#also let's not forget the ruins of an ancient civilization | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

mask131 · 1 year ago

Text

The other Olympians: Eris

After Eros, I just HAD to do Eris. Everybody keeps speaking of “Eros and Thanatos”, the pulsion of life and the pulsion of death – but what about Eris and Eros? Hate and love. One causes division, the other unification. One destroys the world, the other creates it. Heck, they are even just one letter away from each other!

“But…” I heard some of you say. “Eris isn’t an Olympian!”. Well yes and no. Sometimes she is, sometimes she isn’t. Let us explore that.

Who is Eris? The word “eris” means “strife” in Greek, and this is exactly what Eris is. She is the goddess of strife and the embodiment of discord (in fact, her Roman name was Discordia). She is the eternal enemy of peace and order, always searching to break harmony and cause troubles everywhere she goes.

Now before going further, I want to insist on something. Eris is not an actual goddess, in the sense we can understand it. Yes Eris is presented as a goddess in Ancient Greek literature and in the various epics forming Greek mythology. However here’s the thing… Eris was not part of Greek religion. Or if she was, she had no temples, no sanctuaries, she received no cult and no worship, nobody prayed or sacrificed to her. Eris only seems to exist in literature and philosophy – she was not an actual religious figure of Ancient Greece, even though she was a key character of Greek mythology.

I) The Hesiodic Eris

The Eris most people are familiar with today is the one I would call the “non-Olympian Eris”. It is the Eris described in Hesiod’s Theogony, as well as in his “Works and Days”.

Hesiod describes Eris as the daughter of Nyx, the embodiment of night and one of the primordial goddesses who manifested at the very beginning of the universe. According to Hesiod, Nyx was a quite negative figure, since all the children she gave birth to were actually the personifications of ills and disasters: beyond Eris, Nyx also gave birth to Thanatos, the god of death, to the Keres, the spirits causing violent and painful deaths on the battlefield, Oizys, the personification of misery, Apate, the embodiment of deceit and treachery, Geras, the god of old age and aging, and many many more… Interestingly, in turn Eris also became the mother of a large brood of personifications, each embodiments of even more evils that plagued and tormented humanity. No father is mentioned for these children – but given Nyx seemingly used her powers as a primordial goddess to have her children on her own, without the participation of any male entity, it is very likely that Eris inherited or used the same abilities. Remember, from our talk of Eros in previous posts, the beginning of the world in Hesiod’s universe was not defined by gender, and the primordial Eros was a creature of cosmic, abstract procreation that went beyond mere sexes.

Hesiod gives us an exact list of the numerous children of Eris. On one side you have “singular” children acting as specific personifications: Ponos (toil, hard work), Lethe (forgetfulness, oblivion), Limos (hunger, starvation), Ate ( mistakes, delusions, folly, recklessness, all things that bring ruin) and Dysnomia (lawlessness, absence of civil order). On the other side, Hesiod lists groups of entities, representing “swarms” of concepts: the Algea (the pains and sufferings), the Hysminai (fights and feuds), the Makhai (battles and conflicts), the Phonoi (murders), the Androktasiai (literaly the man-slaughters), the Neikea (the quarrels), the Pseudo-Logoi (the lies), the Amphilogai (the disputes)… Remember what I said previously, Eris was not an actual religious figure but a literary one – and the same way, all of her children are here mere metaphors and allegories. Hesiod is merely listing here all the effects that strife and discord have within human society. Hesiod adds to this list of children a final son of Eris, Horkos, the god of oaths. Why would “oaths” be a bad thing you ask? Because Horkos is more specifically the deity in charge of punishing oath-breakers, the spirit that all those that make false oaths fear. Hesiod even says that Horkos will make more damage to anyone breaking an oath than all of his siblings – and he later mentions, in his “Works and Days”, that the ERYNIES themselves acted as midwives when Eris gave birth to him.

Hesiod describes Eris as a hateful and harsh being, only concerned with causing slaughters and “evil wars” on Earth (remember the Athena/Ares divide, there was for the Greeks a good way of making war, and a bad way of making war). He mentions that no mortal being loves Eris, but that human still “promote” her – but only due to either compulsions (the natural drive of humanity to fight with each other) or by the “will of immortals” (when the gods purposefully send Eris among mankind). When Hesiod describes the legendary shield of Herakles, he mentions that Eris is depicted upon it among the many terrifying entities meant to frighten his adversary – he adds there that Eris is without pity or mercy, and that her mere sight will break the mind of anyone trying to attack the hero.

However, mind you, despite this very negative portrayal of Eris, in his “Works and Days”, Hesiod allows himself a philosophical or social myth about Eris, where he divides her into two identities, one good and one bad. If you recall my Eros posts, there is yet again a parallel with how there are two Eroses. According to Hesiod two Eris are at work among humans: the one he keeps describing above is the “evil” Eris ; but there is a “kinder” and older Eris, who is the one born of Nyx at the beginning of time, and who is even… likeable! Because this Eris is a positive form of strife, a productive form of discord that isn’t about having people slaughter each other, but prompts each human to excel and outdo each other in talents and arts. Specifically sent by Zeus among humans for this very purpose, the elder Eris will for example make a poor man envy his rich neighbor, prompting him to work even harder to become rich himself – and thus she can turn even the laziest man into a hard worker. This Eris isn’t so much about discord, as about a sort of mutual envy between humans that creates a competitive society, indeed, but one that prompts each human to try their best at becoming better than others.

II) The Homeric Eris

Hesiod mentions that of the two Eris, only the “elder” is the daughter of Nyx. Then, where does the “evil” Eris comes from? Well, Hesiod might have been evoking here another cosmogony… I am of course speaking of Homer’s own works, The Iliad and the Odyssey. For you see, the Homeric tradition and the Hesiodic tradition diverge strongly when it comes to the figure of Eris, and it is in the Homeric cosmogony that Eris is presented as an Olympian goddess.

Homer depicts Eris just as negatively as Hesiod. He describes her as a goddess with “relentless wrath”, as the “lady of sorrow”, as a “destroyer of cities”, and even depicts her during a battlefield scene as working in a triad alongside Ker (the spirit of violent death) and Cydoimos (the personification of confusion). But where he changes the story (or rather where Hesiod changes the story, since it is agreed that the Homeric tradition is older than the Hesiodic one, and reflects a more primitive form of the Greek pantheon), is when it comes to Eris’ parenthood. Homer explicitly presents Eris as working in a duo with Ares, the Olympian god of war, the two being “companions”. But more than companions… Siblings. Homer insists heavily on the fact that Eris is Ares’ sister, and given Ares is in the Homeric tradition the son of Zeus and Hera, it is very clear that Eris is also the daughter of the king and queen of the gods.

No need to tell you that Eris’ strongest presence in the Homeric tradition is within The Iliad, aka the epic describing the greatest mythological conflict of all times, the Trojan War. Eris is there usually paired with another deity: sometimes she forms a duo with Athena, and helps her in her role as a “war goddess” to encourage men to fight by her side ; other times she is alongside her brother Ares, as the spirit of hatred that complements the god of murder and bloodlust. This depicts Eris as a very ambiguous deity, that can serve and help as much the senseless, brutal, “wrong” war of Ares as the “good”, ordered, intelligent and civilized war of Athena. An even more interesting detail however shows that this ambiguity does not actually exist: Ares fought on the side of the Trojans during the war, while Athena fought with the Achaeans. This is a detail Homer himself notes and explains in his poem: Eris purposefully played both sides, and found herself on each line of the battlefront, since all she cared about was spreading bitterness and pain, so as to make the slaughter of the Trojan War even greater. Sometimes she does this to further the gods’ desires and plans: Zeus at one point, wishing for the Achaeans to keep on fighting and not just give up, send Eris among them so that she would bellow a great war-cry, so “terrible and so loud” it made every man who heart it want to battle again. But other times, she disobeys even the orders of the king of the gods out of pure perversion: most notably, when Zeus at one point gave the order to all the gods to stop interfering with the war and remain far away from humans, without causing interferences, Eris is the only goddess that remains upon the earth and among humans – merely because she takes a “great pleasure” in seeing them “battle like wolves”, and wouldn’t miss it for the world.

In short: while it seems from the outside that she is actually more of a neutral power that can serve both sides, good and bad, in truth she is a selfish, neutral psychopath only existing for chaos and destruction, and who only accepts to play by the rules when it furthers her own goals.

One last interesting fact: Homer, in his poems, keeps using another name for Eris, a name that many later mistook as being a different goddesses – however, at least in the Homeric tradition, they are just two identities of a same deity. “Enyo”, that is to say the female spirit and embodiment of war, the female counterpart of Ares. Beyond Homer, Aeschylus, in his tragedy about the Seven against Thebes, describes the Seven as making an oath upon the dreadful trinity of war formed by Ares, Enyo and Phobos – in a similar way, Eris was already described by Homer as part of a trinity involving Ares and Phobos (who also stood for his brother Deimos). The idea of Enyo and Eris being different deities seems to come from quite late sources, such as Quintus Smyrnaeus’ epic “The Fall of Troy”, from the fourth century CE, which did a very clear split between Eris (the deadly strife, which causes the battles by causing an “unbalance in the scales of war”, and then watches and gloat as humans fight) and Enyo (a ghastly and wrathful deity who fights inside the battles, and ends up gore-covered and all bloody and sweaty from her constant massacre of mortal beings). In fact, from the third to the fifth century, it became common to attribute to Enyo a “gore-fetish”, as she was described as delighting in piles of corpses left on the battlefield, or getting drunk on the flow of blood ; as well as the power to drive completely mad whoever she “touched”. Mad with war-lust and battle-fever, of course. But originally, for Homer and other early authors, Enyo and Eris were clearly just one and the same, two names for a same goddess.

What is quite fascinating with Enyo is that, unlike Eris which is purely literary, Enyo has some ground for actually having been a religious figure. Now, this is to be taken with a grain of salt, as the Greeks gave the name “Enyo” to several non-Greek deities of the countries east of Ancient Greece – but we have records of a statue of Enyo appearing in the Athenian temple of Ares, and it seems that the deities honored during the Homolôïa festival (in Thebes and Orchomenos) included Enyo. But beyond those two little facts, we don’t have more information about a potential cult of Enyo, who truly seems to be more of a female counterpart or extension of Ares. A last interesting point with Enyo is the presence of a name: Enyalios. Enyalios is the male form of Enyo, and is the name of a deity associated with her – but how? That is the question. Very, very late commenters of the Iliad (we are talking Byzantine commenters) made Enyalios a minor spirit of war, son of Enyo and possibly fathered by Ares. However, a more careful study of the use of Enyalios reveals that it is not the name of a distinct deity as many like to believe. Homer uses it as an epithet for various characters, but most notably for Ares. Other Ancient Greek authors also used Enyalios as an alternate name for Ares: Aristophanes in his play “Peace” (people claim it is used as two different deities, but I do not read it that way, I do think Aristophanes used the name as a nickname of Ares), for example, and Ares is also called “Enyalios” in the Argonautica. Plutarch did mention the existence of a temple of “Ares Enyalios” too, and the late myth collector Pausanias did mention the habit by Lacedaemonians of chaining up the deity Enyalios to prevent him from leaving the city – a custom identical to the habit of chaining up statues of Ares in Sparta. Overall, when you actually look carefully at things, it is extremely clear that Enyalios is just Ares.

And this confirms the true bond and link between Ares and Enyo: Ares is called by the male version of Enyo’s name, or rather Enyo is named after the female version of Ares’ nickname. This reinforces the idea of her being equivalent to Eris, presented by Homer as the sister-companion of Ares, and this feeds into this topic of the “duo of slaughter gods”. Ares/Enyalios, the male god of war, and Eris/Enyo, the female goddess of discord.

III) The golden apple

“But… What about the golden apple?” I hear you cry. “You talked about the Trojan War, but not about the golden apple!”

It is true that the most famous myth of Eris today is the one centered around the start of the Trojan War. It is the story of how Eris, upon not being invited to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, despite all of the other gods being there, decided to take her revenge. It is the legend of how Eris threw among the feast of the gods a golden apple with on it written “For the most beautiful”, and how this random gift caused a deep feud between Athena, Hera and Aphrodite who all believed the apple was for them. It is the myth of how to settle the feud, the goddesses demanded the opinion of a Trojan prince by the name of Paris, who gave the apple to Aphrodite, resulting in her rewarding him as a gift with Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world… Who also happened to be the wife of Agamemnon, the Achaean king who promptly declared war upon Troy since their prince had kidnapped his wife – a war where the scorned Hera and Athena supported the enemies of Troy, while Aphrodite defended Paris’ city, leading into the legendary decades-old conflict we know today.

Well, you might be surprised to learn that this story does not come from Homer. Nowhere in the Iliad is a golden apple mentioned, or the involvement of Eris in causing the war. It comes from other sources. It does not mean the story isn’t ancient: on the contrary we have records of very ancient epics, probably created around the same time as The Iliad, who described and explained this legend. “The Cypria” for example is the oldest record we have of the story of the “Judgement of Paris”, caused by Eris’ apple of discord. However these ancient epics were all lost, so all we have are secondary testimonies about them, and much later and modern retellings of the story – such as the “Bibliotheca” of Pseudo-Apollodorus, where this old myth was collected in an abbreviate and concise form, or the fifth-sixth century CE poem the “Rape of Helen”, which like Nonnus Dionysiaca, was an attempt at reconstructing the ancient myths of the now-gone Ancient Greeks. While this is not an exact source and has to be taken with a handful of salt, this poem is quite fascinating because it adds all sorts of details about the situation: including how the decision of not inviting Eris came from both Peleus and Chiron (the latter sent out the invitations), and how, before imagining her devious golden apple plan, the furious, fulminating, jealous Eris conjured up plans ranging from stealing Zeus’ thunderbolt and use it as a weapon against the gods… to freeing the imprisoned Titans so they would overthrow Zeus. (Yes, Disney’s Hades does exist in old – but not ancient – Greek literature, and her name is Eris). There is also the additional detail that the golden apple used by Eris is one of those that the Hesperides grow in their orchard, the same golden apples Herakles had to collect during his labors.

Speaking of Herakles, all the way back to the sixth century BCE, Aesop wrote a fable about Eris. Yes, THIS Aesop of the Fables. And he wrote one with Eris and Herakles – one that also involves an apple, and thus furthers proves that the story of Eris using apple to cause discord was an ancient part of Greek mythology. In Aesop’s fable, Heracles was going through a narrow pass when he saw an apple on the ground before him. He tried to smash it with his club, only for the apple to swell to twice its size. Heracles hit it again and again, but every time he tried to destroy the obstacle, it grew bigger. In the end, the whole pass was blocked by the giant apple (slip a Roald Dahl joke here), and as Heracles stood amazed and confused, Athena appeared by his side and explained the situation: this apple is actually the product of two personifications, Aporia (impasse, puzzlement, lack of passage) and Eris. By trying to fight it, Heracles made it larger and bigger – if he had just left the thing on the ground untouched, and ignored it, it would have stayed its size. In short, the moral is that strife and discord will always be there somewhere, but that it only becomes a true obstacle or something serious if you let violence take over you or decide to enter the fight instead of just passing over it.

This conception of Eris as something “growing in size” is not actually a pure invention of Aesop: it was already present, way back in the Homeric tradition. Indeed, when Homer first introduces Eris in The Iliad, he describes her as such: she always appears first as a “small thing”, as a little force, a miniature goddess, but as chaos and battles and discord grow around her, she too grows, and gains in size and largeness, until in the end she becomes a giantess who feet are on earth while her head is in heaven.

#greek mythology #greek gods #greek goddesses #eris #the other olympians #olympians #enyo #ares

31 notes · View notes

dailycharacteroption · 2 years ago

Text

Races Among the Stars 6: Ilthisarian

They say that history repeats itself if the incautious forget it. However, the inhabitants of the planet Arshalin do not have that problem, for the terrors of their history loom over the horizon of their world as a constant reminder.

Whether it was the ilthisarians themselves who built it or some unknown spacefaring people, a great space station of colossal size broke apart and crashed onto their world, leaving massive hunks so large they dwarfed the mountain ranges and cut off entire ecologies, leaving them to evolve separately and leave scholars wondering how life flourishes on the world now.

