#Mitth'ali'astov

[netmors]

Night art with Admiral Ma'kro and the First Syndic of the Mitth's Family - Thalias.

Later I will tell you more about their roles in the "Eleventh Fleet AU", but for now will just drop a little spicy art of this duet.

[amandamadeathing]

Different types of glowing red eyes for Chiss art part 1. Which do you like best? I know pupils are controversial and people have very strong opinions for/against them. The next ones will have more "glow."

[mirandemia]

Welcome home, Thrawn.

All the hugs for my favorite boy. bc @amukmuk wrote this lovely fic and just got me thinking that this man needs more hugs.

[bonaesperanza]

Thalias from the Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy is how you do a female character with "traditionally feminine" virtues correctly.

The culture of the Ascendancy involves using young girls - the only Force sensitives their race has, since they all lose their Force sensitivity when they enter puberty - as ship navigators necessary to navigating the chaotic part of space that they live in. These girls are taken from their families at a young age and raised by a series of caregivers, and just like a bunch of plenty of carers IRL a lot of them are dogshit at their job. As someone who's worked similar jobs and watched other people work similar jobs, Timothy Zahn is BRILLIANT at portraying all of this - it gives me feelings like I can't describe. If you've ever seen a mean preschool teacher harranguing their charges or a shitty foster parent who doesn't treat their foster kids as individuals or anyone of the sort, you will feel this in your bones. Zahn goes hard on the "children are people" themes in this trilogy and I love love love this - it really means a lot to me to see a man known for his military and engineering competence porn stuff put so much thought and care into portraying caregiving as the important and complicated task that it is without coming off as sexist or patronizing towards it.

Anyway, Thalias is one such navigator, but even though most of them want nothing to do with the whole trauma-inducing system once they grow out of it, Thalias ends up returning as a caregiver and puts so much effort, compassion and logical thought into it that it makes me cry tears of joy. She draws on her own experiences but is quick to course correct when she realizes that Che'ri's experiences are different from her own (Thalias loved to read as a kid and still finds it comforting, Che'ri hates reading), she treats Che'ri with empathy and gives her as much autonomy and independence as she is allowed to. She uses a scientific method to figure out how the navigator powers work and adjust Che'ri's work routine accordingly - something no one has ever thought to do. She advocates for Che'ri with the rest of the ship's crew. She's amazing, and Zahn also makes sure to show how HARD it can be at times rather than just make her a perfect mind reader who always knows what her charge is thinking and what to say or do.

She's also kinda flawed - she seems to have an unhealthy obsession with Thrawn because he was once nice to her when she was a miserable kid in the throes of the shitty navigator system, and it comes off as kind of weird or cringe at times, and that's a GOOD thing in my book because it makes her character more 3D.

ALSO, the really nice part of it is that these books are filled to the brim with cool female characters that all feel really really different from each other, so Thalias being the nurturing, diplomatic type doesn't feel like Zahn sending some kind of message - the other prominent character is Ar'alani, a clever military woman who's a natural leader, excellent at handling her subordinates and recognizing their talents, excellent at handling politics even though she hates it, excellent at improvising on the fly, and also a kind and loyal friend. A lot of the other soldier or officer types are also women, and Zahn's other works also have a shitton of varied and cool women, so you feel safe in the knowledge that anything Thalias says or does is indicative of Thalias as an individual and not some vague idea of what women are like that the author has.

I also love how her character provides a contrast to all the "necessary evil" and "people are assets"-type thinking that a lot of the Ascendancy's more military types endorse (which make up a large percentage of the main cast, since this is mil scifi after all) - her conversation with Samakro about this is just chef's kiss to me. I feel like it's cool that we get this kind of POV because to me it serves as confirmation that Zahn knows what he's doing here - he's not being a stupid edgelord fanboy in love with the concept of doing shitty things for the greater good, he's just keenly observing how different people approach life and how all of these sorts of thinking are very useful in certain situations and deeply stupid in others. And the topic is treated with zero smugness - I've read things where similar arguments are used as a way of showing how wise and perfect one of the characters is and how stupid the other one is (coughvorkosigansagacough), but here everyone is treated with respect and empathy and consideration.

THALIAS SUPREMACY!!!

[ascendancyzine]

Best Chiss - The Runner Up!

Gold Medal - Ar'alani Silver Medal - Mitth'raw'nuruodo (Thrawn) Bronze Medal (TBD!)

See the gold medal match replay here.

The Best of the Rest: Runner-Up Showdown!

The battle isn't over yet! While Ar’alani may have claimed the top spot, the competition continues with our 8 formidable runner-ups. These Chiss leaders, strategists, and warriors fought valiantly in the poll, but now they face off in a new round to determine who deserves the title of "Best of the Rest." Who will rise to the occasion and prove they still have what it takes? Cast your votes and decide the next champion in this thrilling runner-up showdown!

