#King's quest VII

[citrus-cactus]

Go right young lady, that's what they all say...

I worked way too hard on this: an isolated version of Rosella's walk cycle from King's Quest VII. For some reason I can’t find any sprite sheets of her, so I made these my own janky, time-consuming way just so I could study the animation. It's a 10-frame cycle, BTW!

Playing KQVII as a kid, this game was my first time really noticing that animated characters could have their own unique walks. Rosella’s toe-heel step always struck me as very refined and princess-like. And I've always loved the way her hair swishes!!

[tinsnip]

In the forest there is a betrousered bear. If he catches you then it's an immediate Game Over, unless you press the / key twice. Do this before getting caught and you'll hear yourself being eaten alive for up to twelve seconds. The author of "munchScript" went to the trouble of programming it for both characters and randomizing the horrific sounds. They had a lot of material to work with.

[allhailkingsquest]

[Inktober 2023] Day 6: Golden by enjuvarue

[theadventurerslog]

King's Quest VII: The Princeless Bride | Part 6

The Adventurer’s Log

King’s Quest VII: The Princeless Bride Part 6

In which we return the moon to the sky and work on saving Attis and Ceres, visit old places and visit somewhere new.

First off I brought the salesman his magic statuette at last, but not without using it myself first. Looking in it brought a vision of Rosella in a dark place and generally in peril, which we know all about. Poor Valanice is just building up the urgency to find her.

In return for the statuette the salesman gave me a salve and informed me I had to add animal hair before using it. Well, I had the jackalope hair from the first chapter. If I hadn't once I was allowed back out of Falderal I could have gone back to the desert to get it. No dead ends here!

With that done it was time to return the Falderalians' moon back to the sky. Just using the cheese to throw it doesn't work though she does toss it up, just for it come back down. It's cute to be able to try anyway. It took a little looking around but I found a branch on the mockingbird's tree I could interact with and I had the rubber chicken, so...

Rubber chicken cheese launcher! The things these Daventry royals do. But it was enough; the cheese launched off and then the rubber chicken wandered off... a little creepy.

Yipyap was pleased and Valanice was granted a full pardon. Then he excused himself to hide in his sub basement as the volcano was smoking, uh oh. The town hall was also locked, so no going back there.

Now I was free to leave I went back to the giant stone statue that was sleeping. This was something I could have done in the last chapter with Valanice, but I didn't think to nor did I think to get the feather off the rubber chicken at that point. Just as well done now anyway, and so I tickled the statue's nose to wake him up.

Valanice informed him of Attis' and Ceres' plight. I was told to restore the river of life and cornucopia. Sacred drink was needed for the maiden's horn and sacred food for the maiden's cornucopia.

There were the two statues near the entrance to the woods from the desert and I already had sacred nectar from the bird I'd helped, so back I went to pour in some nectar.

The river was restored and Attis showed up. He drank from the water and changed back to his normal form.

A stag no more. And a rainbow bridge across the river!

Attis went back to Ceres and did manage to pull the stake out of her but the curse was too strong to do more yet.

Valanice was determined to press on to Ooga Booga to pursue Rosella. Attis warned her of a monster in the swamp that would block her way and while he wanted to focus on helping Ceres first he would come to Valanice's aid when needed.

I should have taken the hint to head straight to the werewoods but I wasn't sure if the food was something I could find now, so I wandered first and also fell in the river and got swept away for another death. Once I got my aimlessness out of the way I moved on at last to the werewoods and put that salve to use.

As it turned out it turns the user into an animal based on the hair used, so now it was Valanice's turn to be a giggly jackalope.

There she is!

And she streaked through the woods at top speed knocking the bit of clothing the werewolf had clean off and leaving him embarrassed in boxers with heart patterns.

I mean it's gotta be better than getting a chunk of silver hurled at you, right...?

On the other side Valanice transformed back but there was still the swamp monster to contend with. True to his word, Attis arrived and blasted it leaving us free to continue.

The three budded plant was still around and being annoying. They mentioned Rosella when Valanice asked but otherwise not too much of use, just more trying to lure her get eaten as well. They're nothing if not consistent.

Valanice's turn for Ooga Booga and more deaths. I passed by the ghoul kids' home and they were out and threw, I think a tomato, at Valanice before laughing at her and going back inside. I had a chat with Doctor Cadaver and confirmed Rosella was here a few hours before and that she'd been well, the liveliest in Ooga Booga even, and that she was searching for the troll king.

I went through the area where Lady Tsepish is mourning and this time the headless horseman was riding much lower down and I got run over for another death. I also attempted to talk to Lady Tsepish and died as well.

I found my way to the burnt out house and now the dog fully materialized and I couldn't get by him.

I ended up at the Boogeyman's home and the black cat was there.

She realized who Valanice was right away and shared some information:

Rosella is in great danger in the bowels of volcano, which will erupt soon. Seek help in Etheria, which floats in the clouds above. The Count Tsepish would be able to help Valanice get there, but lost his head. Find his head and he would be able help.

Once the cat left I of course prodded the bones a couple times to trigger that death. I wanted Valanice's reaction and I was rewarded. Her comment was: "Ah, I can't believe I got attacked by a pile of cranky sticks."

I also found the grave Rosella fell in and dropped into it as well to get the gravestone saying "Valanice. Rest in Peace."

But back to business, I wasn't quite sure what to do next. I tried going back to the werewoods and discovered the werewolves were back and couldn't be passed. There was another death.

A little more wandering and discovered the elevator was down at the kids' house. It just sometimes is and sometime isn't and all you can do is keep leaving the screen and coming back until it is.

In their house I got killed by the jack-in-the-box again. I need to see Valanice's reactions to things too, okay. And I went out to the little porch area and I guess lingered around too long because the kids showed up and shoved her off. Or at least it was implied they did, either way, you guessed it, death.

