#TTM main story

[thethreemages]

Important Update for those who’ve followed TTM (+the Main Story arc):

*waves*

Hello Helloooo everyone~! A long long time since I’ve updated much to this blog as a whole (big apologies to that in advance btw- .w.;; ), but I’ve been meaning to make this update regarding those who’ve followed the previous “Main Story Arc” chapters, up to the latest chapter 12.

So, to tell y’all the truth… as much as I’ve been wanting to get back to that main story, and to follow up on those previously-mentioned plot twists… ehh, with how much I’ve been adjusting and tweaking to the cast over the past few months (mainly over on Discord), playing around with certain character dynamics, and just generally thinking back to my very first ideas for the TTM-verse (compared to my current ideas)… it didn’t leave me too invested after awhile to wanna touch the main story as much? .x.; But on the other hand, I didn’t wanna leave this verse just purely a concept instead of it’s own tale to tell overtime…

…And so, after some deliberation over on Discord, I’ve decided to make the decision in revamping the main story arc, all the way fresh from scratch!~🙏✨Prym & co. would still remain as the focus ofc, though while some plot elements from the original arc will stay around (won’t mention which ones yet though~), the rest of the story will follow a whole new path for me to take the main girls on that I hope you all will enjoy reading about~ ☺️✨

Sooo yeah, be on the lookout in the meantime for the new main story arc chapters to be posted, and any previous posts from the old arc while go under an “archived” tag (separated from everything else) for those who wanna read back on them just for funsies ^^ That’ll be all for now, and take care in the meantime!!~ 👋👋🦋💜

-Mod Purfect

[raayllum]

what roles do characters in TDP have? (main cast predictions pre s4)

Thereby, I think Claudia’s defection will only begin once he’s out (circa S5) and that we’ll see her go full villain and possibly separate even from her father.

For Viren, all his prior goals have blown up in his face, and death is often depicted in stories as a transformative experience. Therefore, I think he’ll start to regret or doubt his previous actions and involvement with Aaravos, especially as the Startouch elf draws Claudia in deeper and he sees the toll all the dark magic has taken on his daughter.

Putting Claudia and Viren’s goals ultimately in opposition this season is not only fresh and different to what we’ve seen before, but it also keeps tension within the dynamic, as we can tell they’re hurtling towards a collision course of misunderstanding, hurt, and Claudia feeling betrayed by yet another person she loves.

As a character, Ezran is one of the most constant. I think he’ll start S4 representing a simplistic view of Love as a concept as a good and powerful force that can overcome anything, as we see in his speech that seems to happen early on in the season: “We all want peace and we all want love. But violence tests us.” This is largely the perspective on love that the series has outwardly represented, but the series has already complicated it by showing what twisted love (grief turned to anger, or blind devotion) can do to a person or relationships in destructive ways. I think we’ll see him witness more of that first hand and see him make some more hard choices.

TERRY: The story we just heard, maybe it started as a story of love. But along the way, it got twisted.

Soren is another character where his specific S4 arc isn’t as clear to me, although I think he’ll mostly be addressing his inner turmoil over 1) his sister’s reappearance and 2) his father’s survival. [...] I could also see Soren stepping more into that “I’m the Protector” role.

I think this’ll culminate in Rayla, who’s always been exceedingly independent and mobile, being constrained and dependent. Just as she removed Callum’s agency by leaving him behind, hers will be removed in having her be taken captive and used as bait.

Then you have Callum, who we have a bit more clarity on because we know more about what he’s been up to. I thought since post-S3 and even pre-TTM his S4 arc would relate to pursuing more magic/knowledge in ways that ultimately weren’t entirely healthy as a way to patch up lingering self worth issues. (A bit of an Icarus, if you will.) 

neither Callum nor Rayla can be wholly right in S4. In order to repair their relationship, they both have to let go of a lot of hurt (for Callum his anger, for Rayla her reservations). They both need opportunities to reaffirm their love for each other.

Rayla did something self destructive in leaving in TTM, so I think Callum will do something self destructive to help protect her.

This gives them both the biggest arcs that simultaneously bring them back to each other. For Rayla, she wants to get her family back but this time trusts Callum to help her, and for Callum, he wants his cube / safety back in taking down Aaravos, this time with Rayla at his side to help keep him centred (if they go full force with the dark light motif they’re building, for Rayllum in particular).

[totaltrashmammall13]

Total Trash Mammal Base-Game Friendly Save

The plan is to have the three main towns done upon release, but I plan on upgrading the packs one by one as well in the future.

Let me show you what this is about

Remodeling Pre-existing Homes and Families

Pictured Left: The Spencer-Kim-Lewis Home remodeled Pictured Right: Alice and her daughter Olivia

Some of the homes made in the early days of the Sims 4 were god-awful, and I think we can all agree on that. For example, the Spencer-Kim-Lewis home was a monstrosity. Many of the child sims, much like in Sims 3, seem to have been made without anyone looking at their future life stages. This leads to some very odd-looking people in your next generation (and not just the newly generated townies.) The pre-existing sims have now gotten a bit of a refresh, both in their homes and their mirrors.

Recreating Families from Previous Titles

Pictured Left: Holly Alto brought into the base game Pictured Right: Teens Angela Pleasant and Dustin Broke

Many beloved families from previous titles were seemingly missing in the Sims 4 "Alternate Universe" when the game came out. Later on, certain sims were brought back locked behind expensive expansion packs, and completely unrecognizable. This save brings classics to the base game! The Alto's, the Burb's, the Pleasant's, the Broke's, and more! I also chose to stick to the idea of an alternate universe to bring back from the dead some sims further back in these family trees.

Established Stories and Skills

Pictured Left: Darren Dreamer working on a pop-art painting Pictured Right: Nancy Landgraab arguing with her estranged son Johnny

"What do you mean there's a love triangle, these people don't even know each other! And why does nobody in the game know how to cook?!" If that sounds like something you've said before then this is the save for you! It's hard for story-loving sims players to jump into a pre-made household just to learn that they might as well have started from scratch. In the TTM save, pre-made sims have pre-established friends, lovers, enemies, skills, and careers. There are also some new stories to be played you may or may not have expected from your favorite characters.

Updated and Simplified Public Lots

Pictured Left: A new toddler-inclusive kids section in the library Pictured Right: A base game wedding chapel in downtown Willow Creek

Now, you may be thinking; "Why do I want the lots to be simplified? Some of them are pretty sparse already!" And I have an answer for you. The game will only spawn in so many Sims once you enter a public lot, yet their builds are often very large with everything spread out. Not to mention they had strict item limits when the base worlds were first being created. This leads to these places feeling empty, both with people and decor.

Many of these family-friendly lots now also accommodate infants and toddlers, who they neglected to add before release. We've also added base lot types that weren't originally included, such as wedding venues.

Please follow my tumblr and youtube for updates if you are interested!

[theredhairedmonkey]

It’s not that the Janaya storyline isn’t good. It’s certainly a strong, interesting story.

It’s just that the stakes are super low because, regardless of what happens, it has no impact on the main plot. It’s like if the Mandalorian plot was just scenes from the OT Star Wars Trilogy. Sure, Mando and Grogu are awesome…but because nothing they do are related to taking down the empire, nothing they do really matters and their inclusion just feels awkward and clumsy.

Janaya’s storyline should have been part of a spin-off. That this was included in the show but not TTM was such a strange artistic choice.

[celotehnyafia]

