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forkingandcountry-if · 4 months ago

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For King and Country is an 18+ period low fantasy fic which seeks to combine the extensive background work and history associated with high fantasy titles such as LOTR with more ‘realistic’ storytelling and settings. It may contain distressing content like depiction of regressive attitudes (sexism, misogyny and prejudice), major injury to the characters, character deaths, blood, gore, abuse and optional sexual content. More specific warnings will be given at the beginning of each chapter.

Remember those long summer days when the countryside was green and life was still young, when you were but a little culver and all the world was promised for you.

But summer has ended. Amidst the furore and tumult, autumn crept in unnoticed, finding you unprepared, still a greenhorn.

Now, the old order is dead, yet the Empire endures. In this new and uncertain world, what are you willing to do for your King and Country, O little culver?

Ah little tragedies, that you could not remain in the safety of your family's country manor, that they could not shield you once again from this world.

You must take to the capital at once, like all men and women of good birth, for king and country and the glory of the commonwealth! The spirit of progress and change has swept through the nation. The heady days of revolution are long over, and the streets have been washed clean of blood and filth. Invited to serve in the King's Army and attend university as a ward of the king, you must answer the King’s call. Navigate and become increasingly entangled in the web of intrigue, gossip, violence, and ideas that swirl around the nation. Enter a society radically different from the one you were raised to expect. These are the years that will decide your fate and that of your fellow countrymen. Act wisely, for it is not often that the world is within your grasp.

Features

Fully customize your MC. Choose your pronouns, sexuality, appearance and more. Assume the identity of a citizen of noble birth and experience the story through their eyes.

Romance one of seven ROs or engage in a polyamorous relationship with a pre-selected two of them. The only possible poly route is the Young King and the Queen Ruler.

Practice and specialise in the skills of the King's Army with the option for swordplay, marksmanship, offensive galderquid and diplomacy.

Define your political leanings on the leading issues of your time.

Debate, engage and make allies and enemies with the various competing factions and interests that flock to the city.

Study at Pyrenne University, earning your lecturers admiration for your diligence, intellect, ambition or adventurousness or cruise through relying on your wealth and ability to hide.

Help to stabilize or sabotage the Empire.

Don't lose your head.

Critical Lore*

Talent

Galder denotes the practice of magic within our nation, a discipline requiring extensive study and mastery. The ability to manipulate Galderquid, the fundamental essence of magic, is a rare and intricate skill, demanding years of rigorous training to achieve even moderate proficiency.

Every individual possesses a basic affinity for Galderquid, but those with exceptional potential are identified through comprehensive evaluations conducted by village or city physicians around the ages of 12 or 13. These assessments determine the individual's capacity for advanced magical education.

Upon evaluation, candidates are assigned a national rank based on their proficiency. Those demonstrating exceptional aptitude are offered state-sponsored education at the Pyrenne Univetsity at the age of 18. Others are placed in various other institutions or may pursue private tutelage.

Galder is often referred to as the "fifth philosophy," characterized by its non-intuitive nature. Mastery requires adherence to rigorous methodologies grounded in reason, first principles, and established precedents. The study of Galder encompasses several specialized fields, each with distinct applications and techniques:

Sympathetic Galder: This field focuses on influencing the minds of individuals or animals. It includes practices such as illusion creation, language translation, emotional manipulation, and sleep inducement.

Transmutative Galder: Involves altering the intrinsic nature or form of objects. This process generally relies on the principle that the original and transformed items must possess equivalent 'worth.' The approximate worth of common subjects of transmutation can be found in any good transmutation book.

Invocation Galder: Pertains to the summoning and manipulation of natural elements, including water, earth, fire, and wind.

Clerical Galder: Associated with the Church, this field is predominantly closed practice. However, educational institutions provide instruction in healing and charming, which are also fundamental aspects of clerical magic.

Archery: Involves the use of Galder to manifest a bow and arrows composed of energy. These projectiles deliver significant blunt damage upon impact but they have more varied usage and techniques as taught by bow-masters.

Blade-Use: Similar to Archery, this field focuses on creating blades, swords, or daggers from Galder. These weapons inflict substantial blunt damage but they have more varied usage and techniques as taught by blade-masters.

The Second Civil War

The Second Civil War, sometimes known as the Revolution is recognized as having commenced approximately ten years ago and concluded two years later with the ascension of King Edmund I of House Wynd. The conflict was precipitated by a series of critical events and widespread discontent among the populace throughout the entire reign of the King Wulfric I Wynd regarding the laws of his government and his conduct as monarch.

The Second Civil was notably ignited by the previous monarch's decision to disinherit his eldest daughter and legitimise his illegitimate children thus making them heir presumptive. This controversial move generated significant unrest among the yeomanry and laborers, who perceived the monarch's actions as unjust and contrary to ecclesiastical teachings. Particularly in redeemist cities across the Empire, widespread protests ensued, leading to the deposition and, in some instances, the defenestration of local officials such as Lord Mayors, Sheriffs, and Governors who supported the king and a state of national emergency being declared with martial law being invoked.

A general, Walthe Courtney, who had previously fought in the unpopular Eleven Years' War on behalf of the crown, emerged as a pivotal leader of the revolution. Utilizing strategic peasant uprisings and sieges, Reval's forces delivered decisive blows to the royalist regime. The revolution culminated in the fall of the capital during the Siege of the King's Seat.

Following the war, a great council of all the great houses instituted several significant reforms. While the monarchy was retained, it was now bound with the monarch being bound by the Grand East Code. In accordance with the written will of the disinherited princess, who died on the battlefield during the conflict an exception was made to place her youngest brother, Edmund, then only 17 years old, on the throne.

The bicameral parliament was replaced by a unicameral national assembly with expanded suffrage of yeomanry and labourers with certain amounts of land. The sole eligibility criteria for parliamentarians are citizenship, attainment of the age of majority, no debt owed to the crown with elections held every eight years.

General Walthe Courtney was appointed as Lord-Protector of the Realm with extensive powers throughout Edmund’s reign and continued as Commander of the Armies for the duration of their tenure. Furthermore, the Pyrenne University was opened to all individuals of suitable skill, not limited to the children of nobility.

Under the new provisions, all children from great houses or those vassal houses with an annual income exceeding 1,300 libre must receive training and serve in the King's Army and live as wards of the king upon reaching the age of eighteen. The official language of the proclamation declares it to be in the national interest that the next leaders of the regions and nations of the Empire know personally their king and capital but the aim is considered to be preventing another war.

The King's Council is required to be include the Premier elected by the eligible electorate. The Premier recommends people to be members of the King's Council although the King is not bound to accept. The King retains the authority to appoint cabinet members from outside parliament, early precedent set by King Edmund I Wynd suggests that he will appoint those recommended by the Lord-Protector.

The King's Army and Pyrenne University

The King's Army, colloquially known among the common folk as the Small Army or King's Life Guard, serves as a voluntary armed force in peacetime within the Empire. Its primary role is to function as a national guard, maintaining peace and order across the extensive and diverse territories of the Empire and swear loyalty solely to the King.

During periods of peace, the King's Guard is comprised of volunteers who contribute to the stability of the nation. However, in times of war, the monarch is vested with the authority to implement conscription, thereby obligating the great houses to raise men to fight for their king.

Following the Great Council of 421, significant reforms were introduced regarding service in the King's Guard. Those heirs of great houses are now required to complete four years service and training within the King's Army as wards of the king although this time can be commuted upon ascension as Lord/Lady Paramount of their house. This training is relatively light compared to full military training, designed to balance the economic and educational responsibilities of these citizens with their military duties.

Pyrenne University is a theological university founded in the year 262AR by Tristan of Pyrenne, a master of theology and galder and was recognized by the King as a royal college in 289AR. It's Faculty of Theology is unrivaled across the entirety of the world and is considered one of the foremost institutions for education in galder, theology and philosophy.

Pyrenne admits its students on the basis of the national ranking system and the census taken each year, those students with a sufficiently high natural affinity for the study of galder are offered a place in which to study it beyond the common extent offered by tutors and hedge-witches.

Pyrenne has in recent years, following the second civil war and the increase in punishment by religious courts for physicians who attribute false rankings, with an increased student cohort particularly from the yeomanry and international scholars though the large majority of the general cohort remains largely consisted of the children of nobility.

Beyond its Faculty of Theology, Pyrenne University is one of the foremost institutions driving forward the development of innovations regarding farming and building, mechanics and the engine'ering class that has developed in major cities across the Empire.

Situated in the capital city, Pyrenne University benefits from its central location in what is often regarded as a hub of youthful energy and societal activity. Its reputation as a center for young nobles and genteel individuals enhances the college's role as a key venue for social introduction. It is frequently heralded as a place where the most advantageous social and matrimonial matches are made, positioning it as a pivotal institution in shaping the elite's social landscape.

The Empire

The Empire, as it is commonly known, is a vast realm governed by the Nine Paramountcies and the Imperial Household, all of whom rule from the King's Seat. This grand structure of power was forged between the years 23 ANU (Anno Non Unitus, or Year of the Ununified) and 1 AR (Anno Rex, or Year of the King) through the conquests of King Adan I, who earned the title "the Unifier."

From its inception, the Empire adopted an expansionist stance, which has characterized much of its history. This policy of territorial growth has been met with widespread approval among its citizens, largely due to the substantial wealth and resources it has brought to the nation. As the largest empire in the world and the unifier of the continent, it has established itself as the dominant lingua franca of common, further solidifying its influence and stature.

Throughout the Empire's history, the Imperial Household and the title of King have primarily been held by House Galagar, reigning from 1 AR to 399 AR, and later by House Wynd, from 399 AR to 438 AR. There have been instances where other houses acted as regents, temporarily holding the title on behalf of House Galagar, such as House Cruller (348 AR-352 AR) and House Abbey (9 AR-13 AR & 154AR-155AR).

Despite its vast wealth and dominance, the Empire has faced relatively frequent rebellions in its paramountcies where calls for independence have persisted. Historically, these uprisings have been met with swift and overwhelming military responses. However, recently in 399AR during the Wyndham Rebellion, King Hendrick the Conqueror succeeded in overthrowing House Galagar and replacing it with his own house who have led the empire since.

*The lore detailed here is accurate but also only extends as far as the protagonist's knowledge of these subjects at the present time of the fic, some detail will be lost or may have been withheld from the MC and they may have misconceptions.

Romances

When the advisors are not praising his good sense, nor the bards his mirth, the church his piety or the poor his generosity, the question emerges just who is King Edmund I Wynd?

The young king thrust into a position of power who uses it as well as he knows how, having learnt from the mistakes of his grandfather and father and the long shadow of war that is still cast over the continent?

Or is he merely the figurehead, installed after a turbulent civil war, a king whose true authority has been surrendered to the councilors around him, contenting himself with the trappings of kingship rather than its substance?

Alas who is to know?

Name: King Edmund I Wynd

Age: 21

Height: 6'5

Appearance: Edmund stands at a 6'5, noticeably lanky although his seemingly permanent jaunty posture appears to cut an inch or two of him. He possesses short bronde hair styled in such a fashion that it appears wind-swept and fashionably ruffled with various products used to achieve the effect. He possesses a lean athletic physique although it is evidently achieved through some sort of diet or exercise for aesthetic rather than being muscles created by years of work. He nearly always has a relaxed expression with a smile and his pale face is framed by his grey eyes.