I did end up finding a bone in their house. From there I found my way back to the gravedigger area and I guess lingered too long once more because who should show up, but the boogeyman of course! I wasn't sure he even did anymore at this point. I did get a much better shot of him this time so, that's a plus...I guess?

Behold his ickiness. Before dying. Again.

I did need to put the bone to use, so it was back to the dog and I tossed it his way.

And he gave it a good chew. Then he spoke!

Valanice has been the first to be kind to him since losing his master and mistress. His master, Count Tsepish, was beheaded by Malicia's gargoyle and cursed to ride the skies in search of the head. His mistress died of grief. Dog friend here died trying to defend the home when the boogeyman came to burn it. It had started when Malicia led an uprising against Etheria and the crown. His master tried to go against her then which led to killing him. He gave me his master's medal.

Then we got a cuddle.

So sweet... He's a good boy!

And I needed to now find Count Tsepish's head. I went back to his tomb and was able to give the medal to Lady Tsepish which caused her to cry even harder, but she did leave. That let me read the tomb and confirm it was Count Tsepish's but it was also locked.

Once again I ended up at the ghoul kids' place but this time one of them was outside chasing the cat with a string of lit firecrackers. One of them fell off while he ran off screen and like any good adventurer I picked it up.

A lit firecracker in one's dress? What could go wrong?

Well, a locked door and a firecracker? Yep, I went back and shoved it in the lock which blew the door open to find his tomb inside.

Inside the tomb I found a skull, his head.

Back outside the horseman passed by again, but I missed my chance. It took me a few tries to get it right and on one of those I got run over again but in the end I managed to give it to him and he was restored.

Once he was restored Lady Tsepish came running back, shedding her cloak as she went and was much happier. They had a loving embrace and their dog came back too!

A happy reunion!

The count gave Valanice a fife which would summon his horse anywhere.

With it she could ride his horse to Etheria and hopefully we'll be able to find the help we need. And then I was railroaded in going straight to Etheria.

Which is a very colourful place and Valanice is trying her hand at camouflage here.

There were five routes here, 4 rainbow roads and a route to continue. I checked out each of the rainbows and they each led to a different place down below: the desert, swamp, Falderal and the area by the statues and river of life in the forest. I put the horse to work getting me back to Etheria each time.

Then I started exploring Etheria itself. I found a place with little fairies (I think) that played a tinkly tune then beyond there was another space with a harp... I fiddled but didn't get anywhere with it--sound puzzles oh boy. I left it for now and carried on exploring.

I came to a spiralling path with a ghostly horse occasionally swooping around.

Climbing the path led me to another screen with a cave and ambrosia.

I went for the ambrosia first. I had to climb the tree and was able to fetch it. Then I tried for the cave and there was a monster.

It sure did eat me. Valanice said she may need some help here so I gave that a wide berth.

I went back down to the forest to try putting the ambrosia in the statue's cornucopia and sure enough it filled up.

I was able to get a pomegranate from it and then I returned to Attis and the Ceres tree. He thought the pomegranate as the fruit of life and rebirth might help but he didn't really believe it. Attis was being too sad because of course it worked! I used it on the tree and Ceres was restored.

Another happy reunion. Valanice is making them all over but yet to get her own with Rosella...

Attis set off to Etheria to do what he could to help while Ceres remained behind to restore more of the forest.

I went back to see if I could get another pomegranate. I could. Then I wanted to stop by the desert to see ol' Eduardo again, but he's closed now because the volcano's about to blow.

The jackalope was crying too. Things are getting bad here.

I went back to Etheria and will have to puzzle my way through it next time. Help is needed; there's a volcano to stop! And Rosella to find!

--

Deaths: 35 Time: 6:26

[mikurulucky]

>reads the King's Quest VII entry on TV Tropes >under a section referencing the chapter 2 scene where Oppi and Rosella are chatting, I see a link that says "ship tease" >wait_what.jpg >goes to YMMV section >finds out some people ship the two >mfw

Well THAT'S news to me. I mean, Oppi's super cute (and has a super cute voice too), I'll admit, but like, I don't recall seeing anyone shipping anyone with him, let alone see much fanart of most of the one off characters like him.

[annon-guy2]

King of Fighters Tournament Poll: Square Enix Edition

[incorrect-dragonquest-quotes]

7, after Kiefer leaves the Party: no i am not crying there is just a little bit of I feel fucking abandoned in my eyes.

[dimalink]

Sarah Brightman and world of spiders

Drawing at the music theme. Miss Sarah Brightman. From the front cover to the record Symphony. It was, I can say, my favorite album. For some time. It is such pop, rock, musicals, and, of course, a little gothic. So, it has lots of things. And here Sarah Brightman in red. It is a standalone theme. Lots of photos in the internet from tour symphony, where she is in a red dress.

And, this is my drawing about arts to the front cover from album Symphony. Sarah Brightman and world of spiders. It is a world of grey sky, and big constructions. In a view of like gothic cathedrals. They are rising to the sky. And all the world – it is big buildings. From stone. Or big forest. With big trees. And spiders. Different spiders. Not required them to be evil and like hunters. It is just a world of big stones, big buildings, grey sky, and big forest with big trees. Spiders are big and small. Kind and not so kind.

Album from Sarah Brightman, it is in someway gothic, but not evil. So, it is a such a fantasy.

So, I remember I had some point of interest into fantasy literature. A long time ago. And I still do not read world of spiders and chronicles of sink world. So, now, I make my own tale. And, also, I remember in a movie Mortal Kombat, it was a scene when Johnny Cage from the forest appears into world of scorpion. And it has lots of grey buildings from wood, dust. Web.