Gabut Story

Nulis lagi yang dalam keadaan gabut, hehe at least masih tetap produktif iya kan? Selagi gabut, nulis-nulis random aja namanya juga gabut sah" aja...Gabut ini fenomena apa ya? orang kalau gabut pada ngapain? Scroll tiktok? Bikin Story Quote? Scroll IG akun" kocak? I've never been feel so calm like this alone yang tidak benar" alone actually karena dalam rangka menunggu emak" adu argumen dengan penjual baju dan kerudung..... Skip skip, lanjut kita ke gabut story, entahlah kerandoman tulisan apa yang akan ku tulis ini, let it flow like a snowball... Jujurly vibesnya ini enak banget buat nulis, hot outside, see people, west music, coffee, bukan main damagenya kalau anak sekarang bilang wkwkkw.... Oke lanjut kita cerita setelah lumayan lama hibernasi karena banyak iklan. Cerita lucu aja penggunggah kebahagiaan... Cerita cinta lagi, aku udah banyak numpahin semua di twitter yang sekarang jadi x, hoho.. Bahas cinta paling enak karena ringan & kriuk" crispy, banyak micin penyedap yang bikin makin mantap rasanya, apalagi sih ini cba aku nulis gajelass haha... Cerita masalalu versi angle yang kocag ajalah ya jgn yang galau" ttg kisah" yg pernah gagal mari kita tertawalah bersama... Di usiaku yng masuk kategori anak millenial yang mutasi kepribadian karena corona sekarang mencoba untuk menyikapi hidup yang tidak terlalu serius dan spaneng, lebih santay tapi tetap ibadah.. Oke mukadimah dulu, ini bukan bermaksud untuk sombong atau cenderung kebodohan berulang yang pernah dilakukan di masalalu talks about relationship yang serba situationship... Bukan bermaksud membuka aib ya, hanya sabagai pelajaran semata agar lebih bijak ke depan dalam melangkah... Ngga mau nyebut merk, cuma kalau tak pikir" dulu aku pernah dating di suatu kafe ngobrol soal masa depan yang endingnya adalah kesimpulan pada ego masing-masing yng sangat prinsip dan tidak bisa mencapai titik temu. Endingnya, selang berapa bulan kebarakan dong tempat dimana pas TKP itu, dan selang berapa minggu hubungan yang tidak baik-baik sja itupun kandas tanpa drama lagi malah cenderung legawa, better putus aja daripada hubungan kaga jelas contoh HTS, TTM dsb malah hubungan yang sangat menyiksa ya ngga sih? Dibilang ada hubungan kaga officially dating, mau lepasin 1/2 hati ujungnya putus juga, kasihan anak orang yang hatinya selembut bakpao wkwkkwk... Semesta memang tak pernah bercanda kalau kasih kode mana yang baik dan tidak untuk masa depan kita... Mungkin dia baik tapi belum tentu untuk visi misi jangka panjang sampai akhirat... Ada juga yang manis di chatting dengan segala janji" Investasi bodong, pas kopi darat eh ternyata cekap semannten maturnuwun utk membuatku tidak bermain dating apps lagi.. Ada juga yang baik tapi dia terlalu lemah nyalinya karena menganggapku seperti menara gading, padahal juga aku ini juga manusia biasa kayak lagunya band Raja hihi, setidaknya pamit dengan baik... Ada yang romantis kali tiap hari kerjaannya kirim puisi dari internet dan lirik lagu dangdut klasik, ternyata bukan tipe aku yang demikian...Ada yang dewasa dan open minded tapi beda benua... Hikmahnya adalah, masalalu yaudah bagian dari cerita hidup kita suka tak suka, life musti go on, say thank you to them, ngga usah baper dan sok"an susah move on ala" gen z ya khan? karena mereka sudah bahagia dengan hidup mereka sekarang dan kita juga berhak dengan hal serupa dengan cara kita. Mungkin jika bukan karena itu, kita ngga akan pernah introspeksi dari setiap cerita "anda belum beruntung" sebelumnya, hehe.. Kalau belum jodoh, gagal maka taaruf lagi, sesederhana itu rumusnya... Btw cukup deh cerita gabut aku, sekarang sedang baik - baik saja menikmati kehidupan sebagai jombla sambil berbenah semoga menjadi wanita dewasa terkait cara pandang hidup dan bisa menata prioritas wajib dalam hidup...Entar juga ketemu yang se*frekuensi dari segala sisi, tetap yakin dong aku sama Tuhanku... Udah itu aja cerita kegabutanku hari ini, smoga masih dan makin produktif nulisnya smpe bisa terbit 1 jilid novel biar nnti bisa dibaca anakan cucuku, aamiin...

[eerna]

how did u rate tdp s4? what moments did u like and what u hated

I don't do well with ratings, but here's an off-the-top-of-my-head list of likes and dislikes!

LIKES:

This might not belong here bc it is technically OOC, but I was always annoyed at Rayla saving Pyrrah in s2, so I am glad they went back on it lolololol

The Rayllum dynamic in the first 80% of the season! I loved how stubborn and focused Callum was on being offended without letting it be annoying or hinder the plot

Callum! Before, I didn't really care much for his arc, but I liked him this season! TDP struggles with tone, but the serious edgyness they gave him this season accidentally created the most tonally coherent main character lol. I was annoyed at how out of nowhere his "YOU GOTTA KILL ME" thing was, but based on Rayla's reaction that might have been the point? AND he only said one bad joke way back at the beginning of ep 1, which made him 1000 times more endearing.

This might be Stockholm syndrome but the self-righteous monologues weren't bad this time around? I really loved the earth dragon's Avizandum rant, go off king

Claudia is now EVIL!!!! I AM SO HAPPY!!!! I WANTED THIS SO BAD I LOVED THAT VIREN WAS SIDELINED IN HER FAVOR THIS SEASON LET'S GO EVIL GIRLS LET'S GO

Speaking of which, CLAUDIA AND TERRY KILLING SOMEONE!!! I was expecting it but it was nice to have my expectations met

The coin scene where Rayla is ready to cut a bitch and Claudia makes her regret it was so good!!! Idk why Aaravos said Rayla can’t kill, she killed Viren just fine, and this scene was more in line with that Rayla. However it got ruined by Claudia going back :/

DISLIKES:

the animation. I was one of the rare people who didn't mind the frame rate of s1, but this season's colors and shapes and movements were a gigantic problem for me. The screenplay is worse too. All in all the show doesn't look as competent as it used to.

Janai and Amaya. I am personally offended bc I was HERE for the marriage political drama plotline, but they messed it up at every turn. I ended up feeling like Janai doesn't know Amaya at all and is actually a really naiive, unaware woman, which is a very bad thing for political plotlines.

Rayla. She was so OOC it was insane. I am convinced the writers just didn't know what to do without her and that's why she was in this season. Like, why is she more emotionally mature, who did she have to practice those skills with??? We don't know, because the writers don't know either, as far as they are concerned she was in a coma for 2 years!!!! They could have removed TTM and instead made s4 Rayla paranoid and accidentally neglectful, and then in the end her fears get validated when she sees Viren and leaves Callum in a split second's decision, and then in s5 we can have a breakup story.

the plot is as contrived as always. If I were a queen of a people called "sunfire elves" whose bodies can run so hot they burn things they touch and a human architect showed up with plans to build a highly burnable camp for us, I'd think it was a practical joke. The dragon queen sees someone was murdered in her home while she was away, then a few hours later leaves her young son in that same home and thinks that will make him safe.

the coin scene T.T IT STARTED OUT SO GOOD IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SO GOOD IF ONLY CLAUDIA DIDN’T GO BACK

The timeskip. Honestly was not needed at all. We could have done all the same things with a 2 month timeskip and it would make more sense bc WHY HAVE THE SUNFIRE ELVES BEEN LIVING IN A SUPER FLAMMABLE CAMP FOR 2 YEARS

how do the jokes keep getting worse. How. Why did we need those 5 minutes in which Claudia details how much she loves her bf's farts. I totally get why Viren got a panic attack and fell to his second death right afterwards

the ATLA references also keep getting worse. Someone explain to them they should stop reminding people that they could be watching a better kids' show instead

[zuppizup]

After the latest interview. What do you think they will do with Rayllum? It feels like teasing (as in they will never spoil then getting back) but I am a lil worried nonetheless. I don't think pretty much anyone would be happy if the leave it as "deep friends"

As if that was even remotely as satisfying as what we already had in s3.

¿Did the interview assuage your fears? ¿What do you think will ultimately happen?

Thanks Zuppi! You are the best. I love your stories!

Aw, thank you Nonny! You’re way to sweet! 😊

Hmm, honestly, I take everything that’s not in the actual show with a grain of salt. Interviews in particular I tend to put in the “interesting but we’ll see” section of my brain. There are a bunch of reasons for this but they boil down to:

Things do change between drafts, so the creators may not be intending to be deceptive, but it ends up looking that way in retrospect

Intentionally vague/misleading statements intending to keep fans interested without spoiling

Off the cuff statements that end up contradicting canon

Obsessive fans (yes, it’s me) picking apart everything and fandom osmosis leading to incorrect fanon

I tend to hold the show up as my main source of canon. I realise the creators want the additional content to be canon, but when it contradicts what we see in the show, I, personally, find it hard to accept it in the same league as the show. Also getting supplementary material to my country was really difficult and expensive when I was a teenager, so I personally don’t like when not everything is accessible to all fans, due to additional cost/not being available in your country/not being media a person is interested in.

So, having said that, what do I see as the future for Rayllum going forward?

Honesty, I don’t have any doubt they will end up in a “romantic” relationship by the end of the show. Before then, if I’m honest. I think they’ll be back “together” by the end of season 6 at the latest. But I really find it hard to seperate their romantic love from their platonic love anyway, so while I loved what we got with romantic Rayllum halfway through Season 3 and TTM, their loving friendship before that was just as important and adorable to me.

