#That sage has a resurrection

[jwiqt]

Redrew one of my favorite Valorant sprays but Marvel Rivals

[mamawasatesttube]

okay i was talking to sage and. new headcanon incoming. yeah, yeah, kon's bloodied corpse, we've all seen it...

but looking at it again the one part that kinda gave me pause was.

bro... did his right hand get completely ripped off? because it looks kinda like his right hand got completely ripped off. his other hand is visible, but this one is, uh. well. it SHOULD be there. (his left foot also looks. um. questionably attached. but.)

after his resurrection, we see him wearing a leather cuff on his wrist.

now it's generally drawn on his left wrist, but hear me out. what if it was actually on his right wrist. what if he started wearing that cuff as a hero + his wristwatch (also usually depicted on his left wrist but HEAR ME OUT) as a civilian because he has a gnarly fuckin scar on his right wrist, because his hand got fuckign ripped off when he died?

like the kryptonian regeneration matrix worked wonders and he got his hand back (...maybe they found it in the wreckage and buried him with it, so all the matrix had to do was reattach it), but the scar. there should be one there. (and another from where he got impaled.) do you see the vision...

[fansids]

Shadow of the King Au Art Dump

Since I very rarely get past the sketching phase any presentable art is rare, but I managed to find some for ya'll

Warning for some old ass art:

1. The Stalwart Generals

I spent an ungodly amount of time figuring out the designs, dynamics, and personalities of all of these monkies so I'll be damned if I don't show them first.

The Generals take care of anything SWK is unable to. They are in charge of FFM when he's not present.

Marshal Ma - While technically all the generals are the same rank, Marshal Ma is considered SWK's unofficial second in command. She's calm in every crisis with a very low bs tolerance and is 75% of the reason why the island doesn't fall to chaos every time SWK leaves. She's highly respected by all the inhabitants and can and will break your spine Bane style if the situation calls for it.

Marshal Liu - Mean bisexual. Marshal Ma's sister and the bane of her existence. On duty she takes her role very seriously. Off duty she likes to keep Ma on her toes with her dumbassery. She's easy going, hates clothes, and loves to fight. She has a slightly concerning amount of knives on her person at all times. She is big gay for General Beng.

General Beng - Meaner lesbian. A siamang and the largest and tallest of the generals. She enjoys dressing up, tea (both kinds), and a good party. She has a very short fuse. While her size and strength alone would generally deter anyone from testing her temper, there are always idiots. She can fight, but she knows her Liu would enjoy it more.

General Ba - The youngest of the generals. While she's not shy, she is very quiet. She does not waste her words. But, when she speaks, the others will stop whatever they're doing to listen. She likes to spend her free time in the libraries. Get her in the right mood and she'll argue with you for hours about the most random subjects.

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2. Macaque face evolution

Was trying to get a feel for Macaque's face and how it changes throughout the au. Top right is the youngest, bottom right is the oldest. Bro gets all sorts of messed up from the whole died and resurrection thing and very much looks wrong afterwards.

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3. New fit

Macaque and SWK have the whole cape thing going on, I figured SWK gave Mac one of his own when he was still training under him. I like to think it holds a lot of sentimental value to him since he still wears it in present day but he would rather get his head smashed in again than admit it.

.

4. I'm sure this won't come back to bite anyone later

Eeesh. Imagine spending your whole life training to receive and keep the Sun Wukong's attention only for him to casually give it to some random human boy thousands of years later. I mean, Macaque did betray him and everything, but it's the principle.

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5. The Tongbi Gibbon Concepts

One of the four world-wrecking/celestial monkies. My brain was very focused on the whole pulling celestial bodies out of the sky part of her abilities that I made her based around that line.

Don't know if this fit is still canon as she and the Horse Monkey had a large role to play in Shadow of the King, and I'm considering if I should take them out

.

Bonus:

I consider the Tongbi gibbon and the Horse Monkey to be older than both Sun Wukong and Macaque in Shadow of the King. The Horse Monkey is the eldest, but the Tongbi's age is nothing to sniff at.

That being said, that does not mean she can't be bought.

Takes place after all the traumatizing shit in SotK

Panel 1

Tongbi: Child, I am an ancient being. I hold the power of gods within me. I was witness to the birth of the Great Sage himself. I have seen nations and empires rise and fall. I have gathered and spent innumerable wealth. Yet you think you can bribe me with 20 yuan?

Panel 2

The host: ...how 'bout 30?

Panel 3

Off-panel (Horse Monkey): TONGBI!!

MK: I thought the nimbus made you airsick

Red Son: Not helping, Noodle Boy

Tongbi: BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP!

[ryin-silverfish]

A side-by-side comparison of Nezha's backstory in JTTW and FSYY

(Sth I've been working on for a while, as quick reference material for Nezha's story in the two novels specifically that doesn't go into the broader mythos.)

JTTW's Nezha:

-Born with the characters "Ne/Na" on one hand, and "Zha" on the other

-Has 2 older brothers and 1 younger sister: Jinzha, who worked as a guardian deity and attendant of the Buddha, Mucha, who was the disciple of Guanyin, and Li Zhenying, who's said to be 7 years old in JTTW (Chapter 83).

-There's also Diyong/Lady Earth Flow, the adopted mice sister that had eaten the Buddha's candle, was captured by Li Jing and Nezha, and spared on the Buddha's order.

-She shows up in Chapter 80, as a demoness who kidnapped Tripitaka for the purpose of marriage, and is subsequently recaptured to face celestial judgement.

-Three days after his birth, Nezha went off into an unknown ocean, stepped on a crystal palace and toppled it, and caught a flood dragon to use its tendon as a belt

-After that, Li Jing tried to kill him for being a menace, and Nezha did the "Return his flesh and bones to his parents" thing in anger

-His soul then drifted off to the Buddha's place, who performed the Lotus Resurrection Thing by reciting a mantra

-He then subdued 96 caves of demons, and went after Li Jing to take revenge for the "forced suicide" thing

-Li Jing pleaded to the Buddha for help, who gave him a pagoda with Buddhas sculptured on every level, and told Nezha to call the Buddha (on the pagoda) as his father from now on.

-The weapons he used in his Three-headed Six-Armed Form: The Demon-slaying Sword + Demon-cutting Blade, Demon-binding Rope + Demon-subduing Vajra, Embroidered Ball, Fire Wheel (held in his hand)

FSYY's Nezha:

-Is the reincarnation of Taiyi's oldest disciple, Spirit Pearl/Lingzhu Zi

-Is destined to be the Vanguard of the Zhou army in the upcoming War of the Investiture

-Has 2 brothers: Jinzha, disciple of Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun, and Muzha, disciple of Sage Puxian. (FSYY's quirk of making popular Buddhist deities into Daoist sages in a trenchcoat is at play again.)

-Mother was pregnant with him for three years, gave birth to a ball of flesh

-Jumps out of the ball of flesh when Li Jing cuts it open, wearing his Qiankun Ring as a bracelet, Huntian Sash wrapped around his stomach

-Was immediately taken by Taiyi as a disciple the next day, who told Li Jing that, born in the hour of Chou, Nezha is destined to break 1700 prohibitions against killing

-A 6 ft tall 7-years old (FSYY's sense of scale is really weird, like all old novels)

-Asked to go out and play in the river during summertime, unknowingly created a shockwave in the water with his sash that shook Ao Guang's palace in the East Sea.

-Ao Guang sent a Yaksha to check it out. Nezha sassed the Yaksha, who attacked him in a fury and got insta-killed.

-Ao Guang's soldiers reported the Yaksha's death. Ao Bing overheard the whole thing, asked to go deal with this random brat, and was granted permission by his father.

-Ao Bing rode out of the waves on his steed, and went "Who are you, sassy lost child, and did you just kill my Yaksha?!" And Nezha was like "Yeah, so what? Talk shit, get hit."

-Ao Bing charged Nezha with his weapon in a fury, got dragged down his steed by the sash, and was promptly bonked on the head by the Qiankun Ring, which reverted him to his dragon form.

-Nezha then pulled out his tendons to make a belt for Li Jing's armor and returned to Chentang Pass. Furious, Ao Guang hurried his way to Li Jing's mansion and accused him for the whole multiple homicide thing.

-Li Jing's first reaction was "My kid's only 7 and never goes out of the door, he can't possibly kill yours!" Then, when he indeed asked Nezha, Nezha flat-out admits it and went out to meet Ao Guang like "Yeah, sorry, doesn't know that's your kid. Anyways, here's his tendons, undamaged and untouched."

-Ao Guang, unsurprisingly, did not take it well and stormed off to press charges to the JE. Faced with his angry crying parents, Nezha also knew he had fucked up, and went to his master Taiyi for help.

