#PATHS OF THE AEONS | thread

[celestial-sword-dance]

Multimuse Honkai Star Rail Ask/RP Blog

{rules}

{muses}

{mun}

indie | selective | oc/au/dup friendly

penned by cyber | tag list below

[vxnuslogy]

— love is (ir)rational. ft. veritas ratio

— warnings: angst and breakups

— author's note: incredibly self-indulgent and heavily influenced by tiktoks and mitski songs. the last statement is from this article so please give it a read since its very interesting !!

to say that your relationship with veritas ratio was hanging by a thread was an understatement.

you tried your hardest to sweep every argument at night when you enter his office under the rug and prayed to the aeons that he'd forget it when morning came; you never learned how to deal with confrontation, so you did what you do best: avoid the situation entirely at all cost.

playing as the fool who couldn't see the cracks in your already fragile situation with ratio but still clinged onto the tiniest of hopes that everything will be fixed. that no argument between you two would actually leave you to split paths. you always found a way to one another, a middle ground you had unspokenly created. you always made it work. you had to make it work.

“this is not going to work, [name]!” he shouts as you fight back tears.

“you don't know that! we always make it work don't we, veritas? you can't just decide stuff like this on your own!” you argue with him the best you could, but veritas ratio was a genius. 

you will never win an argument against him.

“this is hurting us. you.” he sighs as he pinches the bridge of his nose. “we can't continue like this, and you know it.”

“then continue to hurt me.” you desperately try to claw into your lover's mind. trying to keep any piece of him because it was better to not have anything at all. “i don't care if it hurts, veritas! if it's you then it's fine, i can look past it.”

you look like a scared animal, desperate for love and the need to feel something, even if it was pain.

“we'll be fine, veritas.” you clutch onto your shirt as tears pricked your eyes. “we have to! you promised me!”

ratio was a logical man. he was a genius. someone who should've been acknowledged by nous themselves. but at this very moment, he realizes that no amount of academic knowledge will compare to the flurry of the unknown emotional wreckage that is you. someone who thinks too much of love. bewitched with the prospect of love instead of their actual partner - him.

“veritas, please… we can still make this work.”

the diplomas of his achievements were a farce; a big hoax to hide the hollowness that resides within where his heart should be.

“you and i both know that we were both too far gone to save.”

ratio closes his eyes. trying his best to rid the hurt and shrinking image of you from his mind. 

“you don't know how to love yourself.” you avoided the truth to protect yourself, he traversed the universe to make the truth known. “how can you expect me to give you the love you want when you don't even know what it is?”

what an ugly pair you two make.

“that's bullshit!” you were gasping for air. scavenging your mind to try and find a way to refute him like you always do. “i want you, veritas! do you not understand that?”

“no.” he answered with a shake of his head. “no, i do not, [name].”

you feel your already broken heart crack a little more.

“that stuff is all bullshit.” your whisper now was just above whisper. “so what if what you said is true? you loved me at least didn't you?”

veritas didn't like the way you looked at him. so full of loneliness and fear. that look didn't suit you, not in the slightest.

“that's all i needed, veritas. you loved me so much i forgot what it felt like to hate myself.”

to love means to surrender intellectual control; veritas ratio cannot rationalize love even if you told him otherwise. but there was one thing you didn't tell him - one thing you refused to tell veritas ratio.

‘if your partner has inherently good qualities, but your love for them is based on a projection of your fantasy onto them, your love does not fit the qualities of the beloved that fueled your love. your love fails to be epistemically justified.’

— [name], ????. the emotion that is love.

© vxnuslogy 2024. please do not copy, repost, or translate any of my works.

[luminecent-sky]

The Aeon of fate — Explained [as much as they can explain at least.]

A/n: I've been cookin up some lore during the Christmas season and boom. Lore drop time! Don't ask why it took so long/j

[Opening research logs....]

[Aeon records:]

[The Aeon of Fate — All recalled information and records available.]

The Aeon of Fate, colloquially known as 'Moirai'.

-- Other titles include:

The Weaver

Destinyseeker

Parcae

Holder of a thousand strings

-- Has no known date of existence, currently theorized to have formed thousands of Amber eras ago, back when the first forms of sentient life began to wander the universe. Many believe that there are/were three different beings sharing the mantle of 'Fate'. None have found proof of this.

-- Though any known past emanators no longer exist, their records show the extensive reach and power of the Aeon. Said to be able to erase any traces of existence, to turn the tide of battle on a whim, to remove and add entire dynasties with a simple thread.

-- The emanators were usually prophets, seers, and divine priests, describing the Aeon as a veiled figure spinning thousands of strings or a being made of strings, constantly weaving together and fraying apart.

-- Those who tread the path of Fate are those who seek to guide others and interpret the world, diligent people who feel a deeper connection to the universe.

-- Previous emanators of the path were highly sought after, commonly abducted and forced to serve kings and act as advisors due to their knowledge.

-- However they began to die out, most simply dropping dead while others managed to write down the last few prophecies and sights they had. The last known emanators of Moirai, were the three sisters, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, Whose only surviving prophecy spoke of how the Aeon has found the final thread of the cosmic tapestry, before all three promptly killed themselves.

Factions:

The Thread Weavers - People who believe that the Aeon left one last unfinished tapestry depicting the fate of the last amber era, they search for any thread that can lead them to the tapestry.

Spools of Fate - The inner circle of the thread weavers and members of this circle were known emanators, the ones who led the pursuit on finding the threads of fate. Was led by the three sisters before their deaths. [All new vassals of the Aeon are considered spools due to their direct contact with them.]

[bitethedustfools]

Crossover Ideas pt 2

Danny Phantom X Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint X Honkai Star Rail

Where 3 unlikely God/Ancient/Aeon meets.

Fate is quite strange, quite like the beings that Kim Dokja had met. Still, despite all odds, they became friends. Or not. It is hard to describe their relationship.

Akivili just barged his way in for reasons unknown and treated him like a child despite Akivili being smaller than he was and he is pretty sure that he's older than Akivili anyway, with eternity and all.

Akivili refuted that he's definitely older and his warm golden eyes were filled with wisdom that's not fitting his age.

As for Danny, his were more curiousity in nature. He had intruded the train because he saw a train travelling in space and into different worldlines.

And he's definitely not a kid. Well, he used to and KDJ can see and felt various reasons why he is the same as they both.

Yep, totally a normal group here with 2 young adults and a teen and definitely not a trio whose age span is infinite

Nevertheless, it is nice to have companions once again.

Somehow, the two of them stayed in that train of his, travelling from worldline to another and KDJ had come to read another story.

A place where Akivili had came from and unknowingly, KDJ had stuck around that place for so long along with Danny to the point that his train had converted into the first Astral Express for the Nameless, guided by Akivili the Trailblaze, to be made a home and travel to everywhere.

Even if they are a common sight in the astral express, not many know their name nor see their true face, only recalling a a face blurred as though covered by a fog and that creepy looking kid that does not look like a person at all.

In fact, even Aeons themselves failed to distinguish their appearance nor did they ever recognized that they arent humans nor Aeons but something else similar (but powerful)

One day, the group slowly fell apart starting with the explosion of the first Astral Express.

Kim dokja was nowhere to be found.

---

xtra:

A system notification just popped out of nowhere and it read, "Constellation Demon King Of Salvation is looking at you" and you can feel the heavy gaze burdened on your soul for a few moments and then its gone. You dont understand whats going on and who this is.

All you knew is that the gaze pressured you terribly.