[pheonixrainbow15]

*wipes everything off table*

THIS

Lets analyze this shit

Gotta start off with the bitches who are literally FEEDING US. Nicole Angelfinger is the author of the novel and Felia Danakata is the illustrator of the novel (idk if I spelled the names right) and are credited on the bottom of the cover.

Leading me into the font of the tittle: BLOODMOON HUNTRESS.

For the Bloodmoon part, its like this pearly teeth white lettering with a red aura behind it. It has some curves, and in some letters, it has this sharp end; sort of like the font for the TTM cover. And It also gives me an impression of a fang, and its fitting with the red and blood and stuff. Probably doesn't mean much.

The obvious stand out is the Huntress part. This eerie grey/green and faded blood red ombre. The jagged lines and shapes of the letters remind me of wood. Like some creepy tree monster.

Now for the background. We've got our literal blood moon behind the lettering with some scratch marks. Which could mean that the occasion is a literal blood moon, and the the huntress could be tied to that. Its the dark of night, and even the night sky has a red/purple hue wtf.

And you have these red trees. Now that could be the light making it look red. But what if this means that we're getting to the fall times? Yes there is also some green in places, but that could just mean that we're in the middle of summer and fall.

More in the middle ground, you have these sharp, zigzaggy twigs with blood on them. Straight lines that create corners instead of curving give more of this bad vibes. Its not always true; but in this case, with the blood and stuff, it is.

And also, blood. Blood! For children! Like, the Dragon prince doesn't shy away from dark stuff, especially blood. So a twig that is dripping blood in the middle of the cover means we're gonna be seeing that all over this novel.

Now to the foreground, OUR CHARACTERS.

We got Ethari. Who looks like he wants to go home, but he's got some shit to clean up first. Now he looks pretty normal here, but the one thing that stands out is the thing that he's holding. Is that his weapon of choice? A stick to whack people with? Can it do cool stuff? Can it extend and become a big stick? Or is it an arrow? If so, where's the bow? Its got some curves and triangles. Idk. It just looks cool. Its on the cover. Seems important.

Now for the one and only: The guy on the quarter that we all forget the name of. Yeah, nothing too special about him here either. The fact that he's here is enough. And his hair! He has shorter hair. Showing the passage of time. This was when he had that short unicorn hair. And Runaan decided to grow it out. I have ideas about what this could mean, I'm save that for another post or for after the Bloodmoon Huntress.

Now for our main girl: Rayla!!! Obviously, she's smol here. Probably around Ezran's age. Again, its set in the past so, yeah. She's wearing different clothes and has little pigtails so yeah.

And she has an adoraburr on her shoulder, looking very determined. Most likely an adoraburr she snuck into the treehouse. And they probably stuck really close during this whole novel.

And she is holding this....um.... Mouse? Fly? Probably robot? What?? This cute little animal has such a unique design, of course they're gonna be important in this story. And they also line up in the middle of the cover so yeah.

So, I probably missed some things, but these are the things that really stuck out to me and my speculation on all of that. If I'm missing anything, it's because I'm lazy. So yeah. That's my take.

[katygorl]

TTM OC Fashion Posts: Winifred Igalls

Seeing as I have made these for the main characters of my own stories, I thought I would finally work on the fashion posts for my @thethreemages’s characters~ :D Been meaning to get to these for a while, but I hope you enjoy this first one with Winnie^^

=============================================================

Winnie’s style is a pretty casual and comfy one, not too fancy but still with a cute flair. Long sweaters, oversized sweater cardigans, cropped short-sleeve cardigans, plain undershirts, simple long-sleeve shirts, ruffle short-sleeve tops, tank-tops, leggings, jeggings, jean shorts with floral embroidery on the pockets, short-sleeve, knee-length simple dresses, and flowy spaghetti-strap rompers. Her style is usually modest and covered, but when it is hot outside or she is dancing she tends to show a little more skin to be more comfortable, or if she wants to have a fun day around the city when she’s not working. For footwear, she mainly wears comfortable boots whether knee or ankle-length, with her owning a couple pairs of sneakers for dancing and flats, whether ballet, simple ones, or strapped ones with short heels for more formal outfits.

For colors, she mainly wears warm colors, with an exception of blue for her jeans. Her most favorite color is orange, with her preferring it in brighter or ‘burnt’ shades, though she also likes light or bright yellows, peach, golds, orange-ish browns, and white. She also has a soft-spot for dark reds and maroons, as those colors subconsciously remind her of her “late” mother. Doesn’t like how gray looks on her, and while she doesn’t usually like wearing black aside from shoes, she once had a fantasy of dressing gothic for a day. Usually prefers soft materials for extra comfort but does have some sweaters with nice textures. Growing up in the poorer end of middle-class, most of her clothes were bought from thrift stores or the clearance racks of department stores, but as she is saving up her own money, she plans to put some aside for getting some nicer pieces for herself.

For accessories, she is not super big on them, but she has a few. All the jewelry she owns is usually in gold, with simple necklaces and bracelets, but a lot of her jewelry also incorporates floral motifs, mostly just sunflowers such as her sunflower stud earrings. She also owns a small collection of belts, usually in brown or white colors, and she commonly uses these to cinch in some of her baggier outfits. As her father gifted her a second mana stone upon graduation, she commonly wears that one as a decorative belt buckle, with her first mana stone usually worn as a simple drop necklace.

 For her hair, it is a bit long, just reaching to her elbows, and it is mostly straight but it does curl a little at the ends. She wears it down most often, but when she is working she’ll tie it up in a simple bun, and sometimes when she is out-and-about she put her hair in a low ponytail or pigtails. Had a bit of acne in her young teenage years, but she does make sure to wash her face every night and morning to avoid getting any major breakouts. Not that big into wearing makeup, since she both doesn’t normally have the time or skill for it and she is not sure if she would even look good with any on. If she does wear any, it would only be for formal events or special occasions, with her looks consisting of clear foundation, clear lip-gloss, and simple but bright orange eyeshadow. Doesn’t usually get the chance to get her nails done professionally and she is quite messy when it comes to applying her own polish, but when she does she likes to keep them short with simple orange or yellow polish, but sometimes she likes to get cute little sunflower designs. Also not a big fan of perfume, but she does like floral-scented bodywashes and lotions.

- Some inspirations:

[citruslllad]

OK OK OK THIS IS WHAT I WAS TALKING ABT!! MCYT UT AU LETS GO

NOTES AND THOUGHT PROCESS FOR THIS UNDER THE THINGY VVVVV

ok ok ok ok ok ok so!! first off tw for mentions of murder, suicide, etc

so first i knew that i wanted someone familiar to be toriel, and i knew that with the lack of romantic relationships in mcyt itd be hard to get a romantic thing for toriel and asgore so itd probably be friendship/family

i almost wanted to make fundy toriel and dream asgore, actually. this was before i realized that was dumb lol

i also talked w/ my friend about it and we both thought philza would be a good choice for toriel or asgore, but him being asgore wouldnt make sense, and if he was toriel.. who the fuck would be asgore? his wife? hell no, it wouldnt fit her either

i just knew that i had to get the roles right so they CLICKED, yknow? since all the main characters in ut are connected in some way or another

and since everything had to click, i had to be careful ab it. so i decided to make skeppy sans and bbh papyrus because FIRST OFF blue and red. shut up. and second off skeppy and techno are good friends, and the whole sans and toriel door friendship thing?? FUCK YEAH!! skeppy tells technoblade about the pranks he pulls on bbh :]

i also wanted to make quackity alphys, since i made sapnap undyne, but it just.. didnd ttm make sensneenee.:.::..,,, it dsjfhfjfjfjggjg quackity as alphys is a cursed thought ngl. karl fit much better, all things considered. and bbh and sapnap friendship! so :]

so so so heres who i had for who

technoblade = toriel

wilbur = asgore

tubbo = asriel

tommy = chara

fundy = frisk

skeppy = sans

bbh = papyrus

sapnap = undyne

karl = alphys

(editing this ab a year in the future)

ivorycello = soul of bravery

connoreatspants = soul of patience

smajor = soul of integrity

petezahutt = soul of perseverance

niki nihachu = soul of justice

skizzleman = soul of kindness

ranboo = riverperson

stampylongnose = gaster

vikkstar, popularmmos, dantdm & captainsparklez = gasters followers

(also for the fuck of it, slimecicle is the nicecream guy and sneegsnag is burgerpants)

the setting:

-takes place under a snowy mountain in the large and harsh tundra

-the city was known as the antarctic empire and was run by two brothers, technoblade and wilbur soot, who together raised their younger brother tubbo

-what would be considered "humans to monsters" in undertale would be "overworlders to antarcticans" here

technoblade aka toriel

-younger brother to wilbur soot but did a lot of the work as co-emperor

-was terrifying to a lot of the antarticans, and for a good reason, but would always try to be kind when he could