-Taiyi's advice? Go ambush the dragon king on his way to complain to the JE and beat him up, mobster-style. Which Nezha promptly did, forcing Ao Guang to turn into a little snake and stay in his sleeves, to be carried back to Chentang Pass.

-The beatdown does not convince Ao Guang not to press charges. In fact, he said he'd get the other dragon kings of the Four Seas to press charges together. Li Jing raged at Nezha again, who assured him that it was alright, like, his master said he was destined to assist some Sage King and stuff.

-He then wandered into the back garden, picked up the Qiankun Bow and Sky-shaking Arrows of the Yellow Emperor that were, uh, just kept there in the family attic, and decided to do some archery practice.

-Sadly, he didn't know how far that arrow would go. It flew all the way to the White Bone Cave, abode of Lady Shiji the Rock Demoness, and went straight through the throat of one of her two disciples, the Verdant Cloud Boy.

-Since Li Jing also carved his name onto the arrow (…), Lady Shiji headed immediately to his place and whisked him away with her treasure, the Eight Trigrams Hankerchief.

-At her place, Li Jing pleaded that he really didn't do it, since the Qiankun Bow was a mystical ancient weapon no one could use in a long, long time, and Shiji released him back to Chentang Pass to find the true culprit. At which point he put two and two together, found out it was Nezha again, and told him to go answer to Shiji together with him.

-Nezha, who did not think this was his fault, smacked Shiji's other disciple, the Colored Cloud Boy on the head with his Qiankun Ring, when he came out of the cave on his master's orders. Shiji was even less happy about that, took his weapons away with a single swipe of her sleeves, then chased him all the way to Taiyi's place.

-At which point Taiyi was like "Well, if you want Nezha to pay for his crimes, how about we go to the Jade Emptiness Palace together and let my master (Yuanshi Tianzun) sort it out?" Shiji refused, stating that he was just using his master's authority to lord over her and unfairly protect his disciple.

-Taiyi then revealed the Chan-Jie division that would later become a huge thing in the War of Investiture, and basically went "Sorry that your student died in Nezha's archery accident, Lady Shiji, but it is literally Fated to Happen, which means you totally shouldn't be mad at me or him."

-Shiji did not buy that explanation at all, and they fought. Taiyi blocked her hankerchief when she tried to use it, then threw the Nine Fire Dragon Bell Cover over her head, burning her to death and reverting her to her true form——a rock.

-Taiyi then informed Nezha that with JE's permission, Ao Guang had gathered the other dragon kings to go after Nezha's parents. Nezha begged him to save them, and his advice was...well, "kill yourself and the dragon kings will let them go". Literally.

-So Nezha did, which was very graphically described in the novel, after which his soul drifted off to Taiyi's place.

-Taiyi told him to go to his mother and tell her to build a temple for him at Mt. Cuiping. He did, and Lady Yin woke up from her dream crying.

-Upon learning the reason why, Li Jing yelled at her for crying after Nezha had brought all these troubles upon their family. Nezha's soul then haunted her in her dreams for a week or so, until she finally relented and built him a temple in secret.

-Half a year later, Li Jing found out about the temple while Nezha's soul was out and away for some unknown reasons. In a fit of rage, he smashed Nezha's statue and burned the temple down (I talk about how this resembles the destruction of 淫祠, illicit cults in IRL history here).

-Nezha returned to his temple only to find it in ruins, at which point he went back to Taiyi, who did the Lotus Resurrection thing and gave him back his weapons, together with a new spear, the Wind-Fire Wheels and a golden brick.

-Nezha immediately rushed back to Chentang Pass to take revenge, stating that after the whole "returning his flesh and blood" thing, they were basically unrelated and didn't owe each other anything, so he was perfectly justified to go after Li Jing for the destruction of his temple.

-They fought. Li Jing, quickly exhausted, turned tail and fled using the Daoist arts of Earth Travel, at which point he ran into Muzha. While they were talking, Nezha caught up with them.

-Muzha was like "How dare you!" and Nezha replied with "Who the hell are you?" Only after Muzha said his name out loud did he recognize his brother and recount the whole story.

-Muzha retorted that "Parents can do no wrong". Nezha pointed out that after his suicide, they were no longer father and son, and told him to stand aside.

-Muzha whipped out his sword to fight him. Concerned that Li Jing might get away in the meantime, Nezha threw his golden brick at Muzha, hitting him in the back and knocking him down.

-The chase continued. Li Jing, knowing that he couldn't run away forever, was ready to commit suicide instead of facing the disgrace of being struck down by his son.

-However, Jinzha's master, Wenshu, suddenly showed up to rescue him. Nezha demanded that Wenshu release Li Jing from his abode, and if he didn't, he'd poke three holes in Wenshu instead.

"And who are you, to make such claims?"

"I am Nezha, disciple of Master Taiyi!"

"Never heard of you. You can throw a tantrum elsewhere, but not here, and if you keep this up, you are in for a spanking."

-Nezha attacked him. In return, Wenshu unleashed his treasure, the Flying Dragon Pillar, tying Nezha onto it. He then summoned Jinzha, handed him a walking stick, and told Jinzha to give him a good whipping.

-Then Taiyi showed up to rescue him, telling Nezha to bow to Wenshu, his Daoist uncle (Context: Taiyi and Wenshu are both among the 12 Immortals of the Chan Sect), and scolded Li Jing a bit for the temple-burning thing.

-Then he told the two to get along and go their separate ways. Nezha was delighted, seeing it as basically a free pass to resume his revenge the moment he was out of his master's sight, and indeed, he did.

-Then Sage Randeng (also of the Chan Sect) showed up, gave Li Jing a buff, and told him to fight Nezha again. Nezha, having witnessed the whole thing and reached an impasse in the fight, attacked Randeng in an attempt to disable the buff.

-Randeng was not happy about this "unprovoked" attack on an innocent bystander, so he dropped a pagoda out of his sleeves and onto Nezha, trapping him inside.

-On Randeng's command, flames ignited inside the pagoda. At last, Nezha pleaded for the sage to release him, under the condition that he'd call Li Jing father (grrrr grrrr) again.

-He was planning to pull a second "resume patricide arc" the moment Randeng left, until the sage gave the pagoda to Li Jing and told them to go back to Chentang Pass and Taiyi's place respectively, to wait until the War of Investiture formally began.

-And they did: Nezha was sent to rescue Huang Feihu during his escape from the Five Passes in Chapter 34, while Li Jing only showed up much later in Chapter 64, to kill a fleeing Luo Xuan after he got all of his fire-based treasures neutralized and taken away by Princess Longji.

-I will not do a full campaign-by-campaign summary of Nezha's performance in the War of Investiture proper, for this post is already long enough.

-The broadest overview: together with his senior Daoist brother Yang Jian, Nezha was one of the biggest powerhouses on the Chan/Zhou side.

-His total kill count in the novel (only counting the named/deified ones) is 15, which is actually more than Yang Jian's (12-13).

-Much like Yang Jian, he was often the one who survived lethal attacks and AOE plague spells while the others were taken out. His lotus body also made him impervious to spells and treasures that work directly on the soul, usually by pulling it out of the body.

-After suffering an injury from the Blood-melting Knife of Yu Hua/his master Yu Yuan, Nezha was given his final power-up at Taiyi's place via three cups of wine and three "fire jujubes", enabling him to transform into his Three-headed, Eight-armed Form.

-At the end of the novel, Nezha, together with Li Jing, Jinzha, Muzha, Yang Jian, Weihu and Lei Zhenzi, became "Sages in Flesh"——which I understood as "a better sort of gods/immortals that don't receive their godhood via death and deification".

-The 6+ weapons he has: Qiankun Ring, Huntian Sash, Fire-tipped Spear, Golden Brick, Wind-Fire Wheel (in its most popular "hot wheels" depiction), Yin-Yang Swords, Nine Fire Dragon Bell Cover

[scarlett-green-rose]

There's two ways this could go. Either this is repentant past Gerudo King Ganondorf (who is older than 10k Ganon who became the demon king) repenting for his descendant's sins against Hyrule out of guilt of a tradition that he may have inadvertent started (the whole gerudo males born once every century-ish and becoming leader for their people) and thus lead to the easy rise of the Demon King.

Or this is just straight up Demon King Ganondorf who had gained back enough power in the century that Link's been asleep and thus started the Upheaval early and learned about Link just as Zelda was calling him for help/to wake up. There's like, only a few years difference between BotW and TotK, and in the span of 10 thousand years of imprisonment a few years earlier for Ganondorf to be freed (or a few years later for Link to awaken) it's a definite possibility. In fact, it's a miracle it didn't actually happen.

Either way, both are really good options!

Remember that old BotW theory that the old man on the Great Plateau was Ganondorf in disguise? We should bring that back as an AU.