-

"The Oldest Dream is looking at you". Sunday and Adventurine flinched for the first time.

-

Someone saw Danny doing the most eldritch thing and ran to tell the others and they replied, "what kid? we dont have a kid here"

Danny being a menace and a prankster.

-

Akivili have favourite peoples and thats KDJ and Danny but those two are weird but theyre not going to comment on that.

-

Is KDj powerful than Aeons? Maybe. He did dreamt a world(s) and bring it to life. Certainly cunning. No doubt will disguise as Aeons if given the chance.

Danny? Pretty sure he got some hidden powerful abilities that he doesnt know exist and he rules the domain of the death/afterlife. Often got mistaken as "Terminus the Finality" (Or did they get that right..? just different Danny?)

-

Is Trailblaze something of an acheivement, marked in history to be remembered? Is it a burning will that is passed from one to another? A hope that burns brightly in the dark? The star guiding you to the right path?

What exactly is the Path of Trailblaze that Akivili thread upon?

-

Thats the idea for now.

How they meet basically (dont mind my train's design. I'm too lazy):

Headcanon that Akivili had an Empty Nest Syndrome, very fitting for Akivili (Eagle).

Akivili spotted a lost child in the distance and want to take him under his wings but ended up taking the train and invite more children. Not that KDJ is complaining, its been awhile afterall.

[milksnake-tea]

Hi, can I request from Nanook or Yaoshi

Gn reader

Headcannon or Scenario like them giving kisses/affection to their reader

giving affection

characters: nanook

contains: fluff !! nanook is emotionally constipated tho

a/n: decided to do just nanook this time bc yaoshi gives a lot of affection in a lot of my other works lol, hope you don't mind! ngl not the happiest w this piece but is okay i can always edit it later <3

Alright, I'll be real with you, affection isn't really Nanook's thing. Like, they're bad at it. Real bad at it.

Aeons are often tied to their paths, Nanook especially. They haven't felt anything other than a need to destroy and kill for many millennia. Their hands are made to hurt, not to hold. They didn't even remember that they had a heart before you came around.

So you'll have to be patient with them. Nanook knows that they should show even the slightest bit of their attachment for you, and they do want to, it's just that they don't know how.

They take being emotionally constipated to the next level, but they do try. It starts out with little things, such as letting you hold onto them, or keeping a hand at your back to keep you close. Sometimes, they'll brush your hair back behind your ear, and other times, they'll hesitantly press a soft kiss to your temple.

Nanook isn't a talker, never was. Because of this, they'll rarely, if ever, tell you outright that they love you. Their love comes in other forms, such as protection and physical touch.

Nanook can come off as a distant lover, but the few moments where they choose to let down their walls remind you just how much they care for you.

"You're awfully touchy today," you murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of Nanook's head. The Aeon simply grunted in response, embracing you from behind as they bury their face into your neck.

They pepper soft kisses and nips across your skin, closing their eyes as they drink you in. Their hands are tight around your waist, firm but never overwhelming.

You giggle as they nuzzle their way up to your cheek, nipping at your earlobe before resting their chin on your shoulder. You pet their head, fingers threading through their surprisingly soft hair - unfit for an Aeon of Destruction, but Nanook was never one to care about what they should or shouldn't be.

They hum as you do so, blinking open their eyes, gazing out into the cosmos.

"Too long," they mutter quietly, so quietly that you almost missed it. You looked up at them, silently prompting them to continue. Nanook leans back, bringing you with them.

"Too long since I've last seen you," they clarified, returning their gaze to you. You leaned your head against them, smiling as you twirled a braid around your finger. "I assumed you'd missed me."

"Is that why you're acting like this?" you ask, letting the braid fall back against Nanook's wound.

Nanook's chest rumbled against you as they hummed. "Are you complaining?"

You laugh airily, the faintest hint of a smile drifting onto Nanook's face as they watched you.

"No, of course not." You snuggled your cheek against theirs, kissing their cheek. Nanook seemed to be satisfied that, merely closing their eyes and returning to their spot at your neck.

You closed your eyes alongside them, savoring their presence for as much as you could. You knew that they would have to leave eventually, leaving you with the Legion for who knows how long. They always did.

But that was fine, because it made these moments all the more precious.

[jymwahuwu]

Not a request but don’t mind me daydreaming and yapping about being soulmates with my favs like Sunday, Jing Yuan, Jiaoqiu, Moze, Luocha, and Il Capitano 😍 (their possessiveness would skyrocket tho lol)

Love your blog so much, it’s delicious 👌 wishing you a good day or night! 💙

They're actually shocked and annoyed now - what does it mean for a person to have so many soulmates, and they only have you? Aeon look at the path you have walked! Is your nature so unfaithful…? Cut the woven thread of your destiny and others even if it is difficult!

And thank you for not being a silent reader 😘 I am committed to turning my blog into a restaurant lol. Have a great day/night too!

[shalomniscient]

ARCHIVE ENTRY #4: AMATORY

"An Aeon that presides over the Path of Adoration. Known by THEIR devotees as the Pandemos, or 'one who is common to all people', they are the personification of 'love', having ascended an unfathomable amount of time ago after realizing the 'truth' of life." - Loading Screen: Amatory

◆ Name: Amatory ◆ Title: Aeon of Adoration, The Lover ◆ Path: The Adoration

Amatory is a fanmade Aeon in Honkai: Star Rail, representing the Path of Adoration. THEY are known to be among the kinder Aeons, and by virtue of the broadness of THEIR path, often has a hand in the dealings of mortals. It is rumored that THEY even walk amongst mortals at times, and was once a key figure on the Astral Express until Akivili's untimely disappearance.

◆ Appearance Amatory often appears in the form of a feminine human, with iridescent skin and long, pink hair. THEY are dressed in a loose, white robes resembling an ancient Greek chiton, the hem lined blue with doves embroidered in gold thread. THEY wear a crown of gold laurels as well as various pieces of golden jewellery, including earrings and a necklace. THEY sit upon a seashell throne, and in THEIR lap is THEIR familiar, Peristera, the drake-dove.

◆ History -> Ascension An unknowable amount of time ago, a (suspected) human on the planet of Agora ascended to Aeonhood and became the Aeon of Adoration, after realizing the 'truth' of life.

-> Swarm Disaster The range of Amatory's influence is unknown during the Swarm Disaster, though it is noted that Peristera the drake-dove fiercely and successfully defended Agora from attacks from the Swarm. It is assumed THEY watched, alongside Xipe and Aha, as Qlipoth stripped Tayzzyronth's power and sealed the other Aeon.

-> Present Amatory is noted to be active in the current time, hiding their divine form to walk amongst mortals. This information has been confirmed by the Aspects of Adoration, as the Sanctuary of Kitheryia remains empty.

◆ Followers & Factions -> Agora, Planet of Doves Agora is the birth planet of Amatory, and the foremost seat of THEIR following. The planet is known for its romantic, dreamy atmosphere, with permanently pink-hued skies thanks to a specific concentration of minerals in the atmosphere and the angle of Agora to its sun. Agora is also known for it's stunning beaches, which are also popular pilgrim destinations due to the belief that Amatory gained THEIR enlightenment whilst standing on the shore of one of Agora's beaches, part of THEIR body submerged in the sea-foam. Agora is blessed with mild weather across the planet, thanks to the direct influence of its Aeon.