Either way, whether they are descendants of native life forms or the makers of the station whose fragments now are a part of the landscape, the ilthisarians believe in a philosophy of tradition and caution, approaching new ideas hesitantly, though not shutting their hearts to new and strange ideas entirely.

This focus on caution and contingencies is even reflected in their biology, for ilthisarians resemble large serpentine creatures moving on a powerful tail with a split tip. They sport two strong arms and hands, and thick reptilian scales. They also sport a cluster of smaller snake-like necks and heads surrounding their main, reptilian cranium, giving them the appearance of a brawny, more bestial medusa. Additionally, they sport several redundant internal organs, letting them survive grievous injuries that would fell many other life forms.

Focused as they are on tradition and upon stability, the ilthisarians enjoy a relatively calm existence on their world, steadily progressing and developing their culture along sure paths with only their scientists pushing the envelope at a comparatively sluggish pace compared to the fantastical science of other species. This caution also means they seen no need to expand into a region or conquer it for it’s own sake, instead being primarily resource-driven.

They also seem to act as stewards to another sapient race on their world, the bestial ethesks. Though not much details are given on them, they seem at least partially genetically engineered, though there appear to be populations that exist free, particularly near the south pole of their world, which harbors ruins to ancient reptilian gods long abandoned by the ilthisarians, who are mostly non-religious in the modern era, forgoing brutal bloodthirsty gods for the likes of Abadar and other gods of civilization and protection, when they follow a deity at all.

While their homeworld has many dangers and mysteries, the ilthisarians have little interest in solving them anytime soon, and in fact it is rare to see their kind spacefaring, though they are perfectly capable of doing so, such travellers having a goal in mind or perhaps being oddities among the cautious reptiles.

Strong and intelligent, ilthisarians are quite used to making use of their strength and size, though their stubborn nature makes them somewhat vexing.

Whether it be their claws, their tail, or the many fanged mouths surrounding their core head, these reptilian beings are always armed, though such weapons pale in comparison to modern weapons.

Their redundant vitals also protect them from grievous injury, though obviously this is not perfect. They are also well-inured to poisons due to their marshland home biome.

That same marshy home also means they are well-adapted to moving in water and muck as well.

With their strength and intelligence, martial classes like soldier, vanguard, solarians are common career choices for them, as are technomancers and mechanics (particularly exocortex mechanics that focus on melee weaponry). Their species history of bioengineering also makes them capable biohackers, and plenty of them may embrace the path of the evolutionist or nanocyte if the process can at least be controlled somewhat. Their large size might make operative an odd choice, as does the improvisational nature of the envoy, but they can make up for this by focusing on the more skillful and less stealthy sides of those classes. Though not religious, they also can make capable mystics, as well as precogs or witchwarpers, the former seeking the safest path to the future, while the latter focusing on alternate worlds that are more stable than the present.

That about does it for today, but I hope this glimpse sparks you interest in these mighty serpents!

#starfinder #race #ilthisarian #The Thirteenth Gate

8 notes · View notes

pankajbmdu · 7 months ago

Text

European Tour Packages: Unleashing the Wonders of Europe

Europe is a continent of rich history, diverse cultures, and breathtaking landscapes. It is a place where ancient ruins and modern cities coexist, where culinary delights and artistic treasures abound, and where natural wonders and man-made marvels enchant visitors from around the world. With European tour packages, you can embark on a journey of a lifetime, discovering the wonders of this enchanting continent in a hassle-free and unforgettable way.

1. Exploring Europe's Rich History

Europe is a land of ancient civilizations, where empires rose and fell, and where legends were born. With European tour packages, you can dive into the rich history of the continent, visiting iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum in Rome, the Acropolis in Athens, and the Tower of London. You can also explore the charming streets of medieval towns such as Bruges, Prague, and Salzburg, where time seems to stand still.

2. Experiencing the Cultural Diversity

Europe is a melting pot of cultures, each with its own unique traditions and customs. With tour packages, you can immerse yourself in the vibrant cities of Paris, Berlin, and Amsterdam, where art, music, and fashion thrive. You can also indulge in the culinary delights of Italy, savoring authentic pasta and pizza, or sip on a pint of Guinness in an Irish pub. The possibilities are endless, and each country offers a distinct cultural experience.

3. Marveling at Nature's Masterpieces

Europe is home to some of the world's most breathtaking natural wonders. With European tour packages, you can witness the majestic beauty of the Swiss Alps, cruise along the scenic Danube River, or relax on the sun-kissed beaches of the Mediterranean. You can also explore the stunning fjords of Norway, the picturesque landscapes of Tuscany, or the rugged coastlines of Scotland. Nature lovers will be captivated by Europe's diverse landscapes, providing endless opportunities for outdoor adventures.

4. Indulging in Culinary Delights

European cuisine is renowned worldwide for its flavors and variety. With tour packages, you can indulge in culinary delights such as French pastries, Spanish tapas, and Greek moussaka. You can explore local markets, sample regional specialties, and treat your taste buds to a gastronomic journey across the continent. Don't forget to pair your meals with exquisite wines from renowned vineyards in Italy, France, and Spain.

5. Convenience and Peace of Mind

One of the greatest advantages of European tour packages is the convenience they offer. You can leave the logistics to the experts, allowing you to focus on enjoying your trip. From accommodation and transportation to guided tours and sightseeing, everything is meticulously planned to ensure a seamless and stress-free experience. Additionally, traveling in a group provides a sense of security and the opportunity to make lifelong friendships.

European tour packages offer an incredible opportunity to explore the wonders of this enchanting continent. Whether you're fascinated by history, captivated by culture, or enthralled by nature, Europe has it all. So, pack your bags, embark on an adventure, and let the magic of Europe unfold before your eyes. With European tour packages, unforgettable experiences await!

0 notes

arrhakis · 9 months ago

Video

The Mystical World Of Ion - The Architecture Of Monasteries - Mystical Symbolisms - The Ruins Garden - "Archeon"

flickr

(via The Mystical World Of Ion - The Architecture Of Monasterie… | Flickr)

The Mystical World Of Ion - The Architecture Of Monasteries - Mystical Symbolisms - The Ruins Garden - "Archeon" by Daniel Arrhakis (2024)

With the music : Atom Music Audio - A New Dawn | Epic Emotional Dramatic

youtu.be/Y7khxbyk_IA

The Prophets of Ion have a basic project for their monastery whose architecture reflects both the various religious influences on which it is based and the elements that make up its very particular mystique.

Let's look at some of these concepts, mystical symbolism and architectural representation.

The Abandonment / Spiritual Dialog - The Ruins Garden or "Archeon"

Abandonment represents in the Mystical World of Ion a very human characteristic that does not necessarily be destined to have a negative context.

Abandonment as an act or instance of leaving a person or thing permanently and completely can be the result of a circumstantial, unplanned, tragic moment, with normally restricted limits well defined in time and space.

But it can be the result of a continuous transformation, planned or not, in which abandonment is a given or a necessity resulting from the changes inherent to the cycles of transformation within human societies; in this case with broader temporal dimensions such as the end of certain civilizations, changes in trade routes, the decline of important cities, etc.

Abandonment is a term also often used by mystic and ascetic to signify the first stage of the union of the soul with God by conforming to God's will.

This abandonment of what one thought he knew, of the principles or truths he thought he took for granted, in favor of new knowledge that he acquired in the meantime, in the process of spiritual evolution and self-recognition of himself and the world around him.

Abandonment can also be of two types, oblivion and eradication. If in the first there is not a total loss, as there is only factual memory, in the second there is an act of voluntary and objectified loss, in convictions, rituals and faith in religious values.

When abandoned, most people try to find solace within themselves as part of the healing process which is already the beginning of a spiritual journey.

This Solitary Introspection is a way for your mind to ease your emotional pain before it becomes traumatizing. It's a sign to get over the breakup, build self-esteem, and regain control of your life.

The feeling of abandonment can also be the result of a painful separation, in space or time, a serious illness or the loss of love. The emotion and feeling your experience after being abandoned, help you reconnect with your true self and soul.

But abandonment can be an option as a means of removing a painful situation or avoiding facing a problem that would bring discomfort, but in most cases it will not be easy to forget or eradicate as there will always be an unresolved situation that will end up disturbing our soul.

In the Mystical World of Ion Abandonment is first and foremost an opportunity for self-reflection and self-introspection, an interrogation and a search for answers.

Basically, a first stage for spiritual growth or as the famous cote "I Only Know That I Know Nothing" - Socrates", a realization that what we know and take for granted until a given moment may not be true after all.

A restless spirit seeks, is not satisfied and desires to know more about itself and others and therefore about the World, which is why Abandonment can be a first stage of a spiritual journey. Basically, a stripping away of preconceived ideas and previous experiences in order to embrace new concepts and accept a subsequent experience that we were previously unaware of.

In the Mystical World of Ion, this abandonment is materialized by an unfinished area, by the ruins of an ancient temple, by an open space where one can see the sky and the stars.

Basically, for a space that allows us to contemplate but at the same time question, as if space and time combined in this place to form an enigma.

We call this space "Archeon" and it was often an ancient sacred place of ancient ruins. The "Archeon" is then the introspective place, where candidate guardians begin their spiritual journey but also the place of crossing between the lines of time and space. A lonely intersection where paths and life options are decided but where those who went before us are also honored.

But more than anything, it is a space full of potential, because abandoned as it is, it allows us to recreate or rehabilitate it just as we would if our new life were in the same circumstances.

Abandonment is thus seen in the Mystical World of Ion as a necessary stripping to begin an inner transformation and accept new ideas, new ways of thinking and above all the search for ourselves as spiritual and universal beings - The first step or the beginning of a spiritual journey.

Therefore, The Ruins garden is the place par excellence within the monastery complex for initiation into the spiritual world but also for moments of contemplation and introspection.

The Ruins garden is thus a place of retreat but also of ambivalent crossing, between time and space, between the past and the present, between History and Legend, between nature and the creative artistic nature of man, between earth and sky, between the lonely darkness of the night and the supportive light of the stars in the sky.

Due to these dualities, the Ruins Garden of the Monastery is also a place of communication between the Spiritual World and the Earthly World, making it one of the most important spiritual portals in the monastery complex.

___________________________________________________

O Mundo Místico de Íon - A Arquitetura dos Mosteiros - Simbolismos Místicos - O Jardim das Ruínas - "Archeon"

Os Profetas de Íon têm um projeto básico para o seu mosteiro cuja arquitetura reflete tanto as diversas influências religiosas em que se baseia como os elementos que compõem a sua mística muito particular.

Vejamos alguns desses conceitos, simbolismo místico e representação arquitetónica.

O Abandono/Diálogo Espiritual – O Jardim das Ruínas ou “Archeon”

O abandono representa no Mundo Místico de Íon uma característica muito humana que não está necessariamente destinada a ter um contexto negativo.

O abandono como ato ou instância de abandono permanente e completo de uma pessoa ou coisa pode ser resultado de um momento circunstancial, não planejado, trágico, com limites normalmente restritos e bem definidos no tempo e no espaço.

Mas pode ser o resultado de uma transformação contínua, planeada ou não, em que o abandono é um dado adquirido ou uma necessidade resultante das mudanças inerentes aos ciclos de transformação das sociedades humanas; neste caso com dimensões temporais mais amplas como o fim de certas civilizações, mudanças nas rotas comerciais, o declínio de cidades importantes, etc.

Abandono é um termo também frequentemente usado por místicos e ascetas para significar o primeiro estágio da união da alma com Deus, conformando-se à vontade de Deus.

Este abandono daquilo que se pensava saber, dos princípios ou verdades que julgava ter como garantidos, em favor de novos conhecimentos que entretanto adquiriu, no processo de evolução espiritual e de autorreconhecimento de si mesmo e do mundo que o rodeia. .

O abandono também pode ser de dois tipos: esquecimento e erradicação. Se no primeiro não há perda total, pois só não existe memória factual, no segundo há um ato de perda voluntária e objetivada, de convicções, de rituais e de fé em valores religiosos.

Quando abandonadas, a maioria das pessoas tenta encontrar consolo dentro de si como parte do processo de cura que já é o início de uma jornada espiritual.

Esta introspeção solitária é uma forma da mente aliviar sua dor emocional antes que ela se torne traumatizante. É um sinal para superar o rompimento, aumentar a autoestima e recuperar o controle da vida.

O sentimento de abandono também pode ser resultado de uma separação dolorosa, no espaço ou no tempo, de uma doença grave ou da perda de um amor. A emoção e o sentimento que você vivencia após ser abandonado ajudam você a se reconectar com o seu verdadeiro eu e a sua alma.

Mas o abandono pode ser também uma opção como meio de afastar uma situação dolorosa ou evitar enfrentar um problema que traria desconforto; mas na maioria dos casos não será fácil esquecer ou erradicar, pois sempre haverá uma situação não resolvida que acabará por perturbar a nossa alma.

No Mundo Místico de Íon, o Abandono é antes de tudo uma oportunidade de autorreflexão e autointrospecção, um interrogatório pessoal e uma busca por respostas.

Basicamente, uma primeira etapa para o crescimento espiritual ou como diz a famosa frase “Só sei que não sei nada” – Sócrates”, uma constatação de que aquilo que sabemos e tomamos como certo até um determinado momento pode não ser verdade, afinal.

Um espírito inquieto procura, não se satisfaz e deseja saber mais sobre si mesmo e sobre os outros e, portanto, sobre o Mundo, por isso o Abandono pode ser uma primeira etapa de uma jornada espiritual. Basicamente, um despojamento de ideias pré-concebidas e experiências anteriores para abraçar novos conceitos e aceitar uma experiência subsequente que antes desconhecíamos.

No Mundo Místico de Íon, esse abandono é materializado por uma área inacabada, pelas ruínas de um antigo templo, por um espaço aberto onde se avistam o céu e as estrelas.

No fundo, por um espaço que nos permita contemplar mas ao mesmo tempo questionar, como se o espaço e o tempo se combinassem neste lugar para formar um enigma.

Chamamos este espaço de “Archeon” e muitas vezes era um antigo local sagrado de ruínas antigas. O “Archeon” é então o lugar introspetivo, onde os candidatos a guardiões iniciam a sua jornada espiritual, mas também o lugar de passagem entre as linhas do tempo e do espaço.

Uma encruzilhada solitária onde se decidem caminhos e opções de vida mas onde também são homenageados aqueles que nos precederam.

Mas, mais do que tudo, é um espaço cheio de potencialidades, porque abandonado como está, permite-nos recriá-lo ou reabilitá-lo tal como faríamos se a nossa nova vida estivesse nas mesmas circunstâncias.

O abandono é assim visto no Mundo Místico de Íon como um despojamento necessário para iniciar uma transformação interior e aceitar novas ideias, novas formas de pensar e sobretudo a busca de nós mesmos como seres espirituais e universais - O primeiro passo ou o início de uma vida ou jornada espiritual.

Portanto, o jardim das Ruínas é o local por excelência dentro do complexo monástico para iniciação ao mundo espiritual mas também para momentos de contemplação e introspeção.

O jardim das Ruínas é assim um local de retiro mas também de cruzamento ambivalente, entre o tempo e o espaço, entre o passado e o presente, entre a História e a Lenda, entre a natureza e a natureza artística criativa do homem, entre a terra e o céu, entre a solitária escuridão da noite e a luz solidária das estrelas no céu.

Devido a estas dualidades, o Jardim das Ruínas do Mosteiro é também um local de comunicação entre o Mundo Espiritual e o Mundo Terrestre, tornando-se um dos mais importantes portais espirituais do complexo monástico.

#flickr

0 notes

thxnews · 1 year ago

Text

Cancun Beaches: Unveiling History, Culture, and Beauty

Ladies and gentlemen, as we embark on this literary voyage to the Mexican jewel of Cancun, it is essential to shed preconceived notions and allow the tapestry of Cancun to reveal its true depth and diversity. Beyond the sun-soaked shores that have enamored travelers for generations, Cancun beckons with a treasure trove of experiences waiting to be uncovered.

Temple of the Warriors, Chichen Itza, Maya Ruins, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Photo by Jim G. Flickr.