If to fantasy more. So, it can be a quest about such world. Gothic. A little grey. But not evil. Pixel quest from first part of 90s. Or arcade like afterburner, where Sarah Brightman runs at the big spider. And someway control other some spiders. Fight with other spiders. Spiders in this world – instead of horses and machines, cars. So, I can imagine like this.

[gingersnaptaff]

who are the main characters in welsh arthurian mythos?

Hi anon! You know, I looked at this question and just fuckin DIED with GLEE! Ehdhdjdhdjd I LOVE SHIT LIKE THIS!!!!! SHDJDJDH

First off, Arthur is pretty big. He's less a king and more of a warlord, but there's still a lot of cultural reverence for him in Welsh things. Seriously, Henry VII - a notable faux-Welshman - named his firstborn son Arthur purely because he was going to be Prince of Wales. Also, in Culhwch and Olwen his retinue has TWO Welsh GODS in it - Manawydan and Pryderi (my beloveds.) Idk what they're doing in it but I am inordinately pleased that they are there.

Also, Uther Pendragon / Uther Ben. Taliesin wrote a poem about him which is super fun. (Also, oddly enough Taliesin himself HAS been linked into Arthurian legends on multiple occasions. He's also another Arthur-type in that he's still regarded as tooling the line between mythical and real.)

Gwenhwyfar is also important even though she takes a back seat. Speculation is rife about whether she had a quest/myth about her (sorta like Culhwch and Olwen) and also her name means 'white phantom!' BRING IT BACK. I, for one, think she definitely did have a quest attributed to her in which Arthur had to do something to get her hand in marriage but idk WHAT.

Also, she's a GIANT!!!!!!!! EJDJDKDKDKD

Gwalchmai is also Super Important. There's speculation as to whether he was a mythical character who got implanted into the mythos or if he was always Atthur's nephew. Basically, he's a giant and he kills giants. Seriously, he's CONSTANTLY killing giants in the mythos. Plus he is called 'Gwalchmai Golden / Silver-tongued' in poetry too. In the Mabinogion, he's very often the one to soothe discord between the other knights so he's very diplomatic too.

Cai and Bedwyr, obviously! They come as a pair. Do Not Separate. Now, Cai is sometimes also seen to be a giant but his dad is Cynyr Ceinfarfog who was a real king. He ruled Dyfed and was the dad of Saint Non and, therefore, grandad to SAINT DAVID. (Wales' patron saint!) So Cai, like Arthur, has a saintly lineage. Before the French Romances shifted his character into the more recognisable Kay, Arthur's grumpy seneschal, Cai was a warrior of great renown. And literally superhuman. Like, nobody would received from.a blow from his sword, he could brave fire and water like nobody else, he has the ability to go nine nights and days without sleep or the need to breathe. He's a ledge.

Now, Bedwyr! Again he's a great warrior and ONE-ARMED. He's called Bedwyr Bedrydant (Bedwyr of the Perfect Sinew) and he's HOT SHIT. Seriously, he's like the most beautiful Knight in Arthur's court. The 10th-century poem 'pa gur' says that assailants 'fell by the hundred / before Bedwyr of the Perfect sinew ... fighting with Garwlwyd/ furious with sword and shield.' (Also, BTW Garwlwyd is possibly a werewolf.)

They have to put up with SO MUCH SHIT from Arthur's escapades it's ridiculous. They had to convince Arthur not to intervene in a King abducting a princess and carrying her back to his court, ffs. Give them a HOLIDAY. WITH SALMON TAXIS.

Now, I would say Merlin BUT he is added later into the mythology. He isn't there straight off. But he is Welsh. He's FUN. He was apparently based on Myrddin Wyllt. He went mad, and lived in a forest. His bestie was a king who died.

Now, I also think Owain, and Geraint on account of their having stories written about them but they're two kings who got folded into the mythos a bit later. Urien (Owain's dad) is another example.

Also, Macsen Wledig too. But again writers melded him in later. And I mean this in the sense that he and Arthur share similarities in how they're perceived in Welsh culture.

Anyways, anon, I hope this helps. I'm probably forgetting a TONNE of characters (Peredur, for one.) But I Don't want to bore you or make anybody trawl through this unwillingly so I shall stop! Hopefully, this helps! Thank u for the question!!!!

[whencyclopedia]

Ptolemy I

Ptolemy I Soter (366-282 BCE) was one of the successor kings to the empire of Alexander the Great. He served not only as king of Egypt but also the founder of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, a dynasty which included the infamous Cleopatra VII.

Early Life & Persian Campaign

Ptolemy was a Macedonian nobleman, son of Lagos. Rumors circulated, however, that he was actually the illegitimate son of Alexander's father Phillip II, a possibility that would have made him Alexander's half-brother. Although older than Alexander and many of the other generals who followed Alexander into Persia, he still became a close friend, advisor and later one of his seven personal bodyguards. Following Phillips II's death at the hands of Pausanias, Alexander embarked on his quest to meet, defeat and conquer Darius III and the Persian Empire. Although historians are in disagreement concerning Ptolemy's role in the Persian campaign, they do agree that he did participate in a number of battles. This disagreement stems from the fact that Ptolemy was also a historian of sorts and his biography of Alexander may have exaggerated his own contributions.

Ptolemy's name first appears during Alexander's defeat of Memnon, the Greek mercenary general in the service of Persia, at Halicarnassus. Supposedly, Alexander left Ptolemy with a force of 3000 men to finish subjugating the city while he moved on to Gordium. Ptolemy next appears at the battles of Issus and Gaugamela. At Issus he served in the left flank under the command of Parmenio. Next, when the Persian king Darius III was found dying after his defeat at Gaugamela and his assassin Bessus had been identified, it was Ptolemy who was sent to collect the assassin. He brought him to Alexander naked, in chains, and wearing a dog collar.