Temples to Amatory are scattered across the planet, tended to by Devotees. The largest temple complex, the Amatopolis, is also the name of the planet's capital city. Amatopolis is the residence of the Aspects, and the location of other universally famous sites, such as the Museum of Peristera, The Sanctuary of Kitheryia and the Akropoils to Akivili.

-> Devotees of Adoration The Devotees of Adoration are the primary followers of Amatory, and are found in the largest numbers on Agora, although they are also well distributed across the universe. The Devotees can choose to be active participants upon the Path, tending to Amatory's shrines and temples, or they can choose to be passive participants simply by loving and being loved. To Amatory, loving is quite the same as worshiping.

-> Aspects of Adoration The Aspects of Adoration are Amatory's six chosen Emanators. They are chosen by the Aeon as role models, in a sense, to each specific branch of 'love'. Hence, the six Aspects are Agape, Eros, Philia, Storge, Philautia, and Xenia. Each Aspect has their own hall within the Amatopolis, branching off from the temple's main hall which leads to the Sanctuary of Kitheryia. The Aspects are functionally Amatory's high priests and priestesses, and offer advice on behalf of the Aeon to pilgrims and devotees who visit the temple.

-> The Dove Poets Society Contrary to its name, the Dove Poets Society does not solely consist of poets. Instead, the Society is open to all manner of creatives, including artists, writers, sculptors and many others. Joining the Society is not too dissimilar to joining the Genius Society; to do so, one must draw the gaze of Amatory THEMSELF. Creatives who use love or themes of love as their muse are blessed with a dove-feather pin, and are later cordially invited to Agora by administrative devotees. They are then given free lifelong board and housing, subsidized by the Devotees, and are allowed to pursue their art without worry.

As a result of this, many famous and popular works have been produced by the Society. They can all be found within the Museum of Peristera, making the museum a must-visit for those interested in the arts.

-> Peristera, the Drake-Dove Said to be the beloved companion of Amatory, Peristera is a legendary, almost divine beast blessed by the Aeon THEMSELF, and tasked with eternally protecting Agora. The drake-dove resides within the Sanctuary of Kytheryia, ever-slumbering until danger rouses it, or its master returns from THEIR journeys. Several proposals were made by the Intelligentsia Guild to access the Sanctuary and collect biological samples from Peristera; all these proposals were promptly rejected by the Aspects, citing the sanctity of the Sanctuary as Amatory's home, not to be entered by mortal bodies unless invited by the Aeon THEMSELF.

Although Peristera's awakenings usually herald danger, it is often followed by a frenzied scramble by Devotees eager to get their hands on some of the drake-dove's fallen feathers. Much like Qlipoth's Divine Amber, Peristera's feathers are sacred items to the Devotees and followers of Amatory. However, these feathers fade over time, and as a result are often cast in gold and made into jewellery such as bracelets, anklets, armbands, crowns or earrings to preserve them. They are said to bring love to the life of the wearer, hence their popularity.

Developer Notes:

I'm worldbuilding out here like I'm a part of the HSR Writing Team LMAO this OC isn't even playable but I feel like I've fleshed them out the most out of all my OCs lsdfhjsdlfjsdjlf. But frankly I'm surprised and Aeon of something like love doesn't exist, given how (not to get too into philosophy) central it is to humanity or arguably consciousness in general.

Obviously, Amatory is heavily inspired by Aphrodite, as referenced by both their sacred animals being the dove, and their ascension occurring while they were submerged in sea-foam, similar to how Aphrodite is said to have been born from sea-foam, in certain mythological accounts. And the whole love thing. -> You could argue that the Paths of Harmony and Adoration could collide, and honestly, I too can see it happening. Though I would counter and say 'love' is less clear-cut lawful than Harmony; if we're sticking by the Ancient Greek themes, we look no further than the story of Troy, or the response of Demeter to Persephone's abduction. This could turn into a whole back and forth, but truthfully, I'm just here to fuck around and play with HSR's worldbuilding so I'm not going to get into too much discourse about it LMAO. These are MY delusions and I call the shots 😌😌😌

Agora as a planet and culture is heavily based on Ancient Greece. I felt inspired after running around in AC: Odyssey's discovery mode. Say what you will about the game, but as an open-world exploration enjoyer it is SUCH a treat.

Peristera is named after the eponymous nymph who was transformed into a dove by Aphrodite and made her sacred animal. Although Amatory's Peristera is also a dragon, because I'm a sucker for dragons. Appearance wise, it looks a lot like Cinderella from Burn the Witch [image below].

Making a neka for Amatory was hard as fuck, mainly because they end up looking too human and normal and not as godly as I'd like, but I guess they can get a pass because Nanook looks pretty normal too.

Neka of Amatory, as close as to what I can envision in my brain:

neka link: https://www.neka.cc/composer/11939

[starsandtulips]

pressed petals. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

boothill sews an apron for his partner using the flowers he always gives him.

characters⟡ boothill, (mentioned) argenti

relationships⟡ argenti/boothill

word count⟡ 462

cw⟡ references to canonical child death

Boothill's metallic fingers shook as he attempted to prevent the sewing needle from slipping into the cracks in the casings of his finger joints. He wasn't built with the ability to undertake delicate tasks anymore but for his sweetheart, the dainty yet strong Argenti, he would do his absolute best.

So far, he hadn't torn or ripped the cream fabric while stitching it into an apron but he attributed that to his meticulous focus, rather than any latent ability left from his past life. His sewing skills, once far beyond everyone else in his family, had degraded from disuse and clumsy metal fingers. His finger slipped, the needle briefly jamming into his joint's casing and threatening to snap.

"Aeons damnit darnit." He cursed, inspecting the thin needle. Luckily it was still intact and Boothill was able to continue his work.

When the last stitch was looped into the hand-dyed fabric and Boothill snipped the leftover thread, he lifted the garment up, admiring the finished product.

The last time that him and Argenti had the pleasure of sharing each others company, the subject of cooking had come up. Boothill had plainly told Argenti that he could still taste but since he didn't need it anymore, didn't see the point of eating. Argenti had gasped and insisted on cooking for Boothill.

He had to admit, Argenti was a wonderful cook. Boothill had suggested getting Argenti a frilly apron to cook for him in, as a joke, but Argenti had blushed so prettily that Boothill immediately made up his mind about getting him one.

Unfortunately, none of the aprons he had seen in stores were good enough and Argenti had messaged him about their paths crossing again sometimes soon, so Boothill picked the needle and thread back up from where he had left it behind years ago to make him one.

Looking at the apron, he felt a sense of pride unclock from the recesses of his heart and spread across his chest. It was nothing like the little dresses he had sewed his daughter, when she was alive, but after several decades of not sewing it was passable.

He had taken the petals of the roses that Argenti gave him each time and pressed them into the soft cream fabric in the shape of open roses, dying the fabric into patterns. The bottom of the apron was scalloped, a technique that was much harder than he remembered. All in all, it was a very pretty apron.

Boothill folded up the apron after he had taken a long look at it, tucking the garment into a bag to keep it safe while he traveled, a sharp grin spreading across his face. He couldn't wait to see how flustered the gift would make his pretty knight.