-when the first overworlder, tommy, came down, he was immediately suspicious and VERY much wanted this kid outta here, but chats voices told him to protect tommy, so he reluctantly let tommy stay

-they grew closer and closer over time

-techno was devastated by tommy and tubbos deaths, to the point where he almost murdered wilbur, but was stopped by sapnap and convinced to calm down

-after the whole "vowing to kill all overworlders" thing wilbur pulled, he was enraged at how he, the HEAD OF MILITARY, was able to stay calmer than wilbur, his co-emperor, and blamed a large part of it on the government and how wilbur felt like he could do whatever the hell he wanted because he was the "leader"

-he ran to the ruins and tried to stop all overworlders who fell down from going passed the ruin doors, one of which who gave him a scar on the way out. he didnt want them to end up facing the wrath of a tyrannical government and a corrupt people

fundy aka frisk (tw for small transphobia & suicide mention)

-ran away from his home and tried to commit suicide at the mountain

-he was trans to unnaccepting parents, and he was heavily neglected and infantilized by them, lining up with his story in dsmp except obviously wilbur's not his dad in this

-knew about the legends of mt arctic, didnt realize that was the mountain he was on

-accidentally does a neutral run first, then when he realizes he can reset he immediately wants to test stuff out, so he does a genocide run and then a true pacifist run immediately after, which he stays in. that marked up photo will haunt him for the rest of his life

tommy aka chara

-was tired of being betrayed and having his shit taken so he went up to mt arctic to set up his music box and discs there, since he knew the legends and knew nobody would search for his stuff there

-got caught in a snow storm on the way up, went to the cave at the top of the mountain for shelter, where he fell

-was found by tubbo aka asriel and introduced to the other sb

-was pissed off after he realized that the stories of the overworlders unnecessarily striking war with the antarcticans was true, and decided that, added up with his own downfalls, it was more than enough reason to try to get revenge

-the FIRST thing he tried to do once he and tubbo got to the overworld was find his discs, which he did, and he played them both for him and tubbo

-felt betrayed and hurt when tubbo refused to kill the overworlders

-kinda doesnt like fundy. thinks hes a furry and reminds the guy of it CONSTANTLY

-recognizes tubbo the moment he sees flowey and almost passes out then and there

-instead of the items you find in Home being a heart locket and a knife, you find an axe and a compass keychain that has "tubbo" engraved in it

tubbo aka asriel

-youngest brother of wilbur soot and technoblade :] crown prince!

-would constantly go out to the gardens or visit his fellow antarcticans. everyone was super chill and god forbid they violently crossed paths with technoblades brother, so the other sb didnt worry too much about him getting hurt

-didnt immediately click with tommy the second he fell down, especially since (according to tommy) there was this one asshole who also had ram features who was one of the biggest dicks to him

-did click when he took out a music disc and began playing it, to which tommy finally struck up conversation with him after recognizing it

-was so incredibly happy when tommy played his discs for them. it was like he finally unlocked the "brother" achievement with him

-the whole "fusing into one ultimate being and going up to the overworld to gather souls to break the barrier" thing was a complete misunderstanding. tubbo thought they were there to negotiate, not take

-felt less betrayed and more confused & hurt by tommy when tommy tried to kill some overworlders. held him back from murdering this one group of people, who tubbo suspects is the group of people he vented about a lot because Tommy violently honed in on them

-almost unfused when they were shot at, to which some of the overworlders realized "wait oh crap somethings up" and ceased fire for a bit, to which tommy and tubbo took as a chance to retreat

-as flowey, tubbo didnt think that fundy was tommy, like how og flowey thought frisk was chara. instead, he had a suspicion that this was his reincarnation or maybe he was being haunted by tommy, something like that. either way, his pranking nature and general brashness reminded flowey a little too much of tommy

-i didnt draw it but flowey always has a lil bee dude hanging around him. its the one part of his life with a soul that he kept after dying, and its a bittersweet reminder that hes technically dead

[layalu]

Saw this and had some time to kill, so.. have a thing P: Definitely not a definitive list for sure lol there's a lot of games I could put in each of these categories

Overall best

I don't have any one "favourite game of all time" so I just put BOTW in there as a placeholder since it's a pretty good summary of a lot of things I like in games and one of my faves for sure

Fave series

Charming style, charming music, gameplay based on solving riddles... i just really like these games <3 Close seconds are KH, DA and LIS though

Best OST

Not just Journey but all of Austin Wintory's stuff is just... chef's kiss

That being said tho it's SO hard to choose, there are so so many games with amazing music

Favourite protag

Sassy sweet dumbass who doesn't shut up ever and gets into the most stupid and hilarious shenanigans, delightful all around. Hawke is a very very close second because I love them,, so much,,,,,

Favourite villain

Iconic, terrifying, snarky, tragic... also she lied about me getting cake and that automatically makes her the most evil villain

Best story

This was a tough one cos I couldn't really pick any one best story, but TTM's is definitely one that stuck with me the most

Haven't played yet but want to

Boy there's a LOT of games I still want to play, but TW3 is a big one

You love but everyone hates

Re:Coded is one of the least popular games in the franchise, and I agree that the story is one of (it not the) weakest in the series, but the gameplay is hella fun imo

You hate that everyone loves

Honesty no idea.....

Best art style

There are. SO many gorgeous games, but Okami is hands down one of the most visually unique and pretty ones out there. Some other styles I really love are both Ori games, TWEWY, and NITW (and a whole bunch more but those are some of my faves)

Fave ending

Again super hard to choose, but FFX's ending sequence was one of those that hit me in the feels with a ton of bricks and just... ughhh

Fave boss fight

Tbh I don't often care for boss fights, specially rpg ones, but the Unova E4 were ones that I really liked

Childhood game

BFBB was the first video game I had (and for a long time the only one I had lol) and the one I remember the most of, tho Pokemon Stadium and Little Big Planet are close contenders

Relaxing game

I wasn't sure if I was gonna like this one cos I'm not super into management sims, but it's delightfully relaxing and charming

Stressful game

I tend to avoid stressful games so i wasn't sure about this one, but funnily enough when I think of stressful games the first that come to mind are all from the Löwenzahn CDs I had. I loved them, but boy did some of those games stress little me tf out

Game you always come back to

The last couple years, Celeste! Every now and then I'll give the bonus levels another go, or restart the main game to try and beat them faster/ with fewer deaths

Guilty pleasure

Dunno if I'd call it guilty pleasure exactly, but whenever I play Minecraft I'm only ever on creative building stuff. Wanted to put this in the "relaxing game" slot but put it here instead p:

Tons of hours played

DA:I :'). It's a long game..... and I always wanna explore everything and do all the sidequests.......

[raayllum]

Knowledge as a Burden / Subjective & Objective Truth :: A S5 Meta

Now, the concept of Knowledge being a burden is nothing new. It's quite literally baked into cultural consciousness (at least in the West; I don't know enough to speak for East cultural mythos) through both the story of Adam and Eve within the three Abrahamic religions, and its close sister story of Pandora's pithos (more commonly known as a box). We also see it in stories such as Bluebeard, in which a new wife is forbidden to inspect her husband's private chambers and deeply regrets her choice to do so, as well as phrases such as "the grass is always greener on the other side," "ignorance is a bliss," and "what you don't know can't hurt you" (all of which are debatable as phrases, of course).

However, it is one of the rare themes in TDP, I think, that wasn't really present in arc 1 and is introduced as an arc 2 (as compared to most that were already in arc 1, and have just been strengthened/matured) particularly as of S5, hence why I wanted to talk about it.

So let's talk about it (specifically Kpp'Ar, Akiyu, Viren, Rayla, Callum Ezran, Soren, and the Jailer, not at all in that order).

Thematic Origins

Like most things in terms of season four thematically, "Knowledge as a Burden" actually starts in Through The Moon, in a lot of ways. There's the other side of it as well - not knowing what happened to her family or Viren is causing Rayla to be increasingly irate and worried - but TTM closes out on Rayla at least being able to face the fact her family is gone. If that was the only big piece of information she'd learned by going through the portal, she probably wouldn't have left.

R: Right before you found me, he opened his eyes, and I knew... He may be caught between life and death somehow, but Viren is on this side of things. He's alive, Callum! C: I don't know, Rayla. I didn't understand half of what I saw in there. [...] I let you jump into the Nexus alone and I knew right away I'd made the biggest mistake of my life. I could have lost you.

However, she Knew - in her bones - that Viren was alive, and so she had to go after him. Even if it wasn't what she wanted (to leave or to hurt Callum) the knowledge itself felt like it was pressing down on her, that this was what she had to do. That she had no other choice.

