#This is one symbolically rich tanuki

[adracat]

Esoteric+Divine Composite: Suletta

Suletta's position as an amalgamation/twist on Miranda and Caliban is obvious along with Utena. But what are some of the lesser known? She's a character shaped with symbology ranging from norse and greek myth to alchemy. Fenrisulfr, Hercules, Hermes/Mercury, and the Red King.

Fenrir

I've already broken this down a bit in a previous analysis, and in light of the finale, she finally fulfills the Ragnarok prophecy.

The freed wolf who eclipses the 'sun', heralding an end to the Gods(Benerit and SAL)

And her method of devouring Odin Miorine is consuming her in holy matrimony as the new cycle of the world is born.

Hercules

This one might be a surprise, but it's true. Suletta is undeniably coded with Heracles/Hercules symbolism, beginning with his 12 labors. In the very first episode of GWitch, she slew the invincible Nemean Lion and 'skinned' his coat

And her final labor is the subjugation of Cerberus, the multi-headed dog of the underworld.

Take note, before Hercules descends and encounters Cerberus, he's inducted into the cult of Demeter and Persephone. Notrette as Anesidora is revealed to be our Demeter, chthonic goddess of agriculture. And prior to this battle, Suletta speaks with the Persephone of our tale, inducting her within the mysteries.

You can draw other parallels between the various herculean labors and Suletta's duels. Such as the Grassley battles echoing that of the Hydra or Elan/Peil as the man-eating Stymphalian birds.

Suletta's godlike strength suddenly doesn't seem like an accident, does it?

So why was this done, other than for fun symbolism? The answer all boils down to Hermeticism, as it often seems to. Specifically this painting of Hercules, called Allegory of Wisdom and Strength

I'm unsure if it's common to interpret this image as another symbol of As Above, So Below but it's clear to me Okouchi has. We have Hercules focused on earthly matters while the greek personification of wisdom, Sophia, is focused heavenward. The light of enlightenment crowns her brow. Both are in frame and not in conflict; As Above, So Below. Coincidentally (or not) Sophia is one possible ciphered translation for Baphomet; a blatant esoteric symbol of perfect unity.

Mercury/Hermes

This is of course obvious considering its in her name, but there's one mythological parallel I want to highlight. The tale of Persephone/Kore. It was Hermes who descended into the underworld and retrieved the 'defiled' Persephone, escorting her safely above and reuniting her with her mother

Suddenly, Shaddiq's dramatic comment about Miorine's defilement doesn't seem so off-color. They were intentionally harking to Persephone Mio who was taken by Hades, Prospera here.

The Red King

I've already discussed this a bit here, but let's recap. Suletta is derived from Soletta. Her signifying colors are Red and Gold as Holder, both key to the Red King. She was 'eaten' by a lion (aqua regia solution) before being reborn, her metaphorical sun blackened with despair (dissolving).

All of it culminating into a Great Work, banishing gundams, defeating SAL, and saving Eri; her Filius philosophorum (Philosopher's Child) All miracles.

Oh and finally married her White Queen ofc, though their union was cemented with a tomato by then. In GWitch's version of Theogony Hermes wed Persephone, accomplished the 12 herculean labors, created a philosopher's stone, and completed Ragnarok

Note: Considering the proper name of Fenrir, Fenrisulfr, Okouchi might've been trying to be cute. Sulfur girl indeed

[kyogre-blue]

Ayaka ch1 story quest

sigh

I have very mixed feelings about this. There were moments that were quite good, even though the basic concepts are executed very clumsily, so toward the end, I started thinking that it’s not so bad. But then every time I start thinking it’s not bad, it does something stupid. 

On the whole, it’s dragged down by this assumption that you are somehow friends with Ayaka despite there being no basis for this. The timeline makes no sense on several levels. And then the quest completely cripples itself by pushing insanely hard to sell Ayaka at the end. It’s extremely awkward to watch. 

It was hovering around middle quality, but in the end I have to say that’s still not good because of these issues. 

Ayaka is another female character who is weighed down by her duties, ala Jean and Ganyu. She is especially similar to Ganyu, except with her family duties instead of half-adeptus nature, and it’s still not a well-written take. 

The whole lonely rich kid angle is... its VERY forced, given how extremely friendly all the NPCs are to her. They love her! Very loudly! And yet, Ayaka somehow can’t make a single friend. This starts to look like a her problem, but the writing is still too basic to actually sell this angle. The connection to her mother was nice though. I just wish it wasn’t dragged down by the rest. 