[skyloftian-nutcase]

TotK DLC idea!

The screen is black. You don’t hear anything for a long time. Then, faintly, in the distance, you can hear it.

Link. Link. Open your eyes.

While the line echoes familiarity, the voice does not.

Or. Well. It does. Because while it isn’t Zelda, it’s a familiar man’s voice speaking gently, so gently you almost don’t recognize it because there’s no way he ever spoke like this in the main game.

But he is now. And instead of a golden light being the first image you see before the screen shows Link awakening… you see gloom floating in the air. The image cuts to a Hylian waking up who… doesn’t look like Link from TotK?? He’s different, still small in stature, with slightly tanner skin, platinum light blonde hair, and red eyes. But… something’s wrong with his forehead. There’s a weird line on it.

This new character you apparently are gonna be playing in the DLC blearily blinks his eyes open, clearly groggy and too weak to really move. But then that line on his forehead moves a hair, it splits apart, and you realize it’s a freaking eye, red and yellow and it’s like the ones on gloom hands and oh gosh what the hell is it doing on his forehead—

Link realizes something is off and his eyes blow wide, his hands reach for his forehead and he screams in agony and terror, only for someone to scoop him into a hug to soothe him.

And suddenly you realize why that voice was eerily familiar.

It’s Ganondorf. He resurrected you from the era of the Imprisoning War. You, who have a history with him and his family. You, who he wants to protect, who he views as his kid, who he calls a prince and says he’ll keep you safe by controlling your body with his dark magic if he has to.

Welcome to Tears of the Kingdom: Hero’s Shadow.

You have to play a long gone Hero who was resurrected. Ganondorf, who is still recovering his strength in preparation for killing the current Hero, tasks you with finding your betrothed, his daughter, as well as his wife. They’re buried somewhere in the Depths like you were. He wants you to find their burial sites so he can use his secret stone to resurrect them like he did you, and control them as well. Which is doubly bad when you realize his wife was the original Sage of Lightning. He gives you free reign to wander once you go through a tutorial (he tests you to see if you’ve recovered enough strength), because he knows you love wandering and collecting things. Your own personal objective, however, is trying to help Hyrule from the Depths, to break free from Ganondorf’s control, because Link would rather set himself on fire than let Ganondorf resurrect and control the love of his life and his mother-in-law. Your best hope is to find shards of the shattered Master Sword to try and stab the eye on Dark Link’s forehead and break the control Ganondorf has on you. Until you can, though, the monsters are your allies, you can teleport across the Depths by manifesting out of the gloom created by gloom hands (just like what Phantom Ganon does), and the world below is your oyster. If you get too close to sword shards when gloom hands are nearby, Ganondorf can see your attempt and immediately takes control of your body, and no matter what button you press Link just walks back to Ganondorf’s location and stays there until you get a chance to try again.

You start with three hearts, all empty looking like when gloom hurts you, and if you get injured they just shatter. Whenever they all shatter, you respawn at Ganondorf’s location because his gloom hands came and rescued you from dying. The only way you can get more hearts is by collecting poes and offering them to the statues in the Depths. You can communicate with the spirits of soldiers, who may give you combat tips or info about the area. If you gain enough of Ganondorf’s trust, he’ll let you command monsters, and he might even let you wander the Surface (under his supervision) during a blood moon.

You learn of Link’s and Ganondorf’s history through discovering ancient relics/texts that trigger memories. This connection between you and Ganondorf stems back to time before the war, well over ten thousand years ago. Link was engaged to Ganondorf’s daughter, but during the Imprisoning War the family fought against the demon king. Ganondorf did love his family, but he loved power more. Link sacrificed himself, letting himself get mortally wounded to save Rauru from a killing blow. Gan held him as he died, and it allowed Link to both beg him to stop and stab him in the heart with a light shard. The shard didn’t kill him, but it was what Rauru connected with when he hit him in the chest, allowing him to seal Ganondorf away. Ganondorf still wants the world, but his love for his family is still present, though now twisted, so he thinks he can control Link and everyone else with his dark magic in order to keep them safe and in line. Once the threat of the current Hero is eliminated, the world will be his, and his family will be safe. As such, he treats you, Link, the player, like a stubborn child, reeling you in, but does so in a horrific way, torturing Link by controlling him.

You have to break free of this and stop him, and the only hope you have is the distant call of a sword spirit…

[gliphyartfan]

The au in which hylia is teh one who sealed or cursed Y/N. After discovering this the chain decided since to side with the villain of their stories for example. Skyward sword link works with demise and so on.

Aaaah, makes more sense. But still not clear enough? (Wait did I write this Au?) most of final big bads are uh…dead? So they can’t just resurrect them all Willy Nilly.

Maybe this is a list for each individual and not the chain as a whole but I dunno ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Alright! Time to Wing it!

(I genuinely hope I answered this correctly 🥲🥲🥲)

But also that’s actually rather tricky if you GENUINELY think about it.

Cause yes, With Sky

Sky’s trust in Hylia is shattered when he learns she orchestrated (Y/N)’s suffering.

And he seeks out Demise, swallowing his hatred and disbelief to work alongside the Demon King.

And while working with Demise’s forces, Sky becomes hardened and more brutal.

Sky’s newfound drive may even surprise Demise, who quickly recognizes Sky’s tactical mind. Sky uses his knowledge of Hylia’s weaknesses, strategically placing Demise’s forces where they can inflict the most damage on her temples and followers.

But honestly? I doubt Demise survives, Sky

isn’t siding with Demise in spirit but probably manipulates their partnership to weaken Hylia. He gives Demise enough power to serve his plan, sowing just the right amount of discord to make Hylia vulnerable without letting Demise gain full control.

And while subtly sabotaging Hylia’s temples and weakening her mortal influence,

Sky’s primary goal is still to kill Demise, only after he’s used him to dismantle Hylia’s power. Sky plans to drive the final blow himself. (She probably escapes anyway. Much to his rage)

With Warriors

Warriors would joins Cia and Ganon, leveraging his knowledge of Hyrule’s soldiers to disrupt and weaken them.

Well, he’d play the part of hero until Ganon shows up and then just joins up with him…..or maybe…no…nah he has to wait, Cia would have spotted it before the darkness split her. (He still doesn’t like Cia tho)

Warriors knows every tactic the Hyrulean army will employ, and he’s relentless in using that to his advantage.

He becomes a spy within Hyrule’s ranks, (he can’t be a traitor if HYLIA betrayed him first. Thems the breaks) sending misinformation and sabotaging missions, all to bring Hyrule’s forces to its knees for (Y/N)’s sake. Warriors never falters, his loyalty to (Y/N) driving his every action.

Honestly Warriors pretends to remain a loyal soldier to Hylia’s cause within the Hyrulean army while secretly coordinating attacks that amplify chaos, allowing Ganon’s forces to strike where it hurts Hylia the most. He’s playing both sides.

Considering he’d make a brief trip to Skyloft, (and Nintendo never makes things clear about time periods.) I’m gonna assume each era is close enough to the heroes of the era that it wouldn’t be odd that Sky could send messages to Warriors.

He won’t hesitate to manipulate people he once considered friends if it furthers Sky’s plan to weaken Hylia, prioritizing (Y/N)’s rescue over everything else.

With Time

Time would see Ganondorf as a means to an end. He joins Ganondorf’s cause, using his knowledge of the temples and sages to disrupt Hylia’s carefully laid plans.

To Ganondorf’s forces, Time is terrifying, silent, calculated, and nearly impossible to predict. He holds a deep, simmering rage within.

And just in case anyone asks, within the mask, the Fierce Deity watches Time closely, seeing how the hero’s loyalty to his sword brothers contrasts sharply with his rebellion against Hylia. While Fierce remains bound, observing Time’s darker decisions with approval, he’d subtly align his energy with Time’s intentions, lending strength where it’s needed most. (Gotta protect his vessel ya know?)

Fierce Deity understands vengeance, perhaps better than anyone else. Even without communicating directly, Time can feel this resonance. There’s an unspoken agreement, Fierce supports Time’s defiance against Hylia’s will, seeing it as a just rebellion.

Time might notice that the power of the Fierce Deity feels especially potent when facing those aligned with Hylia or when defending his brothers. Fierce Deity’s own ancient rage fueling each strike.

While fighting beside Ganondorf, Time would have to craft a careful facade, (kinda like Sheik except he doesn’t have a magical disguise to hide his features….does he??) and considering the war of eras, he’d also be able to help Warriors with his side of things.

Ooooh the heroes that join Warriors could easily play the part of brainwashed heroes~

With Twilight

Well, bitter and heartbroken isn’t enough describe his feelings. He’s been heartbroken once by Midna. And maybe for a brief period of time, he genuinely thought (y/n) left him too.

So to find out Hylia was the one to take her away was….the limit.