[goga-je-pieroga]

"The key to a satisfying life is to accept those things that cannot be changed, and make a positive difference with those that can"

Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising Timothy Zahn 2021

[jewishcissiekj]

Thrawn is Che'ri's dad and Thalias is her older sister TO YOU.

To me Thalias is Che'ri's mom and Thrawn is the cool uncle maybe and Samakro is her dad/brother. We're not the same.

[50-beetles]

The various outfits of Patriarch Mitth’ali’astov and what I imagine Caregiver Thalias’s uniform would look like

[heirofazure]

Thrawn's Musings: 1

Homesickness

To attain the rank of Grand Admiral, it is necessary to have confronted a plethora of conflicts and, regardless of the outcome, articulate the circumstances that led to it. At times, failure may bring great shame, but also significant intelligence that can be used later. Victory, on the other hand, cements one's authority in a sector, yet leaves a leader vulnerable to complacency and repetition. That is unacceptable, and can lead to disastrous results in the theater of war. I have had to learn to walk the thin line of both outcomes. The consequences to my career have been dealt with accordingly, but those around me have suffered.

Such as Eli Vanto, my confidant and friend.

Now, he is gone, serving the Ascendancy with his innumerable talents. Talents that peeked through as he taught me the ways of the Empire, the stories of his people. As difficult as it is to admit, sending him away was an obligation rooted in my devotion to the Chiss, but how I wish it could have been me on that shuttle.

My people, the epitome of culture and light, clouded by a lack of understanding toward my purpose: to defend our way of life by any means necessary. I have exhausted all attempts to understand the decision of the Aristocra over the years, but I acquiesced gracefully to the exile. I suffered during my time of isolation in the unfamiliar territory where I was deposited, not because of the conditions, but because of who I missed.

Who I longed to see. Who I loved, and still love.

I can still feel the warmth of a metal spoon against my lips as they part to sip on the warm, spiced broth I ordered on that cold day, Thrass chuckling as he retells the story of a syndic who had committed a serious blunder during a hearing. Even with the cold surrounding us, the frost clinging to drooping foliage at the entrance of the Bistro we frequented so often, Thrass is...was sunlight incarnate. No matter what was occurring in either of our professional lives, my brother always made me feel as if my differences were nothing out of the ordinary. I was just Thrawn. He was everything I was not, and his wellbeing consumed my thoughts as I made perilous decisions to protect my people. To protect my lost sister, wherever she may be. To protect him.

Now, he is gone. A subject no longer to the Aristocra, but to the stars that surround us all.

I shouldn't dwell on these things. On the people I miss. On the screams Che'ri would belt out as nightmares flooded her mind during slumber; the giggles as she discovered the liberty of flying among the stars. On Ar'alani, her eyebrows arched in incredulity until understanding illuminated her eyes, and a conspiratorial smirk graced her lips, ready to take on the next threat. On Thalias, with her ability to persevere against all odds, even if she was terrified. On so many others who crowded the assembly chamber as the decision was announced, as my life was irrevocably changed. On those I have lost, and those I have given up willingly for the greater good.

I miss them. I miss home. But a warrior never loses his focus on the mission at hand, or accepts defeat, even as a melancholic blade is twisted into the depths of his being by his very own mind.

Therefore, I will serve my purpose until the stars call me home.

Until my brother calls me home.

Thank you to @vibratingskull for inspiring me to try my hand at writing about my favorite Star Wars character.

[gia-batmm-crickle22]

Thalias: So... who's the big spoon and who's the little spoon? Samakro: We're chopsticks! Thalias: Well... that's cute! Thalias: Does that mean you two snuggle together perfectly? Thrawn: No, it means that if you take the other away, the only thing the other is good for is stabbing.

[twodragonsflying]

But like, same though

[netmors]

There have been no updates for a long time, so I'm dropping here concept sketches of the First Syndic Thalias.

Since last winter, she has undergone major changes (unlike Samakro, hehe).

[amandamadeathing]

Happy birthday, Dave Filoni! I am sending you some books as a birthday present. I don't think you have read them yet. You may find them quite informative for your future endeavors. Enjoy!

[mirandemia]

i support women’s wrongs

still images of my tiktok

[jorrmund]

I will drop here some Samakro and Thalias....

[ascendancyzine]

BEST CHISS COMPETITION

Week 2, Poll 2: Thalias vs Wutroow

The Battle of the Brilliants! 

Who will triumph in this intriguing showdown? Mitth’ali’astov (Thalias), the insightful and courageous former sky-walker known for her wisdom and bravery ... or Kiwu’tro’owmis (Wutroow), Ar’alani’s steadfast First Officer known for her tactical brilliance and unwavering dedication (to the nth factorial)? Both women are essential to their missions, but only one can emerge victorious. Cast your vote and decide who will win this epic duel!

Thalias art by @skywalkerthrawn and Wutroow art by @not-the-tie-youre-looking-for!