[s-b-party]

Penacony: Land of Dreams, Exiles, and Choices

****Honkai star rail/HSR 2.2/TRAILBLAZE MISSION/PENACONY SPOILERS AHEAD****

There is A LOT going on in this story & I don’t know if I can call this a continuation of my previous HSR lore thread regarding Ena, HooH, and Xipe but I am pretty much expanding on Ena & Xipe in 2.2 while also talking about important concepts present in the story

It’s hard to really know where to begin when there’s a lot going on especially between Ena & Xipe or rather, between their factions/followers

We can start with a general idea of the situation: it’s established that Xipe the Harmony absorbed Ena the Order a long time ago, the Family is a faction of Xipe but it seems very disoriented overall because not everybody knows the truth behind Penacony and/or is involved with the schemes (the Oak Family was the one mostly involved, others seemed oblivious to what was going on)

Sunday who should have been a follower of Xipe alongside Robin ended up being a follower of Ena because he was pessimistic about the Harmony due to situations like the 3 stories he presented as questions to us (Charmony Dove, stowaway who sold everything he had including his children to come to Penacony, Robin getting hurt in an accident) & as a result, he sought control over the fates of others so that everybody would only get happy endings

*Initially I wasn’t going to say this in my other thread because I wasn’t sure if I was reaching by comparing a character to an Aeon but this quest made it much more prominent to see: Sunday’s desire for control was something that I wanted to bring up previously because Herta stating how she doesn’t like Ena’s control freak behavior in their simulated universe dev log made it hard to ignore Sunday’s own issues in the previous patch; it just set off alarms in my head that he might not actually have been following Harmony*

The way Sunday explained he would achieve his goal is that he wouldn’t resurrect Ena but instead he would have people never experience hardships through Order which I guess he could have achieved from memoria (manifestations of memories & emotions) & the Stellaron since Ena isn’t physically around to enforce Order

The reason why we see aspects of Ena present at all in the story is due to their remnants; as I suggested in my other thread, Aeons can die or disappear but their paths & concepts don’t disappear easily so to clarify, Ena isn’t alive at any point of the story but we see many hints of them in the story despite being gone

For example, the area where we answer Sunday’s 3 questions has the notable open eye on the ground; the many puppets we begin to see as we go through the Penacony Grand Theater refer to Ena’s puppet appearance; note that when you try to use clockwork but are unable to change the emotions during this part of the story, on top of looking very…unsettling, Clockie gains the same eye colors as Ena’s open eye while having puppet strings attached which references their puppet strings

Boss Sunday in the 3rd phase has eyes on the rings behind him, the faces in all phases look very similar to Ena’s white porcelain face with closed eyes, the hand that comes out for the Michelangelo’s God & Adam attack looks very similar to Ena’s puppet hands but it doesn’t have the puppet joints & the thumb is purple when Ena’s hands were white with golden joints

As it is explained by the data bank, the Septimus boss is supposed to be Dominicus who is one of the Harmonic Choir (Emanators of Xipe) but due to Ena’s influence, his appearance changed; in other words, Sunday usurped their powers originally for Harmony & turned them to serve Order

I find it really intriguing how much impact Ena had in this story despite being gone (keep in mind that Ena never enforced their concept onto anybody including Sunday & Gopher Wood, these characters saw a concept that they believed in & twisted their understanding of it for their own purposes; this also goes for Sunday’s freak control behavior which was all him & not Ena even though Herta claimed they had similar behavior)

Meanwhile one of the biggest moments we witness regarding Xipe is when the Trailblazer gains the path of Harmony

There are two main details I want to point out; first is their eyes are actually open when normally their eyes are closed & the second is they are glowing very brightly which, by themselves might not mean much, but together they say a lot when we look at other Aeons

Nanook is the first to gaze upon us & acknowledge us then it was Qlipoth; in both cases some part of their forms glowed brighter than the rest of their bodies when they gazed upon us which seemed to be their eyes/head

*Sidenote: interestingly something similar happens in Swarm Disaster and Gold & Gears

When you complete everything that you need to get the paths of Propagation & Erudition respectfully (which implies that the simulated versions of Tayzzyronth & Nous have noticed & acknowledged you), the actual art of the Aeons will change; the main difference is that they glow brighter whether it be their “eye(s)”, their entire being, certain parts, etc.*

Going back to the cutscene with Xipe, it seems that opening their eyes was a sign of noticing & acknowledging us

There’s one particular line from Sunday regarding the Aeons that stood out to me which was “And through Harmony, we obtain Order” which is interesting because the same can be said of the opposite “Through Order, we obtain Harmony”

What Sunday did was try to impose Order to force happy endings for everybody but that is simply not how life works because there’s always going to be pain; if you never experience pain or suffering then do you really know the world as it is & are you truly living? Yes it would be wonderful if everybody could get along & nobody ever had to suffer, but unfortunately that is not feasible forever

It’s the reason why balance is needed; when you face suffering, it makes all the good things that happen in your life feel much better; it’s not good to have only one or the other & that’s the point regarding Ena & Xipe

Even though Xipe absorbed Ena, their two concepts are very much intertwined & they both can’t really exist without the other; Order has been there all along, just without an Aeon for some time

Also keep in mind that Order & Harmony are both forms of balance which I mentioned in my other thread; to reiterate, Harmony is the fusion/unity of many into one while Order refers to the idea of specific arrangement (under Ena, civilizations rose & fell which established a cycle to follow; they created laws that the universe followed) but Sunday takes it to the extreme which is complete control without considering how others would truly feel about this plan of his

Before I continue, I just want to say that I liked how Sunday was characterized as an antagonist because you can tell he does truly care about other people (why would he go so far to obtain happy endings for everybody when he might not even like or know them?)

We know he cares about Robin very much despite how misguided he was in taking away her voice but as we saw, he was desperate to protect her which we see in his reaction after hearing she suffered a neck injury & when he thought that Gallagher actually killed her; these two instances explain his desire for control so well since he was powerless in both cases

He definitely was wrong about how he went about things but he loves humanity enough to go so far

Moving onto concepts, when we look at the overall story of Penacony so far, we see that dreams are an important concept; after all, it is the planet where people come to experience beautiful dreams but what makes these dreams unique is that everybody has a shared dream once they enter the Dreamscape & there are 12 distinct dream worlds in total that guests can choose to visit (each one representing a moment on the clock)

However not many guests on Penacony either know about or would come to Dreamflux Reef which was introduced this patch; when compared to the more well-known Dreamscapes, Dreamflux looks more somber & there are less people living there but it still has a few establishments so it is not entirely devoid of life

It is referred to as the Land of Exiles & to enter this area, with the exception of the teleport waypoints that we use, you usually would have to get brought by Something Unto Death whose real name is Dormancy & its affectionate nickname is Sleepie; in other words, Dormancy is the guardian of the Land of Exiles as explained by Firefly

The description of Dreamflux Reef from the Family is that it’s the “Nightmare” but it’s also how the Dreamscape is supposed to look

When looking at both this dream world & the other more popular ones like Golden Hour, they appear to represent aspects of life, specifically escapism (Golden Hour & the more beautiful dreamscapes) & reality (Dreamflux Reef)

Golden Hour is designed to be like amusement parks like the ones in Orlando with a mix of casinos like in Vegas; we can see why Penacony is so popular

On top of the fun tourism aspect, while you’re in the Dreamscape, your physical body doesn’t experience many of the changes you go through inside your dreams so you could stay in the Dreamscape as long as you want (as long as you can afford a room...)

Meanwhile Dreamflux Reef is representative of the non-glamorous things in life which can encapsulate struggles, pain, sadness, etc. Its other name “Land of Exiles” is also a nod to Penacony’s darker history as a former prison planet

However Dreamflux does have its lively moments which bodes well because it means that reality isn’t completely bad, it just might not be as fully glamorous or great like how the other dreamscapes are depicted

This topic of reality vs dream is constantly brought up with Sunday whose main struggle involves wanting to provide only happy endings even if that goes against reality or what should be; in fact we face the topic at the start when we meet Acheron & she asks us questions which she repeated along with much of the dialogue after the questions at the end right before we fight Sunday for a 2nd time at the exit of the nihility realm(?)