So he’d strike a deal with Zant and Ganon.

But given Ganon probably still hates the hero cause of Time’s little act of slaying. So he’d side with Zant for a while.

He and Zant would create a network of darkness across Hyrule, corrupting places once sacred to Hylia I suppose? (Aw but I like Midna….)

His ferocity increases tenfold, and he finds bitter satisfaction in seeing the land Hylia cherished crumble under his hands.

He just wants his darling back.

With Wild

Well….Wild’s trust in the goddesses was already unsteady before with his own insecurities and self-doubts, but now it’s shattered, leading him to align with Calamity Ganon’s essence.

Not much going on since Ganon destroyed everything already and Flora is holding Ganon back. I mean, he’d wait until she couldn’t hold him back no more and then just switch the chaos?

He probably infiltrates the Yiga Clan, rising to a powerful position within their ranks to wreak havoc.

With Legend

Legend throws his loyalty to….i guess Yuga? (Boy he has a bunch of journeys.) seeing in him a chance to finally defy Hylia.

Or rather, he’d aid Lorule in gaining Hyrule’s Triforce. OR maybe he can’t…

…actually…maybe he just speeds up the poisoning of the land. Make it more Rulie’s era, after?

With Hyrule

Well Hyrule has always carried a subtle skepticism of authority (have you SEEN his era??) , so learning that Hylia, the goddess he once revered, is responsible for (Y/N)’s suffering would strike a chord.

This betrayal would make him question every act of loyalty and every sacrifice he made in the name of serving a higher power. He would quickly become resolute, deciding that any being capable of such cruelty doesn’t deserve his allegiance.

Hyrule’s protectiveness over (Y/N) would intensify. He would view (Y/N) not only as someone he cares for but also as someone wronged by a divine power. He’d become ruthless in his pursuit of freeing (Y/N) from Hylia’s influence and would stop at nothing, even if it meant forging dark alliances and exploring forbidden paths

To stand against Hylia and her agents, Hyrule would seek out shadow magic, using it to level the playing field against holy magic and divine forces. While he might initially be cautious, his dedication to protecting (Y/N) would outweigh his reservations.

Hyrule’s gentle spirit might begin to darken as he moves down this path. His compassion would remain, but his disillusionment would leave a lasting effect, making him wary of kindness that comes without reason and promises that seem too good to be true.

He’d become a hardened figure, mistrusting of any higher power and willing to destroy anyone who stood between him and his goal.

With Four

Four’s fractured self allows him to see all sides of Hylia’s betrayal, making him perfectly suited to side with Vaati and , Shadow.

Each color has a different way of undermining Hylia’s forces. Blue is calculating, Red is fiercely defiant, Green becomes a spy, and Violet dives into dark magic.

Together, they are a force of chaos, and their unpredictability makes them especially dangerous. So long as Vaati can guarantee (y/n)’s return and safety, he doesn’t care what he has to do.

With Wind

Wind is lured into Ganondorf’s cause, using his knowledge of the Great Sea and islands to spread rebellion among those loyal to Hylia. (Which aren’t a lot given most don’t remember Hylia in that era. But it doesn’t make it easier for him to make her out to be the devil.)

Wind adopts a reckless, defiant attitude, channeling his anger at Hylia into everything he does. He becomes powerful weapon in Ganondorf’s hands. (But remember folks, the heroes loyalty only stick to eachother and ABSOLUTELY their darling so Ganon dies if he can’t deliver on his promises!)

[glitter-stained]

I'm always thinking about Jason because fixation so my judgement is biaised because every song I listen to makes me think about at least one of my Jasons, but here are some songs though were definitely written for and about canon Jason Todd, and I will take no criticism (but you are definitely welcome to add your own songs):

-Take me To War, by The Crane Wives

>"But I keep snapping at Goliath hands with all of my tiny might"/ "All of the fire I swallowed, all of the sparks that went down in my guts, I am always burning out"/ "I'll be the sweetest thing to ever scare you"

The Robin -> Red Hood transition is so seamless

-Little Soldiers by the Crane Wives

> "On the broken back of all the words we spared, Like little soldiers in the trenches; It was a march we made towards ruin and despair, But we held hands all the while"

I always rant about how how Jason's character and story is centered around love, this is the song that plays in my head while I'm yapping

-Blue Lips by Regina Spektor

> "He took a step but then felt tired, He said I'll rest a little while; but when he tried to walk again, he wasn't a child"

If you ever wanna be sad about Jason's resurrection, catatonia and stolen childhood, this is the song to listen to

-The Horrors and The Wild by The Amazing Devil

"Think of all the horrors that I promised I'd bring, I promise they'll sing of every Time you passed your fingers through my hair and called me child, Witness me old man I am the Wild"

> If Under The Red Hood has one song it's this one

-The Old Witch Sleep and The Good Man Grace by The Amazing Devil

"There's a fire burning/And I'm learning to be/So much more than my tiredness/ So much more than that old witch sleep wishes/ She kisses my eyelids, and I/Breathe"

> If Red Hood: Lost Days (minus the gross bits) has one song it's this one

-Elsa's song by The Amazing Devil

>"And you'll throw some sage and lillies/ And roses where I'll rot/ Of all the flowers you picked/I knew you would forget/ Forget-me-nots"

idk who Elsa is this is about how Jason was grieved but he wasn't remembered

(Yeah I'm pretty convinced that at least either Madeline Hyland or Joey Batey read Under the Red Hood so many of their songs fit so well I restrained myself to three but there are so many)

-A Burning Hill by Mitski

>"I'm tired of wanting more, I think I'm finally worn/ For you have a way of promising things/ And I've been a forest fire"

Jason admitting loss and giving up on begging Bruce is something that can be so personal actually

-Heaven Knows by The Pretty Reckless

>"Now you're on your knees with your head hung low/ Big Man tell you where to go/ Tell them it's good, tell them okay/Don't do a goddamn thing they say"

Crime Alley united!!! Also, "tell the big guy I said hello" :))) (the God/Batman amalgam in Death in the Family is such an incredible one-liner and works so well for Jason omg)

-For the Departed by Shayfer James

>"Now I must finished what I started/I'll write a symphony for the departed/And I have no time for second chances/ So I survive on bourbon blood and backward glances"

The amount of angst, dramatics and intense devotion to his cause at the cost of his life, the literature references, everything about this song? Jason at his angstiest for sure

-Goodbye by Bo Burnham

> "If I wake up in a house that's full of smoke I'll panic/So call me up and tell me a joke/ When I'm fully irrelevant and totally broken dammit/ Call me up and tell me a joke /Oh shit/ You're really joking at a time like this"

exploded warehouse parallel aside, this song feels like not being able to heal because you're not capable of asking for what you really need, wanting to come back but feeling like you aren't allowed to because it would ruin you or the you that was shaped by other's perception of you and most importantly, begging to matter and to have mattered. So. Jason.

[powdermelonkeg]

Gale of Waterdeep assorted headcanons: 2

Headcanons 1 here, Tower layout here

He overshares when he's drunk. It's a good look into how his brain works, but he has a 50/50 chance of putting his foot in his mouth

He has a handful of custom spells, one of those being an illusory campsite. Gale's Minor Mirage, he calls it. You're welcome!

The stitch scar on his neck is from being held at knifepoint by a particularly opportunistic thief. Said thief got hit with a lightning bolt

His spellbook is beautifully scripted to the untrained eye, but contains additional notes written in invisible ink. He presents himself as neat and tidy, but his real scribblings are anything but

While inflicted with the Netherese Orb, his blood leaves rashes on other people wherever it touches. Not severe ones, but it doesn't feel pleasant. Like a mild sunburn

Quothe (the raven familiar) is his. It's named that because it loves to listen to Gale read literature (and occasionally recite lines where he leaves off)

He owns a fancy lanceboard set; it was a housewarming gift from his parents when he first got his tower

When he was little, he used to wear a ribbon as a headband to pull his hair back with, and a cape. His hair was fluffy and fell to his chin

His favorite color is blue, but he thinks he looks more refined in purple. His mother thinks he looks most dashing in red

His favorite hobby is helping Tara adapt spells with somatic components for tressym use

His first staff was a Sun Staff, gifted to him by Elminster

His most recent staff was a Staff of Power

Both of these, he had to consume. It was a very, very hard choice to make

Other things he's had to destroy that he cared for dearly:

Emerald Pen (left over from days at the academy; worse that it wasn't worth it, as it didn't give him more than a few hours)

Chromatic Rose (given by a lover upon breakup)

Duplicitous Manuscript (The Art of the Night is one of these)

Needle of Mending (kept it on his person after the thief incident)

Wand of Enemy Detection (carried it with him on excursions with Tara)

Wayfarer's Boots (his favorite travel pair)