(he/him) poly-route, solo-route

Tropes: Life of the Party, Commitment Issues

Could it be that she, the queen consort, wields the true power behind the throne, acting as a surrogate for her kind lord, who never could bring himself to grasp the reins of authority?

She possesses the strength and allure of a king in her own right. Under her vigilant oversight, the king’s armies have routed the empire's foes, and now her gaze turns inward, determined to root out the treacherous elements within the realm.

Yet, amid her march towards peace at the end of a sword, there are those who seek to see her order destroyed. How long can it last? A queen consort without an heir, without children, lacking a direct claim to the throne, aging, and some even question her bond with the king himself.

Name: Veronica Abbey-Wynd

Age: 36

Height: 5'9

Appearance: Veronica stands straight at a tall 5'9 although her heels often push her to 5'11 or even 6'0. She has long wavy chestnut brown hair although more often than not it is in an updo of some sort for practicality. She has a healthy physique with faint lines and wrinkles, with an olive skin as well as doe-shaped deep brown eyes. Somehow a picture of beauty and severity, all the soft lines of her body somehow harsh.

(she/her) poly-route, solo-route

Tropes: scary hot, masc women

Walthe Courtney, Commander of the King’s Armies and Protector of the Realm, emerged as a formidable figure in the Second Civil War. Leading the rebels with unmatched martial prowess, he earned the acclaim of being the finest swordsman in the land. His valor and leadership were instrumental in overthrowing the usurper-king and restoring order to the fractured realm.

In the aftermath of the bloody conflict, he was celebrated as a folk hero—a commoner who rose to lead his people to victory and bring about a semblance of peace. His contributions were rewarded with knighthood and elevation to nobility, an ode to his honour.

Now, as Protector of the Realm, Walthe ensures the continuation of stability with a steady hand. Yet, despite his efforts, a persistent thorn remains, a challenge beyond even his considerable grasp, casting a shadow over his otherwise successful stewardship.

Name: Walthe Courtney

Age: 43

Height: 5'11

Appearance: Walthe has short, practical wavy black hair streaked with grey throughout, reflecting years of experience and hardship. their muscled, well-built stature is a testament to their years of service. He has warm tanned skin, indicative of his heritage being from the centre of the continent. His light green eyes stand out against his rugged features, with a determined, piercing gaze.

(he/him/they) solo-route

Tropes: The Stoic, No Sense of Humour, Heroic BSoD

From the day his family and house declared for the usurper-king, it was clear that Lorn Greenspan, the youngest of seven brothers, would be sent away as a ward.

Only eight years old, he had to play his part, leaving behind the familiar chill of his home—its cold peaks and harsh landscape fading from sight. He was a pawn in a conflict he could scarcely comprehend

His father had told him plainly that he must be strong—because until the day their house bent the knee, Lorn would remain a ward, and his father had no intention of surrendering.

Forced to adapt, Lorn became useful, talented, indispensable—not out of love for those his family would call captors, but out of necessity. Now, he stands as your closest advisor and a member of your house in all but name—cool, calculating, indifferent. Yet beneath that icy exterior burns a quiet resolve. Though he never expects his father to yield, he is determined to see his homeland again, even if it means waging war to bring it to heel.

Name: Lorn of Greenspan

Age: 18

Height: 6'0

Appearance: Lorn has a thick head of dark chestnut hair, gently wavy, it is always styled fashionably with pomade and volume. He has a tawny complexion and almost amber, brown eyes that if you didn't know him you'd think were perpetually concerned and caring rather than probing and scanning. Though under his stylish clothes you couldn't tell it, his body is lean and athletic from harsh training.

(he/him) solo-route

Tropes: advisor-turned-lover, secretly-in-love, black cat

The unbroken line of Galagar Kings may have fractured at Kirston Wall, but the proud Highland rulers never truly relinquished their claim. To them, Hendrick the Conqueror and his descendants are nothing more than traitors. Yet, they understand that a king's throne is grounded in the right of conquest, and so they bide their time, quietly assembling their forces, tempering their men, and honing their blades.

Preparing for the inevitable clash, they drill relentlessly through lashing rain and violent gales, each generation more convinced of their righteousness and the frailty of their enemies. The realm may slumber in uneasy peace, but in the Highlands, war is always on the horizon.

Kent Galagar, the young Lord of Kirston, was shaped by this belief from childhood. His father, his grandfather, and his great-grandfather—all were kings in their own eyes, their thrones stolen by usurpers. To Kent, acknowledging this truth makes you an ally, a friend. To deny it brands you an enemy, destined to be crushed when the time comes.

For Kent, proud, arrogant, and stubborn as he may seem, the world is divided by a simple truth: those who support the Galagar claim, and those who will fall before it.

Name: Kent Galagar

Age: 18

Height: 5'9

Appearance: Kent possesses a mane of thick, raven-black hair, often left loose or tied back with a leather strap. His skin is scattered with freckling, with a pale complexion. He has piercing blue eyes and a gaze that can shift from arrogant levity to fiery determination in an instant. His powerful frame is unmistakable, with broad shoulders and a chest that strains against the fabric of his tunics. His physique is defined—broad-shouldered and muscular, but not overly so, with a build that suggests both agility and power. His movements carry the confidence of someone who knows his strength and is unafraid to use it.

(he/him) solo-route

Tropes: Intense, enemies to lovers, jerk with a heart of gold

The nobility are arrogant, cruel, greedy, scheming, and foolish—qualities Arfryn has learned all too well through her peripheral access to them. Her current place among them is no accident but the product of the sweat, blood and tears of her entire family.

Born to a guildman father and a common mother from the east continent, Arfryn witnessed firsthand how the shifting tides of national conflict mirrored the fortunes of her own family. Every struggle either bolstered their wealth or teetered them on the brink of ruin, a fate shared by the yeomanry at large.

Her father, Jasper Caldwell, is the first Premier elected from the Small Parliament, a yeoman elevated by the newly enfranchised class. He has—in no uncertain terms—made it clear that his own position hinges on the peace of the realm.

Arfryn, understanding these dynamics, sees through the superficial grandeur of the nobility. Though she finds them to be the very embodiment of arrogance and folly, she is determined to bend them to her will. For now, she plays the game—offering smiles, be gracious, and dance while they are watching.

Name: Arfryn Caldwell

Age: 20

Height: 5'11

Appearance: Arfryn has a striking presence with her rich, deep brown skin and loose, jet-black braids that cascade down her back. Her eyes are a penetrating dark brown, revealing a sharp intelligence behind a charming, amiable demeanor. She dresses in elegantly simple fabrics that highlight her natural grace—always muted and refined to suit her surroundings but always at the very forefront of courtly fashions. At 5'11 her movements are deliberate, blending seamlessly into the nobility’s world, designed to make her easy to like and hard to hold grudges against.

(she/her) solo-route

Tropes: Steel Magnolia, Dark Feminine

In public Dean Champion is everything a Lady-Knight should be, prodigiously skilled with both galder and weapons, valiant, chivalrous and extremely popular amongst all who meet her or have the chance to witness her in action.

She like many knights is also spoiled to a fault, her suits of armour gleaming and her squire-boys tasked with keeping them so, as they are expensive and extravagant. Indeed she wears them because all people like a performance.

In private, Dean has dedicated herself entirely to her studies at Pyrenne University, determined to learn all there is about the study and practice of galder and perhaps indeed the deeper secrets that only the great masters know—all the better to become both loved and indispensable to the state.

As the younger sibling of a line with many children, she does not expect to ever inherit and nor does she ever want to, she is entirely content with her career as a tourney knight and the life she's lead in the King's Seat thus far. Indeed Dean has long been utterly convinced that she'd make an awful Lady Paramount, she is convinced utterly that all those like her that revel in the spectacle, the fervor of battle and tourney alike are utterly unsuitable for such position.

Name: Dean Champion

Age: 19

Height: 5'9

Appearance: Dean has long deep auburn hair, typically braided for both practicalities sake and fashion, with strands often escaping to frame her face. Her skin is fair as if she'd somehow escaped the sun of both her home and the tourney. Her pale green eyes are bright and framed by dark eyelashes. Dean's build is athletic and commanding, showing off the results of rigorous training and combat practice, yet she carries herself with a grace that befits her status as a renowned Lady-Knight. Her entire demeanor projects a sort of graceful confidence, like that you'd expect of a Prince of ages past.

(she/her) solo-route

Tropes: The Lady and Knight, Knight in Sour Armour

Fran has long understood that she commands little respect at court—indeed, as a bastard, she finds herself dismissed even within her own family. Yet there is one, a young Lord who is but a child, who gave her legitimacy, who looks up to her, and has earned her unwavering loyalty. Her beloved little brother.

It is for him that she accepted the king's invitation to the King's Seat, to train in the King's Army. She wants to be his eyes, his ears, and his sword.

True loyalty is a rare commodity among the highborn, for what do they owe anyone but themselves and their own appetites?

She is content to endure their scorn and wear the title "Loyal Hound" with pride. After all, what insult lies therein? A good hound is strong, lethal, obedient, loved, loyal, and free to roam so long as it always returns. And return to him she will.

Name: Fran Radwell-Cadderly

Age: 18

Height: 5'7

Appearance: Fran's dirty-blonde hair is cut short, falling just above her shoulders—a length chosen for practicality rather than fashion. Her complexion is fair, lightly sun-kissed from time spent outdoors, with a few sun-spots across her nose and cheeks. Her eyes are a dull blue-green, carrying an intensity that contrasts with her otherwise unassuming features. Her build is lean and wiry, reflecting a life of rigorous training, with a strength that belies her slender frame. Though she dresses simply, her presence is commanding, a blend of quiet confidence and restrained power and it makes her feel much bigger than the 5'7 she stands at.

(she/her) solo-route

Tropes: Guard Dog, Loyal Companion, Golden Retriever

Additional

Demo: out now!

Pinterest: not yet available

Art: not yet available

Feedback Survey: not yet available

All Asks and Reposts are appreciated, work will be slow but steady and a demo should be ready shortly!

ask me lore questions please, I have far too many notes on this.

#current wip #interactive fiction #status: wip #choicescript #for king and country #forkingandcountry-if #if demo

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whencyclopedia · 4 months ago

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Alexandria: The City that Changed the World

"Alexandria: The City That Changed the World" by Islam Issa is a biography of a city. It explores the history of Alexandria, Egypt, and its place in our collective memory. It is in part history book, essay, and travel guide, suitable for casual readers. Issa covers up to the 1952 Egyptian Revolution through the lens of his family history. Along the way, he describes the physical city, from the waterfront Qaitbay Citadel where the Lighthouse of Alexandria once stood to the congested downtown.

The book begins with Alexandria's founding by Alexander the Great after he conquered the Persian Empire. Like its legendary namesake, the city was destined for fame. Its strategic and symbolic value made it a coveted prize of world conquerors like Augustus, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Admiral Nelson. The city witnessed the death of Cleopatra, Christianity's triumph over paganism, the rise of the Islamic Caliphates, and the Industrial Age. Even today, Alexandria is an important center of trade, culture, and industry.

The Ptolemaic dynasty, who ruled Egypt in the interim between Alexander and the Roman Empire, transformed it into their crown jewel. Through institutions like the Library of Alexandria, the city became a capital of knowledge and scholarly collaboration. The combined civilizational heritage of East and West birthed a unique urban culture and architectural marvels. This wealth and cosmopolitanism attracted the artistic and scholarly communities that shaped the city's image.