That being said, TTM is at its core supplementary material. While it initiates the theme in this way (as does Callum's devotion), it may be worth turning to how S4 originates the theme and pursuit of Knowledge, which is not through Rayla directly, but is through Callum, instead.

(If you're interested in Amaya and Callum's parallels in 4x01 concerning partners and knowledge, you'll want to check out this meta here.)

In the beginning of S4, Callum is where Rayla used to be, left in limbo about the well-being and what's happened to his loved ones. And there is, of course, his frustration and quest to properly decipher the mirror, and anger at Soren, when he believes the man is keeping something from him.

This anchoring in Callum's plot line and curiosity indeed informs the true thematic basis of knowledge in Arc 2 in comparison in Arc 1. In the first three seasons, we always knew where we were going — to the Dragon Queen to notify her of Zym's safety/existence, with Viren's initial Aaravos plotline in S2 being a divergence from this level of certainty — but in arc 2, we're purposefully floundering a bit more. Because in a lot of ways

Arc 2 is About the Pursuit of Knowledge

This isn't particularly a surprise, given the seasons have the official title of "The Mystery of Aaravos," and mysteries involve clues that are in the inherent pursuit of trying to gain answers (i.e. knowledge), but it does mark a structural departure from Arc 1, as mentioned earlier, and informs S4-S5 (and most likely S6) more than we might've initially realized.

A perfect example is that, from 4x05 onwards, the main characters (including Claudia and co. until the of 4x09) up until approximately the end of 5x05 (a full 10 episodes) are simply travelling around trying to find the pieces to Aaravos' prison. To decipher its location, its material, and its very nature. But put a pin in it for later, cause I want to draw attention to another quest for knowledge that runs concurrently in season 5 in particular, AKA:

Knowledge as Power

I've talked before about Finnegrin's parallels to Aaravos, but thus far haven't touched too much on Callum's parallels to Finnegrin, even though they're uh

There, for sure. And of course, both Finnegrin and Callum (and Rayla, with her "We're going to need to know one thing: how do we kill a Startouch elf" + Finnegrin's "I just want one thing") have their own similar reasonings, ultimately, for wanting to kill their chosen targets: to maintain their own control and freedom.

(This isn't to say this is Callum's exclusive motivation regarding Aaravos — it isn't — but I do think we're meant to see the blatant parallels as well.)

Control, freedom, and power are all undeniably, understandably linked, then. But knowledge is the undercurrent (pun intended) of all of it. Finnegrin's awareness of his confines is what's driving him mad; Callum knowing that Aaravos can possess him and what the mirror entailed, things he lived in ignorant bliss of for 2+ years, are what worries him in S4. Knowledge and power are inextricably linked, as Viren's character makes particular apparent, which in the case of Kpp'Ar demonstrates a strong Knowledge of his student (with caveats) as well as Aaravos' assessment of Viren. If you have knowledge, you have power — and if you have power, you have agency and/or worth.

Which I think is the subtextual cue to Viren only having clarity ("This is nonsense!") once he casts down his crown (power) in the dream sequences, as well as his end of season "I finally see the truth" epiphany that also comes with relinquishing power and agency over his own life, while ironically exerting it more than ever. But more on Viren and all that later, so pin in it for now.

We also see this element of Knowledge as power come into play with other characters, most notably Claudia in her utilization of dark magic and the creativity she expresses with it, Callum's knowledge of spells, and even Ezran in S5:

However, knowledge in the 'traditional' sense in show isn't solely about magic or spells or prisons, or even overtly negative. There are far more positive sides as well (even if, like most things, it's a double edged sword). So let's talk about

Knowledge as Self Actualization

Have talked about self actualization in regards to Callum and Rayla's individual development in Arc 1 a few times in overlapping ways, so not going to repeat too much here (each of them examining themselves but also one another's worldview - of the cycle and magic/the war - in order to reach the people they were meant to be in many ways, etc), although I am going to touch on them later as per S4 and S5 again.

For a fresher example, I want to talk about Soren.

Dictionaries define self actualization as the process of becoming your fullest self — often times conflated with the best version of yourself — where you become more You than you ever were before. This is especially true for both Soren and Rayla in arc 1, where although they have dips and bends, they are both ultimately selfless protectors secure in the duties they've finally been able to fully choose (and to make up, to themselves, for prior failures). For Callum and Ezran, their self actualization is more transformative into someone entirely new — more confident, more assertive, more compassionate and with the power to express it — than restorative, but again: put a pin in Callum's arc for a bit, cause we're getting to it.

For now, let's talk about self actualization through recognition of yourself through the other (aka in this case, how Callum and Rayla view themselves through the other's eyes in S4 and S5) as well as love being both a subjective and objective truth (with some moon arcanum stuff for spice).

So objective truth is things that are undeniably real — magic exists in Xadia, Aaravos has been imprisoned. Subjective truth is whether Aaravos was imprisoned for a good reason, or that humans can't access primal magic; these can change depending on viewpoint or access to new/old information. For example, while Aaravos likely isn't lying about what he believes will happen ("The sun will rise and you will not") that doesn't make it objective reality; just because someone is telling their truth and perception of events does not make it unilaterally The truth.

But for a more interpersonal view...

In season four, just like Callum doesn't know if Rayla is alive, he doesn't know how to feel about her coming back. Rayla hopes that they can reconcile, but she also knows that her leaving hurt him — even if Callum won't admit it. She had her reasons for leaving and he has his reasons for being hurt, and although somewhat opposed, they can both exist. This follows what Lujanne and Ezran cite, i.e.:

Lujanne: Sometimes real trust is accepting even the dark parts we will never know. [..] Was it wrong? Or was it just differently true?

with notions of subjective truth, and Ezran's assertion of his truth that

But I think I left something out. I ignored something that was true. I denied something that is undeniable. We are angry! I am angry. I have been hurt. [...] But… It’s not that easy or simple. Because people are still hurting and they are still angry. We can’t ignore that, or pretend it will go away. Somehow, we have to hold it all in our hearts at the same time. We have to acknowledge the weight of the pain and loss, but open up our eyes and allow ourselves to hope and maybe forgive and love again.

Whether one has hope or not that the world can be different often times indicates whether they will be breaking the cycle or perpetuating it. We see these conflicting realities once again with Soren and his inability to get through to Claudia ("You're on the wrong side. I know because... I was too")

versus being able to successfully get through to Elmer:

When you can empathize and relate to others — which is a cornerstone of Amaya's growth as well across season three through to season five — you can lend understanding and self-actualization not only to yourself, but also to them: "You know who you sound like?" "Who?" "Me" much in the same way Soren is able to offer it to Elmer, and Elmer reasserts his own identity — his understanding and knowledge of himself, down to his name — accordingly in addition to becoming an ally.

Knowledge is also the foundation of consistency; how well we know someone is predicated on how well we can predict their behaviour and subsequently rely on them, not only in action but also in reaction and responses. There's few things more disconcerting than someone reacting poorly to something you thought they would take rather well. Moreover, if knowledge of ourselves can lead to self-actualization, then our knowledge of each other can also lead to mutual self-actualization. We see this first hand in Rayla and Callum's Arc 2 dynamic thus far, so let's talk about it:

Mutual Love as Self Actualization: Part 1 — Uncertainty to Certainty (S4)

As previously noted, Callum starts out S4 at both a loss with the mirror, and still coping with the uncertainty and stagnation of his loss of Rayla. When Ezran reaffirms that Callum still loves her, all Callum can helplessly rely that he doesn't "even know if she's alive." Things don't really improve once Rayla shows up, either, even if we see the persistent thread of not knowing vs knowing being knit throughout their arc with one another.

We see this knit through, lightly, in Janai's arc regarding her people and place as queen ("Elves and humans [moving too fast]? ... I don't know" "At least Karim would lead with some kind of certainty") as though uncertainty is nothing but doubt, rather than a journey involving doubt as well as the opportunity for growth just as much as any venture (as Callum and Rayla will soon find out).

After all, Callum soon finds a shred of comfort in said uncertainty, and offers it to Rayla accordingly in an attempt to comfort her:

Rayla: This is all my fault [that Soren is dead/missing]. I left him alone! I shouldn't have— Callum: Rayla. Don't. We can't know what happened for sure. I mean, this is the path to Rex Igneous, right? So maybe he couldn’t climb out of the pit, so he had to keep going. You know him. He’s brave. He’s gotta be down there looking for Rex.