Ayaka compliments both Traveler and Paimon a lot, but not in the usual shilling way. I’m not sure what to think of it. Her character is quite vague, so I can’t really fit this into a cohesive image of her. 

Ayaka casually declares no one in another commission can cause trouble for her because her family is powerful, and we somehow find this soooo cool. What’s so cool about her being born a princess? This is just abuse of power, basically...

We make a huge production of an extremely basic errand to beat up some dudes to get some goods back. It’s like... all this fuss... why...

I don’t know why Kurisu is so shaken when these bandits tell him foreigners are dragging down Inazuma. This is obviously and demonstratively untrue since a ton of NPCs talk about how the Sakoku is hurting their businesses in multiple ways. Kurisu, as a trade association leader, should know better than anyone about this. 

The stuff about fox envoys (Guuji Yae being one) is interesting. I wish Genshin would do something about the MC always having over-reaction about stuff we have seen in side quests already. Like... “You mean Inazuma also has supernatural beings??” We already saw the tanuki and the maybe-ghost masked shrine maiden. 

Are we seriously acting like a whole garment can be sown in the course of one meal... 

Ayaka gives us a white heron hairpin. Why a heron? This is HER symbol. Shouldn’t she give us something related to the Traveler, like stars, or at least a bird that associates more with us? Ayaka is bad at gift giving. (I didn’t miss her pawning the cooking job off on us. That’s how you do a sincere gift.) 

They put little masks on us! That was a cute touch. 

In fact, the festival scene was quite nice as a whole. I think it would be better if Ayaka ran between the stalls though. Walking after character is always very awkward. 

The food stall vendor has somehow heard about us giving a recipe to another vendor quite a distance away in the city, on what is implied to be the same day. How??

We’ve “known her for some time?” How?? This quest really should have been after the main storyline, not forced in the middle of it. 

The ending animatic was RIDICULOUS. Ayaka walks into the water right in her sandals and socks? At least freeze it first! And then she does this really awkward humming and dancing bit. It just doesn’t look good. It was so pointless too. Or rather, I know what the point was. It was to sell her. Except in the most out of place, poorly planned way possible. 

Also, I feel like some of the visuals are a bit... 

This kimono looks too wide in the skirt, plus I feel like the female models have a weirdly high amount of bustline: 

This writing... I can’t tell if it’s too calligraphy for me to read, or if it’s gibberish. 

[goodenoughmatsu]

can i have a headcanon of the yokai!matsus with a wiccan!S/O? (wicca is the religion of modern witches, we practice sorts of spells and stuff, but we can never do evil). • Your blog is amazing! your writing is really good!

Ah I’m Pagan, so I understand Wicca dude~

Osomatsu (Oni):

-he lives by drinking, partying, and fighting.

-being a “punisher” of any sort is pretty boring. He likes the idea of just scaring away bad luck by looking intimidating.

-he’s not sure what his s/o does, but he likes them enough to “scare away the bad luck”. By that he means just hitting something with his club.

Karamatsu (Ai andon):

-being he feeds on fear, he has a hard time with with not wanting to frighten his s/o sometimes.

-the smile they give to him afterwards makes him melt

-no one comes over to his s/o’s home? It’s just scary to everyone and his s/o hopefully doesn’t mind lack of company.

Choromatsu (tengu):

-he wonders why he doesn’t get worshippers if he’s essentially a minor god. Doesn’t mean he won’t continue acting like a god to his s/o.

-he keeps his magical fan away from his s/o, noting that one time someone stole it and accidentally grew their nose to the heavens.

-shocked his s/o even is with him? He’s more of a heavenly symbol for Buddhism. It’s a pretty odd mix, but it works out pretty well.

Ichimatsu (Kitsune):

- Gave up his Ball to his s/o when he noticed they had so many cat things. It was essentially like marriage.

-whenever it rains and the sun is out; he gets a lot more clingy and loving.

-he’s so old. Like SOOO old. He calls his s/o a grave robber.

Jyushimatsu (inugami):

-after the s/o gets the home of a very rich and dead relative, they get Jyushimatsu. Who pounces on his s/o literally.

-almost was scared when s/o talked about magic, but found there wasn’t any animal sacrifice so that’s nice.

-gets jealous easy, from other men and dogs.

Todomatsu (Tanuki):

-he started following around humans for a long time, and his s/o was a perfect subject to follow. But since his main human form fit his s/o’s tastes- so now they’re dating

-his s/o quickly found out he was a tanuki, though. Mainly because Todo gave leaves to stores instead of money.