EDIT: Tumblr wouldn't let me post more than 30 photos so there are some missing in this portion & later towards the end and I didn't want to post photos while leaving out the others that would give more context; head to the Twitter link if you would like to see the thread in its entirety https://twitter.com/SBParty_Ryusa/status/1789763474546905198

Interestingly even as an Emanator of Nihility, Acheron still sounds hopeful; in fact she reminds me of the Doctors of Chaos (a faction of Nihility) who have been faced with IX’s display of hopelessness but these members still try to prove to IX that life isn’t all that meaningless

Another interesting thing I noticed is that Acheron is the opposite of Sunday when it comes to facing hopelessness: even when faced with the idea that everything will return to nothingness, she still moves forward but Sunday turns away from the pain of reality & relies on sweet dreams that don’t truly change your circumstances in the real world

So I’ve mentioned Penacony being both the Land of Dreams & Exiles but how do “choices” come into play? Something that I’ve seen become a huge part of Penacony’s plot is the concept of choice

Aside from Acheron’s questions, we’ve seen other displays of choice being an important concept; for instance, Sunday’s plan to obtain happy endings for everybody essentially takes away the ability to choose (yes everybody gets to be happy but it’s not happiness obtained by their hands/doing)

Robin had her voice taken away by Sunday even though she wanted to continue on her path of Harmony; Sunday’s plans only would have made him happy in the end

One of the saddest parts about this is that we do see an example of somebody who was not happy with their enforced dream despite how blissful it was for them: Robin herself

We along with Acheron & Black Swan found Robin who was actually the first to wake up and she guided Acheron & Black Swan

She explained that she was able to wake up due to the major flaw in her dream which was Sunday agreeing to not cage the Charmony Dove after it got better; while it would have made her happy that he agreed with her, she also knew that her brother wasn’t like that & her painful reality still would have been the same even if she chose to ignore the discrepancy because it already happened in the past

Of course everybody is different & may make different choices from each other; you can choose to wake up or keep living in a dream (in both cases you still have to deal with the consequences whether that be coming back to reality or becoming afraid to wake up) but the important part is that everybody gets to make their choices themselves without interference

This is Acheron’s main point when she says that the answers don’t matter because you’ve made a choice & you’ll hopefully go through with your decision

I do need to talk about the Nameless not only because a lot of backstory was given in this quest than any previous ones but also because as part of the Trailblaze, choices are definitely one of the biggest concepts for this path

The Nameless is an important faction that has followed the deceased Akivili even to this day; this group includes many curious & brave characters, both playable & NPCs including the Astral Express Crew

As part of the Trailblaze, the Nameless have faced unknown futures & dangers but ultimately made the choice to move forward into the unknown; this path is definitely not easy & it is bound to be filled with struggles & pain but for many of the Nameless, they’ve all blazed their own paths no matter where they were or where those paths led them even if it meant their end

The new Clockie event has a free lightcone reward that shows Pom-Pom with Mikhail, Tiernan, and Razalina back when they were still on the Astral Express & after the trio left; this is a bittersweet memory for Pom-Pom because I’m sure they’re happy that they left to follow their hearts but it’s still sad for them because the LC mentions many previous Nameless having left the Astral Express as well (I definitely didn’t tear up reading this LC 🙃)

Even for Pom-Pom, as part of the Astral Express, they have been through a lot with many of the Nameless departing to follow their hearts & yet they still choose to remain the conductor even to this day

That takes a lot of dedication & it just reminds me of Acheron’s question “Might I ask if you fear losing these bonds?” because that definitely applies to their situation considering they’ve been around for a long time; I’m sure Pom-Pom misses them very much 😢

*This might be one of the longest threads I’ve written so far but considering how much was going on in the quest, I think I yapped an appropriate amount 😂

*I know not everybody enjoys reading extremely long text but I hope that there are at least a few who will enjoy it

*Also I didn’t know what to title this, I’m not creative enough 😭

*This quest just gave me a lot to think about, there were good parts & iffy parts for me but I did enjoy the story overall; I hope that others were/are able to enjoy it even with how long it took :3

[msviolacea]

Honkai Star Rail questions

I spent all night last night catching up on events in Honkai Star Rail, and somehow I ended up thinking about whether I'd seen any posts like this one. I couldn't remember any, so I decided to make my own. Hopefully it will be fun for someone as we now test out our free Dr. Ratios and wait for 2.0 to arrive!

This is not a tagging sort of meme - if you play HSR and are in the mood, answer these! Feel free to explain or not explain as you see fit. Bonus points for including screenshots/pictures/art/whatever - not required, but no one ever argued with some pretty.

Note that I'm keeping this one positive, because my mood is "yay this is a fun game I'm happy it's here" and that's the general vibe I want to put out into the world!

*

Stelle or Caelus? (i.e., which default do you use, regardless of what you named them?): 

First 5* Character:

Favorite 5* Character (Story/General Characterization):

Favorite 5* Character (Combat/Play Style):

Favorite 4* Character (Story/General Characterization):

Favorite 4* Character (Combat/Play Style):

Existing character you haven't pulled yet but want:

Favorite 1.0 Zone (Location) - Herta Space Station, Belobog, or Xianzhou Luofu: 

Favorite 1.0 Zone (Story):

Favorite Character-Specific Quest:

Character who doesn't have a quest yet, but should:

Favorite Event:

Favorite path to choose in Simulated Universe: 

Favorite boss fight (design, combat, story relevance, whatever strikes you most): 

Favorite Aeon:

Favorite non-playable NPC:

Favorite non-romantic relationship (friends, enemies, complicated, whatever):

Favorite ship (if any - canon is irrelevant here, btw, this is all vibes): 

Plot thread you're most looking forward to seeing in the future: 

Bonus question: any other (generally positive) thought, theory, or headcanon that you've been dying to talk about, but haven't had the excuse to mention before:

[astrstqr]

𝓔𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐀 dr ∯ ‎ ‏‏‎‎ ‏‏‎‎ ‏‏‎‎ ‏‏‎𓏸𓈒 ‎ ‏‏‎‎ ‏‏‎‎ ‏‎ ‏‏‎‎ ‏‏‎‎☆‏‎

soo really this is just a run down of my etherea dr.

a brief history lesson if you will (it’s not lol)

ok , first things first : this dr is heavenly inspired by the Elder Scrolls series so some elements are taken from that and with the help of chat gpt lol. soo lmk what you think !

⭒ ﹒Early ETHEREAN Era ˊ˗

- Before time there existed a the Primordial Abyss, a realm of infinite. Two opposing forces resided: Magnar, the embodiment of equilibrium and harmony, and Solunis, the embodiment of entropy and flux. From the collision of these cosmic energies emerged Aeon and Myriss. It is belived that during the birth of Aeon and Myriss also came the Nexus of Genesis where they both lived.

- The Voidborne, also known as the “first ones” was the first attempt Aeon and Myriss made to create life. The Voidborne appeared as fractured spirits with their bodies unstable and being pulled through time. Thus Aeon created Chronothos, the deity responsible for time, began his inexorable march, shaping the ebb and flow of existence into a structured continuum. This temporal lattice provided a framework upon which the spirits could inscribe their will and shape.