Issa is a professor of literature and history at Birmingham City University, and his family lived in Alexandria for generations. The result of his experience is a powerful monograph on the city’s cultural significance. It is firmly rooted in historical fact, and it is easy to pick up on Alexandria's personal importance to the author. In the prologue, he recalls his father's old stories about Alexandria's former glory, and how they took on new significance for him as he confronted the legacy of Alexandria as an adult. The memory of the ancient city lives on as part of Egypt’s national mythology, inspiring modern-day monuments and legends.

Rather than repeating myths, Issa seeks to critically examine them in light of factual evidence, allowing both the real and imaginary Alexandria to exist side-by-side. At the beginning of the book, there is a series of maps depicting the city at different points in time, from its foundation to the 21st century. It also contains a collection of photographs, some capturing the city today and others portraying its historical sites and artifacts. While intended for casual readers, the book has endnotes and a bibliography to point readers in the direction of further study.

The author concludes the book with an examination of Alexandria's identity and Egyptian national identity in the present day. In contemporary Egypt, there is broad support for historical preservation, but politics determine which histories are deemed worthy of preservation and which are censored. Environmental changes and the rapid construction of an ever-growing modern metropolis on top of the ancient city threaten archaeological efforts. As has been true since the city’s foundation, what is believed about Alexandria’s past – and what it means to be Alexandrian – is constantly changing.

#History #PtolemaicDynasty #Alexandria #EgyptianHistory

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duchesssoflennox · 4 months ago

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"The Monarchs of Queen Victoria’s Legacy"

Wilhelm II was the first of Queen Victoria's grandchildren to ascend to a throne, becoming German Emperor in 1888. His reign initiated the lineage of monarchs descended from Victoria. The last to be crowned was Marie of Romania in 1914, marking the end of an era for Victoria's royal progeny.

Queen Maud of Norway holds the distinction of having the longest tenure as Queen Consort among Queen Victoria's grandchildren, with a reign that spanned 33 years. Her time on the throne was characterized by a harmonious blend of British heritage and Norwegian culture, leaving a legacy of benevolence and cultural patronage. Conversely, Queen Sophia's role as Queen Consort of the Hellenes was the briefest, lasting just about 4 years due to the political upheavals of World War I and Greece's National Schism, which led to her husband's abdication. Despite the short span, her resilience and dedication to her royal duties remained unwavering.

The execution of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna was a deeply tragic event, reflecting the brutal reality of the Russian Revolution. On the night of 16-17 July 1918, she and her family were executed by Bolshevik revolutionaries in Yekaterinburg. Alexandra witnessed the murder of her husband, Tsar Nicholas II, before she herself was killed with a gunshot to the head. The violence of that night brought an abrupt and grim end to the Romanov dynasty, extinguishing the lives of the last imperial family of Russia in a stark and merciless manner. Her death marked the first among Queen Victoria’s crowned grandchildren. In contrast, Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain lived through the upheavals of the 20th century, witnessing the restoration of the Spanish monarchy. She passed away in 1969, the last of Victoria’s crowned grandchildren, her life reflecting the dramatic changes of her time.

George V’s United Kingdom, a realm where tradition blends with modernity, continues to stand firm. The monarchy, a symbol of continuity, has weathered the storms of change, its crown passed down through generations, still reigning with a sense of duty and connection to the people.

Maud of Norway’s legacy endures in the serene beauty of Norway, where the monarchy remains a cherished institution. Her reign, characterized by a quiet strength and a nurturing presence, is remembered fondly, and the royal house she helped establish continues to flourish.

Margaret of Connaught’s Swedish monarchy, into which she married, stands resilient. Though she never became queen, her descendants uphold the traditions and values she embodied, maintaining the monarchy as a pillar of Swedish national identity.

Victoria Eugenie of Spain saw the Spanish monarchy navigate the tumultuous waters of the 20th century, enduring a republic and a dictatorship before being restored. Today, it stands as a testament to resilience, with her bloodline still on the throne, embodying the spirit of reconciliation and progress.

In stark contrast, the fates of other monarchies were marked by tragedy:

Wilhelm II witnessed the fall of his German Empire in the aftermath of World War I. His abdication marked the end of an era, and he spent his remaining years in exile, a once-mighty emperor without a throne, reflecting on the lost glory of his realm.

Sophia of Hellenes experienced the disintegration of the Kingdom of Greece amidst political upheaval. The monarchy, once a symbol of national unity, was abolished, leaving her and her family to face the harsh reality of a world that had moved beyond the age of empires.

Alexandra Feodorovna’s Russian Empire crumbled during the Bolshevik Revolution. The tragic end of the Romanov dynasty saw her and her family executed, their fates sealed by the tides of revolution that swept away centuries of monarchical rule.

Marie of Romania’s kingdom, once a beacon of hope in the aftermath of World War I, eventually succumbed to the forces of history. The monarchy was abolished after World War II, and the royal family faced the stark reality of a republic.

#wilhelm ii #Marie of Edinburgh #Marie of romania #George v #alix of hesse #alexandra feodorovna #Margaret of connaught #Margaret of Sweden #Victoria eugenie of Spain #Sophia of Prussia #Sophia of Hellenes #Sophia of greece #queen maud #princess maud of wales #Victoria eugenie of battenberg

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deadpresidents · 10 months ago

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GEORGE WASHINGTON •Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) •His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) •George Washington: A Life by Willard Sterne Randall (BOOK)

JOHN ADAMS •John Adams by David McCullough (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) •Passionate Sage: The Character and Legacy of John Adams by Joseph J. Ellis (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) •John Adams: Party of One by James Grant (BOOK)

THOMAS JEFFERSON •Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) •American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph J. Ellis (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) •Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History by Fawn Brodie (BOOK)

JAMES MONROE •James Monroe: A Life by Tim McGrath (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) •The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness by Harlow Giles Unger (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) •James Monroe: The Quest for National Identity by Harry Ammon (BOOK)

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS •John Quincy Adams: American Visionary by Fred Kaplan (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) •John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, A Private Life by Paul C. Nagel (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) •The Lost Founding Father: John Quincy Adams and the Transformation of American Politics by William J. Cooper (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) •The Remarkable Education of John Quincy Adams by Phyllis Lee Levin (BOOK | KINDLE)

ANDREW JACKSON •American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) •Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times by H.W. Brands (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) •Andrew Jackson, Volume I: The Course of American Empire, 1767-1821 by Robert V. Remini (BOOK) •Andrew Jackson, Volume II: The Course of American Freedom, 1822-1832 by Robert V. Remini (BOOK | KINDLE) •Andrew Jackson, Volume III: The Course of American Democracy, 1833-1845 by Robert V. Remini (BOOK)

MARTIN VAN BUREN •Martin Van Buren and the American Political System by Donald B. Cole (BOOK | KINDLE) •Martin Van Buren and the Emergence of American Popular Politics by Joel H. Silbey (BOOK) •Martin Van Buren: The Romantic Age of American Politics by John Niven (BOOK)

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON •A Child of the Revolution: William Henry Harrison and His World, 1773-1798 by Hendrik Booraem V (BOOK | KINDLE) •Mr. Jefferson's Hammer: William Henry Harrison and the Origins of American Indian Policy by Robert M. Owens (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) •The Carnival Campaign: How the Rollicking 1840 Campaign of "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" Changed Presidential Elections Forever by Ronald G. Shafer (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

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jovianwishes · 5 months ago

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Hetalia and the myth of the Dutch independence war: a mini essay/rant

One thing I often see go by in the Hetalia fandom is the notion that the 80 years war/the Dutch Revolt was an independence war against the Spanish and solely that, sort of American Revolution style. This is not surprising, since for many years, over two hundred, this notion has been pushed and propagandized here in the Netherlands. But, modern historians are now pushing a different view on the 80 years war: the independence of the Dutch Republic was completely accidental and not the intended goal.

Ever since I began studying history in university this has been quite a special interest of mine. So I'd like to shed some more light on this new look at the 80 years war and why it actually makes complete sense. First of all: before the 80 years war there was no interest or idea that the Dutch provinces form 1 nation together. In fact, all the provinces, and especially the cities, were highly independent ever since the beginning of the middle ages. They all had their own identities, coin and even language sometimes. These provinces (which by the way, were their own countries (editors note: with which i actually mean duchies, counties, bishoprics, etc) but for ease I'm calling them provinces) and cities have centuries of history with each other as allies, rivals, and sometimes even conquerer. In generally, none of them really liked the other. The concept of a united Low Lands came *solely* from the top, from those that colonized the provinces (e.g. the Habsburgers, but before that as well with the Burgundy's).

The 80 years war started because the Spanish king began taking away the rights of cities and provinces, began taxing them heavily and started imposing trails against non-catholics. After peaceful negotiation didn't work, riots began breaking out in the south, in what is now Belgium (back then kind of the southern Dutch provinces). These riots formed a reaction that went all the way to the north of the Dutch provinces. Then the Spanish send in troops and the 80 years war was truly kicked off. Before I continue, it is also good to mention that some consider the 80 years war a civil war, which indeed had it's merits. Not all provinces and cities were in agreement with each other (in the contrary...) and religious differences caused a lot of tension within the rebellion.

So as I said, modern historians are in agreement with each other that until the last few years, there was no real interest in forming one country. The (northern and southern) provinces wanted to regain their rights, lower taxes and have religious freedom, that was their goal. The forerunner of the 'have the provinces become one country' party was William of Orange, an important noble who, although he was symbolic the figure head of the fighting Dutch provinces, did not achieve anything of what he wanted before he died. So, in the later stages of war (and, it is good to mention here that the war was not one monolith - it was a long series of conflicts stretching out many years), there came a slow realisation that the only way to win was to unite. And eventually, that is what happened. What follows was a true "Golden Age" for the Dutch Republic but also a time of *extreme* political unrest - the Republic was honestly constantly on the brink of falling apart because again, no province could agree with each other.

Anyways, I want to end this way too long post with saying that you're not wrong for depicting the 80 years war as an independence war. It's a notion that has been pushed for many years, but I would like people to consider a different way of looking at the NL. A way that considers that the provinces were just like the HRE: a collection of countries with long histories that deserve to have their own story told. I personally, in Hetalia, consider all the provinces their own personifications. Ned is for me the personification of the "Low Lands", an imagined community of trading and fighting provinces that would love to stab each other's hearts out and then steal their gold, hahah. Oh, and also, people need to remember that Belgium was an incredibly important factor in the 80 years war. The Belgian provinces, which back then were just the southern Dutch provinces, helped enormously in the fight against the Spanish but eventually they were too weak to hold up. Anyways, thanks for reading!