Unveiling History and Culture

Cancun, often adorned with postcard-perfect beaches, is also a canvas adorned with a rich tapestry of history and culture. A journey through time awaits those willing to explore the awe-inspiring Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, a testament to the brilliance of ancient civilizations. As you dive beneath the waves, a mesmerizing world emerges - the Cancun Underwater Museum, a fusion of art and marine life, stands as a testament to human creativity beneath the waves. Immersion in Local Culture In the heart of Cancun, a traditional temazcal ceremony unfolds, connecting you with the indigenous traditions that have shaped this region. An interactive encounter with playful dolphins at the Interactive Aquarium Cancun can create cherished memories. For those seeking a drier adventure, a tranquil glass-bottom boat tour of the Cancun reef offers a window to the underwater world without getting wet. And let's not forget the vibrant markets, Mercado 28 and Plaza La Isla, where you can discover the perfect memento of your journey.

Green Sea Turtles in Akumal, Cancun, Mexico. Photo by Andresvilla. Wikimedia.

Embracing Nature's Bounty

For the nature enthusiasts among us, Cancun reveals itself as a paradise within paradise. Nestled on the Yucatán Peninsula, Cancun unveils a stunning natural backdrop, adorned with alluring beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush jungle landscapes. Here, diverse wildlife thrives, from colorful parrots to curious iguanas and graceful sea turtles. As you traverse this verdant landscape, you'll also find the opportunity to explore the area's captivating history through the nearby Mayan ruins.

Roseate Spoonbill. Photo by Andy Morffew. Flickr.

A Haven for Birdwatchers

For the aficionados of avian wonders, Cancun is a sanctuary where over 500 bird species, some exclusive to this region, bless the land with their vibrant presence. Amidst diverse habitats, from mangrove forests to sandy beaches and wetland marshes, ornithologists discover treasures like the roseate spoonbill, white-cheeked pintail, rose-throated becard, black-necked stilt, rainbow lorikeet, and Zapata wren - a paradise for birdwatchers.

Senor Frog is a popular bar in Cancun. Photo by David Stanley. Flickr.

A Tropical Paradise for Relaxation

Cancun's allure extends to those seeking relaxation and rejuvenation. The city's reputation as a tropical paradise is well-deserved, boasting a multitude of luxury resorts catering to varied interests. Whether one fancies languishing poolside, exploring ancient Mayan ruins, or dancing the night away in Cancun's renowned nightclubs, the city leaves no desires unfulfilled. Conveniently located just a brief flight from the United States, Cancun accommodates both quick getaways and extended vacations, ensuring a tailor-made experience for each visitor. Vibrant Nightlife The nights in Cancun, vibrant with mariachi melodies and salsa rhythms, are a testament to Mexico's exuberance. Moreover, some of the country's finest nightclubs, such as Coco Bongo, LaSanta, LaBarre, and Dady’o, feature world-class DJs and vibrant live performances, ensuring satisfaction for every taste. For those who prefer a more subdued evening, Chapultepec Cerveceria beckons with an extensive craft beer selection, in addition to an outdoor patio perfect for people-watching.

Sailing Catamarans: A Serene Adventure

Cancun sailing catamarans, stable and spacious, offer an idyllic opportunity to savor the region's sights and sounds. Departing from the marina, these vessels take you on a sun-kissed journey, where a captain and crew attend to every detail, allowing you to simply savor every moment.

JW Marriott Cancun. Photo by Curtis Palmer. Flickr.

Diverse Accommodation Choices

Cancun offers a smorgasbord of accommodations to cater to every traveler's preferences. Whether one seeks opulence, relaxation, or budget-friendly options, Cancun provides a spectrum of choices. The Ritz-Carlton Cancun and JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa grace the classical Hotel Zone strip with their opulent offerings. In the peaceful Puerto Juarez neighborhood, the Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun provides beachfront tranquility. For the more budget-conscious traveler, Oasis Palm Beach, boasting easy access to the main Cancun beaches, is a good alternative. Located on Cancun's northern tip, it delivers affordability without compromising the beauty and convenience of this captivating destination.

The beautiful beach in Cancun, Mexico. Photo by Paul Mannix. Flickr.

Best Times to Visit Cancun

When deciding on the best time to visit Cancun, factors like weather and crowd density should influence your choice. From December to April, with its warm temperatures and reduced humidity, Cancun experiences its peak season, making it ideal for outdoor activities. However, booking accommodations and flights in advance is advisable due to the heightened popularity during this period. Alternatively, the off-season from May to November, marked by hotter and more humid weather, promises a quieter experience with fewer tourists and opportunities for significant savings on accommodations and activities.

A Multifaceted Paradise Awaits

In essence, Cancun's allure transcends its stunning beaches. This city, with its rich history, breathtaking natural beauty, vibrant culture, and diverse activities, caters to a myriad of interests. As you plot your course for Cancun, be sure to weave some of these extraordinary experiences into your itinerary to extract the most from your tropical sojourn. As we conclude our journey into the multifaceted Cancun, let us recall the words of John Steinbeck, who once remarked, "We do not take a trip, a trip takes us." In Cancun, the voyage takes us on an odyssey of discovery, relaxation, and jubilation, leaving us forever touched by its magic. Until we meet again, may your travels be adorned with wonder and your days bathed in sunshine.

Conclusion

And so, as we draw the curtain on our exploration of Cancun, that sun-soaked jewel of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, we find ourselves with a sense of wonder and amazement. Cancun, a place often synonymous with pristine beaches and azure waters, reveals itself as a multi-faceted gem, each facet reflecting the splendor of its history, the bounty of its nature, and the vivacity of its culture. From the remnants of the ancient Maya civilization to the vibrant colors of exotic birds, Cancun's historical and natural tapestry is a treasure trove for the curious traveler. But Cancun also knows how to unwind, offering a sanctuary for relaxation and recreation that's second to none. The nights in Cancun, enlivened by the melodies of mariachi and the rhythms of salsa, are a celebration of life itself, a living testament to Mexico's exuberance. And when the day begins anew, the tranquil waters beckon and the boats set sail, inviting us to explore the secrets of the deep. Cancun is a place where time seems to slow, where the world's cares are set adrift, and where the heart finds solace. As I bid you adieu from this paradise in the Caribbean, I leave you with the words of a great traveler, John Steinbeck, who once said, "We do not take a trip, a trip takes us." In Cancun, the trip takes us on a journey of discovery, relaxation, and joy, leaving us forever touched by its magic. Until we meet once more, may your travels abound with wonder, and may sunshine grace your days. Sources: THX News, Lonely Planet & US News Travel. Read the full article

#BesttimetovisitCancun #BirdwatchinginCancun #Cancunaccommodations #Cancunbeaches #Cancunnightlife #CancunUnderwaterMuseum #Cancun'shistoryandculture #InteractiveAquariumCancun #MayanruinsChichenItza #SailingcatamaransCancun

0 notes

yashvitours · 1 year ago

Text

Karnataka Tour Packages: Exploring Hampi’s Timeless Heritage and Natural Splendor

Nestled along the banks of the Tungabhadra River in Karnataka, Hampi stands as a testament to the grandeur of a bygone era. With its captivating ruins, awe-inspiring temples, and a landscape adorned with unique boulders, this UNESCO World Heritage Site extends an invitation to travelers to delve into a world steeped in history, culture, and natural splendor. If your curiosity about Hampi has been piqued and you’re eager to experience it before the year draws to a close, consider booking one of our exclusive “Karnataka Tour Packages from Ahmedabad“. However, before you do, let us take you on a comprehensive exploration of this ancient city, where we’ll unveil its historical significance, showcase its must-visit landmarks, and present an array of enriching activities that render it a destination unlike any other.

Historical Significance:

Hampi holds a pivotal place in Indian history as the capital of the illustrious Vijayanagara Empire. Flourishing in the 14th century, this empire was renowned for its opulence, military might, and vibrant cultural milieu. The city itself was a living canvas of architectural brilliance, adorned with majestic temples, palatial structures, bustling markets, and public edifices, all intricately carved with awe-inspiring detail.

Notably, Hampi’s cultural landscape was a melting pot of diverse influences, attracting scholars, artists, and traders from across the globe. The city served as a testament to religious tolerance and harmony, housing Hindu temples, Jain monuments, and Islamic structures in close proximity.

However, the Battle of Talikota in 1565 marked a turning point in Hampi’s history. The victorious Deccan Sultanates ransacked the city, leaving behind ruins that stand as poignant echoes of its once-thriving civilization.

Recognizing its historical and architectural significance, Hampi attained UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1986. Today, its archaeological remnants continue to be a subject of extensive study and exploration, offering invaluable insights into urban planning, engineering feats, and cultural practices of the Vijayanagara Empire.

In the present day, Hampi has evolved into a cherished tourist destination, drawing enthusiasts of history, archaeology, and travelers eager to witness the grandeur that once defined this ancient city. The legacy of Hampi endures through folklore, art, and traditions, resonating in contemporary Indian culture.

Places you Must Visit:

1.Virupaksha Temple:

Begin your journey at this sacred site dedicated to Lord Shiva. Its soaring gopuram and ornate pillars offer a glimpse into the Vijayanagara style of architecture. Don’t forget to seek blessings at the temple’s sanctum.

2.Vittala Temple Complex:

Step into a world of architectural marvels with the renowned Stone Chariot as its centerpiece. The musical pillars, the Raya Gopuram, and the intricately carved halls are a testament to the empire’s cultural richness.

3.Achyutaraya Temple:

Perched atop a hillock, this temple offers not only spiritual solace but also stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes. The temple’s unique architecture and serene ambiance create a serene environment for reflection.

4.Lotus Mahal:

A harmonious blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles, the Lotus Mahal is an enchanting pavilion. Its lotus-shaped arches and finely detailed carvings make it a masterpiece of design.

5.Elephant Stables:

These domed structures, once the residence of royal elephants, exude a regal aura. The architectural finesse and historical significance make this site a must-see.

6.Hemakuta Hill Temples:

Wander through a cluster of small, exquisitely carved temples atop Hemakuta Hill. Beyond the architectural beauty, this vantage point offers breathtaking views of the Hampi ruins and the Virupaksha Temple.

Things to do when in Hampi:

1.Sunrise at Matanga Hill:

Embark on a scenic trek up Matanga Hill for an unforgettable sunrise experience. As the sun bathes the landscape in golden hues, witness the ethereal beauty of Hampi and the Virupaksha Temple.

2.Coracle Ride on Tungabhadra River:

Drift along the gentle currents of the Tungabhadra River in a traditional coracle boat. This unique experience provides a different perspective of the riverside ruins and the surrounding boulder-strewn landscape.

3.Explore the Underground Shiva Temple:

Also known as the Badavilinga Temple, this site houses an imposing lingam, symbolizing Lord Shiva. It’s considered one of the largest lingams in India, and its spiritual significance adds to the allure.

4.Visit the Hampi Bazaar and Virupaksha Bazaar:

Immerse yourself in the vibrant markets that once buzzed with commerce. Here, you can browse an array of traditional handicrafts, savor local cuisine, and soak in the lively atmosphere.

5.Bouldering and Rock Climbing:

With its unique landscape of massive boulders, Hampi is a paradise for rock climbers and boulderers of all skill levels. Whether you’re a novice or an expert, the challenges and rewards of scaling these natural formations are boundless.

Conclusion:

Hampi is more than just a destination; it’s a living testament to the remarkable legacy of the Vijayanagara Empire. Every stone and carving speaks of an era of cultural opulence, architectural brilliance, and spiritual devotion. From witnessing awe-inspiring temples to experiencing captivating sunrises and engaging in adventurous pursuits, every moment in Hampi is a journey through time, heritage, and natural splendor. So, pack your bags and embark on an immersive exploration of this enchanting city, where history breathes and nature dazzles. Hampi awaits, ready to unveil its treasures to the curious traveler.

If the allure of Hampi has captivated your imagination, why not embark on a comprehensive journey through Karnataka? We offer specially curated “Karnataka tour packages from Ahmedabad” that not only include an unforgettable visit to Hampi but also introduce you to the diverse and enchanting facets of this vibrant state.

With our expertly designed itineraries, you’ll experience the best of Karnataka, from historical marvels to natural wonders, all while enjoying the comfort and convenience of carefully planned tours.

Article Source : https://www.yashvitours.com/karnataka-tour-packages-exploring-hampis-timeless-heritage-and-natural-splendor/

#KarnatakaTour #HampiHeritage #HampiTour #tourandtravelsagency #yashvitours

0 notes

rhine-gold-archive · 3 years ago

Note

Question! - It seems like a popular theory that Kaeya is somehow royalty? I was wondering, if that's the case, then tf is the abyss-sibling thinking, trying to hack some fountain in the chasm instead of using their 'last hope'? The royal theory seems off. Surely, the abyss-sibling wouldn't forget/not know about their actual prince living in Mond? His last name says smth about 'stealing and then becoming king' - that implies he is just a plain citizen before he does something. Idk 🥴 help???

asdfghj ok, hold on anon, you seem to be making a lot of jumbled assumptions here, let’s unpack them before I answer. First of all, you seem to be conflating “Kaeya is royalty” with “Kaeya is Khaenri’ah’s last hope”, which are two completely different things. Kaeya being a prince is an unproven fandom theory, but Kaeya being called “last hope of Khaenri’ah” is a canon text, it’s from his character story. Are you arguing that like, devs are lying to you in actual in-game descriptions? :D

“Surely, the abyss-sibling wouldn't forget/not know about their actual prince living in Mond?” Why not?? clearly, there are many different factions of Khaenri'ah survivors - the abyss order, the Black Serpent Knights, who do not obey the abyss, but protect the hilichurls, Dainsleif, and then there is Kaeya’s dad who seem to smuggle Kaeya to Dawn Winery in complete secret, without any of the other factions knowing. Kaeya’s mere existence contradicts what abyss sibling and Dainsleif know, it doesn’t even matter if he’s a prince. Dain was part of the Abyss Order and knows most of their secrets, and he’s adamant that he’s the ONLY survivor of Khaenri'ah who was not turned into a monster. He says that he was not transformed by the curse because of mysterious “it” thing he has, which is hinted, but not explained. But even this “it” doesn’t protect him completely - he wasn’t transformed, but he’s still under effects of the curse - he’s immortal and he can’t age, and he lives in suffering.

But Kaeya is not only not transformed into a monster, but he also can age normally, he grew up at the same rate as Diluc. We don’t know if he’s completely free from the curse, but he’s obviously able to live a normal human life, this is why he’s so special. And yeah, it wouldn’t make sense for abyss to be fucking with the fountains if they knew that there’s a seemingly totally cured Khaenri’ahn existing already, so obviously, they don’t know that “the last hope of Khaenri'ah” is drinking shots in the Mondstadt tavern. Again, it doesn’t even matter if Kaeya is from Eclipse dynasty or not, the mere fact of his existence would change everything, why do you think Hoyo keeps namedropping him in every Dain’s quest, but never lets them meet. He would be a gamechanger for the both sides.

Another assumption you seem to be making is that abyss sibling belongs to Khaenri'ah when you say “abyss-sibling wouldn't forget/not know about *their* actual prince”. The Traveler siblings are not Khaenri'ahns, if they were, Dain wouldn’t call himself the only survivor who was not transformed, he obviously knows abyss sibling exists. also, does it not seems off to you that the Traveler says that they and abyss sibling came to this world 500 years ago, saw the destruction of Khaenri'ah, tried to leave and were stopped by the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles? How could this be if the siblings were indeed from Khaenri'ah? And would the Traveler not know already know what Khaenri'ah is and why it fell? And like, know who Dainsleif is? How can the siblings be from Khaenri'ah and only enter Teyvat at the moment of Khaenri'ah's destruction at the same time?

One theory that I personally agree with is that the traveler siblings are not from Khaenri'ah, but from the more ancient civilization that fell long time ago when the Second Throne came, and Khaenri'ah was built on the ruins of this civilization. We know that Enkanomyia was part of world-wide ancient civilization before the fall and also that there was even more ancient civilization of the Seelies, so both are valid options. The theory is that the Travelers left at the destruction of their much more ancient home and traveled for so long, they don’t even recognize their home when they return to Teyvat. That would explain the inteyvat flowers in Lumine’s hair even if she’s not abyss sibling - they only grow in Khaenri'ah, but if Lumine and Aether are from civilization that was in the same place as Khaenri'ah many hundreds years ago, it would make sense why she has the flowers, but doesn’t know what Khaenri'ah is. In this case, when abyss sibling talks about “homeland” they don’t mean exactly Khaenri'ah, but the place where Khaenri'ah was built on.