-it’s pretty good, now that his S/o knows he’s a tanuki they encourage him to not do bad. Butttt he’s going to keep doing it; because bringing his s/o herbs and little crystals makes them happy

[bsdyokaizine-blog]

Featured Yokai

Just as on the night of the parade, these creatures have gathered to bring you tales that transcend common sense…

Kitsune (Fox)

Foxes that possess magical powers and can grow tails as they age. There are two varieties of kitsune. Good kitsune are said to be the messengers of the heavens while wicked kitsune are known to play tricks on humans and possess them.

Kage-Onna (Shadow Woman)

The shadow of a woman projected on windows and doors. They rarely interact with the house’s inhabitants. However it is said that a house haunted by a kage-onna will attract other yokai to it as well.

Jorogumo (Entangling Bride – Golden Orb-Weaver)

A spider yokai often taking the appearance of young, beautiful women. They live in solitary in damp caves and prey on young men.

Yuki-Onna (Snow Woman)

Beautiful woman with snow-white skin and are ice cold to the touch. Yuki-onna suck the life force from humans and leave them frozen solid.  

Tsurara-Onna (Icicle Woman)

Beautiful woman born from the loneliness of men in the winter. Tsurara-onna are warm, loving spirits that provide men with company but disappear when the icicles melt.

Karasu-Tengu (Crow Tengu)

A crow-like creature that lives in solitary in forests. They have little respect for humans and torment humans that wander into the forest.

Hyakume (One Hundred Eyes)

A creature covered from head to toe in eyes. The brilliance of daylight hurts their many eyes so they only come out at night. They act as watch guards for criminal activity by attaching one of their eyes to humans.

Maneki Neko (Inviting Cat)

A variation of a bakeneko (ghost cat) that brings good luck and fortune.

Kodama (Tree Spirit)

Kodama are the animated spirits of trees. Their lives are intertwined with that of the three so should one of them die, the other does as well. They are considered guardians of the trees and forest.

Raijuu (Thunder Beast)

The physical embodiment of lightning in the form of an animal. They are seen as divine beasts and often treated as gods.

Okuri-Inu (Sending-Off Dog)

A fearsome nocturnal wolf-like creature that haunts mountain passes. They follow travellers and wait for them to trip and stumble before ripping them to shreds.

Yosuzume (Night Sparrow)

A bird yokai found in flocks on remote mountains. They appear to travellers at night and sing a shrill song. They are considered omens of bad luck… or act as a warning of the foreboding danger of the okuri-inu.

Komainu (Lion Dog)

Noble holy creatures that act as guardians of sacred places. They reside in male-female pairs where the female will guard the place’s inhabitants and the male guards the land itself.

Ao Andon (Blue Lantern)

A ghostly apparition that appears from candle-lit flames at the end of the gathering of one hundred ghost stories. It is the incarnation of fear that has accumulated over the course of the tellings.

Furutsubaki-no-Rei (Old Tsubaki Spirit)

The spirit of an old camellia tree. Camellias are associated with death and strangeness.

Shiryou (Dead Ghost)

Malevolent spirits of the dead. The spirit lingers and appears just moments after death.

Oni (Ogre - Shuten Douji/Ibaraki Douji)

Fearsome powerful creatures and are bringers of disaster considered to be the enemy of mankind. Shuten Douji is the king of all oni and Ibaraki Douji is his right hand.

Tatsu (Dragon)

A Japanese dragon strongly associated with water. They reside in extravagant palaces under the waters filled with treasures and magical artifacts.

Seiryuu (Azure Dragon)

The dragon that resides in the Eastern skies and controls rain. One of the Four Symbols that are important mythological figures in Taoism.

Mizuchi

A Japanese water dragon perceived by some to be a deity.

Kirin

A rare and powerful creature. Unicorn-like in appearance and is sometimes considered a god. A gentle creature of purity and goodness.

Tanuki (Racoon Dog)

Similar to the kitsune, they are able to shapeshift and take pleasure in playing tricks on humans.

Zashiki Warashi (Zashiki Child)

A mischievous house spirit that is believed to bring fortune and riches to the house it haunts.

Inugami (Dog God)

A type of familiar taking the form of a dog. Its true form is that of a mummified dog’s head that is sealed and kept safe in a shrine­

These yokai and more have come together within the pages of this zine to tell their stories, many a tale from long ago…

Preorders close November 26th at 10pm EST. This is the final stretch! Order your copy to find out how these various yokai have woven themselves together with Bungou Stray Dogs to creature stunning and magical pieces!

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