#hetalia #hws netherlands #aph netherlands #historical hetalia #mini essay #history #the Netherlands #dutch Republic

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stirringwinds · 2 years ago

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just pondering how old nations deal with the tumult of change; and i personally think that yao might’ve been the last to cut his hair short, after kiku and yong-soo. imo kiku did it first with the onset of the meiji era in 1867, followed by yong-soo during the gwangmu reforms launched by emperor gojong in the 1880-90s; the monarch is in western dress and short hair—and so is the nation. for yao, it’s not that he’s oblivious to how things are falling apart and the urgent need for reform. but he is the oldest of the three of them; he has kept long hair for thousands of years. it’s not that he hasn’t ever experienced defeat and changes at the hands of another nation—but as controversial as the manchu-style braid imposed by the qing dynasty rulers on the whole male population of china was, i think there was still that underlying sense of continuity with long hair for him; wearing his hair long became the one constant in his identity amidst all the drastic changes he’s weathered through the millennia.

and so in the wake of the opium wars, i think it fits if yao’s the one now left behind, watching his sort-of protégés turn away from his worldview symbolically. from being seen as the civilisation to emulate, by both tributaries and even enemies, to being defeated by the very same gunpowder technology invented during one of his golden ages. and kiku and yong-soo see what’s happened; the summer palace is burned to the ground, and yao is no longer the one at the centre of “all under heaven”. they followed yao’s clothing styles, philosophies, religion and kept their hair long like he did—but no longer, after this. he’s staring at the backs of their heads this time, and the only path seems to be to join them. because when it comes down to it, imo, yao won’t die on the sword of tradition for its own sake—he’s survived by being willing to change shape and form throughout history. it takes some time for him to work up to it this time, but he does, in the end— short hair and western dress it is, by the time of the xinhai revolution in 1911: ‘i have been called many names throughout many lifetimes. the empire is dead, long live the republic.’

#hetalia #hws china #hws japan #hws korea #hetalia headcanons #i feel like Yao had short hair through quite long periods in the 20th century #and it's more recently that he's grown it out long again for multiple reasons #whereas Kiku and Yong-soo never went back to long hair

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queering-ecology · 8 months ago

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Chapter 11. ‘fucking close to water’: queering the production of the nation by Bruce Erickson (part 2, final)

Land

First ‘canoe’ that European colonists saw were likely Mi’kmaq gwitnn, birchbark boats designed for both ocean and river travel (318)

The colonist’s name is mentioned but the natives in these stories don’t ever get their names so…the colonist realized that to go further inland he would need the gwitn, he needed “the boat derived of the landscape realities of the new world” (Raffan 1999a, 24) (318)

the ‘canoe’ as a symbol unique to Canada (Jennings 1991, 1) (319), reworks essentialized aspects of indigenous cultures into a symbol of national health and success” (319) and as a “gift” from natives to settlers. The canoe as unique entity, because of the exploration done by canoe, the canoe is the guard that maintains the boundary of Canadian identity.

A vague connection could be made to the American symbol of the cowboy to the American west except the canoe is more ‘natural’ for being of the land and from the native people and further substantiated in its uniqueness by its use in colonialism.

Canada as a nation has ‘perfected’ the canoe; the only way the canoe can be made perfect is through its ability to be incorporated into European expansion (320) the connection of the land to the canoe as a discourse of inevitability illustrates the privileging of the European subject as the natural inheritors (indeed, the rightful inheritor) of First Nations land…and implicitly heterosexual and patriarchal subject (320-321)

Possibility

“We cannot possibly anticipate what might happen, if we were really to consider the ten million bodies at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean "(Shannon Winnubst, 190) (324)

“Rethinking nature that is not bent toward the utility of power” (324) Opening ourselves to the possibilities of history means addressing the ways in which the ideologies and concrete practices that have formed our current understanding of nature represent more about the desired human outcome than they do about anything nonhuman (324)

Similar to really considering 10 million dead bodies in the Atlantic Ocean, this would mean really considering (as a broad list) the malicious wars over land and fur, the forced conversions, the repeated exposure to flu epidemics, the establishment of reservations and classification of First Nations as wards of the state, and the widespread physical and sexual abuse in residential schools designed to assimilate and civilize a supposed “savage” population” (324).

The Kiss of the Fur Queen is a novel by Tomson Highway, Cree playwright and novelist. Two Cree brothers are taken from their parents to a residential school several hundred miles away at the age of six, baptized into the Catholic church and have their names changed, they forbidden to speak their language and are abused by the priests of the school. They are alienated from their parents by the education and sexual predation of the school priests, but also are disconnected from the land, language and culture of their people…(the canoe plays a central role in the story, where difficult conversations about their alienation take place). As they grow up one of the brothers finds “continual inspiration” from the traditional Cree culture and discovered a “need to know the cultures that were suppressed by the residential school”. “As the crowd dances to the migisoo, the eagle, Gabriel realizes its power: ‘Gabriel saw people talking to the sky, the sky replying.” (Highway 1998) (324-326) (this is a poor summary, i apologize.)

“The movement between tradition and innovation is always fluid and uncharted” (327)

“Thus, while as a quirky national joke, the idea of making love in a canoe surely belongs to the post-sexual revolution of the later twentieth century, we need to remember that as a national symbol, the connection it strives to make between the canoe, nature, and nation signals a sexual politic that was born of the age of imperialism. “

“As Foucault reminds us, the legacy of the Victorian repression of sexuality is held within the resistance of the sexual revolution that fails to move outside the biopower networks of modern sexuality.” (327)

#queer ecologies: sex nature politics desire #colonialism #canada #biopower #first nations #foucault #canoes #canoeing #queer ecology #queer theory #environmental politics #heteronormativity #residential schools

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autolenaphilia · 11 months ago

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I think a lot of the uproar whenever socialists suggest abolishing family and religion of the kind that is best expressed in this sentence: “how can you abolish religion and family, how would we then preserve traditional culture, it would mean cultural genocide and imperialism” stems from a fundamentally idealist understanding of the world. One that misunderstands Marx’s materialist view of history.

I mean idealism in the sense that ideas and culture drive history and societal change. Basically the course of history is decided by a struggle of ideas. This conflict is either peaceful in the liberal sense that people use reason to convince other people of their views, or it is waged by military means, and these military conflicts are seen as motivated by ideology, with the winner imposing their views on the conquered.

This idea is also driven by essentialist ideas literally coming from nationalism and religious “family values” conservatism, that religion, the family and ethnic identity are fundamental to human existence. And the only way for them to go away is for some authoritarian state to force people to give them up.

This creates a fantasy that abolition of family and religion will mean a totalitarian “communist state” using violence to force religious people to give up religion and breaking up families. And I presume said state waging war to force the rest of the world to give up religion and family. Literal cultural genocide with death squads. This fantasy seems to be inspired in part by Hoxhaist Albania’s “state atheism” and European colonialism forcing christianity on Africa and the Americas.

This fantasy however badly misunderstands the Marxian materialist perspective on culture, including family, ethnicity and religion, which is the basis for our predictions about the end of family and religion.

The short version is that we believe that the mode of production determines culture. Cultural institutions like family and religion and all of culture is dependent on certain modes of production, whether that will be feudal, capitalist or socialist. “The mode of production of material life conditions the general process of social, political and intellectual life. “ as Marx said. And that by removing the capitalist economic foundation on which family and religion as we now know it stands, a socialist revolution will lead to those institutions naturally being destroyed. People will want to abandon religion and the family because in the socialist system, it will no longer make any sense to them.

Religion acts as both moral justification of and consolation for the sufferings of a class society. A socialist society would not be “a condition that requires illusions” as Marx put it. And as Engels explained all the way back in 1847, communism will end the family “since it does away with private property and educates children on a communal basis, and in this way removes the two bases of traditional marriage – the dependence rooted in private property, of the women on the man, and of the children on the parents.“

One might object that the institutions of the family and religion have survived previous such revolutions, like the transition from feudalism to capitalism. Doesn’t that prove that they are permanent fixtures of human nature? But communism will be something radically different, as the The Communist manifesto explains:

“The history of all past society has consisted in the development of class antagonisms, antagonisms that assumed different forms at different epochs.

But whatever form they may have taken, one fact is common to all past ages, viz., the exploitation of one part of society by the other. No wonder, then, that the social consciousness of past ages, despite all the multiplicity and variety it displays, moves within certain common forms, or general ideas, which cannot completely vanish except with the total disappearance of class antagonisms.

The Communist revolution is the most radical rupture with traditional property relations; no wonder that its development involved the most radical rupture with traditional ideas. “

It’s a contradiction in terms to want to “preserve culture” and also want to radically change the economic foundation on which culture stands, any type of “left-wing” position that claims to do both is ridiculous. A wish to “preserve traditional culture” can only lead to a reactionary position, one in which society is kept in stasis, or somehow returned to an earlier state, a stasis which preserves both the economic foundation and with it the culture.

And of course no such stasis has ever actually existed. No economic system and its cultural superstructure is truly static, as history proves. Every culture has gone through multiple cycles of death and rebirth, the most serious are periods of social revolution that transition from one mode of production to another. But between those periods there is usually a constant process of cultural evolution. In the end all cultures have gone though a ship-of-theseus-like total transformation multiple times.

As the manifesto puts it: “What else does the history of ideas prove, than that intellectual production changes its character in proportion as material production is changed? The ruling ideas of each age have ever been the ideas of its ruling class. “

In fact, because capitalism is not a static system, we can see changes already happening in existing societies. The widespread secularization in the most advanced capitalist countries in western Europe, for example, shows how the decline of religion can happen peacefully and naturally. It wasn’t violent repression that has caused Swedes to abandon the Lutherean Christanity that once heavily defined Swedish culture, it was because it no longer made any sense in an advanced capitalist society.

In a socialist revolution, there will probably be violence, but it would largely be the reactionaries who would cause it. There was revolutionary violence against the Orthodox Church in the Russian revolution and against the Catholic Church in the Spanish revolution, but that was because the churches sided with the forces of reaction. And the men who benefit from the family, actual patriarchs, will probably react with violence towards any attempt to lessen their power. Even as we speak, men often react to women divorcing them by stepping up their abusive violence.

As for the accusation of imperialism, it’s true that this revolution will be global, because there is no other way to defeat global capitalism. “It is a universal revolution and will, accordingly, have a universal range.” as Engels put it. But it will have to be the work of the working class themselves, which precludes a state, local or foreign/imperialist, doing it for them.

As the manifesto puts it: “In proportion as the exploitation of one individual by another will also be put an end to, the exploitation of one nation by another will also be put an end to. In proportion as the antagonism between classes within the nation vanishes, the hostility of one nation to another will come to an end.”

For more information on Marx’s material conception of history, just read Marx and Engels. This is basically all based on Marx’s works specifically. It’s why I don’t use terms like “dialectical materialism” or “historical materialism” or even “marxism”, because he didn’t use those terms, those descriptions came from later interpreters of his work, but that’s outside the scope of this text.

The works I quoted above are a good starting point. The preface to A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy has a great introduction to his views, Marx himself summarizes them in a single paragraph and the whole book is worth reading. Regarding religion, another preface that states Marx’s view very clearly is the often-quoted introduction to A Contribution to the critique of Hegel’s philosophy of right, the source of the “religion is the opium of the people” quote. The Communist Manifesto is of course worth reading and quoted at length above. Engels wrote a FAQ-style draft of the manifesto called The Principles of Communism in 1847 that quite literally answers common questions about communism, particularly relevant to this post are the answers to questions 19-23.

#my writings #family abolition #marxian theory #materialism #idealism

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merik72-blog · 2 months ago

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What if Furina wasn't a girlfailure for 500 years? (Shorteneder Version (still long))

Off the top, I'm not a lore expert. If this doesn't make sense lore-wise, feel free to tell me all about it. Expect it, even. I just wanted to write this down because after experiencing her story, (when it dropped months ago in version 4) this idea just never got out of my head. I process media in a way where I'm constantly thinking on the level of "why did the authors make these specific decisions?", and I couldn't shake the feeling that the authors lacked a bit of imagination when considering just how long 5 centuries is. I have like over a thousand words of why I think this which includes a discussion of historicity and biblical allusion. I cut it all -- nobody wants to read that.