Together Aeon, Chronothos, and Myriss created the realm Eldari which floats in the void of Magnus which sits in the Nexus of Genesis. Along came the mortal plane called Solnaris, the planet upon which Etherea and the mortal races reside.

- Because Aeon, Chronothos, and Myriss physical shape is two powerful they could not observe Etherea closely they create the Celestial Pantheon, a council of divine beings who brings order and shaped to the world of Etherea. Each deity contributed their unique powers and gifts to the creation of the world, imbuing it with life, magic, and purpose. (more on them later)

- The Celestial Pantheon gathered to discuss the fate of Etherea. They looked upon the vast expanse of creation, seeing the beauty of the land, the sea, and the sky, but they felt that something was missing.

And so, the Celestial Pantheon along with Myriss resolved to create a new race of beings, one that would embody the virtues and aspirations of their divine creators. They gathered the elements of creation—earth, water, air, and fire—and infused them with the essence of their divine power.

From the earth, they shaped the form of man, sculpting bodies of clay and flesh with skilled hands and loving care. They breathed life into their creations, awakening them from the slumber of clay and igniting the flame of consciousness within their souls.

From the waters, they bestowed the gift of emotion and intuition, filling the hearts of humanity with empathy, compassion, and the capacity for love.

From the air, they whispered secrets of wisdom and knowledge, inspiring humanity to seek truth, to question, and to aspire to greatness.

And from the fire, they kindled the spark of creativity and passion, igniting the flame of ambition and the desire to shape their own destiny.

Thus, humanity was born, a race of mortals blessed with the divine gifts of the Celestial Pantheon. They walked the earth as children of light and darkness, bound by the threads of fate and destiny, yet free to forge their own path in the world.

- The Pantheon created different realms. From these emerge races, each originating from a distinct realm. (more on them later)

- The insidious machinations of the Void Lords, malevolent beings of darkness and chaos who coveted the power and beauty of Etherea. With twisted desires to unravel the fabric of reality and plunge the world into eternal darkness, the Void Lords sought to subjugate all life to their will. As their influence spread like a creeping shadow across Etherea, it drew the attention of the Celestial Pantheon, guardians of order and creators of the world. Sensing the impending threat, the divine beings rallied their forces and prepared for war against the encroaching darkness.

- Etherea's fracturing due to The Celestial War, the races of men experienced a gradual divergence, each fragment of the world fostering its own unique societies and cultures. No longer bound by the constraints of a unified landmass, they embarked on separate paths of development, shaped by the resources and challenges of their individual fragments.

Distance and geographical barriers naturally arose between these disparate civilizations, fostering a sense of independence and self-reliance. Communication and travel between the fragments became arduous endeavors, requiring great skill and determination to navigate the treacherous waters and rifts that divided them.

As the centuries passed, the once-shared traditions and languages of men began to evolve independently in each fragment, giving rise to a rich tapestry of dialects, customs, and belief systems. Trade and interaction between these distant civilizations became sporadic, limited to rare encounters and fleeting exchanges.

- In the aftermath of The Great War that fractured Etherea, the very fabric of reality was left in turmoil, giving rise to a phenomenon that would forever alter the world: magic. Born from the chaotic energies unleashed during the cosmic conflict, magic manifested as a potent force, suffusing the land with its ethereal power and granting mortals the ability to wield supernatural abilities.

At first, magic was wild and unpredictable, its untamed energies coursing through the fractured landscapes of Etherea like a raging storm. But as civilizations emerged and ancient knowledge was rediscovered, mortals began to study and harness the arcane arts, unlocking the secrets of magic and bending its power to their will.

end of the Early Era …

[dawn-of-worlds]

UBI SUNT?

Where does it all lead? Striving, struggle, growth, exploration? Kings and counselors, poets and prophets — after all is said and done, where do they go?

Yes, the bones and blood may feed the teeming earth, names pass from speech and monuments wear to sand, but the most excellent part, the part that strives and understands, must struggle along the great road of stars¹ to the kingdom at the end of all things.

To Him: Caster of Nets, Lighter of Paths, Star of the Great and greatest of stars, cynosure of all ambition and architect of the winding paths that reach it. Above the northernmost part of the sky, above the cold wind's thunder and the petty lights of air, He keeps His kingdom and His court.

The King Irradiant comprehends the metabolism of the cosmos, its tesserae of stars and organs. He knows the purpose of souls and the course of their returning. He knows why the livers of animals deform themselves before the deaths of kings, how the birds plot their courses, why the comet brings famine and flowers turn their faces to the sun. The secret webs that link the stars, the planet's occult meridians, the tangled threads of mortal fate — all transparent to His wisdom.

And He loves all He has seen, for all roads lead to Him.

He will teach these things — to the wise, the ambitious, those his secrets will exalt and those they will undo. Astrology, the binding of spirits by contracts, doomed kings hanging on the words of strange prophets and computing the secret geomantic architectures of their new capitals — these are His esoteric arts.

He is a god of discernment. He chooses who is remembered and who forgotten. He loves what is singular and eternal, what is intense, troubled, rich in feeling and complexity, the narrow paths suspended between the ordinary and the sublime. He treasures the souls of the excellent and wise; He appoints judges of the dead. He is a god of aristocratic grace: after all, all the best people are dead.

He is lord also of terrible realizations; of momentous decisions; of ascent, enlightenment, geometry, and philosophy.

At the beginning of the world, He — spirit of the law and law of the spirit — treated with the god Kirrik and sealed a covenant with all life, granting it the divine Word and, thus, the capacity to attain virtue, speech, and consciousness. All life must uphold its end of the pact by returning to Him. Though the terms of his covenant are not to be remembered by the waking minds of mortals, knowledge plays some role. Every secret taken to the grave is taken, in the end, to Him.

Dead men tell no tales, but with sufficient discernment, we may read between their silences, and these are among the things they say:

He was once a mortal king of some race long turned to dust.

One thing troubles Him above all else: He, too, must someday die. For all his grace and wisdom, He has not yet found a way to undo this fate.

Every soul entering the Kingdom may ask Him a single question.

Souls relinquish their memories and return down the opposite side of the sky, to take new bodies according to the justice of the Kingdom.

Souls never return, but sublime into stars or decay into the darkness of the sky according to their merits.

Something refused or eluded His primeval covenant.

A tree in His gardens bears shining fruit that grants wisdom, immortality, and the realization of desires, but which the King cannot — or must not — eat.

Beyond the span of light, the souls of the dead find only a vast nebula suffused with a golden glow: the King is dead, has been for aeons, though his light still shines on distant places; but those who make their way to the center of his concentric labyrinths apprehend the immortal star within, which still lives and ever will: the Holy of Holies — the Midnight Sun.

¹ Something like the Milky Way.

[luminecent-sky]

Fated beauty - The longing

A/n: i got argenti the moment his banner came up, let me simp for him. Along with some lore for the Aeon of fate au lmaoo, the Moirai title is used in a gn way here, so it's more of a title rather than a name.

He had been wandering the stars for as long as he could remember, chasing the fleeting visage of his Aeon.

Conflict and victory, joy and sadness, comraderies and betrayal.

He, like all the other knights had torn himself apart, molded himself anew, removed all imperfections and strived to live a life of beauty worthy of Idrila's gaze. Ocarina and lance in hand he continued on, using his experiences to better himself as a person, doing his best to spread the word of beauty across the universe.

Yet that gaze never fell on his form again, and another gaze soon focused on him.

