#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 7

The Adventurer’s Log

King’s Quest VII: The Princeless Bride Part 7

It's time for the finale as I work through Etheria in an attempt to get help before the volcano erupts and stop said volcano.

I visited the fairies again and this time gave them ambrosia which caused them to give me an actual tune as opposed to the kind of faint tinkly stuff I got before.

The tune needed to be played on the next screen on a harp. I struggled... as turned out only the first four notes were needed thankfully, but there was some definite trial and error and going back and forth to the fairies to listen again before I finally got it. It would have helped to know I only needed the first four. I was feeling kind of overwhelmed which wasn't helping.

Once I succeeded, the orb on the harp activated and I was able to interact with it to get sucked into a new area...

I met the Fates and from them discovered that Oberon and Titania would be able to help, but they were missing as they searched for their own missing son. Instead they advised going to see Mab, the Queen of Dreamland though she couldn't be sought out in waking reality. So, I needed to find somewhere to sleep.

That place was Dr. Cadaver's. He was happy to help Valanice--he's a good dude!--and offered the coffin bed, which Valanice was understandably unnerved by, but with reassurance she agreed.

The spare parts in the box were arms and legs in preparation for the upcoming volcanic eruption... can't say he's not prepared!

I appeared in a dreamy place but didn't have time to do anything before a shadowy creature, a nightmare, showed up and chased Valanice away where she plunged into water and had to swim to shore, but despite all that we made it to Mab's place.

Unfortunately nothing can be so simple naturally, and on entering I discovered that Mab was frozen in ice.

Kinda creepy, I gotta say.

Valanice woke up in horror and now we needed a way to unfreeze Mab. I went back to the Fates who advised going to the Lady of Nature, aka Lady Ceres, so off to her I went. Those rainbow roads and the fife were sure coming in handy.

Ceres recalled a legend in which a crystal shaft could be filled with pure sunlight and that should be able to break the curse on Mab. However, physical objects can't be brought into Dreamland so I would need to find a way to go there while awake.

Back to the Fates I went! This time they suggested going to see their nephew, the Dreamweaver, who could make a magic tapestry that could take me to Dreamland. However, he likes to surround himself with nightmares. They gave me a dream-catcher and sent Valanice on her way.

I figured the cave with the scary monster that ate me last time was the place to go and I was correct. I was able to use the dream-catcher and suck the beast in.

And then I was free to go inside where I found the Dreamweaver.

He really wanted nothing to do with me and kept brushing me off until I showed him the dream-catcher with his captured nightmare. That caught his attention enough for Valanice to explain the situation and he was horrified Titania, his sister, was missing. He made me a magic tapestry that would allow travel to Dreamland. He also mused that he should have made a second nightmare, but nightmares can't get along and will kill each other instantly.

I still needed a crystal full of sunlight however. I realized I could possibly get the sunlight from the temple sort of place in the desert. It took me a bit to figure out what to do about the crystal, but I realized I hadn't tried going to Malicia's home with Valanice at all yet.

You can only safely enter when she's not home, so you have to listen for Cuddles' barking alongside the house where the hole Rosella made was. It took me several tries going back and forth before I finally got that needed quiet. Unfortunately, I messed up a couple times inside as you hear her outside talking to Cuddles, and if you don't duck back under the floorboard in time she comes inside and kills you. I did manage after the couple failures and got a little scene with her and Cuddles before they left to go watch the fireworks as it were. She was very eager for the volcano to go boom and wipe out Etheria and possibly the rest of the world, cackle cackle.

She had a lamp decorated with a bunch of dangly crystals. I snagged a crystal, went back to the desert to get some sunlight in it and then it was time to return to Mab with the magic tapestry.

I showed up in the same place as before when the nightmare chased Valanice away. This time I used the dream-catcher to release the previously caught nightmare and they wiped each other out. That said the route I took still plunged Valanice into the ocean and she still swum to Mab's place, so the end result was really no different. Still, I was able to use the crystal and release Mab.

She told me to harness the winds to send them out to find Oberon and Titania. She gave me a magic bridle to capture one of the wind horses--not a ghost horse after all, whoops--that would take me to Levantar, the King of Wind.

Much like Count Tsepish I got knocked around attempting this, but not killed at least! Then I learned you had to go up to the top of the spiral path and hide behind the Dreamweaver's cave. Then a wind horse comes after a bit and settles long enough to get the bridle on and it carries Valanice off.

I got taunted by a wind kid who got chided by his...sister? Maybe? But then Levantar showed up.

Levantar sent out his winds and after some waiting around they came back Oberon and Titania!

Valanice explained the situation and they took off again to try to help with the volcano. Unfortunately they left Valanice behind so she is once again stuck and still needing a way to get Rosella.

Which brings us to Chapter 6.

"Ready, set...BOOM!"

The final chapter and a short one, but I had my share of fumbling. We come to Rosella and the fighting Otars.

Now and then one of them would get tossed into the big pipe. I needed to use the magic wand but it had to be set to the correct setting which was something I'd forgotten about, so I had some failed attempts in which I took too long and Malicia showed up and ended me. In the end however I got the wand right and...

The fake Otar was Edgar all along, who'd been under an enchantment! Yes, Edgar, the son of Lolotte from King's Quest IV.

Edgar was very confused and had no idea where he was or what was going on. Rosella was shocked. Otar recognized him as the son of Oberon and Titania, so whoops, not the son of Lolotte after all! This boy is a mess.

However, before anything more could be cleared up Malicia showed up. She blasted Otar. She blew Edgar away with some wind I guess; it looked silly. And she warped Rosella away into the volcano.