And this is also built upon a foundation Ezran has set earlier with his friends. When he is trying to get Callum and Rayla to work together, he doesn't tell them to set everything aside, or even harkens back to their good old days. He asserts their identities and says, "Don't you remember who you are?" because to him — and evidently to Callum and Rayla, because it works — working together and helping each other has become a fundamental, core part of who they are as individuals. They are that interwoven with each other, and Rayla reflects that in 4x07 with, "Callum, you're the 'destiny is a book you write yourself' guy. No one can control you or make your choices for you" as well as what Callum offers up to her in 4x09 where we see the turning point in their prior uncertainty. Although they've both changed, they are fundamentally still the same people they were when they fell in love, and there is both comfort, sadness, and acceptance in that realization, where Callum says:

Which is the tipping point into season 5, and where they stay for the bulk of season five, so let's talk about that next stage.

Mutual Love as Self Actualization: Part 2 — Certainty and Discovery (S5)

Upon reconciling once Callum has said what we knew all along — "I'm so glad you come back" — Callum and Rayla return to the castle, and their searches for knowledge become arguably more explicitly stated by the text. Their first scene together in 5x01 establishes that Callum wants to know the Ocean arcanum ("I thought it would be about controlling the tides or fighting the currents" thereby exerting control, which he desperately wants over himself post-S4) as well as Aaravos, whereas Rayla is seeking answers about her family: "If I can figure out how he put you into the cursed coins, maybe I can find a way to get you out."

This is, of course, something we know she doesn't trust Callum with yet, not wanting to burden him with her problems especially before she's reached her own conclusion of what to do about it (to delay it for the good of the world) and we see that the certainty and forgiveness Callum found in 4x09 has more than carried over.

Opeli: Don't you want to know what she was up to? Why she did all this? Callum: If she didn't tell me, she has a good reason. I know this: the tides are true as the ocean is deep. [...] It means I trust her. Unconditionally. Let her go. Now.

This scene harkens back not only to the love poetry he quoted and then paraphrases ("To love is simply to know this") where loving and knowing someone is deemed synonyms, but also by his reassertion of Rayla's identity in the wake of her transgressions and her silence: "She's not the elf. She's Rayla" because Callum's love for (and trust in) her has always been rooted in the essence of who she is: "That's what makes her a hero. That's what makes her Rayla."

And we see Rayla's own knowledge of certainty challenged and reformed by Amaya in 5x04:

When I was growing up, my big sister Sarai was the smartest, strongest, bravest person I knew. When she died, I felt lost and weak without her. I hated feeling that way, so I learned to be strong alone. Stoic, strong, and lonely. [That does sound like me sometimes.] But the last two years have changed everything. Meeting Janai, falling in love, I am stronger than I ever was — because we are stronger together. And I realized that was the real truth of me and Sarai too. Love and trust grow a kind of strength that is much bigger than we each possess. To have that kind of strength, it is not enough to love someone. You have to trust them to share the burdens you carry.

And although very uncertain about opening up, Rayla still expresses certainty that she knows Callum could and can be there for her, if he wants to be — if he's ready to be.

Rayla: But I think — I know that I trust you to help me carry this. If you're okay with that?

This is, after all, with both Amaya's encouragement and Callum's reassurance that 1) "You can tell me when you're ready" and that 2) he does want to know from 5x01. Then, we see both their arcs in this way largely — or at least they would, in a perfect world — be resolved in many ways by their interaction later in 5x04:

But that's not where their season 5 arc ends, because 5x08 happens. To talk about that, though, we have to talk about a few other things, namely

Oedipus Rex

Bear with me, because I promise this relates. "Oedipus Rex" is a 5th century BCE Greek tragedy written by Sophocles, detailing the life of a man who's name is mostly (ironically) known for lending itself to Sigmund Freud's Oedipus complex theory. The play and myth itself, however, indicate very much the opposite. Prophesied to murder his father and marry his mother, both Oedipus and his parents are accordingly horrified by his apparent fate, and do everything they can to remove it as a possibility, including abandoning their baby to die on a mountainside, as well as Oedipus leaving the home of the family who saved and subsequently raised him, never realizing he was adopted.

He then goes on to discover the truth of the prophesy when a plague wracks his city that the seers say will not leave until the murderer of their king is found, and Oedipus unknowingly pushes until the point of revelation that it was himself, and that his wife for many years is actually his mother. Even when other characters, such as his mother turned wife, Jocasta, begin to suspect the truth and urge him to stop chasing down the mystery so they can have plausible deniability, Oedipus remains oblivious until the horrifying truth is staring him in the face. Jocasta hangs herself, and he gouges his eyes out and runs off into the woods to die.

The reason I bring this all up is because, in the Western literary canon at least, "Oedipus Rex" is considered the "ur-text," otherwise known as the text that all others are modelled after. Not necessarily in the incest or the tragedy, but the fact that most if not many Western stories (TDP included) are continually propelled towards the point of Revelation or epiphany, and that this revelation is inevitable, whether it is positive or negative.

While Viren and Harrow give an excellent display of a relationship that breaks down due to a lack of understanding and compassion, as well as self-doubt on both sides...

Harrow: Call it what it is. Dark magic [...] I've spent years going along with these creative solutions, and where has it gotten me? Viren: I don't understand. Harrow: I know you don't. Leave me. Viren: They will find you and they will kill you. Harrow: I know this. Viren: But know this: anyone of these men and women would gladly trade their lives to save yours.

Likewise, we see Viren through his dreams seek the form of acceptance ("I hope you know--" "I know") that Rayla has offered Callum, except from Harrow, as well as going further into what Viren has deeply wanted for most of his life and from Harrow in particular; to be listened to, to be valued. (How pure that is in practice is debatable given their dynamic outside of Viren's dreams, i.e. Harrow listening to you does not always mean agreeing with you, but I digress.)

Harrow: You are a brother. You're my family. Viren: I've always thought of you as my family, and you know, I would do anything for my family. However dangerous. However vile. Harrow: [Still hugging him] I know. Viren: It is everything to me, to know that I mean something to you, to know that I matter. It's all I ever wanted.

But what should be a scene of comfort and reassurance turns into a literal nightmare. Into entrapment. Into imprisonment.

Knowledge as a Burden / How Knowledge Can Imprison You

I've said before that Arc 2 is about the pursuit of knowledge, specifically because more than the mystery of Aaravos himself, the bulk of the main characters are trying to unravel the mystery of his prison. Season five, by virtue of offering more clues (the nature of the prison, its appearance, and its location) also reveals more of the layers in both the construction of the prison and the dispersion of the clues. Even the mighty Domina Profundis states, "I do not know where it is," but that "I do know what it is."

Previously, we've mostly talked about knowledge, especially within the text of the show, as a positive thing. It is the foundational rock of a strong relationship, it can lead to positive self actualization, and it helps the heroes keep Aaravos from being unleashed. When you do not have enough knowledge or perceived understanding of someone (Claudia assumes Soren could never understand her, and Viren and Harrow's relationship breakdown), your relationship accordingly deteriorates. When you share knowledge, and share experiences (Rayla to Callum about the coins, Soren to Elmer about abusive cycles), you can become stronger together.

But knowledge is not exclusively a good thing. It can also be harmful, or unwanted, or unwanted precisely because it's harmful. It can bind you to deals or bonds you don't really want, and once you know something, you cannot un-know it, whether about yourself or about others. And we see this most plainly in the story Archmage Akiyu shares about the prison.

Because Aaravos was a master manipulator, the Jailer knew all knowledge of the prison had to be protected... its location, its material, its very nature. She carefully divided information about the prison so that not even the Archdragons had the complete picture. Each knew only a piece. "The puzzle is the real prison," she told me with a proud smile. But I made a fatal mistake.

Akiyu didn't mean to look. She didn't mean to discover, to know. What should've been a noteworthy accomplishment of being trusted to keep the world safe, so it would be a better place for her and others to live in, nearly spelled her doom.

I begged her to let me live. I swore to keep the secret safe, but she said it was too important. "The archdragons will have to kill you," she told me, "to protect the puzzle, to secure the prison."

There's a few interesting things here. We can see, from the severity that Akiyu holds regarding her oath, that the Jailer was genuinely concerned about making sure the prison would hold Aaravos, in addition to the fact that Jailer would be condemning Akiyu to death without having to bloody her hands herself. But the intensity here does make sense; as she just said, "the prison is the real puzzle," and now that's been potentially compromised.

We even get a bit of bonus foreshadowing, as Callum turns to look at Rayla, indicating he hasn't forgotten what he asked her to do in 4x07, and that him gaining more knowledge about Aaravos (or the key?) may not necessarily be a Good thing.

Rayla: [About the cube] It's a toy. A piece from a children's game. I hope it was worth it to you, putting everyone's lives in danger (1x04).

If you have knowledge, you have the capacity to share knowledge, either for a common good with people you trust, or to potentially have it twisted out of you under duress, both of which could've posed a danger if Akiyu had trusted the wrong person...

or if someone (much the same way Ezran put it together) went after her to get information but with less favourable intentions...