That being said, this is somewhere between a rewrite and like a notes document. In this, Furina is still fundamentally the same character. Her personality and mannerisms should be basically identical, even if she's more competent. This rewrite hopes to preserve the main beats of her arc: The confrontation by Arlecchino, the disaster which causes people to doubt her godliness, the trial, and a backstory which makes you pity her. I'm going to lay these out in chronological order, rather than plot order.

Backstory

Focalors told Furina the prophecy, leaving her terrified and overwhelmed. All the people of Fontaine will drown, and she will be left alone, crying on her throne. Despite her horror, some rebellious gumption rose up in her soul and allows her to steel herself. Much like Focalors before her, despite being handed a doomed situation, Furina decided that there was nothing she couldn't fight back against, even fate. Knowing that there's a flood coming, she put together a plan.

Furina decided that she would hold grand competitions every decade, gathering the greatest tinkerers, engineers, architects, anyone with interesting ideas in her nation to show off their most creative inventions, no matter what those inventions did. She would call these competitions Fontaine's Utopique Rendezvous for Industrie Nouvelleté, et Audacé* (FURINA). As their god, Fontainian culture was her privilege and responsibility to shape, so innovation and technological advancement would be placed at the core. With great patience, she would lead Fontaine from the Medieval age to the Industrial revolution. During FURINAs, as she strolled through the streets of Fontaine, the entrants displayed and described their creations to her to each would be personally judged by her. There is not a maximum or minimum of winners, there are only those who do and do not catch the eye of the Hydro Archon. At the end of the competition, she rewards the winners with her patronage to sponsor them and their ideas. These winners would come to be informally known as FURINA Scholars. She created these patron relationships usually with the goal of creating or improving a public infrastructure project or taking a particularly fascinating or promising invention from an impractical novelty to mass producible technology that anyone could use. FURINA Scholars had a hard time limit of 10 years, being required to present their progress publicly at the next FURINA by the latest. The results of these varied from practical, aesthetic, to insanely niche novelty toys you'd expect a French aristocrat to buy.

A lot of real kings and queens can't dedicate themselves to advancement in this way because their bureaucracy, the power structure beneath them, know that they don't have to be beholden to them forever. Each bureaucrat knows there will be another younger ruler eventually who would could be manipulated into giving more to them and less to the people. Not so with Furina. She would use the royal coffers however she wanted to, and nobody could speak out against her, lest they be hit with the combination blasphemy-treason from the judgement of the Oratrice Mechanique d'Analyse Cardinale.

(*This is intentionally butchered French, in line with the Oratrice Mechanique d'Analyse Cardinale. If you can't read it, it's basically Fontaine's Utopian Conference for Industry, Novelty, and Audacity. It's a funny acronym, and a bit on the nose in multiple ways, but I think it would be something she would come up with. I imagine that Furina would never call it FURINA, but over time people would start calling it "the FURINA" and eventually "the FURINA de Fontaine" in the way that people always start butchering acronyms when they become normal words.)

Every day, Furina's free time between these FURINAs was spent studying, learning, testing, and inventing in her study. If Fontaine was to be flooded by rising waters, she herself would be dedicated to finding a way to allow Fontaine to survive any flood. Out of the public eye, she found ways to spend every spare moment honing her skills and iterating her designs. She quickly learned to dismiss attendants that came to her with some spurious legislative work whenever she left the Opera Epiclese. Go to Neuvillette! She had a duty which so obviously rendered such things spurious. Paperwork? When Fontaine could be drowned any year now?

(Just as in the real story, it's implied that Neuvillette is vaguely aware that she must be working incredibly hard, but she deliberately hides her toil from everyone, including him.)

Obsessively, tirelessly, she toiled single-mindedly towards in designing super-structures capable of diverting, pumping, or otherwise controlling vast amounts of water. As she would sketch mockups of grand designs, she was thinking of public excuses for doing this rather than just using her "archon powers." It would make her seem more benevolent to say something like "I cannot be everywhere at once, and I need to be sure that the people of Fontaine shall not suffer a disaster under my rule, even out from under my watchful gaze." It was even true, in a way. Over the centuries, she carried out plans for every major Fontaine settlement's coastline and the entire capitol city to be protected by works of engineering which were equally intricate and gargantuan. At the same time, they balanced preserving the beauty of coastlines and consistency in aesthetic that is paramount for France. She directed the creations of these superstructures over generations with clarity and consistency in intent. She eventually became capable of concocting ideas that were not possible with currently invented technology, her innovation outdoing the rate of technological advancement. That meant she was not nearly finished. Waiting for technology to catch up with her ideas was always a good opportunity to update the physical build of her superstructures.

Despite her having already gathered vast and unmatched generational knowledge after her first full century of study, she still continued FURINAs to find the best and brightest minds of each generation. (If it must be done for Genshin's thematic consistency or ideology, these can all even be vision holders). These inventors who all grew up in the context of Furina's unparalleled genius had the privilege of standing on the shoulders of a giant. Innovations begot innovations, forming a virtuous loop which drove unprecedented progress in industrialization leading to evolutions in technology especially in civil engineering and hydrodynamics. As Furina's knowledge and mastery over engineering slowly but surely surpassed mortal limits, FURINAs seemed to be more and more judged based on eccentric, incomprehensible whims. With relative frequency, participants would watch seemingly impressive inventions be passed over, meanwhile random toys that just made her giggle and applaud would win. She would say "I just find these trinkets so charming!" but in truth, she saw potential in central conceits in inventions that had the chance to change the underpinnings of Fontaine's infrastructure. Or she just genuinely found them charming.

As time passed, Furina's structures continually improved to a point that they did not just avoid, but very publicly Dominated countless floods and storms that would have been disastrous otherwise. These creations legitimized her godhood and won her adoration in the eyes of the people, who wove countless folktales over the ages telling the tales of Furina's power - herding hurricanes and subjugating tsunamis. At the same time, this made her prodigious skill for the dramatic arts even more impressive through the plurality of her talents. This resulted in many full circle moments, where Furina would play herself in epics about her overcoming disasters, not that she wrote, of course. These would sometimes exaggerate her powers, like giving her omniscience or visions of the future, the perfect designs flowing freely and naturally from her hands, as though they were as effortless as breathing.

Of course, she was not truly invincible. Slowly, she started to fray. As new innovations became more difficult, technology caught up to her designs. After the superstructure renovations commemorating the 4th century of her rule, she was distraught. This was the first time she had updated her superstructures without the plan for the next one at least partially completed. She needed to spend more of her energy pondering, as just her "free" time was insufficient. This led to her to becoming more absentminded during official duties, having forgone sleep or being still caught up ruminating on how to optimize designs, improve existing technology, or apply them in a novel way, but for some reason nothing was coming to her after a few years of different experiments and trials. Even in discussions with her FURINA Scholars, they stopped having new ideas in hydrodynamic engineering projects, being drawn towards other directions where they wouldn't need to compete with god. As she crossed the 450-year mark, she was becoming increasingly aware of the fact that her designs weren't nearly enough to protect the entire country and even further from perfect. For the better part of the last century, any improvement had been like trying to squeeze water from a stone. In the last ten years, she has probably improved her latest flood barriers by less than a liter of water. 30 more years restarting from scratch over and over with her current knowledge, no meaningful improvement.

For the 48th FURINA, she decided out of desperation to hold a hydro-themed FURINA. As she walked the streets of Fontaine, talking to each inventor as they presented their work, she was distraught. A marked decrease meaningful innovation. Worse than this, she noticed that inventors were less interested in creating submissions for this FURINA. The sentiment she was picking up on was that they felt futility in even trying. What was the point of trying to innovate in a field that they can hardly understand? The cutting edge of hydro-related innovation was driven so far by Furina that they felt mortals need not apply. Who could even be given the privilege of becoming the decade's FURINA Scholars from such a lackluster field...? As always, she found a way to get out of a dismaying situation. She crowned herself as the winner, made a grandiose speech about who she was still unmatched in the domain of Hydro, and unveiled her side project of the Aquabus.

At the end of the hydro-FURINA, Furina had never felt so alone. For the first time since her first decade, she had not the faintest idea of what to do from here. Nobody did. She had already pushed to and past limit of her knowledge, of her peoples' knowledge, and the limits of material possibility in Teyvat. All of these centuries had passed her by, all these sleepless nights, all her evolutions in the design of Fontaine to fortify it, for what? A worm, wriggling on a stone, drying out in the sun. If she failed to prevent the flood now, what would any of that time mean?

Furina found herself standing in her study, towering alone above the room crowded with her innovations, blueprints, experiments. Her gaze floated over each page; her life's work surrounded her. Broken mechanisms, meaningless scribbles, trials without results. Countless wasted mines of materials, countless wasted gallons of ink, and countless wasted centuries of labor by her precious hardworking people. Not realizing she was fully sobbing, she slumped to the floor, picking up the blueprint of one of her latest redesigns. She couldn't see anything aside from bodies floating in the water. Her mind replayed the faces of every person whom she's ever worked with or learned from, whose families she met, and every child of Fontaine whom she watched grow. They died all the same. Her vision started to swirl as their faces closed in around her. They rose up all around her from the waters in her blueprints. She grasped at them desperately, begging them to stay with her. On her side, shaking, sobbing, with a bundle of ripped and crumbled papers clutched against her. For the first time since she was told the prophecy, she felt truly helpless. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her mirror. She scrambled through a carpet of papers, trinkets, and tools to touch her forehead to the glass.

"Mirror me, I-I've been doing everything I can. Our people have been trying, too! They worked so very hard, and they've built my all of designs beautifully."

Silence.

"Please, tell me you know something, anything that I can do now. I need to know. I can't let it end like this."

Silence.

"I never imagined that... that we'd even make it this far, mirror me." Furina was sitting now. With a smile on her face, she still couldn't stop the tears as she leaned against the mirror. "They truly are my pride and joy." Barely more than a whisper, an "I'm sorry" escaped her lips.

She had been doing her best for so long, but she had certainty now. Her best would not be enough.

A real Archon would be able to overcome this. On her own strength.

Furina cursed her inadequacy, mourning the people of Fontaine in her heart. It was torture. Every day, her job was to look at all the wonderful people that she was failing every day, people whom she was dooming through her weakness. During trials, she entirely lost the ability to focus on what's happening in front of her, her comments in the Opera becoming nonsensical and detached. More often, she handed off interpretations directly to Neuvillette, and tears sometimes leaked through when doing her fan meetups. Somehow, she still managed to hide her turmoil with audacious bravado as always. She felt more internally frantic as more years came and went. It was like desperately treading treacherous waters as she needed more and more effort to simply maintain surface appearances. The 49th and 50th FURINAs were brief respites from the gloom. Despite all of the stress in her life, the silly novelties of her people could still bring her joy. But when she returned to her private abode, she found that sometimes, not every time, she didn't want to work anymore. Instead, she would lay in her bed. Stillness without rest.

Her dead eyes blinked slowly, making no tears. She pondered, "How long has it been?" When she stared down at her hands, she could still see the souls of every Fontanian leaking through her fingers. The harder she tried to hold onto them, the further they'd splatter away. If only she had more time. Time, as always, passed anyway.

Plot time

Now, this is when the incident happens. Furina just hit rock bottom as the Traveler comes to town. Everything in the plot that played out in the main story happens mostly the same. This retroactively explains why all of Furina's arguments in the Mysterious Disappearances trials are so weak. Sure, she has a lot of experience presiding over trials, and it may be a top priority for her since this Furina is also excited about the opportunity for a Grand Trial that Focalors told her about, but she is so far from being on the top of her game right now.