In Persepolis, Ptolemy was linked to the burning of the city. At one of Alexander's celebrations, Ptolemy's mistress Thais suggested the palace should be burned. In his World History Diodorus made mention of this incident:

When the Companions were feasting, and intoxication was growing The king led them to the revel, with Thais the courtesan conducting the ceremony. She was the first after the king to throw her blazing torch into the palace.

Continue reading...

[things-arent-what-they-seem66]

@fanofstuff01 @kittenfangirl20 @beef-brisket

Do you know the game Kings Quest VII?

Well Adamsapple Au where Queen Sera wants Adam to get married. But one day as she is telling him the benefits of getting married Adam looks into the lake he sees a palace.

Not wanting to marry, Adam jumps into the lake and is transported into a portal and Sera jumps in after him. When hand (Lucifer's) comes out of nowhere and pulls Adam to the demon underworld and Sera ends up somewhere else.

The difference being Adam actually falls in love with Lucifer as Sera is looking for him.

[tilskkarishma]

TAROT CARDS (for @lostbyaccident)

Since there is so much to say about the tarot cards, it’s not easy for me to know where to start, but I will provide a rough overview for now. I hope it won't be too long, but I fear it might be. ^^;

Cards can appear upright, but they can also be reversed. This changes their meaning as well. I know that this makes things even more complicated at first, and you can start by looking only at the meanings of the upright cards, for the beginning.

Major Arcana:

These are the strongest cards in the decks. Overall, they describe one's journey from a fool to transcendence (The World). Essentially, it's about becoming one with the universe. Many beginners only work with the Major Arcana cards, but I advise against that, as I believe you won't progress. But that's up to each person.

0 - The Fool: ↑ new beginning ↓ naivety

I - The Magician: ↑ ability to create (talents) ↓ aimlessness

II - The High Priestess: ↑ intuition, magical feminine side ↓ self-doubt

III - The Empress: ↑ growth, beauty, feminine power ↓ arbitrariness, dominance

IV - The Emperor: ↑ stability, discipline, masculine power ↓ abuse of power, perfectionism

V - The Hierophant: ↑ wise advice, quest for meaning ↓ dogmas, manipulation

VI - The Lovers: ↑ loving relationship, heart’s decision ↓ half-heartedness

VII - The Chariot: ↑ determination, courage ↓ impatience, loss of control

VIII - Strength: ↑ inner strength, self-discipline ↓ suppression, violence

IX - The Hermit: ↑ self-discovery, retreat ↓ depression, loneliness

X - Wheel of Fortune: ↑ (positive) change ↓ trapped in a routine

XI - Justice: ↑ wise judgement, responsibility ↓ injustice, revenge

XII - The Hanged Man: ↑ perspective change, passivity ↓ giving up, burnout

XIII - Death: ↑ gradual, quiet change ↓ fear of change

XIV - Temperance: ↑ harmony, inner balance ↓ tendency toward extremes, imbalance

XV - The Devil: ↑ setting boundaries (beware of dependencies) ↓ addiction

XVI - The Tower: ↑ horrible and painful change ↓ escape from reality

XVII - The Star: ↑ clarity, hope ↓ uncertainty, hopelessness

XVIII - The Moon: ↑ dreams, longing ↓ deception, fear

XIX - The Sun: ↑ joy, success ↓ vanity, selfishness

XX - Judgement: ↑ wake-up call, self-realization ↓ self-doubt, difficulty making decisions

XXI - The World: ↑ completion, harmony ↓ perfectionism, obstacles

Lesser Arcana:

Even if you don’t have tarot cards and only have playing cards, you can still use them to lay out the Minor Arcana. No joke. ^^

The numbers themselves also have meanings, and the court cards (Page, King, etc.) have meanings as well. But for now, I’ll just say that these court cards often represent actual people. So, for example, if you draw the Queen of Cups, it could represent a woman you like, someone who's kind to you, etc.

WANDS - Element Fire - Suit: Clubs (energy, lust)

Ace of Wands: ↑ inspiration, energy ↓ lack of energy

Two of Wands: ↑ decision-making, future planning ↓ indecision, stagnation

Three of Wands: ↑ expansion, exploration ↓ obstacles, delays

Four of Wands: ↑ celebration, harmony ↓ instability, lack of foundation

Five of Wands: ↑ competition, conflict ↓ lack of cooperation, chaos

Six of Wands: ↑ victory, recognition ↓ failure, lack of acknowledgement

Seven of Wands: ↑ perseverance, standing up for oneself ↓ defensiveness, overwhelmed

Eight of Wands: ↑ swift progress, movement ↓ delays, obstacles

Nine of Wands: ↑ resilience, endurance ↓ paranoia, exhaustion

Ten of Wands: ↑ burden, responsibility ↓ burnout, being overwhelmed

Page of Wands: ↑ curiosity, new ideas ↓ immaturity, impulsiveness

Knight of Wands: ↑ passion, action ↓ recklessness, impatience

Queen of Wands: ↑ confidence, warmth ↓ arrogance, temper

King of Wands: ↑ leadership, vision ↓ overconfidence, controlling

CUPS - Element Water - Suit: Hearts (feelings)