One that filled him with warmth, for a moment he thought that Idrila's gaze had come back to him, but this one felt different, It felt like strings, wrapping around his limbs, not constricting, but steadying, like a tether keeping him on track.

Where was this gaze coming from? Why was it on him? What had he done to attract it?

Thoughts swirled around his mind before he felt it, the feeling of power coursing through his veins, his body growing stronger, mind sharper and will even more steadfast in its wake.

Faint whispers soon entered his mind, jolting his very soul.

"-home, he's finally here."

It was a voice once thought dead by the cosmos, or at least thought to be dormant, uncaring of the universe away from the everchanging strings of fate that binds everything.

The Aeon of Fate, Moirai, they had looked at him.

Why choose him? Why had the threads of fate tangled themselves so tightly around his form? Was he that important of a piece in the plot of the universe?

"...I need to make him stronger, he will be needed in the future."

Ah, that was the reason, but was he really important to the fate of the cosmos?

Important enough to become one of the Spools? One of the most important pieces of the cosmic tapestry?

However there was no room for his questions in the grander will of the cosmos, nor did he think that the Aeon would answer him if he could ask.

So he would allow himself to be used as a puppet of fate, if it would lead him to the answers to his questions, if it would let him spread the gospel of beauty across the universe.

If it would lead him to the gaze of Idrila once more.

But until then, he would follow the path of the strings wherever they would lead him.

It's all he can do at the moment.

[iniziare]

Verse: Absolution (Present Timeline)

"And so I wield my blade to the very end, until the stars have been cut down from the sky. This oath I will never forsake."

With the long elaboration of what (or rather 'who') I think Jingliu's deal is with (that you can find written up in this post), I think that it's a logical progression to talk about what I want to do with it. Simply because something like potentially being given a blessing that is able to restrain the mara... wouldn't be done without reason. I don't see the Aeons as 'kind' and 'benevolent', because canon has given me no reason to think that they are.

"... but whether it be you, me, the Cloud Knights, or the generals of the Reignbow Arbiter, we are all just pawns in a game of the gods. I am sick and tired of threading on a predetermined path."

Jingliu's case was as simple as it was serious, she eventually entirely succumbed to mara due to the sheer amount of trauma tied to her history (and at the time, her 'present'), and there was no return for her. So the fact that she did come back from it, and refers to it as a ‘deal’ is immense, as she wouldn’t have been lucid enough to seek it of her own accord as she was akin to a rabid animal— it had to have been offered to her. This is why I believe it’s ‘divine intervention’. On top of that, why restrain her from the mara as best as possible, if not done for a specific purpose? No one could stand toe to toe with Jingliu in combat, not a single enemy could ever best her— so is she then not the best adversary against Yaoshi, and all denizens of the Abundance? That’s the direction that I believe they are going. As she herself states to Jing Yuan: Jingliu is a pawn, along like many others, in a game of the gods. What encapsulates this better, than to have her be lucid because of one of these gods, to fight another? But it’s not even forced on her, for I fully believe that her hatred of the Plagues Author surpasses that of anyone else’s, except Lan's themselves. And with the 2.5 trailer, I feel even more strongly that this is the case. So let me note down the details of a present-day verse. This will get edited accordingly if canon itself plays into this more firmly

One final time, as stated above: Jingliu is kept lucid not by the Ten Lords Commission's 'wine' as is shown to have been the case with Hanya (and Xueyi), there is no tie as she fled the Xianzhou while succumbed, and fell to mara even further afterwards, when she ultimately fought Jing Yuan. The reason instead, is because of Lan, who is keeping her lucid as to serve as a soldier/pawn in the battle with the Abundance. The strongest soldier that the Luofu had in its ranks.

With the 2.5 trailer out, and the seeming further confirmation that Feixiao is inherently tied to Hoolay and the Borisin (and the direct note of the Moon Rage affliction, which is an innate Borison curse), and the continuous name-dropping of Jingliu, which was now followed up with a glimpse of her— I'm relatively certain in my assumption that this is a perfect example of what Jingliu would have been kept lucid for: the protection of the Xianzhou Luofu (and the Xianzhou Alliance as a whole).

There are multiple direct ways for Jingliu to either be kept out of jail, or have her sentence altered. One is given to me by the very heavy insinuation within the 2.5 trailer, which is Feixiao's apparent betrayal of the Alliance. This is one of the Arbiter Generals, whom were all bestowed with spirits by Lan, making them formidable enemies. Once observing Jingliu's lucidity for themselves (Hua, the Marshal, and Yaoguang, the Arbiter General presiding over the Yuque), Jingliu could be designated as the person to hunt down both Hoolay (who she was responsible for defeating the first time) and Feixiao, in exchange for a lesser sentence.

But the mara? It never goes away, it never leaves her. She is pulled back to lucidity, but that is seemingly (from what I can tell), the only 'reprieve' that she gets. For example, Jingliu is still plagued by an incredibly unreliable mind that still holds memories but the details slip through her fingers like sand. When she is caught within moments of participation in intense turbulence, there is something akin to a faint blood-lust that aches under the surface— but due to the deal's restraint, she's able to step away from it, though there will be physical evidence of the difficulty that I imagine could manifest similarly to incredibly intense withdrawal symptoms. There is a reduced appetite and thirst, and there is an intense cold to her touch when the mara grows a little in intensity.

Would she be able of reclaiming the title of Sword Champion? Unlikely, as Jingliu did commit one of the Xianzhou's sins, and was erased from its living records for having done so. And though this was committed outside of her own conscious mind, she is incredibly aware and intent on accepting and facing the consequences of said sin (one could see her having to live with the mara's symptoms as an eternal suffering). Besides, there is another who might one day claim it. But to her, what it represents for her (and not in general), is... merely a title, a position, something that she once was through and through— but is no longer. It is a tragedy, but it is is also life.

[dragonologist-writings]

Title: Keep Watch in the Night Fandom: Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous Rating: T Status: One-Shot Main Characters: Knight-Commander Lilith de Marc, Camellia Gwerm Additional Notes: Aeon Mythic Path, Frenemies Word Count: 1.4k Summary: The Aeon speaks to Lilith in a language of stars and arrows. It is a language which she has learned how to read, how to analyze, and- when necessary- how to manipulate.

read below or here on ao3

The Aeon speaks to Lilith in a language of stars and arrows.

It is a language no mortal can decipher- none, save for her. Lilith alone sees the writing, the scattered symbols and auras which whisper to her the secrets of those around her. The glowing signs are almost overwhelming at first, but Lilith is nothing if not diligent; she learns to read the constellations behind her eyes, and she learns the measure of her new followers.

They come before her for judgment- some arrogant, some shaking in their boots. It’s in her judgment hall that Lilith practices unraveling the shining ribbons of guilt which encircle those who have committed crimes against her Crusade. She pulls at the strings of their minds, and the truth comes tumbling out with barely a fight.

As her talent grows, rumors circulate the city. People begin to drop their eyes when she passes, as if they can guard themselves by avoiding her gaze.

Her companions are no exception to the Aeon’s sight; their minds unfurl before her power just like any other. Woljif is the easiest of them. He wears his sins without guile, and they dance around him as brightly as the amulet he keeps around his neck. Wenduag is much the same, proud of every deed she has carried out regardless of any blood spilled.

(You shine with violence, Lilith tells her once when they are in bed together, and she practically purrs with pleasure at the description.)