Another thing that supports it is that hilichurls have different tribe markings, and some of them clearly reference Khaenri'ah sigil, but many others don’t. So it’s very possible that Khaenri'ah is not the first nation to be transformed into monsters by this curse, that the hilichurls contain remnants of several different civilizations, one of which was the Traveler’s destroyed ancient home.

as for why Kaeya is theorized to be Khaenri'ah‘s prince - it’s a popular theory, so I’m not going to go into detailed explanations, I’m sure you can easily find them, but why I personally believe it - Alberich is the reference to the dwarven king from Nibelungen saga + sword from heaven explaining “the stealing” you seem to be confused about+ Kaeya’s C1 called “Excellent blood” + his voiceline “Haha, then according to that logic, I at the very least am some royal progeny of a last reigning dynasty too, right?” + he’s absolutely covered head to toe in “Khaenri'ah stars” which are confirmed in the Chasm to be from the banner of the Khaenri’ah royal house. It’s all not very subtle when you put the pieces together, tbh.

#khaenri'ah #rhine talks #kaeya #genshin impact #tbh i don't really care if he's actually royalty?#i'd love him the same if he's a common hillichurl but the royalty thing is hinted way too much #sorry for the long answer but you come to my inbox #and you ask me to explain why my fav is the most special boy #rhine meta #kaeya alberich

84 notes · View notes

haikyooot · 4 years ago

Text

The Butterfly & The Flower 【蝶戀花】

Pairing: Akaashi x F!Reader Word Count: 7.7k Genre: Chinese Mythology, Historical Fantasy, fluff, angst with happy ending Warnings: death, reincarnation, folk religion themes, temporary amnesia, immortal x human relationship

This is a part of the hqhq server monthly collab! The theme is Mythology. I’ve been so excited for this ever since the prompt was picked!! All the other incredible collab pieces can be found here. (goes live 3/12/2021 19:00 est) Thank you @vanille--kiss, @kurinoot , and @karasunomygod for helping me beta, and Cass @kuroowo...my braincell.

If you would like some immersive bgm

Akaashi landed on a boulder and fluttered his wings. In the form of a butterfly, he had seen rivers form and mountains move. He witnessed languages being created and civilizations fall to ruin. For five hundred years, Akaashi flew about and rested alone. The only tethers of hope he carried were the most cherished memories he carefully kept safe. He wasn't always a butterfly; at some point in his existence, he was a mortal human. Finally, at the end of a seeming eternity, Akaashi closed his wings and laid to rest. After a trial of five hundred years, one last feat remained.

Stories of the Underworld varied. Some said it was just endless desert sand or dark, rocky paths. Contrary to the stories, the Underworld was much like the earthly realm, filled with streets and shops, only for the inhabitants of the netherworld. There was also a lot of bureaucracy, paperwork, and a lengthy queue.

Akaashi followed the procession of souls awaiting their passage across the Bridge of Helplessness. The River flowing beneath had waves akin to the tormented wails of regrets. Each soul had to make a stop by one of the teahouse taverns lining the banks of the river—a checkpoint before entering the Wheel of Reincarnation for their next life. All the souls here were deemed eligible for reincarnation. They either had no mortal sins to begin with or they had already atoned for them in the other circles of Hell.

None of these establishments were the ones Akaashi was looking for. He wandered past countless many until he arrived at a pavilion. The red paint on the pillars was peeled and chipped like on most ancient structures. A masked figure kneeled on a mat at the center.

He found you.

"Enter and please sit," you said, gesturing to the empty mat in front of you. Akaashi obliged and sat down.

He watched your hands, peeking out from the edges of the long silken robes, pick out a teacup and set it down on the table with a quiet clink. You then took a teapot from the clay brazier and filled the cup with tea. Each movement was fluid, as if the teapot was an extension of your arm. How many times have you repeated this movement?

"After the judgment and any atonement of sin, let bygones be bygones. Forget it all, and then be renewed once again. One sip is all it takes to start over."

Akaashi picked up the cup and studied the entrancing liquid. So this is the Tea of Eternal Amnesia.

"Are you waiting for someone?" you asked, noticing he had no intention of drinking the tea.

Akaashi tried to peer at your appearance covered by the mask. A vicious painted expression stared back at him, but it did not unnerve him at all. Be it one hundred years, five hundred, or another one thousand...Whether or not you had the same appearance, Akaashi promised you he would always remember and find you. It was a vow.

He gently set the teacup back down. "Perhaps."

"Look there," you instructed, pointing towards the wandering souls loitering by the shore. "Those spirits are all waiting for someone. Maybe their intended is suffering punishment. Maybe their time hasn't come yet, or perhaps the intended arrived and passed the bridge first before them."

"Were there ever..."

"None. By ways of fate or lack of patience, I do not know. But I have never seen any souls reunite at this bridge—not in the years I've been appointed here. At some point, they come asking for the tea or end up as vengeful ghosts."

Akaashi didn't respond.

"You... You're not quite like them," you puzzled, eyeing Akaashi up and down. "Your soul registers to me as mortal, but you've been wandering for much too long for a human lifespan."

"Five hundred years."

"Then either you were cursed or you have a trial in order to ascend to immortality. But since you're here, you must have been cursed." You sighed before continuing, "No heavenly being would come here without a reason. Five hundred years of burdening memories, don't you think you've had enough already? Isn't it better to forget and move on?"

"Aren't there memories worth keeping no matter the cost?"

You briefly laughed, amused by his counterpoint. "I was told I drank this tea too before I assumed this position. Of course, I wouldn't remember drinking it in the first place—that memory was wiped clean. I feel pleasantly nothing."

"Do you feel joy?"

"Joy?" you scoffed. "That's a human emotion."

"Yet you fiddle your fingers," Akaashi challenged, pointing at the way your fingers intertwined together in the silk folds of your robe. "That's a very human habit, don't you think?"

"You speak like an immortal, Keiji," you huffed, quickly letting go of the fabric as if your hand burned. That wasn’t your natural habit, so why?

Akaashi’s eyes flickered. "Do you...know Keiji?"

"Who's...Keiji?"

You felt like you've heard the name before. You weren't sure how it snuck out you in the first place. The sound was comforting and familiar, and the sense of security made you nervous. So, you quickly diverted your attention to a sachet strung from Akaashi's belt.

"The silk is torn and the petals are no doubt in ashes, yet you still wear it proudly."

Akaashi brushed over the object of curiosity and admired the tattered embroidery.

"Yes. It's something of great importance to me, from someone I made a vow to."

"And this person is one you aren't willing to forget?"

"Precisely. She is my dearest."

Even with a mask, you could feel Akaashi's gaze pierce through and lock with yours.

"Could you tell me about her, then?"

"Yes."

You were warned of the fickleness of mortals.

The other immortals told you humans loved and hated on whims, and said false words. But there's something about them, a certain humanness that you found intriguing. You found that many humans were sentimental; they were honest, hardworking and simple. Many also wrote poetry, created music, and gave meaning to trivial things that were not profound at all, such as flowers.

To answer your curiosities, when the others were not looking, you would ride on a lofty cloud to the mortal realm and observe these peculiar humans that looked very much like immortals, but had no divine auras. Some days you were a cat, other days a butterfly, but still you loved blending in following the fashions of the time.

Today, you strolled along stone-paved paths of the town, with bells jingling around your ankles. On your index finger, you twirled a fragrant silk sachet containing flower petals from the Queen Mother of the West's gardens. It was said that the scent had healing properties and would ease the mind.

It was such an exciting day for this busy street, with vendors calling out slogans for their goods. For almost any good imaginable, there was a shop. You passed by the vendors selling hairpins, clay masks, and bolts of bright fabrics; skipped past the large steamers containing fresh buns, and the noodle makers putting on a show. You also laughed your heart out, baffled by the teahouse storytellers telling inaccurate tales of immortal heroes and dubious gossips of the inner palace.

Oof. You fell back after bumping into someone. You quickly caught your balance and prepared to give the person a piece of your mind. "H-hey-"

"Apologies, Miss. Please pardon me," a polite voice rang out, putting an immediate halt to the angry thoughts in your head.

The young man greeted you with a formal bow and you found yourself reciprocating the rites. Then, he raised his head, and you saw him in detail. It wasn't a stretch to mistaken the man in front of you as another immortal with the tranquil regality he exuded. That was even without mentioning his visual appearance. His features were defined yet gentle, and his expression was comforting and above all else, familiar.

"Miss, the sachet that was dropped," Akaashi said, presenting the silk object out to you.

You were still lost in your thoughts.

"Miss?"

"Hey Akaashi!" A loud voice cut into your daydream and finally brought your senses back. "Come try these steamed buns, they're so fluffy!"

"Bokuto, I'll be right there," Akaashi responded. When he turned his attention back to you, he realized you were gone already. With a crowd of this size, it was already too difficult to find you.

Akaashi ran a thumb over the silk pouch that was left from this chance-encounter. The intricate embroidering on the silk meant this was a very delicate and expensive handicraft. And the unique fragrance, unlike anything he smelled before, was not something a typical household could get a hold of. If you were of aristocracy, then why were you alone?

"Hey, Akaashi, what you got there in your hands?" Bokuto asked, mouth full of steamed buns and his hands holding two more.

Kuroo whistled and slung an arm around Akaashi's shoulder. "Our bookworm's smitten by a lady!" he teased, before reaching for the sachet to get a closer look.

Akaashi shoved Kuroo off from his shoulders and quickly shoved the sachet into his sleeve, away from his friends' prying gazes.

"Don't touch something that's not yours."

"Akaashi Keji! It's not yours either! Unless..." Kuroo nudged Bokuto expectantly.

"You're deciding to keep it for yourself!" Bokuto finished after gulping the last bits of his snack down.

Akaashi didn't bother responding and briskly walked back towards the direction of the academy. His two friends tailed behind him closely, still making up misrendered tales.

Meanwhile, high up on the roof of the pavilion tower, you smiled and whispered to yourself, "So, his full name is Akaashi Keiji."

The lecture from the master went in one ear and out the other. Akaashi didn't even notice that a splotch of ink had dripped from his brush onto the paper. His mind wandered to the sachet tucked in his sleeve.

The calm, fresh fragrance of the sachet reminded him of your disappearing steps and flowing robes, while the wind chimes that hung from the beams of the window frame reminded him of the jingles around your hidden ankles. He could almost picture that bright, charming expression of yours that poetry could not even begin to describe. Exquisite, but comforting and familiar.

"Akaashi. Akaashi," the master called out, striking a bamboo stick against the table. "I did not take you to be a slacker either. The exams are around the corner, you know."

Akaashi quickly apologized and shot a look towards Bokuto and Kuroo, huddled on the other side of the lecture room unsuccessful at hiding their amusement and mockery.

"Kuroo. Bokuto. Stand and read the passage."

With a grumble, Bokuto and Kuroo stood from their seats and began reading out loud. Then, the class fell back into its habitual routine.

In the subsequent days and weeks, Akaashi made it a habit of his to carry the sachet with him nearly everywhere. It was on his nightstand while he rested and accompanied him while he poured over the books of classics. Whenever he became lost in his thoughts, he found himself mindlessly fiddling with the embroidered threads and colored tassels. He reasoned that there was a chance, however slight, he could run into you again. He would return the object back to you and have a chance to ask for your name. However, the more time passed, Akaashi grew less and less confident that he would find the sachet's owner.

"If only the first glance could last forever," he mumbled by the window of his study. He really ought to forget the one-time encounter by losing himself in the books.

"Seems like you've taken a liking to the sachet, Scholar."

Akaashi jolted in his seat when he saw you suddenly appear at his window. He blinked, making sure it wasn't a hallucination and checked his surroundings to see if anyone else heard in the vicinity.

"How did you..." Find me, Akaashi wanted to ask.

"I must be under a rock to not know the son of the Akaashi manor. Talented, gentlemanly, not to mention good-looking. I must say, marketplace rumors aren't false for once."

Akaashi was stunned, baffled at how you seemed to show up right when he missed you most.

"The sachet."

"Oh," Akaashi hurriedly took it out from his sleeves to offer it back.

"Keep it."

Akaashi swallowed. For a young lady to offer such a personal item to another, well according to the rites that would mean...But at the same time, he probably shouldn't have been carrying such a private item of another everywhere...No, it was because-

"Akaashi!" Bokuto yelled out from down the hall. "Still in the study? Come on, let's go to the stables, I'm dying to go have some fun!"

Akaashi could hear their hurried footsteps storming closer. If they come, they'll see her, and I don't want to even think of how to explain myself.

"I just wanted to come and say hello," you said, sensing Akaashi's nervousness. "Then, I shall take my leave."

"Wait!" Akaashi blurted out. "Miss, might I ask for your name?"

"If you meet me at the garden on the outskirts in three days at noon, then maybe."

Bokuto and Kuroo's footsteps were just outside the room. You quickly weighed your options, made up your mind, and then performed your disappearing act when the door began to slide open.

Kuroo entered the room and sneezed as he waved his arm around. "Your room smells like flowers!"

Akaashi remained frozen in his seat, face flushed and hot.

"Hey, Akaashi! What's with you? Let's go already!" Bokuto insisted. "Wow, it really does smell like flowers in here, what did you do?"

Akaashi recomposed himself and made sure his sachet was tucked into his sleeve.

"Certain magic," he said with a smile, lightly touching the tip of his nose where you had snuck a kiss.

Akaashi could not sleep for the next two nights. Initially, Bokuto and Kuroo wanted him to go with them to try a new teahouse that had opened. He hated lying to his friends, but the excuse "I need to study" worked miracles. Akaashi slipped past crowds to the outskirts of the city wall. The garden was supposed to be long abandoned, wild and ungrown. What could you possibly want by suggesting meeting him there?

He was the first one to arrive and to his surprise, the pavilion seemed to be restored to its former glory. The red paint on the pillars looked new and bright, and a setting for tea was placed in the middle. Akaashi paced around the pavilion, wondering if you would actually show up. Three days later at noon, I didn't get the time wrong, did I? Akaashi took a seat on one of the mats and pulled out a book he was supposed to be studying. At least if someone questioned him later, he really did "study". Akaashi tried to keep busy, but his mind wandered.

"Akaashi, you're here."

Akaashi fumbled to put his book away and stood up to greet you. You always had a knack for popping up sporadically and unexpectedly.

"Miss, I thought you weren't going to come...And, you can call me Keiji, if you would please."

It was a daring step for him and he wasn't sure if you'd accept this advancement.

"Alright, I'll do that. And did you think I was going to miss this opportunity? I invited you out!" You took a seat adjacent to him and saw the books half-shoved into his bag. "What were you studying?"

Akaashi pulled the books out to show you."Um, the works and philosophy of Zhuangzi." His throat was parched. Were you going to think of him as a bookworm and unworthy of your time?

You poured yourself and Akaashi a cup of tea. "Tell me about it," you urged, genuinely interested in what he had to say.

Once given the opportunity to talk about books, Akaashi felt like a fish in water. You noticed the way his eyes lit up as he spoke. He conversed with ease, telling you about the remarkable ways the text was written. He pointed out areas he disagreed with and mentioned contemporary discourses. All the while, you fell into a dreamy state listening to his voice. Akaashi's voice was soothing, full of clarity and depth.

"And then Zhuangzi fell asleep and dreamt that he became a butterfly. As a butterfly, he flew about without worries and forgot that he was Zhuangzi. But when Zhuangzi woke up and felt his solid body, he wasn't sure if he was Zhuangzi who dreamt of becoming a butterfly or if he was a butterfly dreaming he became Zhuangzi."

"That's an interesting paradox," you said thoughtfully.

"If both dreaming and waking feel real, who knows what is really real?”

You laughed and filled Akaashi's teacup again. "You speak like an immortal, Keiji."

Akaashi became flustered and tried to hide his burning face behind his sleeves as he took a sip of tea. He was worried for nothing, it seemed, after hearing you laugh; it was a beautiful sound and Akaashi felt his heart beat like a drum.

One meeting became two and two multiplied to four and then eight and many more. Each time Akaashi arrived with anticipation and left longing for more. The days in between were left for dreaming and pining. Some days, you arrived first. Other times, Akaashi waited for you.

Once, the two of you went horseback riding and traveled across empty grass fields chasing the sun. Another time, you taught him all you knew about flowers and shared with him stories about the immortals that you "heard from the marketplace". And the night of the Lantern Festival, beneath the golden lights, the two of you shared a kiss.

