons and blasting powders. The Fabrikators are known by their purple kefta.

Then there are the extremely rare kind of Grisha known as Summoners. Though technically Etherealki, they get their own name as their powers are so unique among their kind. In the world of Shadow & Bone, only two known summoners exist: The Darkling, a.k.a. the Shadow Summoner, who can summon the dark, and Alina Starkov, a.k.a. the Sun Summoner, who can summon the light.

There are many characters across the six books published so far, and Netflix's Shadow & Bone series is using characters from both the original Grishaverse trilogy and the Six of Crows duology. Here are the main characters in the Netflix series.

The Darkling, a.k.a. General Kirigan - The Darkling (Ben Barnes) is the leader of the Grisha Second Army. He is mysterious and powerful, the only person on Earth known to be able to summon darkness. Thus, his abilities and the pressures of leading the army have isolated him from the rest of humanity and while he is not to be trusted, he's possibly to be pitied. When he meets Alina Starkov and realizes what she is, it creates an instant connection as he believes he's found someone who can finally understand him.

Related: Why Netflix's Shadow & Bone Is Hiding Ben Barnes Being The Darkling

Alina Starkov - The Sun Summoner, Alina (Jessie Mei Li) is a teenaged orphan who discovers she has a rare and world-changing power during a mission through the Shadow Fold. Suddenly, Alina's life is turned upside-down as she goes from a quiet life in a small village to the center of the capital city of Os Alta as the one who can perhaps destroy the Shadow Fold for good. Alina tries her best to live up to everyone's expectations, but the weight of it is lot to bear and it draws her closer to the Darkling in their shared loneliness.

Malyen "Mal" Oretsev - Mal (Archie Renaux) is Alina's best friend; they grew up together in the same orphanage. Mal gets drafted into the First Army where he proves himself to be an exceptionally gifted tracker and soldier. As their lives head in different directions after the revelation of Alina's powers, the distance and conflicting objectives put a strain on their friendship, even as their connection forged from childhood refuses to break.

Kaz "Dirtyhands" Brekker - Kaz Brekker (Freddy Carter) is the de facto leader of the Dregs, also known as the Crows, one of Ketterdam's street gangs, and one of the most ambitious thanks to Kaz being a criminal mastermind and bolder than the rest. Kaz is only a teenager, but his legend has grown in Ketterdam's back alleys and nighttime shadows. Kaz is known for being willing to do any job, no matter how violent or dangerous, without showing an ounce of fear, thus earning him the nickname Dirtyhands.

Inej "The Wraith" Ghafa - As Kaz Brekker's right-hand woman, Inej (Amita Suman) is as feared as Kaz himself. Of Suli background and raised as an acrobat, Inej uses her catlike reflexes and incredible grace to be the Dregs' spy. She can get into any room, scale any wall, infiltrate any building, thus earning the nickname The Wraith in Ketterdam's criminal circles. Despite this, Inej has a strong moral code, and though she always has at least half a dozen knives somewhere on her body, all named for a saint, there are some lines she won't cross, not even for Kaz.

Related: Cursed: The Original Lady Of The Lake Legend Explained

Jesper Fahey - The Dregs' sharpshooter, at first glance, Jesper (Kit Young) doesn't seem like someone you can trust in a fight: He's a gambler, cocky, and always quick with a joke no matter the situation. But Jesper is a cool head in a fight and has a near-perfect aim no matter what. Unknown to many, Jesper is also a Durast, but won't use his power thanks a childhood trauma. Due to his powers not being released, Jesper is often fidgety and impulsive, the excess magical energy making him constantly restless.

Nina Zenik - Nina (Danielle Galligan) is a Heartrender from Ravka who also works with the Dregs from time to time. She's beautiful and curvaceous, and her boisterous personality and forward manner belies a compassionate person. Nina is a big personality, who feels everything and loves fiercely, whether it's food, people, or laughter. Despite this, Nina is loyal to her country and often puts Ravka's needs above her own.

Matthias Helvar - Matthias (Calahan Skogman) is a Fjerdan Drüskelle soldier who captures Nina when she's on a mission. The Fjerdans are suspicious people with a hatred of witchcraft, immediately viewing all Grisha as devils to be destroyed. Matthias is uptight, bullheaded, and unfriendly, but there's also a softer, more open person struggling to break out from the years of brutal living that have made him so cold.

  The big difference between the books and the new Netflix series is that the series will be weaving together characters from both the original Grishaverse trilogy and the Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom duology at the same time. In order to keep the timeline intact, this means the storyline with the Dregs will be a prequel story to those familiar with the books, with the events involving the Dregs in the series happening before the events in the books. This leaves open the possibility that Six of Crows may be adapted in later seasons. Likewise, there are two major characters already confirmed to not be appearing in Shadow & Bone season 1: Nikolai Lantsov, the prince of Ravka, and Wylan Van Eck, a member of the Dregs. They'll likely appear in a second season provided Netflix orders one.

Shadow & Bone premieres on Netflix on Friday, April 23.

More: Every New Show Releasing On Netflix In 2021

  What Is Shadow & Bone? Books, Characters & Netflix Show Explained from https://ift.tt/308iHHv

[stromuprisahat]

Vasily is an incredibly overhated character, and it's frustrating how little we actually know about him. Even in Nikolai’s own duology, we barely get any backstory on his brother. It’s as if Leigh Bardugo didn’t care to explore him at all. I get that he’s a side character, but he was the former heir to the throne of Ravka—we should know more than just his obsession with horses and whiskey. I wanted depth, flashbacks that showed him and Nikolai as children, insights into why he was so fixated on racing and horses. It's such a missed opportunity.

Do you have any headcanons about Vasily? What would you have added to his character, for example, to make him more developed?

Well, that's the thing- he's the former Heir to the Throne in books, where politics are just fancy setting you're not supposed to look at too closely.

We don't need to know more about him, because Nikolai said he'll give up the Throne to get rid of the responsibilities.

I quickly went through KoS², and there isn't really anything new- we already knew about his disdain for both peasants and (therefore) Nikolai, showing me specific examples doesn't add to his character much.

I would like to know how exactly was he shaped. Sure, he had nannies and tutors, assuring him of his specialness. Since he doesn't live in an American movie, he won't meet an insolent peasant to open his eyes, so those will treat him in a way that will only cement his belief they're inferior to him, but what about his parents? How much attention did they pay him?

He despised his father for his substandard dalliances, he bears no love for Tatiana for the same, especially since it results in a bastard clinging to him as if they were of equal standing. Is that an adult child's disenchantment, or were they never close? How did it impact his own love life?

What was he really up to any ordinary day? We always see him through Nikolai-coloured eyes, and even that way the text proves the view skewed. He didn't care about the poor, he wasn't interested in filth and grime of front-lines, that's nothing special in his position.

What was he good at?! How was he in all levels of politics? What has his stance on religions? Sciences? Trade? Heavy industry? Would he like trains?

What was he interested in aside from horses and ensuring everyone remembers HE is the Heir?!

As for headcanons- horses weren't just a way to avoid responsibilities, but Vasily's hyperfixation in a way.