Ace of Cups: ↑ big emotions, (new) love ↓ emotional instability, being needy

Two of Cups: ↑ partnership, mutual attraction ↓ imbalance, one-sidedness

Three of Cups: ↑ celebration, friendship ↓ gossip, exclusion

Four of Cups: ↑ contemplation, dissatisfaction ↓ emotional withdrawal

Five of Cups: ↑ regret, loss, depression ↓ focusing on the positive

Six of Cups: ↑ nostalgia, childhood memories ↓ clinging to the past

Seven of Cups: ↑ choices, dreams ↓ illusion, confusion

Eight of Cups: ↑ walking away, emotional withdrawal ↓ disappointment, avoidance

Nine of Cups: ↑ satisfaction, contentment ↓ indulgence, overconfidence

Ten of Cups: ↑ happiness, harmony, family ↓ disconnection, unresolved conflict

Page of Cups: ↑ intuition, creativity ↓ emotional immaturity

Knight of Cups: ↑ romanticism, idealism ↓ emotional instability

Queen of Cups: ↑ compassion, emotional balance ↓ over-sensitivity, dependence

King of Cups: ↑ emotional maturity, wisdom ↓ emotional coldness

SWORDS - Element Air - Suit: Spades (thoughts)

Ace of Swords: ↑ clarity, new insights ↓ confusion, miscommunication

Two of Swords: ↑ decision, weighing options ↓ indecision, being stuck

Three of Swords: ↑ heartbreak, sorrow ↓ emotional detachment

Four of Swords: ↑ rest, recovery ↓ burnout, exhaustion

Five of Swords: ↑ conflict, tension ↓ misunderstandings

Six of Swords: ↑ transition, moving on ↓ mental baggage, avoidance

Seven of Swords: ↑ deception, strategy ↓ dishonesty, trickery

Eight of Swords: ↑ feeling trapped, self-imposed limitations ↓ lack of clarity

Nine of Swords: ↑ anxiety, fear, nightmares ↓ self-doubt

Ten of Swords: ↑ betrayal, endings ↓ new beginnings

Page of Swords: ↑ curiosity, investigation ↓ immaturity

Knight of Swords: ↑ action, fast-paced ↓ impulsiveness, recklessness

Queen of Swords: ↑ logic, intelligence ↓ coldness, bitterness

King of Swords: ↑ authority, reason ↓ rigidity

PENTACLES - Element Earth - Suit: Diamonds (finances, material things)

Ace of Pentacles: ↑ prosperity, new beginnings ↓ missed opportunities

Two of Pentacles: ↑ balance, juggling ↓ instability

Three of Pentacles: ↑ teamwork, collaboration ↓ lack of recognition

Four of Pentacles: ↑ stability, security ↓ greed, possessiveness

Five of Pentacles: ↑ loss, hardship ↓ fear of loss

Six of Pentacles: ↑ generosity, giving and receiving ↓ imbalance, selfishness

Seven of Pentacles: ↑ patience, long-term success ↓ disappointment, poor investment

Eight of Pentacles: ↑ hard work, dedication ↓ boredom

Nine of Pentacles: ↑ luxury, independence ↓ insecurity

Ten of Pentacles: ↑ family, wealth ↓ instability

Page of Pentacles: ↑ ambition, learning ↓ naivety

Knight of Pentacles: ↑ dedication, hard work ↓ perfectionism

Queen of Pentacles: ↑ nurturing, abundance ↓ codependency

King of Pentacles: ↑ stability, financial success ↓ greed

I hope it helped you at least a bit. ^^; If you have any question, you can ask me.

Much love ♥

Tilsk

[allhailkingsquest]

[Inktober 2023] Day 8: Toad by enjuvarue

[theadventurerslog]

King's Quest VII: The Princeless Bride | Part 3

The Adventurer’s Log

King’s Quest VII: The Princeless Bride Part 3

Chapter Three: "The sky is falling!"

Previously Valanice was trying to find a way out of the desert to keep up her search for Rosella. A tunnel was opened but we left her confronting a beast...

A beast I couldn't deal with just yet as I didn't have what I needed here, so I had to make a hasty retreat.

All I was missing was a prickly pear which was just outside waiting to be knocked down by my handy dandy previously unused stick. Then I fed it to the beast and could carry on.

num num num then back into the hole it went.

And I came out into a pretty forest-y area in quite a contrast to the desert.

I quite like this screen. It's pretty. I could only examine the broken bridge and the statue, but there was nothing else to do here.

I came across a stag.

The stag is actually the Lord of the Hunt. He was transformed though he doesn't know by whom. The tree is truly Ceres, the Goddess of Nature, and his wife. She was cursed as well with a stake driven into her. Attis knows such power could only come from one from Etheria, but such a thing would be unthinkable.

He also warns Valanice to stay away from the Were-Woods as the weres will attack.

When asking about Rosella by using the comb he informs her he had heard of her and that she was to be wed to King Otar III. Valanice needs to rescue her! He advises she go to Falderal to seek help in finding a salve from a merchant that would allow Valanice to pass through the Were-Woods and find the way to the Volcanix Underground.

I continued on and found a web in which a bird was trapped and a spider was getting ready to eat her.

I wasn't entirely sure what to do yet, though I managed to get myself killed by the spider oops. I moved on a little more to find a giant snoring statue that I also couldn't do anything about.

Turns out I just needed to use the basket to trap the spider. The bird thanked me and flew off to freedom. The web was cleared away opening the route to Falderal.

The guard at the gate peeking in through the giant gate, refused to me let me pass unless I were to bring him the holy one ton tomato. Valanice thought that was absurd. So, it was time to find another route.

But first I realized I wanted to go back to some flowers I'd found where another of the birds had been and see if my freed bird was there. I'd missed some dialogue from Attis as well.

Attis: Valanice asks if there's anyway she can help lift the curse. He doesn't know, but Feldspar the stone spirit might know something. Unfortunately, that would be the snoring stone statue I don't have any way to deal with yet. I also tried to pull the stake from Ceres but no such luck thanks to the powerful magic. There's fear she may die and if she does the forest likely will as well.

Bird: my freed bird did have help for me! Nectar from the flowers. I had to empty my pot of water, but now I have a pot of sweet nectar.

Back to Falderal where the very complicated puzzle of entering took place.