Akaashi never pressed questions about your family or where you ran off to each time. He had asked for your name, and you carefully gave him a pseudonym, Hua. Flower. However, you wanted to tell Akaashi your real name. You desperately wanted to hear him whisper it in your ear the same way you whispered "Keiji" in his. You wanted to try new culinary creations with him and watch the new productions of stage plays at the teahouse; count the stars together, and share a pillow next to smothered candles.

You consulted some of the immortals about your feelings, but it was mostly out of courtesy. Regardless of what they said, you knew you made your choice already.

"A union between an immortal and human goes against the laws of the universe."

You tried to appeal. "But there are records of-"

"And look what happened to them. Tragedy."

"Humans can become immortal though."

"Who's to say that young man qualifies?"

"Can I be a mortal?"

"That is impossible."

"Then why is it possible for me to fall in love with him in the first place?" you cried, exasperated with the lack of answers. "If it wasn't meant to be, why do I feel this way? Why do I feel the happiest with him?"

"Leave him while you still can."

"It's too late," you said, feeling the ache in your heart from just thinking of him. "I feel bound already. I'll tell him my real name.”

"Don't."

After the lessons of the day, Akaashi, Kuroo, and Bokuto sat at a teahouse for refreshment and snacks.

"It's getting lively in town," Kuroo remarked, looking out the window.

"It's always like this close to the exams, isn't it?" Bokuto shrugged, before asking Akaashi, "We haven't seen you around much. Busy studying?"

Akaashi's body was at the teahouse, but his mind was on you.

"Hey, Akaashi."

Akaashi was called back by Kuroo and Bokuto. He turned to his two friends and declared, "I want to profess my feelings and ask for her hand."

Bokuto choked on the pastry he was eating, "W-WHAT? That girl you've been meeting for the past few months?"

Akaashi nodded.

Bokuto gulped the tea down and swallowed. He gave Akaashi an affirming grin. "Do it, bro, I support you."

"I want to support you too, but," Kuroo frowned as he searched for the right words, "Do you even know what family she's from? Hua doesn't exist in this city."

Akaashi thought about how to best answer Kuroo's questions. They were sharp and objective, but only out of a place of concern. "About her name, I'm sure she has her reasons. She'll tell me when she's ready. I still need to hear her thoughts first. If she is willing to accept me, then...I'll aim to get first place at the exam. The first place is allowed one promise from the Son of Heaven."

"You got this Akaashi! We all know you have a clear shot for that spot!"

"Bokuto's right. I hope it works out."

Bokuto and Kuroo soon turned their attention to the novelties happening on the main street—a troupe of acrobatic performers made their way down. Akaashi sipped his tea and nibbled on the snacks, wondering if he would have the courage to tell you everything at the next meeting. It would be the last meeting he could afford before the exams. There was still much he had to study. It was funny, how he has to leave you to study, in order to be with you in the long run. Regardless, he vowed that would do his best.

Akaashi hurried to the pavilion repeating the lines he had come up with. Don't let me make a fool out of myself, he prayed. You were already waiting for him at the pavilion. When you heard his footsteps, you darted across the stone paths to meet him, hands outstretched.

"Keiji!"

He held your hands in his. "I'm here, did you wait long?"

You shook your head. "Not at all. I missed you, you've been so busy lately. Come on, I brought a new tea today."

You gently tugged on Akaashi's hand for him to follow you, but Akaashi did not budge from his spot.

"I need to say this now, before anything else," Akaashi said, bringing your hands up close to his chest as his hands covered yours securely.

The serious look on his face as you looked up at him sewed concern in your heart, and worry pulled inside your chest as you waited for his words. He squeezed your hand before spilling his heart to you.

"I have harbored deep feelings for you from the moment we first met and every meeting thereafter. The times we have together make me feel like the happiest and luckiest. When we are apart, you are always in my thoughts and I would wonder if I am in yours. So, while I still have this surge of courage in me, I want to make my feelings and intentions known to you. I hope we can have a lifetime together to share. Will you accept me?"

You couldn't believe your ears as jolts of joy sparked throughout your body, drawing the corner of your lips up into a smile. You were told that humans were fickle and many told lies, but you knew that Akaashi has only shown you sincerity and honesty. This wasn’t an exception either.

"Keiji...I..."

"You don't have to give me an answer right away," Akaashi said, letting go of your hand. He worried that you would feel the nervous shake of his fingers. "I hope this wasn't too suddenly sprung on you."

"Not that. I'm happy, truly. This makes me so delighted you don't even know. But...let's go sit first, I have some things to say too."

You and Akaashi sat down on the mats again. Like the countless other meetings that the two of you held here, you took the teapot off the brazier and poured two cups of tea. Akaashi carefully watched you over the rim of his cup. After he finished the first sip, you took a deep breath.

"I'm...not quite mortal," you said quietly, unwilling to look at Akaashi's expression. You looked away and closed your eyes, waiting for the barrage of questions and for tragedy.

Akaashi chuckled. "I figured you might have been something else. It was just a thought, I didn't realize it was true."

So he knew? You stared at him expectantly. "That I'm not human? How did you know?"

Akaashi raised an eyebrow. “It’s not too hard when you appear and disappear like a whirlwind. I had a feeling Hua was a pseudonym. Then there were things like the pavilion fixing itself, your knowledge of flowers, and the stories you told, which were quite different from marketplace gossip.”

“I thought I was subtle,” you muttered.

More like the complete opposite. Akaashi laughed but quickly stopped when you flashed him a look.

You bit your lip and cautiously asked, "So now you know, would you change your thoughts on me?"

"No," Akaashi stated firmly. "I've spent more time with you to know your true character and personality. It doesn't matter to me what you are, demon or beast, or where your past has taken you. I don't deny that I'm curious and I yearn to know your name and more, but I'll wait. Wait until you are ready."

He's the one, you decided. No doubt about it, he's the one I want.

"Lend me your ear," you said softly and leaned towards him.

Akaashi leaned closer and you cupped his ear to whisper a few syllables only he could hear.

"That's my true name. I'm a fairy of summer flowers, one of many in the Nine Heavens."

You gave a shy smile when you saw Akaashi stare back at you dumbfounded.

"I told you my true name, Keiji. That means I have chosen you too."

Akaashi tested out saying your true name. It was the first time in a long existence someone uttered your name in such a way—with so much care, dedication, and affection. It filled you with a warmth you hadn't felt before.

You told Akaashi that you didn't need human traditions. For immortals, sharing the true name was more than enough of a bond to bind the two. But Akaashi still insisted on completing his mortal proprieties. He said that he was still human and wanted to see the rites through, just as you did for him. To you, it didn't matter if he took the exams or not, or how he would do. The genuine feelings between the two of you exceeded any rites in place. Still, Akaashi was stubborn in this way, and you relented, envisioning your fates intertwined in both the earthly and heavenly realms.

For the rest of the day, Akaashi poured over the books while you accompanied him, enjoying each other's company. More often than not, you were convincing him to take necessary breaks. And when you were not doing that, you were admiring how beautiful Akaashi looked when he was focused. It was a sight to behold, and only for you.

Akaashi soon realized that you had your head down on the table and had dozed off. Akaashi admired your sleeping image with eyes filled with endearment. Your expression was so relaxed and a faint smile decorated your face. Dearest, are you having a good dream? he wondered. Either way, it was a sight to behold, and only for him.

The position of the sun moved a few notches. A butterfly fluttered through the gardens weaving in and out of the flowers. It flew closer and closer until it landed on the edge of Akaashi's book. Akaashi observed the small creature. The butterfly fanned its wings, and displayed its intricate wing patterns. Afraid of disturbing its rest, Akaashi held his breath and waited. A moment later, the butterfly took flight again, fluttering over towards your sleepy figure. It landed on your hair for a brief moment before it finally flew away.

The disturbance of the butterfly made Akaashi realize how late in the day it was. Akaashi softly called your name while brushing away a flower petal that had fallen on your face while you were asleep. Now that he finally knew your true name, it felt like the syllables meshed just perfectly and he finally found the lost words he had been looking for. It made him feel complete.

You stirred, opened your eyes, and smiled."Keiji," you yawned. "Oh, you should have woken me up sooner."

Akaashi smiled lovingly at your lazy eyes, still clouded by sleep. "You looked too comfortable, I couldn't."

You rolled your neck and stretched your arms out to loosen tight muscles. Then, shifting your weight and balance, you promptly leaned and fell over into Akaashi's arms. Akaashi smelled of ink and paper, and the lingering scent of the sachet you dropped long ago.

You rummaged around his sleeves and brought out the embroidered object. Holding it up against the orange glow of the sun, you marveled at the tiny sachet in your hand. Such a small thing, but somehow, it led the two of you together.

"I'm happy, Keiji," you murmured. "I wonder, is this all just a dream? If I wake up, you'll be gone."

"Are you trying to test me on philosophy?"

"Certainly not! But entertain me, dear scholar, what if?"

Akaashi gently poked your forehead. "This scholar assures you we're in reality."

"But, what if?"

Akaashi gazed at your face resting comfortably in his embrace and pondered over your question. "Dream or reality..." he whispered, bringing his face just slightly closer to yours. You reached a hand up to guide Akaashi the rest of the way until your lips met.

Dream or reality, as long as you're with me, I couldn’t care less about anything else.

"Say, Keiji, why did you suggest that I was a demon or a beast? Did you take me for a fox demoness?"

"Charmed me at first glance. They do say foxes preyed on scholars."

He couldn’t help the smile that formed when he heard your laughter echo through the pavilion.

After meeting Akaashi, you nearly forgot about the selfish, violent, and corrupt tendencies of some other humans. Lack of proper governance led to the Northern borders being overrun and a number of towns had already been slaughtered while many more had fallen under siege.

The imperial exam was put on a temporary halt. For the young princes and lords, many of whom were from decorated lineages of ministers and generals, this was their call to action and glory. Akaashi wasn't left out either. The meeting at the pavilion today was to bid you farewell.

"I'll be leaving tonight."

"Do you have to go?"

I must. "I'm sorry."

Bokuto and Kuroo were appointed captains of the left and right vanguard and as allied families, Akaashi was required to join. He would be under Bokuto's wing as his right-hand and tactician. Bokuto's father, the family head, was the supreme commander-in-chief of the Imperial Troops and the Bokuto and Akaashi families had a long history of kinship and trust. When Bokuto called, Akaashi answered, and vice-versa.

"I can't follow you there...the Northern Pass is too cold for me."

Your voice trembled and you tightened your arms around his waist, thinking of how many lonely nights would have to pass before seeing him again. Akaashi cupped your face so you would look at him. He gave you a gentle, reassuring smile and kissed you softly. You eagerly kissed back, conveying all your sentiments of longing and pining through your lips and breath.

"I have to go now. There are still meetings and preparations to make before we leave."

After one final kiss, you two parted. Even with your status as an immortal and him as the son of aristocracy, neither of you could change the circumstances. You wanted to cling on, but you also knew that it would only make parting even more difficult for him. Obligations, duty, and honor weighed over Akaashi's shoulders. The least you could do was see him off with a smile and let him leave without worries.

"I'll come back and find you," Akaashi promised. You saw no deception in his eyes, only the shape of your image reflected back. "No matter how far or how long it takes."

"Go, don't worry about me."

The pavilion remained empty after Akaashi went back to his home and you returned to the heavenly gardens. How long would it be before the two of you could reunite again at this private eden?

Before departure, Akaashi packed the few belongings he would take with him. Clothes, basic amenities, a few military books, and the silk sachet that he cherished. For quite some time, the sachet was no longer tucked within his sleeve, but in another hidden pocket between the folds of his robe over his left breast. He would keep it there under the layers of heavy armor. During the long nights, when the mountains would stare down at the troops gathered at its feet, the reminder of you would keep him warm. Someone was waiting for him to come home. He made a vow.

The initial week apart was excruciating. Time ticked by impossibly slow. The other fairies and immortals witnessed your lethargy and tried numerous attempts to coax you out from your boredom. After countless trials of trying to bring up your spirits to no avail, they simply left you to wallow in your thoughts. While some knew you had a sort-of-relation with a human male, you hadn't told any of them that you were already bound to said person.

By the end of the first month and then the second, you gradually became accustomed to ceaseless waiting. Tomorrow was just going to be like yesterday, just like today, waiting again. Waiting and waiting.

"Those flowers are beautiful," a fairy complimented.

You smiled and placed the floral crown on your head. "I'll wear it when I see him again." Akaashi would love it. Maybe you could make him a new sachet to mark the beginning of a new chapter of your union with him.

Is he doing alright? How about his friends? Are any of them hurt? Is he sleeping well out there in the freezing tents? Does he...think of me the same way I think about him?

You could only hope that somehow the God of Dreams would carry your sentiments to Akaashi in his slumber. You prayed that your devotion could spur his horse faster and strengthen his armor against flying arrows. Let it all be over soon, and come back to me.

"Did you hear of the battle at the Northern Pass? I heard that the God of Human Fate got drunk and made it unnecessarily bloody."

You jumped up and halted the tracks of the immortals passing by the garden.

"What do you mean 'bloody'?"

"Silly fairy, a lot of human lives will be lost," they explained. "I wonder if the Underworld will have enough space for them all. I also know the Vault of Human Records is absolutely filled already. Maybe they'll both need a new expansion."

Death wasn't something you normally thought about. In fact, you never had to think about what it meant to die. Immortals didn't die. When their universal time came, they would Fade, but that wasn't Death.

Death for the earthly creatures was different and everything was wiped clean in limbo. Memories of existence would be erased, each soul becoming merely an empty shell. A terrifying thought. You wondered why this was their fate. You hadn't given much thought beyond that, but now, you had someone by your side and in your heart who was not immune to Death.

Eternal separation.

You threw the crown away and ran. It didn't matter if you tripped and fell over your feet, or if you bumped into a high ranking immortal. You had one destination in mind and one answer you had to look for. The God of Human Fate wrote the main turning points of each human life on a scroll and those scrolls were locked away in the Vault. None of the guards could stop you.

"Stop! No one is allowed in!"

You kept on running.

"Premonition of the future is dangerous!"

You had to know.

"You will face divine consequences!"

You didn't care.

Past the heavy gates, the vault was a library archive with scrolls piled far beyond your eyes could see. The shelves stretched on for impossible distances. You wandered and weaved in and out of the maze. There were beyond millions, how were you supposed to find the one you were looking for?

Akaashi Keiji

Akaashi Keiji.

Keiji.

Love.

You weren't sure how long it took. Time took on new meanings here, but by the time you found what you were looking for, your fingers twitched and trembled. Even though you were immortal, your skin peeled and nails chipped. You found it. Akaashi Keiji, born on the fifth day of the last month to the house of Akaashi.

You unraveled the bamboo strips and scanned the contents. The discovery nearly ripped you apart. You dropped the scroll and darted out of the Vault, making a mindless flight towards the icy cold peaks of the Northern Pass. It wasn't time yet, maybe you could still make it.

You weren't sure what you could do. What you would do. What your heart demanded you to do. None of the other immortals you begged along the way were willing to help. Unless the Queen Mother of the West stepped in, no one could rectify what the God of Human Fate had written down on his scrolls. But she wasn't someone anyone could visit when they pleased and no one knew about her whereabouts most of the time.

All your options were exhausted. If only you had more powers as a higher ranking immortal. At the very least, you couldn't let him go alone. Let me see him, even if it's the last time.

“Keiji! Keiji!” you sobbed into the howling wind. The ice mixed with the storm cut into your arms and cheek.

“KEIJI!" you pleaded in vain. You were nowhere near the battle site. Nowhere near him and he was gone. His soul must have already been spirited away.

The frost prickled and traveled up your feet, sprouting icicle blooms in your heart and fingertips. Eat away at me, you thought. I don't care anymore. Flowers bloom and wilt. Life forms and fades. And an eternity without Keiji meant nothing at all.

Akaashi Keiji. Died in battle during the mao hour, just before daybreak. Arrow to heart.

A butterfly fluttered through the skies of the Underworld. It left the procession of souls behind its wings, flew past the countless taverns lining the bank of the river, and finally arrived at a pavilion. You stretched out a waiting hand and watched as the butterfly landed in your palm. The butterfly fanned its wings and flew off to its next destination wherever that may be.