Over centuries, Furina built this idea of infallibility, weaving a narrative to reaffirm her godhood. Fontainians believed that because each design was crafted by Furina directly, she made sure that none of them could ever fail using her uniquely intimate knowledge of the Hydro element. When Arlecchino called for an audience with Furina about the impending incident of unprecedented scale in Poisson, Furina was not just small or helpless with no excuse. Furina imposed upon Arlecchino as a god in her own land. There was to be absolute faith in her creations. Her power over hydro would never allow a Fontainian to come to harm.

"What does a puny rat like you think you know? I've thrown out socks that were older than you. Smarter, too."

Like a true god, she gaslit Arlecchino about what information Arlecchino had regarding the flood coming to Poisson. As the Regina of All Waters, not only did she have access to more information through her national information network, she also simply understood Hydro in a way that mortals couldn't comprehend. This is one of the only times that Arlecchino would seem even a little shaken by anything.

Furina didn't refuse to take precautions because she's a depressed NEET; Furina placed herself in this position where she simply could not possibly even suggest taking precautions. That would imply to Arlecchino and by extent the people of Fontaine that there was a weakness in her absolute power over Hydro and, by proxy, her status as archon. In previous centuries, she had only ever commanded upgrades to earlier designs as technology advanced to allow her to better realize her intended designs.

This made it all the more world-shattering for Fontainians when the symbols of their god, their faith in her power, warped and bursted under the immense pressure of more water than seemingly possible in nature (this flood is mega buffed in this plotline). The damage was horrific, but would be much much worse if not for the efforts of Arlecchino and the Spina di Rosula. This was the first time that anyone has doubted her as god, and nobody who doubted even wanted to because they've had faith for so long.

The trial proceeds nearly exactly as in the game, with the additional wrinkle that her centuries of age needs to be a hint as to how she could be such a genius of engineering without being the Hydro Archon.

After the trial

After her liberation, much of Furina's story is the same. She is so incredibly burnt out after finally being free that she has the same despondent attitude as she does in the game. She doesn't really invent in her free time, as she's a bit traumatized by the memory and sensation of using those tools. Even picking up a screwdriver reminds her of hundreds of years of sleepless nights experimenting desperately with the weight of the world on her shoulders.

The only real things that would change after the Archon quest would be -

In her character quest, Furina surprises everyone by proudly declaring her return to the stage on her own, having thoroughly enjoyed her time with the ragtag troupe. After a handful of lifetimes of endless labor with a dash of theatre, having the opportunity to do theatre full time sounds like great fun. The reason that she wouldn't have started before this quest is because of her burnout and exhaustion buildup ofc.

In Roses and Muskets, just take out all the times where Furina's trauma is played for laughs, or times where she's outwardly timid in a public conversation, especially when directing. Furina's reaction to imposing in public situations should be so well trained after playing archon should be instinctual after 500 years that she never gets caught slipping by an unfortunate circumstance. In private, she can still of course be her quirky self.

At the end of Roses and Muskets, she's not awkward about receiving the trophy. She's really happy, overjoyed even, having not been able to participate in any competitions herself in Archon era.

During Lantern Rite, Furina is on Cloud 9, going crazy and stupid finally leaving the country. She is positively giggly being charmed and intrigued by every single little thing in Liyue which is different from Fontaine. She walks around the street asking people about ridiculous and mundane things, like "What wood is this fence made out of?", "Do all your boats really need sails? Where are their engines?", "What techniques were employed to build villages on all these hills?", "Where is the toilet in this establishment?... oh Me... running hydro? DO YOU NOT HAVE ANY PLUMBING-", and various other questions about architecture, technology, and everything else she'd notice as someone otherwise incredibly knowledgeable who'd been stuck in one country for centuries.

Anyway, as a thanks for reading my yap, here are some drawings of tinkerer Furina loving life

#Tinkerina #genshin fanart #rewrite #character redesign #au idea #genshin #i love furina #maybe i should repost these drawings separately for anyone who doesn't want to read several thousand words of yapping #don't expect much more of this #i meant to give her a teardrop shaped gold pocket watch but i forgot to add it #in this essay i will #essay #how to stop my yap #first post #so yeah #if i don't post this now i'll never finish anything ever #furina #i want to yap about every decision i made when designing her too but like this is long enough so . 3.

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vahvah · 10 months ago

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Well, I think the situation around the perception of iranian history and greek history in fandom is quite similar.

Let's be honest, for most people there is only Ancient Greece (by which they mean the history of the classical greek city-states + hellenistic period + roman period, we are not particularly touching on the dark ages and bronze age Mycenaean Greece, not to mention earlier times), which they - following the manga/anime canon - separate from modern Greece. And there is modern Greece, which, in general, began its independent existence in the first half of the nineteenth century, when a small piece of territory in the southern Balkans gained independence and was called “Hellas”. At best, they have ottoman rule as a kind of “preparatory period” when the canonical Iraklis grew up, did not understand anything and did not really decide anything. And at the same time, modern Greece is the son of Ancient Greece, who loves to be nostalgic about his cool mother, who did something great there more than two thousand years ago. Cool, yeah.

Likewise, for most people there is "ancient Persia" (before the conquest of the Islamic Caliphate in the 7th and 8th centuries AD) and "modern Iran", which they count from the Islamization of the Iranian plateau. In the manga canon, we have a character called "Persia", who people unthinkingly identify with the Achaemenid state, the Parthian Arsacid state, and the Sassanid state. In fanon, he (“Persia”) actively interacts (at war) with Rome, interacts with China and India in much rarer cases, and the mangaka also mentioned that he has descendants, one of which is “modern” Iran, yes. And, of course, there is an incredible amount of time devoted to the Achaemenid period (but not the greco-persian Wars, which shocked me when researching the fandom). Cool, yeah.

But you know what's surprising? None of this makes any sense.

If we take Greece... no, we take greek culture, we will understand that it has continuously developed, without gaps, from the time of the classical polis until the present moment, BUT, if you really want to find a watershed, then this is late antiquity. Why? Because in late antiquity, the pagan hellenes, living in their separate city-states as citizens, became christian rhomeans, subjects of the vast Eastern Roman Empire (which in fact is still perceived as a Republic). The roman "imperial" identity replaced the greek polis identity - although the greek language still dominated in the East, especially after the Avar conquest of the Balkans, when the Empire lost the latin-speaking provinces. The perception of “hellenic” identity was very complex, it experienced a revival, especially in the 13th century, when the roman/latin identity began to be associated with the germans/italians/franks, enemies of the Eastern Empire, but this is if we are talking about intellectuals - the people considered themselves rhomeans. And guess what? The conquest of Constantinople in 1453 did not change anything! There was no break or fracture! The Church of Constantinople continued to be the guardian of this identity even in the absence of christian imperial power! And the people who started the Greek Revolution in the 19th century did not strive to create a small national state, no, in their eyes ALL of Anatolia and the Balkans were the historical lands of the Eastern Roman Empire, which they considered their country. The fascination with ancient pagan Greece is something that was brought from the West, which despised “Byzantium”.

And if you look at Iran, the real boundary between "ancient" and "modern" history is the conquest of Alexander the Great. Because - this will amaze many - but until the second half of the 19th century in Iran itself they knew nothing about the ancient history of the country! The first historical event preserved in chronicles and art, say, the "Shahnameh" of Ferdowsi, is the conquest of Alexander, which has nothing to do with the real one (I will only say that Alexander is considered a descendant of the iranian royal dynasty there). In Iran, they knew almost nothing about the greco-persian wars, about the Seleucids, about the parthian Arsacids and the roman-parthian wars! The real history in Iranian perception began only with the Sassanids, who were at enmity with “Rum” - but, first of all, not with Western, decrepit Rome, but with Eastern Rome! It was “Byzantium” that was “Rome” for the Iranians and for the entire Middle East until the 19th century, while the Western “latins” were the “franks”. Moreover, I want to note that the complete forgetting of the history of the country before Alexander in Iran began even under the Sassanids - largely because ancient persian was a cuneiform language, and cuneiform was forgotten (as for the iranian epic, its oldest part is eastern iranian in origin, western iranian, persian, it becomes only from the time of Ardashir the First). But the arab conquest and adoption of islam did not have such consequences! And when the revival of iranian culture and the new persian language began in the 9th-10th centuries A.D., it was a revival, albeit rethought, of Sassanian identity.

In short, while it makes sense to separate Ancient Greece from "Byzantium", it makes no sense to separate "Byzantium" from modern Greece. And the history of modern Iran begins with the Sassanids, not Islamization.

#hetalia meta #hetalia #aph #hws #aph greece #hws greece #aph byzantine empire #hws byzantine empire #aph persia #hws persia #aph iran #hws iran

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oliverferrie · 1 year ago

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It's Trans Day of Rememberance, time to support your local trans author while they are still alive

I originally put this thread up on blue birb hellsite, but I wanted to make a longer, more nuanced post for Tumblr. TDOR is a heavy day for me, and every time I see the list of names it makes me want to squirrel away and cry. So instead I want to spread around some books by trans authors, to uplift our voices. The books themselves are not necessarily about trans characters (mine is not) but my experience as a trans guy does inform the text, and when I read these other works, I feel a kinship to the author in that regard, however imagined that is.

I'll start, it's me, buy my horrific (seriously, read the content warning) fantasy book about young queers surviving atrocities: SUGAR PEOPLE

Next up: Δάιος, by Andromeda Ruins (@andromedaexists). A heavy anti-establishment retelling of the fall of Icarus that leans heavily into the reality of queer folk as outcast and put at risk by the powers that be. I have yet to finish it but the prose really slaps you with its urgency.

Next up: FEMININ GANGE (Feminine gait), by Molly Øxnevad, a contemporary novel about the trans healthcare system in Norway. It's written in Norwegian (bokmål) but I really hope to see it translated in English one day because it's such an important piece of literature on the state of our centralised transmedical health system here in norway.

Next up, MAO SIN RAUDE KJOLE (Mao's Red Dress), by Jan Elisabeth Lindvik, (also norwegian, nynorsk) a coming of age novel set in the backdrop of the sixties. It's only really available in Norway, and it's another one I hope to see translated someday, but it's worth knowing about, as it's a seminal novel by a trans activist with so many decades of lived experience, as the country slowly changed its views around trans folk.

Next, we have JACK OF THORNS, Book 1 of INHERITANCE by AK Faulkner, a dark urban fantasy featuring messy queers and LOTS of trauma. I had the pleasure of meeting Faulkner at a con earlier this year, and they have got an awesome thing going with the Inheritance universe. I've been enjoying Jack of Thorns a lot, it does not hold back.

Next, it's the astounding FRESHWATER by Akwaeke Emezi, a magical contemporary novel about dissociative experiences and trauma, and how they interplay with culture and growing up. A very intense and beautifully written book that isn't afraid to tackle dissociative identities AND gender identity (something those of us who have both often have to mask for fear of being denied treatment).

AND THEY LIVED... by Stephen Salvatore, a very contemporary YA romance that deals with societal issues around being gay and nonbinary. It's written from the POV of a cringey, hopeful teen, and dances between happily-ever-after romance and a pointed exhumation of incredibly dark things.

Finally, LARK & KASIM START A REVOLUTION by Kacen Callender, a contemporary YA written in a comfortably snappy rhythm, about love, friendship and a social media mishap that spirals out of control.