Arcane Grimoire (one of his first found artifacts, copied a few spells from it into his own book)

Candle of Invocation (a gift from Mystra)

Crystal Ball of Telepathy (Tara used it more than he did; her little paws can't cast Sending)

Songbird Sage's Signet (wore it everywhere, only used in a pinch; he misses the weight of it and rubs his finger occasionally)

Crown of Whirling Comets (wore it to the Blackstaff annual balls, partly to show off)

The 6th level spell Program Illusion is what appears during his Death Protocol. As it needs to be tied to an area within 30 feet of where it's assigned, it's what his briefs are enchanted with. His reasoning is that he'd always have them, and no one would take them off him while dead

When he's panicked, he burns through the magical item he fed the Orb with faster. That's why he puts such a weight on keeping calm

The reason you have 2 days to resurrect him before exploding, and why he can still live for a bit if you don't give him an item immediately, is because without careful management, it consumes HIM. He has 2 days worth of magic to his person

He doesn't like to turn people down outright. To him, the gentlemanly thing to do is to go on a first date to indulge whomever asked. He's had a lot of first dates

He's been accused of using Enchantment as to why he's so dashing once or twice. It absolutely stoked his ego around his looks

Quipper fish and hundur sauce is the dish he's most proud of, but his favorite is a good slow roast

He'll make illusory ceilings for dates with starry skies and auroras. Maybe floating candles if he's feeling fancy. Yes that extends to the bedroom

If left to his own devices, he will relax in a bath for HOURS. Tara thinks he falls asleep in there (she can't prove anything)

Before the orb, he and his mother had a pseudo-competitive exchange of cookware. They'd take turns making the most ELABORATE dishes in the same fancy glass pan, and send it back and forth trying to outdo each other. Whenever one showed up with the pan, it would always be with a healthy seasoning of smug satisfaction and sweet compliments about the last meal

He likes picnics on the beach. If you show him shells and things he'll happily tell you where they came from

He always dresses just a smidge too warmly for the weather

He can sleep just about anywhere, and frequently does in his tower. It's not good for his back. When Tara finds him, she always tugs a blanket over him

His family symbol is a crescent moon setting in the water

Bonus Tara headcanon: her opal collar is her spellcasting focus

[silvernyxchariot]

Multiple Characters (separate) x GN!Reader

Characters: Al Haitham, Kaveh, Kaeya

Synopsis: Oki, so it’s more like scenarios rather than a set of headcanons. Reader has been killed but somehow “resurrected” and used as a weapon or human puppet.(1) Kaveh doesn't really have a political rank, so Reader's not so much a weapon or human puppet in his.

⚠️Warning: Reader is dead, angst⚠️ If you saw spelling and grammatical errors, no you didn’t. 😤 It was 3 AM.

Kaeya Alberich (359 words)

“You are our last hope."

Those words echoed in Kaeya’s mind when his sword clashed with yours. The emptiness in your eyes, dry-leathery skin, and stitches all over your face and body horrified him. He could still smell the air of death wafting from your reanimated corpse. When he was dispatched dissolve a group of Abyss Mages, Kaeya didn’t believe that he would come face-to-face with you once again. The Mages that accompanied you cackled in the background.

Your face was no longer the one he remembered, full of sass and mirth at his flirtatious advances. He missed the way your eyes rolled and the little laugh you failed to hide when he hugged you from behind or flirted with you at Angel’s Share, even though you two were already dating. If Kaeya could vomit right now, he would. But first, he had to put you to rest a second time.

Clouds above thundered, covering the pounding of Kaeya’s heart in his chest. It wasn’t fair that he had to lose you again. And this time by his own hands. A heavy downpour drenched both him and your reanimated body.

“Cool it!” He thrust his sword when your body raised its arm to slash down on Kaeya’s shoulder. A frozen flower of ice covered your body’s shoulder. The blast was far too forceful and pushed you back. Your body wobbled over the edge of Starsnatch Cliff and a flint of life flashed in your dead eyes.

Cecilia petals picked up and drifted in the wind, across your drenched face. Kaeya reached out to grab your hand as your reanimated body failed you once again. What powers the Abyss Order used to keep you alive had run out and your body feel back into the sea over the edge. Before Kaeya could even grasp your hand one last time, it dispersed into dust. Before your body completely disappeared, you smiled at him and your sense of self broke through the Abyss Order’s binding on you, “I’m sorry but this will be the last time,” were your body’s final words as it dissolved in the wind.

Maybe in another life you’d give him a sense of hope again.

Kaveh (631 words)

Who would do this?

When news of your grave had been exhumed, Kaveh, your past emergency contact, was the first to be notified.

Was it for some sick ransom? But what good would a dead body do?

He ran to your grave, abandoning all his work, and out the door before Al Haitham could even glance away from his book. Mehrak idlily buzzed to life and tried to keep up with her creator but stopped at the door not knowing where he went. A concerned look displayed in her eyes as she turned to Al Haitham and beeped.

Kaveh wasn’t as important as Cyno the General Mahamahtra or even Al Haitham, who was currently the Acting Grand Sage. So, why did someone try to target his loved one?

When Kaveh arrived at your burial site, he had to shove the Matra away knocking most of them off their feet until Cyno told them that he had permission to pass. His lanky disposition betrayed the physical strength he truly held from his work, but such strength failed him when he collapsed in front of your desecrated grave. Sweat poured down his forehead and the fire lamps in casting shadows everywhere made everything all the eerier. Kaveh’s stomach dropped. There weren’t even drag marks leading away from your grave, but there were footprints littered everywhere.

Cyno placed a hand on Kaveh’s shoulder, also infuriated that an old friend has had their grave violated. “I’ll find out who did this. And why.”

Weeks later, Kaveh was still a bundle of nerves. His latest proposals, over thirty-five drafts, had been declined by his clients. His hair was a tangled mess and his clothes were always thrown on without a care. The lingering images of your empty grave flashed through his mind almost every time he looked at something that reminded him of you. It was as if you died a second time. At that point, Al Haitham had to drag Kaveh out of the house himself, going as far as Port Oromos to go shopping; Al Haitham’s treat, of course.

Everything seemed dull and grey in Kaveh’s vision. The fruits that he normally enjoyed and carefully crafted carpentry that would have given him inspiration to make another draft didn’t have any meaning. He normally would have paused to inspect each one that caught his eye. Even Al Haitham lecturing him through whispers in his ear sounded like buzzing.

“I’ll take five, please.”

It was like the sound of windchimes on a tranquil day.

Kaveh raised his head in the direction of your voice. Crimson eyes scanned the crowd and searched for your frame, a figure that stood out to him every time. He left Al Haitham’s side and pushed through the busy port until he made it to the lighthouse. By then the crowd had dwindled and someone was standing by the edge of the water humming and enjoying a lavender melon from Inazuma.

This person chomped onto the berry with delight and its juices flowed freely down their chin and wrist. Kaveh reached out and grabbed their shoulder and turned them around, startling them.

It was your same features, but just a touch or two here different. What stared back at him was you, but with two different colored eyes and a freshly healed scar around the circumference of your throat. “Excuse you…” you said with a raised eyebrow and a scowl on your lips.

The lack of recognition on your face made a layer of ice over Kaveh’s heart, “I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else.” It wasn’t as if he couldn’t love again. He wanted your love again. The person that had your face, voice, and even that little habit of tilting your head shoved his hand away and walked off.

Al Haitham (902 words)

“My feet moved on their own,” were the last words Al Haitham heard pass your lips after you took a blade intended for him. Your smiling lips turned pale as blood drained from your abdomen. The crimson fluid of life pooled in his hand as he applied pressure to the wound. He shouldn’t have let you accompany him to pass on the old Sages’ punishment, at worst they would have to live their lives “camping” and farming in some remote corner of Avidya Forest in exile, but then again, he didn’t believe any of them would have any followers that would be so reckless as to be violent.

It had been weeks since the Traveler had defeated Shouki no Kami, the old Sages had been replaced, and Al Haitham was still picking up the pieces of their mess. He scoffed.

Al Haitham snapped his book shut, unable to focus on it. “Ridiculous,” and the calm waters of Yazadaha Pool didn’t help when memories of your dying body were running through his mind. “I can handle myself.” He decided to go back to your grave, buried underneath of a cool, shady tree, an area with a nice breeze overlooking the ocean at Port Oromos. Just like you asked.

Reading to your grave seemed to calm him down during these moments. And on particularly lazy days he would nap there, as if he would wake up from a bad dream, and you would be staring back at him.

But when he got there, Al Haitham couldn’t help but be beyond horrified, eyes wide, the only indication of emotion he had. The tint of orange of his inner irises flared up and it seemed like his eyes flashed red with rage. Instead of reporting directly to the Matra, Al Haitham studied the surrounding area. Footprints, broken branches, and remains of your ripped clothing created a trail. Whoever took you, clearly didn’t think this through.