How long has this butterfly been alone, you lamented with an aching heart.

Akaashi watched your exchange with the butterfly. While he recounted the story of the two of you, he had observed how you reacted. Even with a mask on, even with your memories wiped clean, you were still the same dearest person he had been searching for. Your body language and your remarks were all undeniably you.

"That fairy was so consumed by her grief, she pleaded for the Tea of Eternal Amnesia. One sip apparently wasn't enough for an immortal. She finished the entire brew until the last drop. Then, she forgot all pain, all sorrow. She spoke of no joy or boredom. No past, no future, only an infinite amount of present. It was her trial to ascend to the status of a goddess. She became one of the gatekeepers as the Goddess of Forgetfulness."

You felt the cracks of the barricade finally give way to a flood of sensations rushing in. There was the shyness of the chance-encounter, the exhilaration of the subsequent meetings, passion from long nights, the desperation, and then the endless despair. Everything expanded and converged into a single point, a single person.

With a cry, you slipped the painted mask off your face and Akaashi finally saw the one he waited half a millennium for. He smiled and wiped away the trail of tears that welled and spilled over your eyes.

Akaashi whispered the most cherished syllables he carried within his heart—the name he would remember before his own. That was the last and only thing on his mind when the arrow had pierced through armor and flesh. The fear of forgetting your name in death had only etched the precious syllables deeper into his heart. That was his tether as he drifted for half a millennium.

"Remember us. Remember me."

"I remember...I remember. Keiji," you sobbed, repeating his name over and over again. "That fairy, and goddess..."

Akaashi smiled. "Dearest."

"I'm sorry," you cried with your face buried in the fabrics of your robes. "I didn't wait. I didn't wait, I couldn't bear it."

Akaashi pulled you into a familiar embrace and held you tightly. How he had missed the weight of you on his chest and in his arms. "Shh," he coaxed, gently rocking you and patting your back. "It wasn't your fault. We're together again. It mustn't have been easy for you, being here alone."

You broke away. "But Keiji, I forgot everything. Your name, my name, and us. I lived here free of worries, while you faced five hundred years alone."

"Only five hundred. Still less than what you have lived before me, no?" Akaashi reasoned. "It wasn't quite so bad. I have a lot of stories to tell you and all the time we could possibly ask for."

Akaashi waited for your sobs to subside into occasional sniffles. Each time fresh tears welled up, he would only smile gently, press a light kiss on your temple, and dab away each tear.

“How? How was this possible?” you asked in disbelief. “I thought...the vault, I…”

“I thought so too, but the Queen Mother of the West appeared before me and gave me a chance.”

You sat up, alarmed that Akaashi would mention one of the highest ranking immortals in the hierarchy. She was a powerful, but esoteric goddess who rarely granted any audience let alone bother with anything else.

“If I could spend five hundred years observing the earthly realm and wake your memories at the end, then we could reunite.” Or I could ignore it altogether and choose the path of reincarnation. It wasn't a decision he had to ponder over. He made a vow, and that vow became his strength as time passed.

“The earthly realm? But that means you would have had to watch…”

Akaashi gave a rueful smile. “Bokuto and Kuroo lived long and well. They returned triumphant and safe.”

It had been difficult to watch through the lens of a butterfly, unable to console the grief of his family and friends. His family sat in his room for hours on end in complete silence. They would clean the dust that collected on his books and shelves, but everything was left the way he had left them. Bokuto shut himself in his room for weeks before finally exiting for the first time. Kuroo dove into the books and forced himself into normalcy before ultimately granting himself space to finally grieve.

Akaashi had felt powerless at that time. There was immense guilt for bringing sorrow upon his loved ones and shame for dishonoring his vow. However with time, those loved ones gradually moved on, no longer chained by their grief.

Akaashi watched them laugh and cry, watched them age and grey. He quietly observed the same process for the next generation, and the next generation thereafter. Their stories transcended a sense of beauty that he could only appreciate by being a spectator.

“Bokuto became the new Commander-In-Chief after his father,” Akaashi said. “The Bokuto I knew growing up would have hated all that responsibility, but he changed and grew into a remarkable hero. He lived a long, good life.”

“And Kuroo?”

“Kuroo got second place at the imperial exams, right after the famous rural scholar, Kita. After many years, Kuroo was eventually appointed as the Minister of Finances. When the Great Flood broke out, he did an excellent job making sure funds were sent out and received properly.”

Both of his dearest friends led fulfilling and complete lives. There wasn’t anything more that Akaashi could’ve hoped for. If there was one thing he missed, it would have been the walk down the main street on the way to the academy. Those were bygone, carefree times. All Akaashi could do was preserve the memories that were shared.

"Is it over now? Can we finally be together?"

"Yes." Akaashi stood up and helped you up to your feet. A procession of fairies and a large owl had appeared outside the pavilion, signaling the end of this trial.

A few fairies came up to you and bowed. "Greetings to the Goddess of Forgetfulness and newly appointed God of Memory. The Court of the Nine Heavens awaits you. Please follow us to greet the other guardians of the Four Seas and Eight Realms."

The magnificent owl, a mythological beast of wisdom, lowered its wings for the two of you to climb onto its back. After the two of you were situated, the owl took flight. The procession of fairies followed right after.

The River continued its regretful course. Desperate souls continued their wait by the shore. The Tea of Eternal Amnesia continued to be drunk by the souls before reincarnation. But you would no longer remain here. You watched as the pavilion you had spent centuries in become smaller and smaller until everything disappeared beneath the colored clouds.

Until the ends of time and the universe, the Goddess of Forgetfulness and God of Memory would be together guarding the feelings and thoughts of earthly beings. Their stories, told and retold across generations, would be known as a tale of patience and promise transcending fate.

End of Story Commercials:

Fanart of my own fanfic? Wow, what could Akaashi look like?

More info about myth & concepts made in a separate post here.

Remember to check out the other amazing collab pieces over here!

#akaashi keiji #akaashi x reader #akaashi keiji x reader #haikyuu x reader #akaashi x y/n #akaashi x you #akaashi keji one shot #emi.freshtea #🍵.akaashi #tw death #hohoho why did i name drop kita hm i wonder #don't judge the spotify

328 notes · View notes

voidsentprinces · 3 years ago

Text

Every bit of Shadowbringers is the Scions it corresponds with.

Amh Araeng Prt 1 is very Alisaie. Mirroring her decision in A Realm Reborn, Alisaie wanders off to the outskirts of civilization. Choosing to observe the powers of the world and figure out a way to stop coming tragedies. We’re introduced to the threat and aggressively fight against it but in mirror the loss of Ga Bu and Louisoix. Alisaie loses someone dear to her by Tempering. Louisoix became a Primal and Ga Bu was tempered by Titan. (Though honestly I wish Alisaie would stop losing people dear to her cause after Requiem for Heroes it feels like the story likes to kick her while she’s down at this point)

Kholusia Prt 1 is very Alphinaud. There is a semblance civilization, a rule of law in the area, there is even a function in which the society works. Mirroring Alphinaud remaining well within spitting distance and very much in the middle of the comings and goings. He uses his diplomatic maturity, which once was made for personal gain with clever wit and scheme. He has learned from the Crystal Brave betrayal, corruption of Ishgards, the result of those who choose might means right and what it results in from his time in Ala Mhigo, Hingashi, and Doma respectively. Applying himself to better comes to grips with the peoples plight. Upon seeing how Eulmore treats those chosen but then thrown away and then coming face to face with Vauthry. Rather than turning a blind eye and just being, “That’s just how it is.” as he was with the Monetarists and Refugees of Ul’dah. He pushes back against the system, damn the consequences, leaving an easily position to effect the politics of Eulmore and even gets a bullseye placed on the back of his head.

Lakeland is very much the Crystal Exarch’s Domain. It is the place of mystery, where life heavily clings on and every time we venture out to it. We come into conflict with either Eulmore or the Sineaters, Vauthry is controlling. It is in Lakeland, we fight through the Holminster Switch. Come face to face with our first Lightwarden and see where there was once furtile farm land, peace, and people. Now chaos reigns and an apocalyptic wave of disaster has struck. Mirror the world, G’raha had woken up to after the Eighth Umbral Calamity. This is where our foot hold is. Where we first bring night back to the First and his plan for saving the Source is put in motion. There is also a sense of myth about the place, Bismarck, a fae being in this shard slumbers in the Lake aptly named the Source. And it is only by bringing together to allies we made that we allowed to travel to the Tempest when he is spirited away. Just as G’raha gathered allies and people to himself to build the Crystarium.

Il Mheg is Urianger’s realm and reflects the game, he has agreed to play with the Warrior of Light at the behest of the Exarch. It is full of beings, who make deals out of innocent furvor at the determent of all who are around them. Pixies trick travels and fellow fae a like. The Nou Mou live to serve mortal kind just as Urianger serves the realm as a whole, no matter what light history might cast him in. And the Amaro dream of comrades lost, wishing to feel the comfort the adventurers and merchants they once wandered with. Grieving in their own way just as Urianger did after Moenbryda’s passing. Il Mheg is the land of faeries, it is steeped in myth and legend just as Urianger always had his nose in a book. Titania lays at the center of the realm. Once the pinnacle of the fae, forever corrupted by the Lightwarden’s energy. A horrific mirror of what should happen is G’raha’s plan should fail and the paragon of heroism, his friend: The Warrior of Light. Could also become a monster wearing the skin of a kingly figure should his mask slip. Yet when we enter his abode in the middle of Il Mheg, the Waking Sands/Rising Stones music plays. Reminding us of home and the Scions, he calls family and he welcomes us as he ever did, cryptically.

“Unto a hero weary of heroes, a heroes wends [their] way...”

Rak’tika is Y’shtola of course. She has turned away from her light magics of conjury to the dark magics of thaumaturge. The great boughs rise up and block out the sun light of the Great Wood. Reflecting the living style of her mentor: Master Matoya. A person who prefers their solitude, away from the dealings of the world, but with great knowledge to progress the plot forward. Thancred and Y’shtola get into an argument on how each other has changed. The two of them stood side by side after the Bloody Banquet and were both flung into Aetherstream by her Flow spell. While Y’shtola adapted to her blindness and halfened life force. Thancred had to push against the constrains of no longer having access to his aether and briefly losing sight in one eye. His last moments were the thought of protecting Minfilia. Only to wake up in Dravania and find out that Minfilia is no more. Y’shtola rejects Master Matoya and Thancred’s choice of solitude. Making friends with the Night’s Blessed. Even though, she knows she might have to leave them behind all too soon. She becomes a pinnacle of the Night’s Blessed community. While Thancred wanders hither and tither unfocused with Ryne at his side. Slipping easily into her role as a Scion, she researches the clues left behind by the Ronka Empire and makes allies with a civilization who has also closed themselves off from the world. Y’shtola is the first one to recognize the faults in G’raha’s plan and is immediately suspicious of the Exarch’s intentions. We see Y’shtola never truly changed however as when it comes time to get the item that will save the world and protect her friends. She readily uses Flow once more. Damn the consequences. Her sacrifice for the greater good is, as always, her charge which she never hesitates to grant. She even bonds with Runar seeing him as a little brother despite his obvious want for something more, just as she has a sister back in Gridania with whom she has a friendly relationship with. Just as Y’shtola’s connection to Matoya opened up the path to Azys Lla. Her run in with Emet-Selch opens up the path to learn of the Ancients and Amaurot and the true nature of Hydaelyn and Zodiark.

Amh Araeng Prt 2 is Thancred. Its tedious, its nearly empty, full of the smallest hopes. Each challenge is made to be tougher than it should be and despite us being able to compliment Thancred when finding a Voebrite coin. He shrugs it off as he is wont to do at this point. We get Ryne’s inner turmoil deepening. Thancred comes face to face with another individual wallowing in their own grief for those he loss and suddenly after coming face-to-face with Ran’jit again. Thancred throws away his misgivings and brings Ryne into the fold as shoe horned and bad written as possible. So lets just skip this area and never talk of it ever again okay? Cause the story never really does save for the Fatebreaker Eden section

Kholusia Prt 2 is Ardbert’s story or what it once was. We gather our group together and besiege Eulmore only for the villain to escape our grasps. But we triumph in liberating Eulmore from Vauthry’s tyranny for a moment. Alphinaud gets his heroic speech, Alisaie gets to combat the threats of the Lightwardens, Y’shtola and Urianger work together to make a massive Talos, Thancred and Ryne keeping tabs on Vauthry and Mt. Gulg. We meet face to face with G’raha. For all intents and purposes our Cylva. A person with a schism coming to a head. We come together as a team for the first time since coming to the First and each shows their worth in their connections to the realm. Mirroring Ardbert’s journey, we are faced with multiple seemingly insurmontible odds and come out on top. Vauthry’s Sineater Guard fall, he himself becomes the last one. The night returns to the First. And. We. Fail. We fail due to the machinations of Ascians just as Ardbert’s group did. The Warrior of Light is brought low by the combined aetheric energies of all Lightwardens. G’raha’s plan fails when Emet-Selch appears and leaves us for dead. Sure the enemy was vanquished, Vauthry and Ran’jit for us, Loghrif and Mitron for Ardbert’s group, but the First still falls to a Flood of Light as the eternal day returns and we are left on the cusp of despair. For all our triumphs. For all the schemes. For all the fighting. We fail. And just as Ardbert learns to protect his world with the aid of the Word of the Mother. The Warrior of Light only survives due to the aid of Ryne. An Oracle of Light who has come into her own and not died on the battlefield. We wander the Crystarium afterwards listening to the tales of the people and what they think of the Exarch. Then immediately find our courage to plunge into the depths. Ardbert giving us the strength to move forward, that he didn’t have when he met Elidibus. No more desperation. Just courage in the face of oblivion.

The Tempest is Emet-Selch. We are bridged there by the mythical Bismarck and find a dwindling but prospering Sahagin alternative. Living and getting by the ruins of those who stood before. The one part of the world far, far, far way from the light of the First. From the people and things, he used to care for. We find he made a city out of nostalgia and even the ghosts become almost too real. He is at the depths of his grief in a world, he cannot forget and will not forsake. It is here, the one clinging to the past the most falls to those who look to the future they yet have. He covets the Exarch’s use of rift travel because he knows if he can harness it, he has a chance to go back and save EVERYONE! But, he can’t and he won’t. He can no longer go home and knowing Elidibus’s memory and personality has been slipping since he left Zodiark’s breast. He asks us:

“Remember us...remember that we once lived.”

The Crystal Tower is Elidibus. It is the shining beacon of hope, he wished to become as Emissary. From the day, he chose to become the heart of Zodiark. To every motion to move for or against his breathren. The Allaghan Empire’s greatest achievement. But ruled by an Emperor whose death dropped him into Nihilism. Conquest was nothing but ashes in the mouth of Xande and he wish to consume the Source in Void. Elidibus wishes the return of Zodiark. For it is his duty, there is no solace in memories he can no longer recall. A being frozen in time just as Amon had the Crystal Tower’s previous inhabitence. Telling us repeatedly that no matter what our Echo shows us of his past. It will not avail us to his present. So he takes on the image of the Warrior of Light, playing pretend at the role of the hero having possessed Ardbert’s body before. He speeds up the Heroes Journey. Has us actively fight against our own memories and in the end, his own brother reappears amidst the clash to grant the last Unsundered Peace in his fall. G’raha sealing away his essence in the Crystal Tower to become part of the beacon of hope and light. Though perhaps in his final moments, his true duty was that he was waiting for someone to return to him. Someone he looked up to in his younger years. A shadow in his memories he has clung to and taken into being the example off in their absence.

“The rains have ceased, and we have been graced with another beautiful day. But you are not here to see it.”

#{ words from beyond }

20 notes · View notes

kyogre-blue · 3 years ago

Text

Ruin classification, part 2 (lol)

Continuing from yesterday’s discussion of the mysterious architecture style that appears in the Golden Apple Archipelago, I found a few more places. The current list:

Former Ha’ar Islands

Thousand Winds Temple

Nameless Island (of Wind and Time)

Cape Oath

Windrise

Dragonspine (Sal Vindagnyr)

near Ridge Watch

around Sal Terrae

Yaoguang Shoal

Guyun

Shrines of Depth

I’ll tl;dr my thoughts on this spread: Basically, there are two options here. One is that these places were built by different groups and they all simply learned this style from some original ancient civilization. We currently won’t have enough info to tell anything about this “proto-civilization,” so that would be the end of it.