And we see that Akiyu was likely aware of this as well:

So I proposed a pact. I made a solemn promise I would die before revealing the location of the prison to anyone. And she spared me.

She ends her history lesson by reaffirming a sentiment she already expressed earlier, citing, "I didn't want to kill you, but you left me no choice. I swore an oath, and I intend to keep it" and reaffirming it here with, "So you see, when you came looking for information about Aaravos, I had no choice. If I didn't deter you, I had to kill you." At best, Akiyu's acquisition of knowledge made her prepared to put blood on her hands (if it isn't there already from previous knowledge seekers) and provides her justification in doing so.

If she could just un-know something, her life and the information would've been much safer for everyone involved, and yet that wasn't really possible. Once you know something, you cannot un-know it. (What is done cannot be undone.) Although what happened was a genuine accident, and Akiyu wanted to live, she still understood the importance of what was transpiring and why the Jailer reluctantly wanted to remove her from the equation ("The archdragons will have to kill you" / "You have to kill me. I need you to promise") to be safe rather than sorry.

And then on the flipside we have Finnegrin, who is punished for 'genuine' crimes (we can assume based on his actions that his prior ones weren't much better, but we also don't totally know for sure), spared without begging for it, and is deeply resentful of the restrictions placed upon him.

So while to get out of her predicament, Akiyu is an Tidebound elf who holds onto knowledge, Finnegrin is a Tidebound elf who wants to get out of his predicament by gaining knowledge — by any means necessary. Because knowledge is power, knowledge is agency, and knowledge is imprisonment. Which means it's finally time to talk about:

Knowledge and the Ocean Arcanum

So if S4 is about beginning to navigate both in spite of and within uncertainty, S5 is about having the safety of that uncertainty stripped away, both in creating more of it, and in removing some of it. Namely, the Ocean arcanum:

Finnegrin: What did you think you could do, boy? I control everyone on this ship. Everyone.

Callum: [Internally] Do not ask how the ocean's blue... or why their time the tides do keep. To love is simply to know this. The tides are true as the Ocean is deep.

Now I've talked more about the specific symbolism embedded in the scene where Callum internally unlocks the Ocean arcanum — the closing of his hand mimicking what he must've done to crush the slug (as well as the importance of hands and consistent gestures throughout the episode), the sea and storm and darkness receding because the arcanum is, ultimately, enlightenment, etc.

And in some ways, Callum unlocking the Ocean arcanum should be outright enlightenment with all the positive connotations that comes with. It's him achieving the goal he wanted from his first scene this season ("I'm trying to get into a place where I can connect with the Ocean arcanum"), it has all the positive light and lack of storm associations, and it allows Callum to triumphantly break free from Finnegrin's blood ice grip, for lack of a better term.

Callum: But then, you already knew that, didn't you? Because it's the secret of the Ocean itself. The arcanum. Finnegrin: Impossible. Callum: You helped me figure it out. I thought it would be about controlling the tides, or fighting the currents. But it's the opposite. The Ocean arcanum is about accepting there are depths you can't see, parts of yourself you can't understand, and things you can't control. You know what I'm saying is true because you were born knowing it. No matter how much you try, you'll never control everything. And that terrifies you.

I'm afraid, Rayla. What if I'm on a path of darkness?

Callum does not frame him unlocking the Ocean arcanum, nor the arcana itself, as a victory. Not to say that either of those things are bad, but that they have layers, and complications, that largely were not present (at least at the time) with the Sky arcanum. While Callum learned in S4 the dark side of potential and how consequences can catch up to you, in many ways, S5 is about deepening that understanding to the fact that no matter how much power you have, you can still not control everything. There will always be moments you feel powerless. There will always be moments you are found desperate.

He chased the Ocean arcanum because he thought, if Sky granted him potential and freedom, then Ocean would grant him control, but the truth was more complicated than that. While it did grant him control (the ability to break free from Finnegrin's spell), it also granted him a rather hard truth he'd rather not know.

The first time he cites his poem about true tides and untold deaths, he is talking about his faith and trust in Rayla — the way he views her: "If she didn't tell me, she has a good reason. [...] I trust her. Unconditionally."

The second time he recites the poem, it is about himself. The untold depths are within himself, are parts he is still trying to understand in full because they are uncomfortable truths. In many ways, Callum unlocking the Ocean arcanum is his version of Ezran's 4x03 speech (see how we looped all the way back? 'Totally' intentional I swear), that multiple things can be, and sort of have to be, true in order to gain new ground, even if there's a part of you that wishes it could be simple.

I had a speech planned for today. It was about peace and love and hope. But I think I left something out. I ignored something that was true. I denied something that is undeniable.  [I'm not a dark mage. I will never help you. -> That's the dark magic you want. Just... just let her go.]

And just like his brother, Callum can no longer deny the truth.

Callum had to accept parts of himself that he was previously denying — where they could lead and what they could do, and how he could be manipulated/coerced/controlled — in order to access the Ocean arcanum. Love both makes him stronger, by his own assessment, and weaker, per Finnegrin's. Losing control made him realize what he'll do in order to have control again, even if it's temporary, even if it might not work, even if it might have disastrous consequences, because what he gains in the process — in this case, Rayla's life and safety - is worth it to him, even if all that knowledge is also scary to him and something he's going to continue to learn how to cope with.

Callum's knowledge of himself then becomes a burden, both a metaphorical and literal chain (undoing his chains so that he can free Rayla, while knowing he's chaining himself further to Aaravos in the process).

With this in mind, the ocean arcanum thereby embodies all the facets of Knowledge we've largely been looking at across S4 and S5 in particular. It is Love ("To love is simply to know this") and self actualization/discovery ("parts of yourself you can't understand"). It is power ("The secret of the Ocean itself - the arcanum" "Impossible!") and it is a burden ("there are depths you can't see" with his hands clasped like chains not for the first or last time this episode). It is freedom, yes, but the Knowledge Callum now holds is also imprisonment.

Conclusion

If you made it all this way, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed. While there were other elements this season (Viren's atonement and self actualization arc which begins and ends with him becoming aware of the Truth, or knowledge, of his actions, for example) I felt they were better suited to other core themes or motifs — a general theme of self actualization or the way TDP discusses truth and sight, for example, than being tethered directly to Knowledge in this way.

I expect we'll see this be continued further as the cast chases more knowledge about Aaravos and his past / power in future seasons, in addition to the potential knowledge he and other Startouch elves such as Leola passed down to humanity that had a variety of consequences.

For now, I will see you in the next meta.

—Dragons out

[hyaesia]

So. I wanna get impostor factory but like. What order should I play the games in :eyes:

YEAAA WELCOME TO THE CLUB !!! i am So glad you asked!!

ithis is the official order as of impostor factory! IF was made so that anyone could hop in regardless of what they have or haven't played, just like the rest of the games. so if you really wanted, you could just hop right in

that said, i'd highly recommend playing at least finding paradise beforehand. it explains some things that might otherwise not make sense about IF (and also it's my fav out of the series and i think everyone needs to play it)

lots of rambling about the specifics of some entries below the cut (also about the comics)

i said this above, but even tho you could get away with hopping right into IF, i rlly think it’s more rewarding to play TTM as well as FP at the very least beforehand (free time + money willing ofc)

a note about a bird story: despite how it’s shown after FP on the official list, i’d say play it beforehand. don’t stress playing it, though! it’s a great entry, but it’s really just an introduction to colin as a character (which FP already does). in fact, i think most ppl in this community haven’t actually played ABS fdndgsmsd

also!! i cannot express this enough!! please play the minisodes if you finish TTM. they’re not mandatory for knowing what’s going on or anything, but they’re really good and explore some concepts that the mainline games don’t necessarily have the time to

if you’re feeling super adventurous, there’s also comics! there’s three officially released comics: to the moon too, paper memories, and bestest dancers. 

i honestly haven’t read to the moon too, the page on the website is broken. it seems like it’s mostly just fluff tho so you’re...probably not missing out on much?

paper memories is also fluff, but more relevant to the series. if you wanna read this one, def do it after you finish both TTM and FP. it contains three main parts with ministories from each game (and one from both). the main parts can be read for free here (TTM’s part), here (FP’s part) and here (the crossover episode). there’s also some fun bonus art and oneshots with the sigcorp docs in the steam DLC version ;O

and finally bestest dancers, or “minisode #3″. i’d 100% recommend reading this one (only after IF tho). it takes place directly after the end of the game, and has some other oneshots and ministories following the docs. sadly you can only read this one off the steam DLC rn, but it’s only $2 and is so incredibly worth it

OKAY. CUTTING MYSELF OFF BEFORE I RAMBLE MORE. I RLLY HOPE YOU ENJOY THE GAME(S) !!! SORRY ABOUT THE UH. ESSAY

TL;DR play to the moon → minisodes 1+2 → a bird story (optional) → finding paradise →  paper memories (optional) → impostor factory → bestest dancers! 