It didn’t take long for the Acting Grand Sage to find out how had taken your body and where. Their hideout was a little cave at the edge of the Ashavan Realm and Land of the Lower Setekh. They barely even covered the entrance. He snuck in, slipping through tunnels and listening to the voices of those who possibly took you, trying to find them. And he succeeded. It was a laboratory of stolen equipment and a small group of fanatics, students from the Akademiya, that took you from your resting place. Fanatics, who hung up tapestries of symbols for Shouki no Kami surrounded your body. Upon closer inspection, your body, ashy and grey with death, lay on a table where the graverobbers connected multiple tubes and wire to you.

If people Sumeru thought Al Haitham was a “lunatic” simply for doing whatever he please, within reason of course, things were going to be blown out of proportion today.

Al Haitham slid past each of them and tampered with the equipment, overriding their heat regulation systems and clogging the gears he could reach. He perched himself on the ledge closest to the operating table, ““Tampering with life and death,”” he quoted, ““Revering gods without acts of devotion,” even if your god only existed for a few minutes, your attempts at,” he raised an eyebrow, “worship are abysmal.” Although he said those words to the graverobbers, he stared at what appeared to be your dull eyes staring back up at him.

Your naked corpse, shakily and clumsily, removed the wires and IV tubes from your veins. The graverobbers, the ones that sympathized with the former Sages and Shouki no Kami, raved and celebrated. Their clapping disappeared into white noise while he focused on your body moving so unnaturally. Al Haitham rubbed his head and grumbled.

He slipped down from the ledge, spinning and elbowing the graverobbers in the jaw, effectively knocking them out, to get to you. Your body held a scalpel as it wobbled towards him. How these students could reanimate a corpse was beyond reason or even ethical practice in Sumeru. If he listened closely, the equipment around him started humming and whirring louder, more labored until finally each machine he tampered with detonated and exploded the equipment next to it. The force of each explosion ruffled your hair and swayed your movements.

The graverobbers panicked and ran for the exits, leaving behind their comrades who got caught under debris as the cave started to fall apart.

Al Haitham walked to your body and grabbed your wrists. He shook your hands until they released the scalpel. Your mouth moved as if you wanted to say something, but he looked down at you with waterlines about to flood with tears, the ones he never let himself express at your funeral.

“I’m sorry for letting them wake you, .” Al Haitham took his blade and jabbed it up into your body’s abdomen, through your stomach and out your back. As your body turned limp in his arms again, he picked you up and walked steadily out of the caves as not to jostle you more. The crumbling cave and explosions were blocked out, not only by his soundproof headphones but the focus he had on your slumbering face. “I’ll have to report this to the Matra later,” he whispered to you, “Heh, I hope Cyno won’t mind the explosions.” Although, those words would never reach you.

“I’ll make sure to bury you in one of your favorite outfits again.”

A/N: I was going to add Diluc too, but I got lazy.

“Brevity is the soul of the wit.” I try to be blunt and express myself with precision, but I clearly didn’t do that with Al Haitham’s scenario, while Kaeya’s was a measly ~350 words. 😔

(1) Inspired by Naruto/Naruto Shippudden, the 4th Great Ninja War arc when Sai witnessed his adoptive brother be used as a weapon and got blown up in front of him. Now that I think about it, maybe Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein too.

[milksinyourarea]

Deck of Many Things in JRWI

Pulled Cards:

Balance - Reverses the drawer's moral alignment, drawn by the bard in the feywild

Rogue - Makes a random person close to the drawer hostile towards them, drawn by Gillion, effecting Felipé

Donjon - Drawer becomes enprisoned in an extra-dimensional space and cannot get out unless found and recovered by their party, drawn by Gillion

Throne - Gives the drawer proficiency in persuasion and grants them a small keep that can only be gained once all monsters inside are slain, drawn by Chip

Jester - Grants great intuition and expertise to the drawer or allows them the chance to draw two extra cards, drawn by Felipé

Flames - The drawer becomes the enemy of a formidable devil who will hunt them down and the effect can only be removed by one of their deaths, drawn by Felipé

Gem - A cache of valuable gems appears before the drawer in the form of jewelry or individually, drawn by Felipé

Idiot - Greatly reduces the intellectual capabilities of the person who draws the card and allows them to draw another, drawn by Doppelgilly

The Void - The drawer's soul is transported into an object located somewhere only one person nearby knows of. This spell cannot be reversed. Drawn by Doppelgilly

Note: Felipé chooses to draw two cards after picking the Jester, however, the second card he picked is unknown to me.

Remaining* Cards:

*As far as I am aware, Grizzly has the 22 card deck.

Euryale - Drawer is permanently cursed by a Medusa-like creature. This effect can only be removed via a deity or The Fates card.

Key - Drawer receives a rare weapon they are proficient in.

Knight - A powerful knight will appear and pledge their loyalty to the drawer, as they believe fate has drawn them together.

Moon - Drawer gains the ability to cast Wish spell in 1 to 3 cases. (Note: I believe the amount of uses is determined through dice roll)

Ruin - Any and all valuables, holdings, land, investments, gold etc. with the exception of magical items are stripped from the drawer's possession.

Skull - An avatar of death appears, challenging the drawer and only the drawer to a duel. If slain by the reaper, resurrection is impossible.

Sun - Drawer receives significant insight and skill as if suddenly much more experienced. Additionally, they are granted any single wonderous item from anywhere throughout the realms or other planes of existence.

Star - Two of the drawer's defining qualities are greatly and permanently enhanced, such as their wit, intellect, strength, etc.

Comet - If the person who draws the card defeats the next hostile or group of hostiles singlehandedly, then they are granted significant insight from the battle. If failed, card has no effect.

Fool - Drawer becomes belligerent and incompetent in a manner opposite the Jester card, and they draw another card regardless of declared draws.

Sage - Within a year of drawing the card, receiver is able to ask a question in meditation and gain an enlightening answer. They also receive the wisdom necessary to apply the information gained in a dilemma or crisis.

Talons - Every magic item in the drawer's possession disintegrates. Any remaining artifacts are not destroyed, but have vanished to a different location.

The Fates - Drawer gains the ability to erase a moment in time from ever happening. The effects of the card could be used immediately or at a later time.

As of now, there are 8 good cards and 5 bad cards remaining.

Well, depending on who has the deck.

May the luck of the draw be in the riptide pirates' hands.

[cloud-somersault]

AU of Constellations where everything is the same...except Wukong is the one that's killed and sent to Hell.

Macaque immediately regrets killing his mate (which is the same as Constellations) but...now he's left with the pilgrims... So, he transforms into Wukong and takes his place. He decides to play the part and continue the journey, but Sha Wujing, Zhu Bajie, and Ao Lie know that Macaque is pretending to be Wukong. It takes them some time, but they notice his mannerisms aren't 100% perfect.

Macaque comes clean to the three of them (Not Tripitaka because Macaque quickly realizes that he would panic and make things worse) and fills the three of them in on his plan: he's going to resurrect Wukong, but needs their help to do it.

Still being cursed, Macaque is unable to perform advanced magic. He requires the help of the three demons to cast the spell. And, as we know, resurrecting someone requires a deal being made.

They go through with the spell, and Macaque is the one to make contact with King Yan. The King asks what Macaque's terms and conditions are. To resurrect the Monkey King, Great Sage Equal to Heaven, he'll have to give up something. King Yan remembers him from his punishment/curse, and is intentionally being an asshole to make things more difficult.

Macaque says...if Wukong is returned to life, he will give up all of his magic.

King Yan eagerly accepts and Wukong is returned swiftly. He is hearty and whole and doesn't begrudge Macaque too much for killing him. He wasn't down in the Underworld long enough to suffer true punishment. Macaque resurrected him so quickly, Wukong was still climbing the stairs to reach the gates. (He's still greatly upset that he died at all and is traumatized from it, but he's quicker to forgive than Macaque is in the main AU.)

But now...Macaque can no longer perform spells. His shadow magic is gone. The celestial magic inside of him is gone. His eyes are no longer gold, but violet. He can no longer use his all-sight. He still has his super hearing, as that isn't connected to magic, and he has super strength and heightened stamina and agility. But everything else is gone.

And the journey isn't over.

So, now Tripitaka has three demons, the Monkey King, and the Six-Eared Macaque to protect him as they finish the journey.

Macaque, grappling with his inability to perform a single spell.

Wukong, feeling guilty but not entirely because Macaque was the one who killed him, but he doesn't like that his mate is without magic.

The pilgrims, highly confused about what just occurred but continuing on anyway.