Walk through the small door ignoring the 'threats' of the guard. He has quite a selection of empty threats of various small animals with weapons on the other side.

Time for silliness!

As soon as I'd entered town I was greeted by the mayor, Archduke Fifi le Yipyap who protested a human entering. However, getting sad over Rosella with the comb helped again and got him crying too. He also said something else that I missed between his accent and, er, slobberiness, to my annoyance because it caused me some trouble later. This is why subtitles matter!

Then Chicken Petite came running and screaming in about the sky falling. Yipyap brushed her off and went on his way.

With all that out of the way it was time to start exploring. I went to the China Shop first.

Bull in a china shop, heh. Conspicuous mask that will be needed.

The owner, named Fernando, was sad because he'd lost Treasure, a bird who's a very dear friend to him. She was stolen, though he doesn't know how or by whom. Couldn't do anything here in his current state, so with an offer to look for Treasure, I set off again.

And got accosted by Chicken Petite.

The sky is falling! An evil fairy (hmm) is making everything come down! But no one is really believing her so off she runs again.

The town hall couldn't be entered yet, but there was a note about the archduke's birthday party and masquerade ball. At the end of town were two more shops and a bird.

First: another instance of Chicken Petite. The shopkeeper tried to sell her some special glue to hold the sky up in the most sleazy snakeoil salesman voice. Apparently he's an eel of some sort or based off of? But definitely some snakiness intent happening here too. Poor Chicken Petite gets immensely frustrated again and runs off.

Second: bird in the tree. A mocking bird. He insults you every time you click on him and the list of insults goes on and on and...on...

Third: Faux Shop. Was currently closed.

Now, the salesman was the one I needed to talk to about getting a salve to get through the Were-wood. Of course it can't be that easy and he wants something in return: a magic statuette currently in the possession of the archduke. Valanice protests until he says it doesn't actually belong to the archduke, then she agrees. Anything to save her daughter! Rampant adventurer theft included. True adventure game protagonist Valanice now?

Off to the side was a covered cage which I naturally investigated and inside was none other than the little bird, Treasure, who was scared at first until Valanice explained she'd talked to Fernando and that he was looking for her. Treasure joined and surprisingly that was all that was required. The shopkeep didn't seem to notice.

I brought her back to Fernando who was delighted.

Look at him!

And in return he gave me that handy red mask. And it's party time.

You gotta wear the mask or the guard won't let you in--it is a maskerade after all--and is offended by Valanice's bald face, bare of fur or feathers.

Sadly there's not a lot to interact with here. Archduke Yipyap will give a little speech and you can eat a little of the cake. I would have liked to talk a little to some of the guests or have some background gossip but it is what it is.

Thankfully no one seems to have any issue with us doing a little poking around. Either that or they're all fixated on Yipyap. I was able to go in through the back door to some wacky stairs.

The stairs lead to a different set on the screen in a somewhat maze-like fashion but a pretty simple one if you just keep going. Eventually it will take you into another room.

The statue on the left is incredibly tacky according to the Valanice and "What a perfectly awful basin" in the centre. Not at all to Valanice's tastes here.

The mirrors act like funhouse mirrors causing different distorted reflections, except for one in which her reflection appears upside and drags her in. Spooky.

Although you just get pulled into Yipyap's office.

She thinks his portrait is very silly too. There's silliness everywhere, Valanice. That's this place's whole schtick.

There's some shenanigans here in which the door takes you back to the stairs room and you find your way to another door that takes you back here but with the room upside down. Then there's a drawer on the desk to investigate. The statuette falls out but because it's upside down you can't reach, so you go back around to the room right side up and the statuette falls back into the now-open drawer where it can be fetched.

Voila!

Naturally, it's not so simple from here as when I returned outside intending to give the statuette to the merchant he was away off to 'fool some other suckers' or similar. Then Chicken Petite came screaming back in and the moon fell! Well not really, she thinks so, but Valanice points out it's just green cheese. No, it's the moon! The sky really is falling! And off she runs again and the mockingbird flew off during all the raucous too.

There was a wooden nickel in the nest I was able to fetch, but I couldn't reach the cheese, I'm sorry moon.

This is where I got stuck because of missing the clue from Yipyap when first entering. The Faux Shop was apparently open now--no more notice--but when I tried entering I just popped out the other side of the wall. Honestly, I thought it was meant to be a joke. False shop and all. What you actually have to do is take it with a grain of salt. In other words eat the grains of salt gotten from the desert and then you can enter.

Faux shop full of fake things run by a mockturtle. I got a book, The Wit and Wisdom of Falderal for a wooden nickel. Examining it opens it and it's...empty.

I was also able to trade my mask for a prime rubber chicken, specifically the one smirking there. I'd rather not have that one and there's no pulley in it, pah.

I had a nice selection of items to try at the Eduardo's shop in the desert, which actually turned out to be the thing to do. I was able to trade the book for a shepherd's crook.

I was able to return and use the crook to get the cheese and all should be well...!

Nah, of course not.

Her face is a sight to behold.

But yeaaah, Archduke Yipyap and guards came charging in. Yipyap saw what she did. She stole the moon! And she's a human! And a partypooper! And the guard places accuses her of that and the 'heinous and disgusting crime of having no fur or feathers to cover your bald face.'

And so we end the chapter with Valanice arrested...

And onto chapter 4!

Chapter Four: "Will the real troll king please stand up."

And a needed break from Yipyap and Chicken Petite...

--

Deaths: 8 Time: 3:49

[rewildling]

Using Songs to Predict Sansa’s TWOW Arc Part II: Off to Gulltown

Part I: The Bear and the Maiden Fair

Off to Gulltown to see the fair maid, heigh-ho, heigh-ho. I'll steal a sweet kiss with the point of my blade, heigh-ho, heigh-ho. I'll make her my love and we'll rest in the shade, heigh-ho, heigh-ho.