[theredhairedmonkey]

Honestly, while Lujanne usually subverts the archetypal “Wise Wizard” by giving out pretty terrible advice, sometimes she gives pretty insightful advice that touches on key themes of the story, and it’s these points that get promptly ignored by the main characters (usually Callum).

For instance, we get this exchange in season 2:

Callum: “Growing up, I was supposed to learn swordfighting, horseback riding, battle tactics, but I was so bad at all of it.”

Lujanne: “But then you didn’t give up? And you got good?”

Callum: “…well, no. I have those up.”

Lujanne gave what’s actually really good advice (“if you’re bad at something, keep trying and you’ll eventually get good at it”) that Callum promptly ignores. This isn’t just useful words of encouragement, but is actually the main lesson Callum spends the rest of the season learning.

And this same formula comes up again in TTM. Lujanne gives useful advice (“I don’t think there is a spell that can assist Rayla”) that Callum promptly rejects (“Maybe there is a spell!”) and in the end Lujanne is proven right: all the Moonhenge ritual ended up doing was making Rayla even more obsessed about Viren, and instead of solving their relationship issues, it heightens them by pushing Rayla to leave Callum behind.

The sharp lesson that Callum learns—that magic can’t be used to solve every single problem—is essentially what Lujanne was trying to tell him.

[catbot158]

Imposter Factory: I Beat It (Non-Spoiler)

So I finished Imposter Factory, the sequel to Kan Gao’s To The Moon and Finding Paradise games. I have been in love with To The Moon since I played it all the way back in 2012, and I have never stopped loving it, no matter how many times I have replayed it. However, I only played Finding Paradise once, and while I thought it was just as good as its predecessor, I had a harder time connecting with it as I did with To The Moon, even though its themes were more relatable to me as a person. Still, I was excited for Imposter Factory; Kan Gao never fails to make me laugh, think, and cry in the span of a few moments, and the few images we’ve gotten over the last two and a half years since its announcement have only made the hype grow. So of course I forgot about it until release day, and in a panic I bought it and played it right away. Naturally.

The only two things I knew going into Imposter Factory were twofold: 1) the basic synopsis (which even that I doubted) on the Steam page, and 2) the concept that IF’s main themes were “in-between” TTM and FP. Other than that, I was going in blind, and I think that’s for the best. The game is at its best when you are surrounded by the mystery of everything going on. What is this mansion you found yourself invited to? Who is this mysterious woman who is lurking around the place? And whose is murdering this lovely old couple with very wealthy connections? It hits the Agatha Christie vibes just right. You never know what is going to hit our intrepid hero, Quincey, next. 

But like the Steam page says, that is only the first third of the game. I won’t go into too much detail about the other two-thirds of the game, but I will say that the second half is more or less what you would come to expect from a Kan Gap game: exploring memories, collecting orbs, and moving on to the next memory. Except this time, there are no bickering scientists one-lining their way through a person’s life- instead, Quincy is the one in control, and this alone is an interesting concept. Quincy has no clue as to where he is and what these orbs do, and that makes for an interesting twist on the formula. We aren’t following indifferent but sympathetic workers, but a person with a kind heart, and so his reactions to the memories he witnesses are much more raw and emotional...when he reacts. There are times where he just seems emotionless, even when he really shouldn’t be. That’s a shame, because Quincy is a fun guy to hang out with otherwise. He actually cracked me up more than Dr. Neil Watts has, and Neil is a comedic king in these games. Just it feels like he probably should’ve had a companion with him to bounce off of during the second third of the game, to add some levity to the proceedings. While a little cheesy and unnecessary during the serious parts, Rosaline and Neil were fun characters to hang out with, and its a shame they’re not controllable this time around. 

That isn’t the only issue plaguing IF. For one thing, there isn’t as much interactivity with the environment as there is in the previous games. You barely talk to NPCs and there are barely any items to click on and read funny descriptions on. Also, the “memento” system is done away with: the orbs break open a barrier and you move on to the next section, no puzzles to solve to progress. I will admit that I didn’t miss the puzzles as much, but I did miss trying to find the next memento and seeing where the memento leads to; they gave a break from all the story we’re constantly surrounded by. These, along with Quincy’s relative silence during the second third, means IF has a more serious tone to it than the previous game before it, and while it does make it stand out from TTM and FP, the game also feels less memorable than those other two. TTM and FP were meme machines and had a lot of quirky moments to break up all the sad. Oh, except for Ricebot. Ricebot and the weird long cat were good.

My final problem with IF, however, is much grander than the other problems I’ve mentioned, but it is unfortunately a spoiler. I will do a spoiler post about IF later, but suffice it to say, it majorly affects everything about the game, and it did affect my overall enjoyment of the game. I know people are going to disagree with me on this, but I have to say what I feel. 

Overall, IF was definitely a fresh new twist on the series. The art was spectacular, there was actual animation this time that looked wonderful, I (mostly) enjoyed the new characters and the music is beautiful as always (though sadly Laura Shigihara did not sing anything this time :( though Leafpie did, so check that out). I do think, however, it’s the weakest of the three Sigmund Corps. games. The script isn’t as tight as before and the darker tone means we’re missing some of the series’ iconic humor, but there is still some good stuff to chew on here. I still almost cried again, so that is a good sign, at least.

(Also one note I want to make: Kan said that, like before, IP can be played without having played the other games in the series. I agreed with him when it came to FP, but this time I am going to have to disagree with him on IF: You should at least play Finding Paradise before playing Imposter Factory. I will not spoil why here: let’s just say that there are some things in FP that pop up again in IF.)

EDIT: I HAVE SAID THE SPOILERS. HERE ARE THE SPOILERS. Don’t kill me please lol

[patricksteelebodger]

The Dragon Prince Instagram Q&A

As we wait for 4th Season of the official Dragon Prince Saga to arrive, the creators of the show had done an Instagram Q&A to celebrate the release of their graphic novel, “Through the Moon”, while what the creators revealed wasn’t enough to become a spoiler to us, here are some of a few highlights on the answers and teases they gave out that will give us much excitement for what's to come from the Dragon Prince and the world of Xadia:

TTM will not have a sequel but is canon and will herald S4's plot 

Moonshadow Elves partially slip into a dimension of the Moon granting them a full stealth mode

There will be outfit changes in S4 for the main characters

Callum will not be limited to Sky and seems to be closer to unlocking the Moon Arcanum

They WANT him to become the first Human Archmage (kind of a troll but still implied to be possible in the future)

More Sarai coming

They refuse to say what the Key of Aaravos unlocks

The Sun AND Ocean Arcanum are both capable of healing as well as a few other Arcanums

GN characters could get into the main series

You should get TTM before S4 for the best experience

Zym will grow up and experience more character development. He's a puppy!

More Gren content!

Ellis will probably return but not 100%

They cannot say what Aaravos told Khessa.

The Orphan Queen will be referenced a lot more and they still want her movie to happen.

There is potential for Moonshadow Elves to manifest other abilities based on the Arcanums. This is possible for other types of Elves as well. It mostly comes from training.

There will be MORE Dark Mages.

Aaravos possibly had a role in the mastery and discovery of Dark Magic

More Dragons and Archdragons are coming.

Avizandum CAN MAYBE be unstoned.

Elves are indeed capable of Dark Magic.

There's a lot of easter eggy stuff on the map.

They said: What has Claudia done that deserves a redemption arc?

They wanna explore how Runaan and Ethari met.

They might tell the story of Callum's birth Dad. Probably mostly his impact on Sarai's life.

Zubeia will be more involved in Season 4.

More Crow Master to come.

Most Elves have 4 fingers and 4 toes. We know Tidebound Elves have 2 toes.

The divide of the continent is still a big deal.

Soulfang Serpents are part of the Moon Arcanum.

Bait's Glowtoad tribal name is just some funny grunt.

We will see the reactions of Human and Elf relationships as seen by other characters.

It took 9 months to a year in order to fully develop Through The Moon.

Through The Moon happens a couple of weeks after Season 3.

They still won't say what the time gap between TTM and S4.

There is a bigger world out there other than Xadia but Xadia and the Human Kingdoms are the focus of the show.

Some Elven cultures use temporary tattoos and make up while others use permanent ones.

There will be more Queen Aanya.

Aanya and Ezran friendship could happen.

So far Amaya is the best fighter in the show

That’s all for now, but thanks to the QnA, we’ve got a lot more on what we’ll be excited for for the next season and beyond!