But when the journey is over, Macaque also gets enlightenment. Still can't do magic, though. And he and Wukong return to Flower Fruit Mountain and contend with the many changes that come with one ruler being magicless.

Drama ensues, arguments, infighting, etc., but fifteen hundred years later, there's an earthquake that shakes all the realms, and golden flowers bloom on all the trees.

MK is born...and Macaque is there to greet him.

[quitealotofsodapop]

Century Egg Macaque is very confused and bitey

referencing this Century Egg au post (Macaque bit a bunch of gods to protect Wukong when the king's health crashed after the Egg's delivery).

Macaque was at Wukong's bedside, newborn Xiaotian wrapped snuggly in his scarf asleep, when the doors to the former Attendant's bedroom opened.

The black-furred monkey's fur is immediately standing on end like a frightened cat - he rarely would miss the sounds of approaching footsteps, but his mind must be far too occupied to notice.

The appearance of the Queen Mother herself does little to calm Macaque's nerves, especially upon seeing the large monkey-claw-shaped gashes on her forearms.

At the sight of his guilt and possibly fear, the Queen lets out a sighing laugh.

Queen Mother: "Do not worry Liu'er Mihou. I know what it is like to worry so much for someone that you lash out at all that separates you. You but up a fair fight, even with so much magic sedative in your bloodstream. " Macaque, quietly: "M'sorry about the arm ... it just when... when Wukong's eyes closed and he lost his strength I felt...?" Queen Mother, knowing: "Hopeless." Macaque: "Yeah." Queen Mother: (*kneels to get a better look at the baby*) Queen Mother: "They're truly beautiful. To think such a tiny thing could bring the entire Court of Heaven to a standstill amazes me." Macaque: "We're calling them Xiaotian. Wukong picked it." Queen Mother, her voice fond: "It's a fine name. One that all of big Heaven and the Realms beyond will know soon enough." Macaque, nervous: "What do you mean?" Queen Mother: "You trial was successful in a way. King Yama has agreed to acquit your unlawful resurrection in light of the circumstances. Preparations are being made to charge the White Bone Spirit with conspiracy to commit treason." Macaque: "But there's a catch isn't there?" Queen Mother, nods: "You will be required to face her in a secodary trial, and protect yourself against her own defence." Macaque, shuddering: "Ugh..." Xiaotian: (*grumpy squeak! at the sudden movement*) Macaque, quickly checking the baby: "Sorry bud." (*kisses face*) Xiaotian: (*satisfied grumble*) Macaque, eye locked on the baby's face: "If... if it means they and Wukong stay safe from her, I'll do it." Queen Mother: "I knew you would. I must warn you though... Erlang awaits a rematch." Macaque, surprised: "You're joking me..." Queen Mother, amused smile: "It is true! In your fury to protect your mate, you gave him quite the injury. I've never seen him with such bruises!" Macaque: (*smiling proudly to himself*)

Erlang has like a huge bruise covering his face, and his eye is swollen shut for weeks after the Egg's arrival. Word quickly spreads (via Nezha being annoyed that Macaque "practically ignored him" during the frenzy) about the general's injury, and celestials are shocked to learn that it was cause by no other than the Great Sage's mate! And by accident no less! Erlang is taciturn about the matter, though that could be because his lip has swollen over too.

Macaque gets challenged to a lot of duels over the coming weeks - most he ignores or shadow-portal's away. This is where he learns that his silly Brotherhood-era nickname is apparently his legal title in Heaven. He cringes each time an official unironically refers to him as "Great Sage Informing Wind", Tieshan giving him a cheeky sibling-esque smile all the while.

The day that Wukong finally awakes from his medical coma; Macaque had been asleep at his side, clealry run down by the (still awake) Xiaotian excitedly running his tiny hands through either parent's fur.

Wukong makes a joyous gasp at the sight of his baby - healthy and here. It takes a moment for Macaque to stir awake before he realises that his King and Mate (!!!) has finally awoken! Kisses and hugs abound before Macaque thinks to alert anyone else of Wukong's return to the conscious world.

Bonus: Tang, Pigsy, Sandy, and the Ao-Longs have been running around the Celestial Realm as often as possible during this time (tho Tang worried at first if the time dilation myth was true) and the whole realm is super confused but just accepting that the Monkey King's pilgrim brothers are just Here now.

[teecupangel]

Say Desmond post dying to save the world woke up during the time of the Isu as an Isu. If he got assigned to a Greek god or had one made in his "image" who/what would it be?

Of course, if you’re going to give me the option, Imma go for my ‘Zagreus/Dionysus is Desmond’s Isu ancestor’ idea XD

And we can even set this up during the botched experiment of the first Sage.

In the idea above, Zagreus was in charge of the Afterlife project, a project to record every human data to make it easier to manufacture them after their death with their memories (aka the ‘start’ of the resurrection myth)

Unfortunately, Zagreus was killed during an accident that may or may not have been intentional to ensure that the Afterlife project fails (unfortunately for them, the Afterlife project was already up and running by the time Zagreus was killed)

After he died, the Isus in charge of the Mead project decided to use him as the first Isu test subject to be ‘reborn’ and he gained the Sage Dionysus.

Unfortunately, Dionysus was a failure because he could not remember his life as Zagreus. Because of this, the Mead project was noted as a failure until Juno started to research secretly to save her husband.

And this is where we put Desmond…

We have three options:

1) Screw Zagreus’ history, Desmond is reborn as Zagreus as a baby.

2) Desmond wakes up as Zagreus the day after the accident. In this one, Desmond technically took Zagreus’ place after he died.

3) Desmond wakes up as Dionysus, the proto-Sage of Zagreus.

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Option 1 gives us the most freedom to fuck with the Isus and Desmond could even help the humans revolt earlier than they should have.

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Option 2 is the one where Desmond might have the worst time. He’d have to deal with the fact that he has no idea who Zagreus is and now he has to deal with (1) Minerva being his aunt and (2) everyone expecting something from him as the intelligent Zagreus.

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Option 3 gives Desmond a sorta better time because he could just say he doesn’t remember his life as Zagreus and the Isus would assume they have failed. Desmond would have more freedom since he is still a Proto-Sage and the world is ending anyway, they have no time to worry about him.

.

Which leads us to an important note:

Option 1 is the only one where Desmond actually has a chance to save the world from the first Solar Flare. Option 2 and 3? It’s more of damage control by that point.

[thecagedsong]

Okay, so I've seen a lot of complaints about the writing in totk, but I think the critiques are taking too narrow a view. Sure the arcs seem flat if you start from the point of Zelda and Link traveling below hyrule castle, but I don't think that's where you, the viewer, are supposed to start. You're supposed to start the story from the true ending of botw, and in doing so, the character arcs become not only beautiful, but complimentary and fulfilling. Spoilers under the cut.

Why should you start at the end of botw instead of the start of the game? Easy, because the game has to start in medias res, it's the nature of the game, but the story the game tells starts where botw leaves off.

They did this in botw. The game starts in the shrine of resurrection, but the story starts with Zelda's first journal entry/memory and the story is really about discovering your own fall and the rebirth that comes after destruction once hope exists in the light. The character arcs are about Zelda going from stubborn isolated powerless princess to conquering evil with the power of love. Link goes from the stoic knight that puts up with every expectation and falls to Link the amnesiac going at his own pace, at his own freedom, and succeeding.

The same way botw's story starts 100 years earlier, you have to start Zelda and Link's totk arcs from the true ending of botw. From the girl that had come to terms with her own powerlessness and sought to begin rebuilding from ash and the boy who fulfilled his one task, and is still choosing to use his freedom to help the dethroned princess rebuild.

The way Zelda is written is beautiful if you start from there. Because botw ended with her accepting that she had worth and duty beyond the golden power, and totk tells you how she showed that worth through service to her people. That girl that dreamed of being a scholar became a school teacher. That girl that had to fight so hard for her father's love and was convinced that everyone hated her own powerlessness? In her powerlessness she shared her knowledge with people and became loved for it. That girl who we left seeking the Zora, the only people that would remember her, when almost no one knows about the princess who was locked in the castle, is now known throughout the land. The girl that was missing for 100 years with only the sheikah remembering her, she disappears and the whole kingdom fights to find her.

The girl we saw walking away from the ruins of her home and her cage, listening to the distant goodbyes of her long-deceased loved ones, now has a home in Hateno where children run up to her house with just as much love screaming her name.

Now, in the middle of her arc, the start of totk, Zelda goes to confront the ghosts of Hyrule castle. In all her adventures in the time skip, Castletown and the castle are nowhere on the list. They are as destroyed as they were at the end of botw. BUT she has healed and grown, and is now strong enough, and ready enough to fulfill her duty, that she can return.