The other option is there was some civilization that spanned the entire eastern coastline of Mond and Liyue. Here is trying to explain them one by one, as a kind of narrative:

Starting at Mond’s north-east coast, Thousand Wind Temple was built to pray for a respite from the cold, and Sal Vindagnyr’s lore mentions that it was founded by those seeking refuge from “snow and strife.” This is tangentially supported via the Sacrificial series being the only other mention of Imunlaukr.

Going down south via the coast, you reach Windrise and then Cape Oath. Cape Oath is possibly connected to Pilos Peak, and I am assuming the Archipelago has the remains from that, when Venti yeeted it. I can’t imagine what they were doing over there, but it’s bound to be a big deal.

Onward, you hit Sal Vindagnyr. Perhaps you can consider them the core civilization, which would tie into the Shrines of Depth that closed up after it fell.

Ridge Watch, Sal Terrae, and then Yaoguang Shoal would then be the immediately surrounding areas west and southward of Sal Vindagnyr (future Dragonspine).

And then Guyun is the south-most aspect of all this, though... and extremely puzzling one.

Moving on to the boring rows of screenshots as proof of how bored I was. Let’s start by reviewing the quirks of this style.

Fancy archway, note the three-pointed “mora” symbol in the center of the knot:

Bottom of pillars:

Pillars inside pillars:

Rocks walls have texture:

“Stained glass” wall decor:

Ugly tiles:

OK, so let’s move on to the very puzzling gameplay function of this style, Shrines of Depth.

Top and bottom pillars are present, window design very similar to the wall decor.

But the lore for Shrine keys:

These Shrines of Depths sealed themselves off when the civilization that built them was lost. Keys lost deep within domains are able to break the seals. Or perhaps that, for a moment, these keys help the seals to forget all that they have lost.

This is very hmm because Morax let this “civilization” build on top of Guyun, which was only created when he sealed up a bunch of enemy gods. And it’s not like those archways washed up on Guyun. They are very clearly part of the landscape.

On the other hand, the same stuff is present in Thousand Winds Temple, and also the nearby Wind and Time ruins. These temples are described in the Sacrificial weapon set, which says they were built while the war between Decarabian and Andrius was going on. But this set otherwise talks about the founding families of New Mond, so it should have been too long before Decarabian’s fall.....?

The other location discussed before is Cape Oath, which is connected to the now defunct Pilos Peak. This is presumably what Venti yeeted out to the Archipelago...

Other locations:

Windrise! Same bottom of the pillars, and there is another nearby structure with the same columns.

Before you ask, this is the only area next to a statue of the Seven to be like this.

Dragonspine (or rather Sal Vindagnyr):

It’s all over the place, really. They even have lanterns in the same style, which I haven’t seen anywhere else.

However, worth noting is that the Mural Room, and the Mural Room alone, uses styling more similar to the Domains and World Boss arenas. Here is both the three point symbol in the knot and the four point symbol of the domains:

Near Ridge Watch:

And then, this one was very strange, around Sal Terrae:

Now, I’m not too sure whether Havria’s actual location would count?

Havria herself is associated instead with these chalices:

And the one-time domain from Zhongli’s ch1 had a completely different design style (more Liyue-leaning, I would say).

This same style also appears on the shore nearby, on the side of Dragonspine:

(There’s a whole bunch of pillars and arches, I’m just too lazy to add even more images.)

Now, this adventurer fellow, Wenze, has some interesting dialogue:

Wenze: Hello, are you also an adventurer searching for the Abandoned City?

Wenze: Oh, you haven't heard? Somewhere beneath these ruins lies an ancient abandoned city.

Wenze: Rumors of such a place have circulated for many generations at the Adventurers' Guild, but nobody has found it yet.

Wenze: These ruins were once a city, too. But it was probably abandoned long before even the Archon War.

Wenze: It is said that beneath those two trees are buried the bodies of the last king of the ancient city and his enemy, who was also his true love...

Wenze: They perished together, but their burial separates them for eternity.

Wenze: The two trees that grew above the ruins once everything had turned to dust stand, just like them, face to face but separated...

I can never figure out which two trees he means? None of the trees there are particularly impressive or obviously paired together??

However, this dialogue makes it pretty clear those ruins can’t be the same civilization that built Thousand Winds Temple or on Guyun, since those definitely do not predate the Archon War.

Unless.... Mihoyo are reusing the distinctive architectural style....

They wouldn’t... right? Right??

#genshin impact #genshin lore

12 notes · View notes

secret-engima · 4 years ago

Note

....I lied. If you’re still doing the title thing - if I go down gonna burn with the sun

I thought there was a few more title asks still lurking in here for me to answer. *cracks knuckles* RAMBLE TIME.

-Star Wars AU. Star Wars FFXV sorta-x-over AU where the Astrals decide that Aera and Ardyn deserve a chance at happiness, just not on Eos, and therefore go YEET. The Force, finding these two wayward and powerful souls is like- Sure okay and boom. Ardyn and Aera are reborn in a galaxy far, far away.

-Purely not coincidentally, far away, on different worlds and in different star systems, one Satine Kryze and one Obi-Wan Kenobi take their first breaths.

-Yes I’m serious.

-This would be- SUCH a chaotic fixit AU, both because Aera loves peace but she is NO pacifist and not about to let an entire Culture DIE just because some so called New Mandalorians cannot see the dangers of burying their own past. Two because- well.

-Ardyn has already BEEN a Chosen One and an Accursed, a Hero and a Villain. He has walked the path to salvation and damnation both and seen the worst sides of himself and humanity, and for all they look different, every species in the galaxy isn’t far different from humanity in those regards.

-Obi-Wan Kenobi grows up in the Jedi Temple and he is a Troublesome Child. Too quiet and too reckless by turns, a smile that could melt butter and a tongue that can strip flesh from the backs of whatever bully goes after him this time. The Jedi ... worry. He is Dark, they whisper, was born with shreds of Darkness in his soul. He is manipulative, they worry, he has a temper, they gossip.

-Ardyn hears them all and inside a part of him screams. Because of course he is Dark, they did not have their souls swallowed by a plague for others’ sake, were not consumed with madness until dying (being freed) at the hands of a nephew two thousand years removed. As for manipulation ... he doesn’t mean to. It’s just ... he’s so much OLDER than the other children mentally, older even than any Jedi there (even YODA), he can’t help it that he thinks rings around people sometimes, or that he is so in tune with the Force (with a galaxy-spanning magic that burns beneath his skin like a hundred newborn suns that he keeps buried so the Jedi will not sense it so clearly, will not know how strong and old he really is inside) that he can practically read minds and knows what to say to get the best outcome. He has a temper. Who doesn’t? You try being reborn after a lifetime of AGONY and see how patient you are with petty morons and small minded bullies.

-He says none of those things, and when his time grows near to be sent away without a Master, he does not fight it.

-He looks at the shadow of Qui Gon Jinn in the doorway and something in the Force ... sings. Sad and soft. It speaks of heartache and betrayal and a fear of being hurt again. Ardyn can almost FEEL the two paths branching away under his feet, one with Qui Gon in it, and one without, and he does not know which one will bring him less pain.

-Ardyn does not try to impress anyone in the sparring ring, but after he is done, he slips away. He finds Jinn in the garden, trying to meditate, and settles down across from him without invitation.

-Qui Gon opens his eyes in annoyance. He knows that the Council wants him to take a Padawan, and that this one is almost at the age of being moved to the Corps. He expects the boy to beg to become a Padawan, or to try to impress him somehow.

-Instead the boy just smiles, thin and sharp and knowing in a way that makes Qui Gon feel ... exposed. Like every thought and wound in his heart is on display for this child, “The Council wants you to take a Padawan. That’s why they keep making you watch us.” It’s a statement, not a question.

-Qui Gon raises an eyebrow, “And you think I should take you?”

-The boy shrugs, but his blue eyes are still sharp as knives behind his friendly mien and Qui Gon doesn’t like the feeling crawling up his spine, “That’s your choice to make and yours alone. There’s nothing I can say to change your mind one way or the other.”

-“Then why are you here?” He asks suspiciously.

-“Because you’re lonely, and it makes the Force feel sad.” The answer is so blunt, so sure of itself. Qui Gon feels his stomach twist, and old anger makes him snappish without meaning to be (he’s heard of this boy as well, he’s heard that he’s got a manipulative streak and a tendency to twist his Force empathy to his own ends, he’s heard many things).

-(Qui Gon forgets that it is not a good idea, to base judgement on rumors) “I am not, and if I was, I would not need your company to ease it.”

-Obi-Wan Kenobi, Initiate of the Jedi Temple Ardyn Lucis Caelum, Sage and Healer King and Accursed, tilts his head thoughtfully, then nods and stands up, “Then I will take my leave. Take care of yourself, Master Jinn.”

-Initiate Kenobi Ardyn the Accursed and Healer King walks away, and a breath later the Living Force twists, like the snapping of cables, and Qui Gon gets the fleeting, distinct impression that he has failed some kind of very important test.

-Ardyn is assigned to the AgraCorps. A life as a farmer for others awaits him.

-The day before he’s to be shipped off, he walks out one of the Temple’s side-entrances and into the underbelly of Coruscant with only the clothes on his back. He doesn’t look back even once. It takes until the next day for anyone (for his friends, if he can call them friends when they are so much YOUNGER and painfully more innocent than him) to miss him. It takes another day for the Jedi to realize Obi-Wan Kenobi is well and truly missing.

-Deep in Coruscant’s seedy side, at the dockyards manned by those who are less than concerned with legality, a boy in ratty (stolen) clothes asks to be taken aboard as a maintenance worker. He calls himself Ardyn Izunia, and there are no Force Sensitives close enough to feel the sunlike fire burning in his blood as he smiles.

-Skip forward several years and Satine Kryze (Aera) is on the run from Death Watch, civil war is on the horizon and her father asks for Jedi protection to keep her safe.

-The bounty hunter who calls himself Adagium finds her first.

-A sword that glitters like blood and cuts through metal like a lightsaber (that hums-hums-hums with magic none but a Force sensitive can see blazing like bloody fire down the ancient blade) finishes off the Death Watch assassin that Satine hadn’t had the chance to shoot yet, and under his hood, Adagium smiles. Satine stills, head tilted as if listening, then she collapses into the teenage bounty hunter’s arms in joyous tears. Adagium- Ardyn- holds her close and cries with her.

- “I finally found you, My Aera,” he breathes and for a moment he lets his magic loose and it burns like the sun through the Force, lancing through the growing shadows in the Force like they’re fragile paper and somewhere far away Sidious feels Doom™ crawl violently up his spine.

-Aka that Fixit AU where Aera is a Mand’alor that DOES want peace for her people but NOT at the cost of burning history to the ground (or being defenseless, she has died to the sword once already she will not go quietly into the night a second time, not if she has to paint the walls in blood to protect her life and the lives of her people), the Jedi are Confused™, and Ardyn is incredibly content to be Aera’s former bounty hunter trophy husband with a tendency to adopt strays (read: Anakin and Shmi who he frees as well as Anakin kthanks, and quite possibly Savage and Feral too tho no one is quite sure how) until the Clone Wars start and Ardyn takes one (1) look at the war and goes: ah. I know this plan. This is a stupid plan. And all of Sidious’s plans go fwoosh.

-Because I’m sorry but there is no way you can convince me that Ardyn wouldn’t EAT SIDIOUS ALIVE in any kind of fight, mental, physical, Force, or tactical. This man is 2k years old. It took Sidious until he was an old sack of bones to get his Empire and that was with GENERATIONS of Sith serving as his foundation, and then he got yote down a reactor shaft by his minion 19-25 years later. Ardyn was able to manipulate an entire Empire into engineering its destruction and fulfill ALL HIS REVENGE GOALS (giving Bahamut a headache, driving the world to darkness and ruin, and ending the line of Lucis Caelum INCLUDING HIMSELF) in like- 30-40 years. While MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY ILL thanks to the Scourge. Fully healthy and in control of himself and with people (Aera) to protect? Sidious would just be fresh meat.

-Also Ardyn adopts a bunch of the clones, possibly all the clones, on the excuse that since they were raised by Mandalorian trainers they count as Mandalorians and as genetic sons of Jango Fett that makes the Mandalorian CITIZENS by BIRTHRIGHT and the Republic can only watch in confusion as their army gets mass adopted by the Mand’alor’s trophy husband who also exposed their new Chancellor as a Sith. Bail Organa, the new Chancellor, may or may not be sweating quietly at the thought of accidentally gaining the ire of the so called Trophy Husband because he’s smarter than most and knows that Ardyn is Very Very Dangerous.

-Also also Qui Gon doesn’t die somehow because I do really like him and I think he’s a good Jedi, just not a good fit for Ardyn as a master.

#Secret Engima Rambles #Burn With the Sun verse #Ardyn Izunia #obi wan kenobi #obi wan x satine #ardyn x aera #oh no new au

160 notes · View notes

botwstoriesandsuch · 4 years ago

Note

im loving the history lesson posts!!! what are you're thoughts on the ruins in Tabantha? based on the memory near the skywatchers and the shrine quests in the region, the stone ruins in tabantha existed about 10,000 years ago and were destroyed or vacated and left to crumble. but the stone structures contrast heavily with the wooden architecture of Rito Village? bUT if i'm remembering correctly the song lyrics go "pride of the rito/pillar to the sky" so the rito stone and tabantha itself has (1)

Ok first off, I AM SO SORRY! I read this ask months ago and I worked on it in my google docs and then I was going pure theory mode and then another person sent in another ask about ruins and I was getting all excited so basically long story short I got so caught up in making a masterlist of all the ruins that I completely forgot about this ask until now... So anon I apologize for the terrible wait but hopefully you’ll still enjoy what I have in planned.

You’ve given me a lot to work with so I’m going to break this up into several posts based on your asks. I’m gonna post them on different days becauseeeee content management, schedules, things.....I’m lazy and also if I posted all my thoughts in one post it would be like a giant book with zero pacing so

[Today] Thoughts on the Ancient Columns and the Ruins of Tabantha

[Some time later idk when I post it I’ll shove the link here] The Effects of the Calamity on the Rito and People of Hyrule

The Relationship between Skywatcher Locations and the Cunning of Calamity Ganon

Buckled in ladies, lads, and gentlefolk? It’s time for a history lesson, Part 1 o’ Trois. So today here is

Ancient Ruins, Architectural Parallels, and the Probable Worship of the Fae

So! Let’s start with the ruins of Tabantha. Specifically, the Ancient Columns.

Anon you’re correct in that these ruins are over 10,000 years old. We can not only gather this from the fact that their condition is the same even 100 years ago, meaning they have to be older than a century (see their crumbled state and similar moss patterns) but also from direct lines from the Creating a Champion (CaC) book itself.

However, I’m inclined to believe (for several reasons that I’m going to get into) that these ruins have nothing to do with the “pillar in the sky” as mentioned in the Rito songs. For one, the pillar of Rito village is of an entirely different architectural style, given that it looks like the natural work of wind erosion. And for another, the existence of the Rito village pillar has to have been much younger, around 100 years old, in order to coincide with the Sheikah Shrine quest, as the Sheikah platform thingy has to correlate with the characteristics of the pillar’s shape. Ergo, ergo, ergo, the “pillar in the sky” isn’t 10,000 years old and has no correlation with the Ancient Columns.

Ok so! Back to the actual ruins themselves and what we can analyze from them.

Circled above is every instance of ruins in the Tabantha region. Although I should specify that I’m talking about the Ancient Hylian ruins, as that is the type that is most notably scattered across this area.

We know that all these ruins are off the same civilization because of their style and material.

[Remember this picture for later^^]

In addition, we can also tell from ruin maps in the CaC book that these ruins are from the same Hylian civilization, as well as the important detail that these ruins were centered around the Goddess.

Citing that other screenshot at the beginning on the Ancient Hylian Culture, these ruins were built around the same time as the Sacred Springs, so I think it’s safe to assume that these ruins had a religious purpose.

But I can take this one step further! Up until now, all this information has been based on interpretations from the botw ruins and official info alone, but if we take into account the real life counterparts/parallels, I can prove the exact purpose to what these ruins are for!