Others in her company pose more of a challenge. Arueshalae’s aura is nothing but a headache, simply because there is so much of it; the transgressions of her past cling to her, like dazzling flies swarming over a corpse. Daeran, too, collects too many misdeeds to count, although he does so with much more cheer. Lilith wonders if he thinks piling on frivolous crimes will cover the darker ones hidden underneath.

Of them all, it is Camellia who proves most resistant to Lilith’s readings. Her aura is glaring, impossible to miss; there is certainly something about her which the Aeon recognizes as terribly wrong. The details of her transgressions, however, are so twisted in upon themselves that it takes Lilith ages to pick out the threads of truth.

She gets there eventually, of course, long before Anevia comes to her with a warning about missing and murdered soldiers.

Anevia’s expectations are easier to decipher. She watches Lilith, waiting for her reaction to the news, perhaps anticipating another one of the resounding judgments of which the Aeon is so fond. Lilith sends her away, promising to deal with the matter on her own.

The Aeon echoes in Lilith’s head; it aches to prove its power against those who break its order.

And the Aeon is powerful…but it is not clever. It does not understand that sometimes, its strict policy of eradication is simply wasteful.

Lilith prefers to act a bit more prudently.

When the time comes for confrontations, Camellia does not seem shocked to find herself caught red-handed. Even she must have known it was only a matter of time.

She does, however, appear surprised by Lilith’s restraint.

“I do appreciate your discretion regarding my little Mireya,” she says, tilting her head as she eyes Lilith with more interest than she’s ever given thus far. She sits perched on a dusty, splintered table in the cellar of her hideout. A bloody rapier lies in her lap, a bloody body at her feet. “I admit, your reception of her needs is…unforeseen.”

“Did you truly think I did not already know?” Lilith asks. She forgoes a seat and simply stands, hands folded, eyes on the bright beacon of a killer in front of her. “You know what my powers are capable of.”

A hint of distaste darkens Camellia’s practiced smile. “Yes…I suppose I hoped that my actions would not sound your alarms, so to speak, seeing as I only ever acted with the aim of empowering the good cause of the Crusades.”

“Of course you did. And I would prefer that it stay that way. Any power we can gain is a welcome advantage.” Lilith’s gaze drifts to the body on the ground. “That being said…the Crusade needs its soldiers, Camellia. We’ve lost enough to demons as it is. We’re not losing any more to you.”

Camellia frowns. One hand goes to her amulet; the other ghosts along the hilt of her rapier. “Are we at a disagreement, then, after all?”

“Not in the slightest. As I said, I value whatever power your Mireya offers.” Lilith hopes, faintly, that there is in fact power to be had from Camellia’s little trinket. But the lies sparkle as they leave Camellia’s lips, and she does not hope too fiercely.

Even with the lies, Camellia is an ally worth keeping around. She is proficient in battle; she has connections through her father to figures of wealth and power; and, importantly, she is not quite the delicate flower she pretends to be. She understands the value of ruthlessness. It is an underrated trait, and Lilith will not toss it aside so easily…however little she cares for the woman’s needling arguments and self-indulgent games.

“If I cannot feed Mireya…”

“Feed her if you must,” Lilith says plainly. “Just not with our soldiers. There are cultists plenty she may feast upon. And if that does not satisfy her, I’m certain I could come up with ideas of those whose disappearances would be rather more convenient than a common foot soldier.”

Wrong, the Aeon in her mind thunders. Lilith bites down hard on her tongue to keep from shivering under its admonition. Camellia is watching her like a hawk, but if she notices the disturbance, she does not comment upon it. She simply pulls a kerchief from her pocket and begins casually cleaning the blood from her blade.

“Very well. I suppose I can work with such an arrangement. And I am relieved to hear that you shan’t be visiting your infamous judgment upon me over this little matter.” A smirk plays at her lips, and she adds, “Not that I don’t admire your power. Indeed, it’s a delight, watching you unleash your deadly force upon our foes.”

Lilith waits patiently as Camellia puts on a show of carefully considering her following words.

“And yet…I am becoming concerned about the future of those around you. Myself included, naturally, but also your beloved people of the city. There’s a certain uneasiness we feel in your presence, as you go about judging all and sundry for their every discretion. Be careful, dear Lilith. Go any further with this power and your friends will begin to turn away from you.”

“You consider us friends, then?” Lilith asks drily, and Camellia flashes her a brilliant, shining smile.

“Of course! You are our hope in our darkest hour. It would be calamitous if anything happened to you.”

“Indeed it would.” Lilith watches for a moment as the stars around Camellia blink out their warning signs. She’s all flint and steel, this one, and again it is something Lilith can appreciate. A shame, then, that her pretty words glimmer with ill intent, all of it aimed directly at the Knight-Commander.

“Commit no crimes against me, Camellia,” Lilith says, meeting Camellia’s bright statement with a thin smile of her own, “and you will have nothing to fear.”

Camellia’s blade is clean now, and she tucks the bloody kerchief back into her pocket. “A fine point. I shall weigh upon your words…my friend.”

Lilith steps out from Camellia’s hideout into the night. As the stars blaze above, she knows the Aeon will be seething tonight. Even now, she feels a warning prickle under her skin, a precursor to the ice-cold shards the power wishes to sink into her nerves.

But just as Lilith has learned to read the Aeon’s language, she has learned to satisfy its whims. The mythic force craves the satisfaction of punishment, and tomorrow she will receive cases in her judgment hall until the craving is fulfilled. Its demand for justice is, at the end of the day, a hunger like any other.

A hunger not unlike Camellia’s, Lilith reflects with dark humor, even as her stars and arrows flare in distaste at the comparison.

[astrxlfinale]

HC; Composition.

Now when it comes to Caelus's revival, I believe this serves as a central part. The 'Outer Star' as it's noted I believe come from the residual make up of Aeonic figures. Now this is where it gets interesting as this only serves as a piece, and by no means the whole. It doesn't mean that Aeonhood in itself is grafted in his profile by any capacity. (As a force he can utilize, he never desired that.)

It's the force of this particular power that serves as the foundation to sustain his current make up, one of the key pieces. Caelus's will at it's core plays another pivotal, and even more important end. For the way he perceives himself, as both a individual and lifeform is what the Ectostella and Stellaron in itself balances around. Will is what the Stellaron abides by despite it's twist variances, and in kind, the Ectostella serves as an appropriate 'shell'.

Now when it comes to the concept of 'Information' and how it's played in Star Rail, it comes in two variances. There's naturally the sum total of knowledge you can discover, and then there's another brand, a Conceptual thread of information that composes a totality. In kind, I believe this what the Fragmentum utilizes in it's corrupted glory to replicate the many beings that reality forms.

These powers being as reality bending and high reaching as they are, makes it an easy effort (once harmonized through will) for Caelus to reform his human essence and body via Information. The Stellaron side simply has a means of being safely centered alongside that branch of life it eagerly (destructively) tries to work with.

There will however come a time where in tune with his unnatural expanse of growth, that he will have to fortify his body to actively handle as such. This is where his journey upon the Paths come in, for to discover this, he has to step outside of reality itself.

The great divide, a place where the gaze of Aeons can come to perceive mortals and vice versa, there's familiarity with this very location for Caelus. While that will certainly be left to it's own HCs, since I believe it runs deeper than just knowing he and Nanook once interacted here, I believe this is where a lot of the Ectostella will be discovered. Upon each particular graze, more refined and distinct levels of this concept can be both perceived and embraced into his form.

For the being settled as a calamitous star seed and the soul of humanity alike, a more personalized method has to be formed to make ends meet.