In AFFC, Littlefinger goes to Gulltown to attend Lyonel Corbray’s wedding:

Petyr Baelish was clear across the Vale, though, attending Lord Lyonel Corbray at his wedding. Alayne II, AFFC

When he returns to the Gates of the Moon, he brings three hedge knights with him:

“Knights they are,” said Petyr. “Their gallantry has yet to be demonstrated, but we may hope. Allow me to present Ser Byron, Ser Morgarth, and Ser Shadrich." Alayne II, AFFC

We know that Ser Shadrich was in Gulltown specifically looking for Sansa Stark:

Ser Shadrich laughed. “Oh, I doubt that, but it may be that you and I share a quest. A little lost sister, is it? With blue eyes and auburn hair?” He laughed again. “You are not the only hunter in the woods. I seek for Sansa Stark as well.” Brienne I, AFFC

So, these three men come back with Littlefinger from Gulltown, where they have ostensibly been seeking Sansa Stark, a fair maid. Additionally, the fictitious Alayne Stone is from Gulltown:

He blushed, which only made his pimples look angrier. “No, my lady. I am from Gulltown.” And I am not, though Alayne was born there. She would need to be careful around this one. “I remember Gulltown fondly,” she told him, with a smile as vague as it was pleasant. Alayne I, TWOW

There’s the first line of the song. But what about the second?

I’ll steal a sweet kiss with the point of my blade

This can easily be read as a reference to Sandor Clegane, specifically the Blackwater and UnKiss:

He yanked her closer, and for a moment she thought he meant to kiss her... His dagger was out, poised at her throat… She could feel him twisting the point, pushing it into her throat, and she almost closed her eyes again, but then she remembered. Sansa VII, ACOK

He took a song and a kiss, and left me nothing but a bloody cloak. Alayne II, AFFC

This certainly supports the theory that Ser Byron is actually Sandor Clegane in disguise, or at least that he is going to be involved in her flight from the Vale in some way.

The line about stealing a kiss combined with "make her my love" evokes wife stealing. Whether their intentions are noble or not, we know that Shadrich, Morgarth, and Byron are likely plotting to steal Sansa. But where would they go to "rest in the shade"?

Sansa and Sandor are both wanted by the crown — Sansa for Joffrey’s murder and Sandor for the raid on Saltpans. Both characters are accused of crimes they didn’t commit, yet another connection between the two. Regardless of whether Sandor is involved in her escape from the Vale, Sansa needs to get somewhere safe. Her arc is turning towards reclaiming her identity as a Stark, not continuing to conceal it. Where could she go where a Stark would be welcome? North, obviously.

Sansa’s arc in the Vale closely follows her father’s. Like Ned, she is essentially fostered in the Eyrie. She descends to attend a tourney — this time at the Gates of the Moon rather than Harrenhal — where she could meet Howland Reed (disguised as Ser Shadrich) or find other allies. Just like her father during Robert’s Rebellion, she is wanted by the crown and needs to get from the Vale to the north.

Ned Stark couldn’t go to the Vale’s main port of Gulltown because of its loyalty to King Aerys. Instead, he crossed the Mountains of the Moon to the Fingers and hired a fishing boat to take him across the Bite to White Harbor. The fisherman drowned in a storm during the crossing, but his daughter brought Ned to the Three Sisters. After being warned to keep his stay at Sisterton a secret, Ned was allowed to sail for White Harbor:

"Ned Stark was here?" "At the dawn of Robert's Rebellion. The Mad King had sent to the Eyrie for Stark's head, but Jon Arryn sent him back defiance. Gulltown stayed loyal to the throne, though. To get home and call his banners, Stark had to cross the mountains to the Fingers and find a fisherman to carry him across the Bite. A storm caught them on the way. The fisherman drowned, but his daughter got Stark to the Sisters before the boat went down..." "Be that as it may. My father sat where I sit now when Lord Eddard came to Sisterton. Our maester urged us to send Stark's head to Aerys, to prove our loyalty. It would have meant a rich reward... That was when Stark said, 'In this world only winter is certain. We may lose our heads, it's true … but what if we prevail?' My father sent him on his way with his head still on his shoulders. 'If you lose,' he told Lord Eddard, 'you were never here.' " Godric Borrell, Davos I, ADWD

Similarly, Gulltown is unsafe for Sansa because of its loyalty to Littlefinger:

“I am well loved in Gulltown, and have some lordly friends of mine own as well.”  Petyr Baelish, Alayne I, AFFC

Let’s take a closer look at Brienne’s arc in AFFC, which foreshadows Sansa’s likely TWOW arc through symbolism. This makes a lot of sense considering Brienne is looking for Sansa. In Brienne V, she returns to Maidenpool from Crackclaw Point. We can easily associate Sansa Stark with Maidenpool because it’s the site of the Florian and Jonquil legend — the subject of her favorite songs:

The songs about Florian and Jonquil were her very favorites. Sansa II, ACOK

At Maidenpool, Brienne sees several ships at port, including Titan’s Daughter and Gulltown Girl. In the context of Brienne's search for Sansa, the names of these ships could be references to Alayne Stone. Though Petyr’s personal sigil is the mockingbird, House Baelish’s sigil is the head of the Titan of Braavos. Sansa is posing as Alayne Stone, Petyr Baelish’s daughter — a girl from Gulltown.

Brienne doesn’t get anywhere with Titan’s Daughter or Gulltown Girl, while Sansa isn’t having much luck as Alayne Stone. She’s basically trapped in the Vale at the mercy of Petyr’s scheming and has no true allies to help her escape — for now.