I then got a scene back with Valanice who was still stuck up at Levantar's domain, but then a Very Mysterious hooded rider came to pick her up. So totally not Edgar at all, nope, never. Not sure why they made it a mystery. It was obvious.

Meanwhile, Mab, Oberon and Titania were all trying to contain the upcoming lava with some kind of magical webbing looking stuff.

Edgar took Valanice to the gravedigger's area in Ooga Booga and seemed to blast open the route that Rosella had originally taken from the Volcanix underground to Ooga Booga.

Back to Rosella there was a patch of wall that could be dug through so I used the shovel and got back out into the tunnel she and Otar had come through before. There was a fragrant flower I was able to grab and then I had to open the gate the same way Otar had done so when the pair first came down here. Thankfully I half-remembered, half-guessed correctly and got it, although there are only three switches you have to hit in the right order.

This is where I messed up again because Otar was still knocked out, but before you wake him up you need to plug in the device and I did not which led to a death later...a few times because I didn't realize at first then when I did I still didn't do it after speeding through everything that happened between this and the death and running on auto isn't so good.

ANYWAY, the correct way is to get that device plugged in then wake Otar with the flower. The flower the three-budded plant in the swamp was guarding can work too, but I never got the way to get that. Otar woke up and set to work on the machinery to stop the volcano. Then Valanice and Edgar showed up.

Valanice finally got her reunion and hugs!

I like hugs. Otar seems to as well.

Then Rosella and Edgar got their hug.

Note the empty socket by Valanice's head. This shot was from my first messed-up attempt. The device should be plugged into that. Pretend it is here.

Of course all this sap couldn't last and Malicia showed up again. Edgar leapt to the defence and they had a brief magic duel that he lost and down he went to Rosella's horror. There was a brief window of opportunity to do something here. In my messed-up attempt I'd tried the magic wand on both settings but that didn't do anything.

What was needed was the device. I unplugged it and it was now fully charged up. I used it on Malicia and it turned her into a baby...because magic? I guess? Maybe I've forgotten some of the device's properties.

Otar's expression amuses me here.

I used the extra life I got from the cat to revive Edgar and then Oberon and Titania arrived for another reunion!

Then I got the full story of what exactly happened with this family.

As a baby Edgar had been stolen away by Lolotte and essentially brain washed into thinking he was her son, though he had never felt quite right about it. Then Rosella rescued him as we saw in KQ IV. He returned to Etheria--I wonder if Genesta helped him?--and soon after his arrival Oberon and Titania held a ball in celebration of his return. He went missing from the ball as Malicia captured him and enchanted him. I don't know the exact timeline here, but guy seemed like he was barely home before he just got caught again by another evil fairy, geez.

Now, as it turns out Malicia is Titania's sister, but something had gone horribly wrong in her life leading her to turn out this way and hating Etheria enough to blow it up. Titania hopes to raise her again, start over, and lead her into a better life.

Edgar and Rosella got another moment in which he apologized for being the one to lure her away into the pool at the start of the game. Rosella still wanted to see the sights of Etheria as that's what she'd originally come for and asked if he'd show her.

They fly off together in an airship swan boat sort of thing and we end with a cutscene at the castle.

Edgar asked Rosella if he could court her and she agreed. Not marriage I note, taking it slower than the rest of her family. Or maybe he remembered her rejecting his marriage proposal at the end of IV... Anyway they get their kiss and we can assume they'll live happily ever after and no doubt marry.

And then credits rolled! Then the game just shuts down so I don't have a The End screen. So take bird boat.

Off they go.

King's Quest VII finished! Here we are. At the end.

--

Deaths: 42 Time: 7:38

I still miss listing points. Let's pretend I got max points because I'm just that good. Never mind missing at least the first flower if nothing else.

--

Final Thoughts

Here we are at the end of not just VII but the whole series up to what I'm playing as I'm skipping Mask of Eternity.

I'll be honest even though I'd already watched the game played I was still a little apprehensive of it, but I think I enjoyed it more than I expected when actually playing it. I think I also missed some bits when watching because everything held together more clearly for me this time.

I wasn't sure about the art style at first and while I can't say it's my favourite I still enjoy it now and I do appreciate how animated it is. It has its own charm to it.

I'm also glad Valanice got her chance too. Everyone else in the family did, so I had been getting a little huffy that she was missing. And how often do you get an older woman as your protagonist, if a shared role, and a mom to boot?

There are some things I miss. There just isn't all that much to interact with, especially coming from VI which as a ton, which makes things feel emptier and you can't get any kind of description of items. And sure you can look at the item and rotate it and all but the descriptions add flavour and personality for me. I also miss, and this is something I miss in other games too, verbs. I don't need a big set but I like 3-4. Just gives more room to try stuff and more room for, again, flavour and personality.

Still, overall I had a good time and it's a nice conclusion to the series and the Daventry family. Everyone gets a happy ending--at least we can assume things will continue to go well for Graham and Valanice. We get the callback to IV and bring back Edgar so he's not left hanging. It more or less tidies everything up. Except the Black Cloaks from VI. That never went anywhere... but otherwise!

It wasn't a game I was even sure I'd get and play at first, but as has been the theme for this whole series I went from uncertain to glad I did. I'm satisfied.

--

Well, this is it. I'm going to have a series-wide wrap-up post coming and then it'll be time to lay King's Quest to rest for now. I did track down the SCI remake of the first game and may play that here at some point as well for some fun comparison but not for a while yet.

I had a big Sierra-shaped hole and it's been filled in a bit. Thank you for coming along on this ride with me. More Sierra will come eventually in the form of Quest for Glory.

I'm not sure what will be next, but it'll likely be a short one-shot from the current still rather long list of games I have waiting.

See you next time!

[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.