If you are an author listed here and you want off this list, just let me know! If you are an author and you want ON this list, feel free to reblog and add your stuff.

Otherwise, go forth and support a trans author today! Connect with our stories, real and imagined. Increase empathy and understanding around the world. Maybe TDOR will be a memorial of the past one day, instead of a memorial of the present day.

#tdor #trans day of remembrance #trans authors #uplift trans voices

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justinspoliticalcorner · 5 months ago

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Noah Berlatsky at Everything Is Horrible:

In the Anglophone world, the intertwined issues of Jewish identity and antisemitism are connected in public memory obsessively, and almost solely, to the Holocaust. Occasionally, perhaps, people also mention the blood libels of the Middle Ages, or the pogroms of Eastern Europe.

The Dreyfus Affair, however, is almost entirely forgotten. It is not a moment revisited in movies or television shows. Politicians do not reference it; there are no public museums in its memory; it is not a part of school curriculum. Even Jewish people hardly discuss it. I doubt one in ten Americans, of any ethnicity or religion, could even tell you vaguely who Alfred Dreyfus was. The disappearance of Dreyfus memory is a real loss. That’s not because we need to remember antisemitism. We do, as I’ve mentioned, remember the Holocaust. The Dreyfus Affair, though, was a victory over antisemitism, and a victory particularly for the diaspora, in a way that World War II was not. The Holocaust has largely been interpreted as an object lesson in the untenability of the diaspora, and the necessity of a Zionist Jewish ethnonationalism. The outcome of Dreyfus’ story is considerably more ambivalent. As such, it is worth revisiting at a moment when Zionism is busily and horrifically delegitimizing itself.

The Affair

Since, the outlines of the Dreyfus Affair are probably little known to readers, it’s worth covering them briefly. My discussion here, and throughout the essay, is mostly based on Maurice Samuels new excellent biography/history, Alfred Dreyfus: The Man At the Center of the Affair, part of the Jewish Lives series. During the French Revolution, France put into practice its new ideals of liberty and equality by, among other things, making Jewish people full citizens of the republic. After legislation in 1791, Jews were suddenly—for the first time in any European country—able to live where they wished, attend the best schools, and work in every profession. The results were immediate and dramatic. Jews made rapid gains in political and economic life; some became quite wealthy and influential.

Among those wealthy Jews was the Dreyfus family. Alfred Dreyfus, born 1859, grew up, like most French Jews, with a passionate commitment to the French nation and to the principles of equality which had liberated them. Determined to serve his country, Dreyfus attended the French military academy. He excelled and became arguably the first Jewish officer ever on the General Staff. His future seemed bright. And then, it all fell apart. In 1894, the French army discovered that there was a traitor on the General Staff who had been passing top secret information to the Germans. Dreyfus was accused of treason. The evidence against him was weak to nonexistent; his handwriting was said to match that on the recovered documents, even though it obviously did not. Nonetheless, he was arrested, tried in a sham military trial, and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was sent to the horrific penal colony on Devil’s Island in French Guiana. He endured tortures almost certainly intended to kill him. His wife, contrary to law, was not allowed to accompany him. Dreyfus was singled out because he was Jewish. The generals, once they had begun down the path of antisemitism, decided they could not turn back without undermining respect for the military. They forged more evidence, and stonewalled investigations as long as possible.

The Affair polarized sentiment in France, both on Dreyfus and on the place of Jews in French society. Liberal intellectuals like Émile Zola who believed in the Republic and a forward-looking, cosmopolitan, free and equal France sided with Dreyfus and demanded a new trial. The Catholic Church, the military, antisemites, and proto-Vichyites insisted that Dreyfus was guilty and should be punished—or, really, insisted that as a Jew he should be punished whether he was guilty or not. The hatred of Jews erupted into antisemitic riots throughout the country; Jews were beaten, their homes burned, their businesses destroyed. Several Jewish people were killed in Algiers, where there were violence against Jews occurred almost daily in 1898. Dreyfus was brought back for a new trial in 1899; he was convicted again despite overwhelming evidence in his favor, and eventually exonerated completely in 1906. He was restored to the rank of Major, and served with distinction in World War I. He died in 1935. Jewish people in France still leave stones on his grave.

[...] It wasn’t just Dreyfus and Jewish people who fought for Dreyfus though. The Affair energized every corner of the left, calling them almost uniformly to their best selves. Zola, for example, believed in a number of antisemitic stereotypes at the beginning of the Affair; his first article on the case argued that Jewish people had an innate talent for making money. From that inauspicious beginning he quickly became one of the most passionate gentile opponents of antisemitism in history; his famous 1898 pamphlet J’accuse was a devastating denunciation of the military coverup intended to force a number of generals to sue for libel. They did, and Zola was forced to flee the country—but not before opening the case again and ensuring Dreyfus’ retrial.

The political left in France was also, initially, wary of standing with Dreyfus because of antisemitism. For many socialists, Jewish people symbolized the banking industry and the upper class. Dreyfus, a wealthy Jew serving in the military, seemed the wrong man to rally working class parties. But eventually Socialist leader Jean Jaurès, and others in his party, recognized that Dreyfus had become the man, and the issue, on which Catholic monarchist and capitalist forces had decided to fight for France’s soul. In 1898 Jaurès gave a speech in which he denounced antisemitism as a threat to France; shortly thereafter he published a book defending Dreyfus and presenting the Affair as a matter of socialist solidarity. Some on the left refused to join Jaurès, and the Socialists split. But as Samuels’ biography of Dreyfus notes, “Jaurès helped ensure that a large part of the political left in France would align itself with republican values and against antisemitism for decades to come.”

Noah Berlatsky wrote in his Everything Is Horrible Substack about how the Dreyfus Affair served as a victory against fascism and antisemitism, and how it gave the left a tool to fight back against oppression.

#Dreyfus Affair #World History #Judaism #Zionism #Antisemitism #France #Alfred Dreyfus #Émile Zola #Jean Jaurès #Noah Berlatsky #Europe

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sirenjose · 1 year ago

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Jose Backstory Analysis (Version 3)

(Based on his backstory, deductions, letters, and other material)

Spanish Origins

We know from Paella, Jose’s food dish which references “Spanish sailors”, combined with implications from Jose’s 1st deduction that he was likely born in Spain.

Paella is a Spanish rice dish made using a variety of ingredients (all families have a different way they prepare it). The word itself comes from a Valencian word that refers to the pan the dish is cooked in. It was originally made with rice combined with whatever else was available locally, and is traditionally served family style, with the pan in the center of the table which people would eat straight from using only a spoon.

Paella Valenciana is said to be made with chicken, rabbit, and varieties of Spanish green beans (as well as saffron, paprika, and potentially several other spices).

Paella de Marisco (Seafood Paella) is made with seafood (rather than meat like chicken).

Paella Mixta (Mixed Paella) uses both meat like chicken and seafood.

The paella in-game appears to be Seafood Paella.

The story of Identity V takes place at the end the 19th century. As Jose is stated to be 25 years old, that means he was likely born around the 1870s, a time when Spain was going through both political and economic turmoil.

Politically, it was going through a revolution that overthrew the current Queen, a failed attempt at a republic, and a coup before the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy.

As for economic problems, this was a period of economic recession and high unemployment. The country had been dealing with several conflicts, including the Carlist Wars and Ten Years' War in Cuba, leaving the country in deep debt. Falling into recession, the government attempted to modernize the economy, but political instability, social unrest, and resistance made it difficult.

The Third Carlist War was from 1872-1876. The Spanish Navy (which Jose's father at least may have been a part of) would've been tasked with controlling the seas and protecting Spanish interests, but they faced a lack of resources and equipment, in part due to the government's financial issues, potential budget cuts, and the above conflicts.

Joining the British Navy

From deduction 1’s mention of “new identities, new flags, new routes” combined with Jose’s backstory and the reasons above, they likely came to Britain to get away from the turmoil and conflict in the hopes of finding better opportunities (especially in terms of a job and pay) and a better life.

As Jose’s backstory implies people saw them as “foreigners”, it is doubtful they’d been in Britain long enough to become naturalized citizens before they joined the Navy.

To become a naturalized citizen, this would require them to live in Britain for 5 years and fulfill a few other requirements (good character reference, knowledge of the English language, apply for eligibility, etc...).

In 1870, they wouldn't have been able to become citizens by marrying a British citizen as the British Naturalization Act of 1870 made it so a British woman who married a foreign man would lose their British nationality.

At the very least, a different section of that law did state that children under the age of 21 of a naturalized father (or widowed mother) were deemed to be naturalized if they were resident in the UK with the father (or widowed mother).

This is important to note that the Royal Navy didn’t accept foreigners.

According to “The Queens Regulations and the Admiralty Instructions of 1861” it states that “Foreigners are not to be entered for Her Majesty's Service in any capacity, except as Bandsmen, unless with the sanction of the Admiralty, if on the home station, or of the Commander-in-chief, if abroad; but under no circumstances are foreigners to be entered for continuous service.”

On the other hand, the British Merchant Navy did, and in fact recruited a considerable number of them.

The Navigation Laws by that time, which previously restricted foreigners from serving in the British Merchant Navy, were relaxed.

The Merchant Shipping Act similarly had few requirements or restrictions on who could serve besides having some general standards for all seamen. It didn’t even really make a distinction between British or foreign seamen.

Many foreigners were attracted to the British Merchant Navy due to the employment opportunities, chance to travel to new places, and the potential for higher wages than they could earn in their home countries.

The issue with both the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy though were the minimum age restrictions.

For apprentices in the Merchant Navy, the minimum age seems to have been around 12.

For the Royal Navy, the minimum age back then (according to the Queen’s Regulations and Admiralty Instructions of 1861) was 14. Additionally:

The minimum height for boys aged 14 or 15 was 4 feet 8 inches.

They also needed to have a "robust frame, perfectly sound and healthy constitution, free from any physical malformation, and intelligent, a preference being given to those who can read and write".

The boys also had to bring some satisfactory proof of their age (ex: declaration of birth or certificate) as well as the consent in writing of their parents to enter the Navy.

They would then undergo a medical examination.

After the exam, they would be engaged to serve in the Navy "continuously for 10 years from the age of 18, in addition to whatever period may be necessary until they attain that age."

Part of the reason for the minimum age restrictions may have been due to compulsory schooling being a thing that was introduced around 1880 up to the age of 11.

With Jose 10 years old or potentially younger, he would’ve been below that minimum age requirement. Despite this, a number of children did join the Navy even though they were too young. They did this either by lying, falsifying documentation (such as birth documents), via their parents influencing recruiting officials (as in to look the other way for example), or so on.

Some boys wanted to be sailors after hearing tales from others, being encouraged by friends, out of necessity if their families fell on hard times and to escape poverty, or if they were orphans they’d do it just so they could acquire some kind of food and shelter.

Considering the sort of economic and political turmoil going on in Spain at this time, it wouldn't be too hard to believe Jose did this out of necessity, potentially to help his father. Since Jose’s social status is stated to be Nouveau riche, meaning they likely got their wealth after the incident in deduction 3 and 4 when they were rewarded by the Queen herself, that implies they could’ve been much worse off when they were still in Spain as well as when they 1st came to Britain.

Since Jose states he sees themselves as “brave knights of the sea”, it is also likely he was inspired to want to join by tales from other sailors too.