Brienne has better luck with the Seastrider, which is coming from Duskendale and where she buys an orange for Podrick. The ship’s coming from Duskendale with oranges is a possible allusion to Ser Shadrich. Let’s recall how he introduces himself to Brienne:

“Ser Shadrich of the Shady Glen. Some call me the Mad Mouse.” Brienne I, AFFC

As others have noticed, Shady Glen and Duskendale mean the same thing: a dark valley. Shadrich also has a “shock of orange hair” (Brienne I, AFFC). The captain of the Seastrider is helpful and offers Brienne passage north. In Brienne’s AFFC arc, oranges are associated with helpfulness and generosity. Though they are “rare and costly,” Septon Meribald gives them away to the smallfolk of the riverlands or trades them for “common as mud” clams.

If we read the Seastrider as an allusion to Ser Shadrich, we see that he initially offers Brienne help. He proposes they work together to find Sansa Stark and gives her hints that the knights she’s traveling with (Ser Illifer and Ser Creighton) are untrustworthy. This gives us reason to suspect that Ser Shadrich is a potential ally to Sansa, regardless of his true identity.

Brienne declines the captain’s offer of passage north as well as Ser Shadrich’s offer of help (probably for the best given that she’s a terrible liar and likely wouldn’t fare well attempting to deceive the likes of Petyr Baelish). From Maidenpool, the Seastrider goes on to Gulltown, which is also exactly what Ser Shadrich does.

We know that Shadrich, Morgarth, and Byron come back to the Gates of the Moon from Gulltown with Littlefinger. But where will they go from there?

Let’s take a closer look at the captain’s offer to Brienne:

“Gulltown next,” her captain told her, “thence around the Fingers to Sisterton and White Harbor, if the storms allow. She’s a clean ship, ‘Strider, not so many rats as most, and we’ll have fresh eggs and new-churned butter aboard. Is m’lady seeking passage north?” Brienne V, AFFC

After Gulltown, the Seastrider’s route is exactly the same as Ned Stark’s escape to the north. There’s even a subtle reference to storms, which forced Ned to detour his voyage across the Bite to Sisterton rather than sailing directly to White Harbor.

If Ser Shadrich is actually Howland Reed, then it’s very likely that he knows how Ned got from the Vale to the north during Robert’s Rebellion. It’s possible that he’s planning the same route for Sansa’s escape. There are also already Sistermen conveniently present at the Gates of the Moon, attending the Winged Knights tourney:

The competitors came from all over the Vale, from the mountain valleys and the coast, from Gulltown and the Bloody Gate, even the Three Sisters… Alayne I, TWOW

Alayne could not help but shutter. Myranda’s husband had died when he was making love with her. “Those Sistermen who came in yesterday were gallant,” she said, to change the subject. “If you don’t like Ser Ossifer or Ser Uther, marry one of them instead. I thought the youngest one was very handsome.” “The one in the sealskin cloak?” Randa said, incredulous. “One of his brothers, then.” Myranda rolled her eyes. “They’re from the Sisters. Did you ever know a Sisterman who could joust? They clean their swords with codfish oil and wash in tubs of cold seawater.” “Well,” Alayne said, “at least they’re clean.” “Some of them have webs between their toes. I’d sooner marry Lord Petyr. Then I’d be your mother. How little is his finger, I ask you?” Alayne I, TWOW

If the Sistermen can’t joust, why have them attend the tourney and mention them so prominently? GRRM may be priming readers for them to play a larger role in Sansa’s arc — which would likely mirror that of the Sistermen in her father’s own escape from the Vale. The repeated references to Sistermen in Alayne I, TWOW could be setting up their recruitment in Sansa's escape to the north.

It’s also interesting that Myranda offhandedly jokes about a choice between the Sistermen and marrying Petyr Baelish. Perhaps Sansa will have to make a similar choice: marry Littlefinger or flee with the hedge knights and the Sistermen they’ve recruited.

Brienne ultimately rejects the captain's offer at Maidenpool and heads to Saltpans to search for Sandor Clegane, who she thinks is traveling with Sansa Stark. She then unknowingly finds him on the Quiet Isle with the Elder Brother:

"A girl," she told him. "A highborn maid of three-and-ten, with a fair face and auburn hair." "Sansa Stark." The name was softly said. "You believe this poor child is with the Hound?" "The Dornishman said that she was on her way to Riverrun. Timeon. He was a sellsword, one of the Brave Companions, a killer and a raper and a liar, but I do not think he lied about this. He said that the Hound stole her and carried her away." Brienne VI, AFFC

Timeon mistook Arya for Sansa. As the Elder Brother explains, Sandor “never had your Sansa Stark,” — but he could in the future. If we follow the foreshadowing in Brienne's journey, it’s possible that Sandor will be involved in Sansa's escape from the Vale. It's not insignificant that Brienne's search for Sansa leads her to him. Sansa isn’t traveling with Sandor when Brienne reaches the Quiet Isle, but maybe she soon will be.

[the-jewel-catalogue]

The Keppel Tiara

Personal Jewels 5/?

Some of the jewels that Camilla takes great pleasure wearing belonged to her great-grandmother, Alice Keppel – King Edward VII’s last, most celebrated mistress. Amused by Camilla’s connection with his great-great-grandfather’s mistress, King Charles reportedly embarked on a quest to buy up Alice Keppel’s jewellery collection.

One of these gifts was the Keppel Tiara. Purchased by the late monarch in Paris in the early 1900s, it’s design is reportedly based on an 18th century French hair ornament. Made of gold and platinum, the tiara is set with diamonds and synthetic rubies – the choice of synthetic and not real rubies may be explained by the fact that synthetic tones were relatively new at the time and were in high demand.

The tiara can be converted into a necklace, and the only known occasion of Camilla wearing this piece is in that form.