But she doesn't come back as it's princess, seeking to rebuild, she comes back as the archeologist, seeking to plunder its secrets. She hides the Champion's tunic there, (with a riddle involving light) and gasps in delight over all the archeological discoveries that had laid hidden beneath her feet all these years. She can handle the empty castle as a scholar.

But then she's in the past, and she's without Link, and she's meeting the people that established the kingdom she let fall to ruin. Zelda learns about the importance of being unified, as seen from her requests to the ancient sages, a central theme of totk. Zelda faces her own powerlessness when Mineru tells her there is no way back, and when Sonia begins to teach her control. Zelda immediately despairs over ever having the control and power Sonia wields, and it's the same frustration she had with her golden power when she was younger. But she asks for and accepts help this time (like she should have from Mipha in botw) and she gains control and power and it isn't enough in the past, but she knows how to make it enough.

Having united the sages, they watch her sacrifice in a sign of respect. The sheer ceremony of the moment is like nothing we've heard about what Zelda was like during the time skip. It isn't Miss Zelda the teacher that built a school in hateno, or Zelda the scholar that walked through Hyrule castle, it is once again Zelda the Princess making this sacrifice to swallow the stone.

It's meant to parallel the moment in botw where Zelda gets swallowed up by the Calamity. But you can see that she is surer of herself, centered, unafraid, and she does not ask Link to save her. She is not praying and looking back and asking Link to come save her. Instead, she tells him to save Hyrule. And it has meaning because she is also Zelda the scholar and Zelda the teacher and the thousand of other things we learn about her activities during the time skip. That is the hyrule she wants to save. That is the Hyrule she seeks to unite by asking the sages to bind their people to help Link in the future.

(She pressed the sword to her chest in a way that mirrored her stabbing herself, this time it is Zelda who died so that Link might live in the future.)

When Zelda tells Link that she's come home, you cannot say she has not changed from the homeless girl who had just learned to accept that her worth did not lie in birthrights and golden power. Zelda had learned her worth in the skills completely absent of any power, political or golden, but in the second half of her arc took up power and leadership again because that was what Hyrule needed of her. Because of the examples of Sonia and Rauru and because her fallen kingdom wasn't united and it needed to be. She is so much more complete than at the ending of botw, or even the start of totk. She has retaken the mantle of Princess, but she knows what it is about now and I don't know how else to say it if you aren't getting it.

Then comes Link, whose flexibility as the player has always required a less complex character arc, and probably deserves its own post, but I want to give it a quickshot anyway. Link leaves off botw probably still missing most of his memories, with the mastersword on his back, this time choosing to protect and walk with Zelda on her journey around Hyrule.

In the time skip, we learn that he sticks to her like glue. Princess Zelda and Link are perpetually paired by the people of Hyrule. Link barely even registers in people's memories without Zelda around, because he hasn't truly left her in all 5-7 years during the timeskip. He is known (again?) as 'Princess Zelda's loyal swordsman'. Is that a sign of him reclaiming some of his past life? Could be. What's important to learn about Link in the time skip is that he is no longer alone. Which is a big step from botw ending Link, who was always alone and had just begun traveling with Zelda again. From the rootlessness of botw, to saving Zelda, to making Zelda the place he always chooses to be, that's how Link's grown in the timeskip. He is no longer alone because he has Zelda.

He has someone worth fighting for now, he has memories of someone precious, someone he scours Hyrule to find. Link's freedom in botw was about discovering himself, but in totk, he is using his freedom to do everything to go to her. HE HAS A HOME NOW AND ITS CALLED ZELDA. Investigating rumors, walking into obvious traps, asking everyone and their dog about her. The goal of the game is to find Zelda. Bring her back.

And then you learn about Zelda's transformation. You see her crying. He pulls each of her tears and memories into himself. And this time it's Link asking 'do you really remember me?'. He has to take up Zelda's role and bring the amnesiac back to herself, give her back her memories. The job's not done because he found her transformed, she needs her memory back, it's not done until she's back and knows herself.

This arc is coupled with Link confronting his own failures. He was at the height of his powers when the demon king Zapped him and he let Zelda slip through his fingers. He failed her, just like he did before. And the people that do recognize him without Zelda all ask him where she is, and he has to admit he failed to them too, something he didn't have to do in botw.

But unlike botw, where he failed and the solution was to get strong enough not to fail/be strong at the same time Zelda is, in totk, the solution is to unite with allies. Unite the tribes, accept their help, and only then is Link and crew strong enough to take on the demon king.

It is only when he also takes up the mantle of Rauru and Sonia and unites Hyrule into a single force, it is only when he accepts aid from the past and pulls their vision of hyrule into the future, that he gets Zelda back. Zelda needed to learn how to take up being a princess again for the sake of Hyrule. Link needed to learn how to unite Hyrule for the sake of Zelda.

And though I would have liked Zelda to be a little dragonish, or Link to deal with being an amputee, it doesn't bother me that much because their arcs weren't about that. I don't think it makes the stories bad writing.

But you have to start from the true ending of botw to get that.

[stormandforge]

Raw reactions to X-Force #5

Yup, someone dies.

MASSIVE spoilers (and controversial opinions) below.

It's Nori. There'd been so much foreshadowing in the comic - and so much fan discussion about the upcoming character death - that I had started believing it wouldn't be her. But no, it was always going to be her. When you consider the way she joined the team, her post-Krakoa trauma, her selflessness and her relationship with Forge, it makes complete sense.

That death scene goes hard. We actually see her burned-up corpse, we hear her farewell words - oof, my heart. Rest in power, little blue-haired hero.

This said, everyone attacking Geoff Thorne over Nori's death needs to calm down. I would understand this amount of upset if he'd done her dirty, but he really hasn't. He's consistently written her with respect, gave her as much spotlight as he could in a team book, and gave her a heroic death. Stories kill characters, people. That's just the way it is.

Also: Nori's coming back, maybe even in this run. We just don't know yet. And don't give me nonsense about the resurrection protocols being gone - mutants came back from the dead before Krakoa, they will continue to do so.

"Forge always has a plan." YES. Nothing to do with his power; he's just always up to something. That's Forge 101. Fuck me, it's so good to have a writer who understands him. And because Thorne has done his homework, I believe what we're witnessing is a typical Forge plan: something that he believes will benefit the greater good, but that is also misguided and full of hubris and will repeatedly backfire in his face.

Forge can be cold, but this is subzero. He loves Nori, he wouldn't act that way if he was fully himself. Something's going on. Someone needs to shake him real hard - beat him to a pulp, really - and realign his neurons. The two most qualified people to do that are showing up in the next issue, so I'm thinking this is what will happen.

Why does he take her gauntlets? It can't just be for the sake of getting his tech back. As i said he's not that cold, and also he can probably make those again in his sleep.

FORGE ALMOST KILLED AN ALT VERSION OF STORM IN COLD BLOOD. The man is not well, I'm telling you.

There's a theme of Forge hurting the women he cares about in this issue. Trust Sage to see the pattern and get the hell out before anything can happen- the hurting or the caring.

OK, now he's levitating with a big shiny triangle around his body. That's magic, isn't it? For a second I started thinking the Analog must be magic after all, but then I remembered Sage loves staring into it too, so it can't be. Mmm...still processing.

Thorne understands Forge's power better than any writer I've seen (yup that includes Claremont), and I appreciate that he mentions his need for materials to build anything. It should be obvious, but most writers have him make things out of thin air. There's only so much he can fit in that utility belt.

So many people, so many things! Poor Marcus To.

Marcus To is still doing excellent though. Do I need to tell you that Forge is hot? I think I've been clear on that already, but let me reiterate: FORGE IS HOT.

"Slippery as ice": oh, that made me hap-py. Such an evocative, accurate way of describing Sage.

No, Forge's power doesn't let him see what will happen. But you know whose power can see every eventuality? Sage's. This was highlighted in the very first issue, and Forge repeats the exact same words from this moment in this issue. THERE'S SOMETHING TO THAT.

I continue to dig the dynamic between Forge and Sage, curses and all. The little cerebral push and pull they have going on is very interesting.

Also continue to adore Tessa herself. The way she challenges Forge at every opportunity, the way she always asks the right questions *chef's kiss*. Everyone obviously wants to murder Forge on that last page, but I love that she's the one who tells him to go fuck himself, even though she's been the person closest to him on the team. She's my girl. I'm this close to opening a side blog entirely devoted to her awesomeness. (I see what Geoff Thorne means when he says she tries to steal the show. She does!)

OK, so, there's no way Forge has a team anymore at this point, so I assume the next issue will be a downtime one. I imagine he'll go home, have an existential crisis featuring his two exes (as you do) and then get back on the road. Or something? Also, the next issue has a Sage variant cover, which could imply she plays an important part in it. One can only hope. If it's the issue of Forge getting his ass kicked by awesome women, she should take part.