Firstly, these ruins are obviously inspired by architecture in Ancient Greece, and other old Empires (like the Romans and Byzantines) across the Mediterranean.

We also know that the ruins are constructed out of limestone. One, because moss is able to grow on it, so it is unlikely that it is marble. And two, we can see the actual limestone texture when seeing the broken parts of certain columns and walls.

[and kinda quick side note here: but the existence of large limestone rich structures 10,000 years ago gives more credit to the theory that Botw takes place after a large flood, notably the events of Wind Waker. One, because limestone is a material mined near the sea, as seen with the Island of Paros and Naxos for the Ancient Greeks. And Two, this ancient sea was directly mentioned in the description for botw rock salt. And also Three, this explains the weird placement of certain structures, such as the buildings placed on suspended and isolated rocky plateaus like the ones I showed earlier by the Skywatchers. So there’s your mini theory which kinda proves that the Tanagar Canyon was probably an ocean trench at one point and it also still proves my connection of the Ancient Hylian ruins being parallels to the Ancient Greeks and all that because...ocean. Greece, peninsula, hundreds of islands, lots of quarries in Hyrule by the sea. Akkala is by the sea, there’s quarries, also the islands with mining equipment like Tingle Island. You get it by now right?]

Anyway. Greeks, Romans, polytheistic gods, temples for sacrifices, limestone, yadayadayada. Safe to assume that these Hylian ruins were of a civilization centered around a temple of some sort worshiping a powerful being, or beings, such Hylia. Hurray! Theory seems done.

BUT!

I can take it

A step FURTHER!!!

You see, I was originally gonna leave this post at that. The Ancient Columns are of an Ancient Hylian civilization 10,000 years ago that worshiped some higher powers. “Great!” I think to myself. “Time to get all my screenshots so that my ADHD followers wont die immediately”

But but but! As I was spending an hour or so getting said screenshots, I took this picture right here and came across a revelation so bright you could have placed a light bulb over my head...

A pretty enough capture, got a nice aerial view of the ruins, the suspended island thing in the middle of the path... nice view of Tanagar Canyon and the Ancient Columns, the sunset is all pretty and—Oh hey! The Great Fairy Fountain is there. Heh, that’s nice. You know it’s kinda weird that it’s just plopped right in the middle of all these Ancient ruin and temp—

BAadaBing, badaBoom, ladies, lads, and gentlefolk! I’m here to tell ya that these giant fae ladies were once worshiped by 10,000 year old Hylian civilizations. And not just this fairy mind you, but all four of them.

First piece of evidence? The proximity of 10,000 year old structures to every Great Fairy. Mind you, these are the most rare type of ruin in the game. 90% of the ruins are of settlements destroyed 100 years ago by the Calamity, and then the other 10% is still divide up between the Ancient Sheikah and Zonai. So I find it quite interesting that almost every case these special ruined civilizations are near a Great Fairy. [Uh, spoilers for all the Great Fairy locations btw]

First, of course, you got the Great Fairy in Tabantha.

Then you got the one in Akkala, by the Torrin Wetlands (again, the highlights in yellow are of the canonical 10,000 year old Hylian ruins)

The Lanayru Promenade isn’t even up for debate at this point....I mean it was the parade ground for the ceremony up to the Spring of Wisdom. How much more “Ancient Hylian” can you get then that?

The only kinda iffy one is the Great Fairy in the Gerudo desert, but even THEN this fairy is by two out of the three only instances of 10,000 year old ruins in the entire desert, the third instance being the Zonai labyrinth.

But, sure. Correlation might not equal causation. But I think the picture becomes all the more clear when you take a look at the timeline of events!

Note that no one in Hyrule really knows what the fairies are all about. Sure, you got that one researched in Tabantha that knew about one of them, and some of the elders in Kakariko had a sort of understanding that a fairy was their neighbor. However, their stance was that of wariness and caution, and they very much did not worship or give offerings to them. Dorian, for example explicitly shows suspicion towards the fairy, and thinks they might be dangerous. (Which, to be fair, is valid if you’ve ever read ANYTHING about the fae)

My point is, people don’t know what the Great Fairies are, or what their powers, motives, or *anything* really are. Sure, 100 years might have passed, but it would be pretty hard to forget something as eye catching as the fae. The people of Hyrule can remember century old white horses, cook books, treasure locations, ancient songs, and vague legends, but the majority of them don’t know about the Giant (seriously, it’s right in the name) Fairy Fountains?!

That is, of course, under the assumption that the Great Fairies existence was known 100 years ago. But what if it wasn’t?

You might be inclined to assume that the fairies lost their power because the Calamity prevented them from getting offerings 100 years ago, but in truth, there is no evidence whatsoever saying that their lack of power originated at the rise of Calamity.

It’s entirely likely that they haven’t been sitting around for 100 years, but 10,000, or even more. It explains why no one knows anything about them, and also their proximity to the ruins.

A beautiful spring you say? You power is directly correlated to offerings you say?

Gee if only there was some ancient civilization that existed a long time ago, that has ties to old religious practices, temples, and polytheistic, which has parallels to the Ancient Greeks and Romans who build their civilizations centering around certain gods and offerings to said powers, and also if only these said civilizations were nearby to all of the fae oh WAIT!

Even when Link gives his offerings, the results are only that of the Great Fairy Fountain blooming, not an entire spring. Could an entire spring existed long ago, providing for the hundreds or thousands of people who worshiped the fae? Who’s to say that these old 10,000 year old civilizations gave offerings to the fae not only for the magic and all that, but for the vitality and life that they provide? Who’s to say that those earlier relief arts of warriors on chariots were of people with enhanced armour. Fairies that give you magic defense would be quit helpful for a civilization that liked to battle... the possibilities are endless....

TL;DR, the Ancient Columns, along with the other 10,000 year old Hylian structures, were constructed for religious purposes, centering around the Great Fairies, who accepted their offerings in exchange for the vitality of their springs, as well as their enchantments.

So! That’s that. Can you believe this is just me tackling only one aspect of anon’s ask? I realize that the majority of the ask was about the Rito but...oops! That’s why I split it into parts. [When I post the other posts I’ll update the contents at the top to link to them]

A like and reblog is appreciated! I spent too long on this, including an extra week because tumblr deleted my original draft which was much longer... so if you liked it, let me know! It’d be nice to know that my time didn’t completely go to waste, :P Anyhow thanks for reading all this

#the only thing stopping me from outright making a theory channel is my lack of youtube skills #zeltik how do you dO IT #botw #breath of the wild #legend of zelda botw #loz botw #botw theory #botw ruins

117 notes · View notes

aion-rsa · 3 years ago

Text

How Alias Anticipated Modern Superhero Storytelling

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

J.J. Abrams’ spy drama Alias, which turns 20 this week, was a lot of things: high-octane action-adventure series, twentysomethings relationship drama, occasional National Treasure homage. It was also, surprisingly, a spiritual predecessor to today’s hyper-saturated superhero movie and TV universes: A preternaturally gifted fighter, Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) inhabits comic-book-esque alter egos to infiltrate secret missions related to ancient artifacts and promised immortality, all while ensuring that her nearest and dearest don’t know how many times she’s saved the world—or which side she’s really on.

Like the series’ MacGuffin-generating Nostradamus figure Milo Rambaldi, Alias has proven to be somewhat prophetic itself about what makes for the kinds of superhero stories that land today. With some 20th-anniversary hindsight, let’s look back at what made Sydney’s story so super and what lessons Abrams’ ridiculous(ly fun) series can still impart to the current crop of superhero sagas.

The Secret Identity as Kiss of Death

The highest priority that spies and superheroes share is that they cannot get made—that is, have their identity as a larger-than-life individual linked to their “normal” selves. They must always keep their personal and professional personas separate, lest they risk losing the people who know both sides of them. Alias establishes this difficult lesson in the first half hour of the pilot, when Sydney reveals her true work (she thinks SD-6 is just a covert branch of the CIA) to doctor fiancé Danny, only for him to blab about it later and get bloodily taken out in their bathtub. It’s the first time that SD-6 treats its sweet protégée harshly, making clear the consequences of her actions should she open up to anyone else in her life. And then she defects to the CIA, which will be a death sentence for her if SD-6 ever finds out.

Yet beyond the specter of grisly assassination, what the series really digs into is Syd’s growing ethical dilemma about being a double agent where it concerns the actually good people at SD-6, primarily her longtime partner Dixon (Carl Lumbly) and sweetly awkward Q stand-in Marshall (Kevin Weisman). It would be too easy if the series were only about her getting long-game revenge on SD-6 director Arvin Sloane (Ron Rifkin); the real conflict comes from Sydney lying to Dixon’s face on every stakeout, knowing that he still thinks he’s working for the good guys and she can’t ruin that fantasy for him without potentially turning him into collateral damage.

Similarly, the moments in which Sydney’s two (or three) lives begin to collide have other heartbreaking consequences: While the scene in which her best friend Will (Bradley Cooper cast as the friendzoned buddy, amazing) gets kidnapped and sees Syd saving him, is one of the decade’s best laugh-out-loud moments, it also leads to Will going into the Witness Protection Program. His life ends, in a sense, because Sydney couldn’t keep everything compartmentalized. And we haven’t even gotten to the awful fate that befalls her best friend Francie (Merrin Dungey)…

What Alias Predicted: The beating heart (or arc reactor) of many a superhero story is this tension between selves—which means that the big reveal of a secret identity has to be carefully timed and deliberately presented. It’s as emotional as Peter Parker’s (Tobey Maguire) mask getting ripped away when he saves the subway car of people in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2, as big as Spider-Man: Far From Home doxxing that Peter Parker (Tom Holland) in a commentary on fake news, or as pure and simple as Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) outing himself as Iron Man in the very first installment of the MCU. You cannot unring that bell, so it better be a memorable moment.

What Superhero Stories Can Still Learn: Rev the secret identity stakes back up! Captain America: Civil War ably took on the game-changing Marvel Comics arc of the same name by having heroes collectively unmask, and movies like Spider-Man: Far From Home are still playing out those ramifications. But mostly we see the dangerous ramifications of heroes doxxing themselves, without really digging into the strain for heroes to constantly have to lie about the things that truly matter to them.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Campy Disguises and Clever Aliases

If you’ve watched Alias or were even vaguely aware of it, no doubt the first thing you envision is Sydney in black leather and bright red hair, a.k.a. her iconic look from the pilot. Her non-SD-6-sanctioned, under-the-radar disguise (impersonating Will’s sister) displays her ingenuity and establishes the series’ brand: attention-grabbing hair paired with increasingly ridiculous outfits, from chain mail waitress ensembles to rubber dresses. She’s played punks, rich bimbos, alluring businesswomen, escorts, and all manner of female personas upon which her marks would project their assumptions—all of which belied her true strength and cunning.

Even when future episodes riffed on the color wheel with teal, magenta, purple, and good old-fashioned blonde wigs, it was still within a clear spectrum established on that pivotal mission, when she channels a silly girl who cares more about the color of her hair than her safety, only to pin her torturer with the same chair to which she’s bound.

What Alias Predicted: I would hazard a guess that Natasha Romanoff’s first appearance in 2012’s The Avengers—a seemingly helpless redhead tied to a chair, about to be nastily interrogated—was a nod toward Sydney’s triumphant pilot mission. What’s more, despite the first ten years of the MCU leaning toward sleek costumes, later phases (like WandaVision‘s cheeky Halloween callbacks) have realized that they can embrace the bold colors and campy designs of the comic-book source material.

What Superhero Stories Can Still Learn: Better to lean into the bold colors and campy designs of the comic-book source material than to go for more sleek and cool. WandaVision did this, albeit cheekily and using the excuse of Halloween, but the nod toward Scarlet Witch’s original outfit was well received. Because any superhero can look cool in leather, but only the standouts can rock color.

Rambaldi Artifacts, Immortality, and Clones

While replicating the romantic dramas of Felicity, Abrams was also playing with early iterations of his signature “puzzle box” narrative style: The pilot has Sydney chasing after the mysterious Mueller device, which turns out to be… a floating red ball… which bursts into water the moment she tries to remove it. That head-scratcher of a device is only one of many inventions belonging to Milo Rambaldi, a fictional Renaissance-era philosopher whose sketches and writings all pointed toward the ultimate endgame: immortality. You know, just normal spy thriller things.

The series saw Sydney and co. chasing after all manner of Rambaldi MacGuffins, from a clock to a kaleidoscope to a music box to flowers that either demonstrated proof of eternal life (by never wilting) or amped up human aggression. Through all of this, it becomes clear that Sloane helped found SD-6 in order to collect all of Rambaldi’s artifacts and capture immortality for himself—even and especially at the cost of people like his daughter, Sydney’s half-sister Nadia Santos (Mía Maestro).

Before we get more into Rambaldi’s prophecies about the sisters, we can’t forget the parallel fever dream of the series: clones! Or, rather, secret agents genetically modified to look like anyone—which means everyone is a suspect. This constant paranoia quickly got out of hand on the series, but its first reveal was perfect TV drama: There’s not an Alias fan who doesn’t remember “Francie doesn’t like coffee ice cream” and the complete devastation that followed—the knock-down, drag-out fight that destroyed Sydney’s apartment just as badly as Danny’s death, but also Sydney’s heartbreak upon realizing that her best friend was already long dead.

What Alias Predicted: The Infinity Stones themselves are less interesting than in various superheroes’ personal connections to them: Loki (Tom Hiddleston) tempted by the tesseract in Thor: Ragnarok; Star Lord (Chris Pratt) and the Guardians of the Galaxy channeling their friendship to withstand the effects of the Power Stone; Wanda Maximoff’s (Elizabeth Olsen) stages of grief as she copes with trying to keep the memory of Vision (Paul Bettany) alive even without the Mind Stone. In short: grounding the most out-there plotlines in the personal ensures they will always land.

What Superhero Stories Can Still Learn: Ground the most bonkers of plotlines in the personal, and they’ll always land.

The Chosen One and the Passenger

This is when the Rambaldi business started getting less National Treasure levels of charming and more outright weird. Turns out the team wasn’t just recovering a treasure trove of artifacts, but also Rambaldi’s prophetic writings—including the mysterious “Page 47,” which featured a drawing of a woman known as the Chosen One… who bears quite the resemblance to Sydney herself. That would be easy enough to dismiss as a strange doppelgänger coincidence, but then comes the reveal of “Project Christmas”: When Syd discovers that she didn’t just stumble into the spy life on her own, but was actually trained as a sleeper agent from childhood, it only amplifies her fears that she has no true agency over her life.

Further Rambaldi writings center Sydney and Nadia into predestined roles as the Chosen One and the Passenger: supposed foes who are fated to clash, with one dying. Nadia getting injected with “Rambaldi fluid” in order to tap directly into the long-dead man’s consciousness (contained within another artifact known as the Sphere of Life) only earns her some nasty apocalyptic visions. But despite their genuine friendship that comes from bonding over their fucked-up childhoods, Sydney and Nadia are forced into that preordained confrontation when the latter is injected with a compound that reduces her to a mindless killing machine… all while a giant red ball is hovering over a city in Russia, because why not. Even after Nadia dies, and is brought back to life, then dies again, with her ghost haunting Sloane as he finally attains immortality, she remains a presence on the series.

There are certainly echoes to Black Widow and how it handles Natasha and adoptive sister Yelena’s (Florence Pugh) strained reconciliation after the older sister got out of the Red Room while the younger was still caught in its web. Their bickering banter about vests and poses, their differing memories of their false childhood, and their respective feelings of abandonment are what elevated Black Widow’s standalone outing—and made it even more tragic, on multiple levels, that this was the only time we would see the two of them in a movie together.

What Alias Predicted: Sister stories are gold! The Rambaldi storylines would mean nothing if they didn’t hinge on a tragically preordained confrontation, just as the MCU’s Red Room depiction seemed overdone until it was presented within the context of multiple generations’ differing experiences with its bloody legacy.

What Superhero Stories Can Still Learn: More stories about sisters! With Nat dead not long after she and Yelena had just started to bond again, it’s vital that Yelena’s future MCU appearances show her still grappling with the little time they got together.

After all, the best superhero stories are the ones that can feel just as fresh now as they did 20 years ago.

Alias is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

The post How Alias Anticipated Modern Superhero Storytelling appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3ih3u0c

#aion-rsa #Den of Geek

2 notes · View notes