Since the 2nd half of deduction 1 is “everything is going well, or better than expected” (or “it’s all going off without a hitch. Or at least, with less hitches than we thought there’d be” based on the translated version), which is phrased as if they expected issues or for things to go badly, when combined with the phrasing of them getting “new identities”, it’s highly possible the reason they might have issues is because they were using fake identities.

Fake identities (aka aliases or assumed names) were something people did in fact sometimes create/use, even when signing up for the Navy back then.

It’s possible we can look at Wu Chang’s 4th letter as evidence of this, considering “Chang XXXX” has seemingly changed his name “many times”, and he is implied to also be a sailor based on the description. There's also how Chang Chip is the name of 1 of the 6 Chinese survivors of the sinking of the Titanic (which ties to that “huge boat” they were mentioned to have boarded together). After the event, they were sent to the UK to support the sailor shortage during World War 1, so there’s a good chance Chang was as well.

This fake identity could’ve included a fake age for Jose. It’s also possible their “fake identities” could imply they were using other fake information, such as fake names (maybe “Baden” wasn’t their real last name, maybe “Jose” isn’t either) or fake countries of origin (as in, they pretended to come from someplace else, like Germany, instead of Spain, which could fit considering “Baden”, at least to my knowledge, isn’t a Spanish name and might actually be a German surname).

The need for fake identities may also imply Jose’s father at least (as he is older and has done more things than Jose, potentially bad things) had something he wanted to hide, or something about his past he didn’t want others to know about when he came to Britain. I’m doubtful he could’ve already been a pirate or privateer, as neither really existed by the late 19th century, but it’s hard to say for certain.

Going back to Jose’s deduction 1 where it says things are going “better than expected”, I do wonder if this could’ve potentially been written by Jose’s father rather than Jose himself (considering both their ages and the authority Jose’s father had).

Jose’s deduction 3 and his backstory imply Jose’s father already had some kind of authority and may have already been a captain despite them still being foreigners, as it says it was his father’s decision to change course. This is a decision that’s normally made by the captain.

If Jose’s father was a captain, with his influence, it likely would’ve been a bit easier for Jose to get into the Navy if he were below the minimum age requirement (especially as it wasn’t monitored as closely as it is today).

Captains tended to not like hiring younger boys, which they saw as a "burden on their profits" (expensive to train, cost money to be fed, etc...) and for the 1st year or so gave little in the way of labor back to the owner. Most captains wanted men who had some training, not weak young boys with potentially little or no education.

Examples of potential jobs/roles for young boys:

Cabin boys (cleaning cabins, running errands for officers, assisting with maintenance)

Powder monkeys (carrying gunpowder to cannons)

Runners (carry messages)

Ship’s cook

Had almost no qualifications to be one back then.

Entry-level profession for young men or boys with no particular experience with cooking or sailing.

Commonly given to foreigners.

Back in the 19th century, it wasn’t seen as “men’s work” and so some tended to give to those without the rights skills or to those they saw as inferior.

There are examples of foreigners who started as cooks and became Captains later.

The life of a sailor wasn’t an easy one, especially for the young. Reasons like those listed below were why this life was viewed as “masculine” and “heroic”:

Lack of sleep was common (especially with the Naval Watch System, meaning 4-6 hours of sleep was more common than a full 8)

The food tended to be of bad quality (and monotonous)

Long hours of back-breaking work

Required great discipline

Regular presence of physical danger

Side note regarding the Naval Watch System:

In the navy, ships always have a patrol to check everything and everyone on board to ensure all issues are identified and resolved swiftly. The entire crew, depending on the size, is divided into 2 or 3 "watches" (traditional royal navy used a 2-watch system) and assigned 1 of 2 watch groups: port and starboard. These were then split into different divisions and assigned a different area of the ship.

With the 2-watch system, sailors would work for 1 four-hour watch, then rest for 4 hours before working the next watch. So, sleeping patterns would be very different to those on land. The 3-watch system was more popular as it gave a much longer rest period between shifts.

Each watch fulfilled its tasks in its 4 hours. The 24 hours in a day (a naval day started at noon) was divided into 5 four-hour watches and 2 two-hour watches.

Afternoon Watch: noon to 16:00 (4pm)

First Dog Watch (2 hours): 16:00 to 18:00 (6pm)

Last Dog Watch (2 hours): 18:00 to 20:00 (8pm)

First Watch: 20:00 to midnight

Middle Watch: midnight to 04:00 (4am)

Morning Watch: 04:00 to 08:00 (8am)

Forenoon Watch: 08:00 to noon

One bell (for those without the benefit of a pocket watch) signified a half-hour, so eight bells denoted the half-hours in a four-hour watch and the Last (second) Dog Watch.

The reason for the dog watches was to swap the crew over so the same people weren't always on duty at the same time (it helped reduce the monotony while on board ship, so it's a little less of the same thing over and over). It also allowed the entire crew to enjoy the evening meal.

1 theory for why it was called a "dog" watch had to do with the slang "dog sleep", which basically referred to a light nap.

“The Nightmarish Waters” Incident

Jose and his father weren’t anything special initially, but by deduction 3, they were assigned a mission Jose’s father saw as important, one that “could not be delayed”. So, when they encountered a storm, rather than be cautious, he took a risk in his desire to complete the mission, due to his desire to rise in the ranks and achieve fame and fortune. As such, he changed course, causing them to sail through an area that was marked on their charts as “dangerous and not recommended for sailing”.

Based on deduction 4 mentioning they protected the Queen’s “wealth”, it’s possible their mission involved transporting goods of some sort. Potentially important or valuable goods based on Jose’s father’s opinion that this mission “could not be delayed”.

Unfortunately, Jose’s father’s risk did not pay off and the situation took a turn for the worse, as the area he chose to sail through proved just as dangerous as it had been warned to be.

Jose in his deduction 7 says there was “no storm” but there were “nightmarish waters”. Jose has no reason to lie about this in his own personal diary, not to mention everyone else on board could see the weather as well as he could. So, if it wasn’t a storm, other options that “nightmarish waters” could refer to include: rouge waves, strong currents, underwater hazards (ex: rocks, shoals, underwater canyons), obstacles, unpredictable weather patterns (ex: sudden squalls or micro bursts), etc...

There's no way to know without more detail, but I will say Lakeside's backstory references a sudden hurricane (to compare to deduction 3 titled "Windstorm"), and in Fiona's 4th letter, she talks about the lake water being odd (rising when normally it was always still).

Fiona's 1st letter uses the term lagoon, which is a shallow body of water that is separated from a larger body of water, like the ocean, by a barrier, such as a coral reef or sandbar.

Coral reefs and sandbars are hazards that can cause shipwrecks.

From deduction 4 and 7, we know the “nightmarish water” they encountered caused most of the crew to perish, though Jose and his father survived. This likely means the ship was damaged or sank, which could explain why it took 2 months before they could sail back home to complete the mission. If the ship took damage, it’s possible at least some of their cargo was also damaged or lost.

The fact it took 2 months to return is likely true considering everyone awaiting their return or for their cargo would be aware of how long they were missing.

So, much of the crew died, the ship was at least somewhat damaged if not totally, and they lost at least some or all their cargo, but they were able to sail home after 2 months. But before then, they likely washed up on shore somewhere and were stuck there until they could perform the necessary maintenance to their ship, or if they shipwrecked, until they could acquire appropriate means to allow them to sail back home.

Everyone’s feeling pretty depressed after everything they’ve lost, while Jose’s father is especially upset over the possibility he will fail this mission and thus ruin any future opportunities with the British Navy or with achieving fame and fortune. This is what leads to another detail from Jose’s deduction 7: that the “nightmarish waters” had “swept away” both the crew and their “consciences”.

Lacking a “conscience” means that the person is willing to do anything they want and not worry about the consequences. They’d be willing to hurt others and then show no remorse afterwards. They don’t care how their actions affect others.

At the same time, it confirms the way Jose’s father was leaning due to his desperation to ensure this mission would succeed at any cost, as it says “it also awakened the demons flowing through the Badens' blood”. The crew acting without a conscience and Jose’s father willingness to do anything to ensure success to the point its described as awakening “demons” heavily implies they became so desperate that they did something bad to ensure they could complete the mission and return home.

Theory: The Badens Involvement in the DeRoss Tragedy

My theory is they landed or wrecked near Lakeside Village and Oletus Manor, like the shipwrecked sailors shown during Season 18 Essence 3 and Season 19 Essence 1.

Then, once their ship had been sufficiently repaired or they had found a replacement, to help recoup the loss of their cargo, they participated in or led the attack on Oletus Manor, the same attack that caused the death of Alice’s parents and her separation from Orpheus.

Returning with Trauma

After carrying out their attack, they sail home and show their (stolen) spoils to the Queen. Jose’s father lies about what actually happened, saying they suffered in a bad storm and struggled against pirates but managed to guard the Queen’s “wealth”. This fake story is reported in the newspapers and the Queen rewards him handsomely for his actions, granting them “titles” (like Viscount to Jose) and their own wealth (how they became nouveau riche).

Additionally, according to 1 backstory, it states that, along with receiving the “Queen’s commendation”, they also received “the honor of leading the Royal Navy”, meaning they may have been transferred from the Merchant Navy to the Royal Navy by this point.

Jose’s father is happy to finally achieve his dreams of fame and fortune. The same can not be said for Jose, who is horrified at his father’s actions since the incident when he attacked and stole from innocents that helped them after their experience with the “nightmarish waters” as well as lying about what happened. Jose’s father likely refused to let Jose reveal the truth to anyone, which is likely why he wrote about it (to himself) in his personal diary.

There’s also a good chance he did this in part to try to help deal with his own trauma.

Jose, as I said, was potentially around 10 years old during this incident. This is based on Alice, who is 21 in the present, was reportedly 6 years old at the time of the tragedy. Meaning Jose, who is 25 in the present, would’ve been 10.

Besides basing it off Alice’s age, Jose being young to some degree (even if he’s not exactly 10) would also explain Jose’s trauma, and how he had such bad “panic attacks” and “night terrors” that nothing could cure. To the point the only way he was able to sleep was by drinking to try to help him forget.

Night terrors tend to affect children under the age of 13 more often than others, which Jose would be if he were 10 during deduction 3 & 4.

Panic attacks are more common in older teenagers and young adults, but it can happen due to being affected by a traumatic event. Younger children, like a 10-year-old, can be more easily traumatized as they're still in their developmental period, making them more vulnerable to stress or trauma. Though not all children develop psychological problems, as it depends on the severity and duration of the trauma, as well as their age, support systems, and temperament. They also have more difficulty processing or coping with such events and are more likely to experience physical symptoms in response to trauma.

Jose’s trauma was caused by:

His involvement in an incident that wrecked or damaged their ship enough to put it out of commission for 2 months with a high loss of life.

His involvement in an event where innocents, who likely helped the survivors of the nightmarish water and shipwreck, were attacked, their home looted, and some number killed, including the owners of the manor.

Both events he was involved in were caused by his own father, who lied about what actually happened.

A lack of support (we have no knowledge of his mother, friends, or other support systems, and his father doesn’t truly love him and only sees him as an object that he wants to ensure does his job) or coping systems.

As additional proof, we know both Alice and Orpheus are confirmed to have been deeply affected by the events of the tragedy.

Alice was called the "mad girl of doom" after the tragedy in the news articles from the official artbook, and her official backstory states she suffered "hysteria", while her trailer shows some of what happened in the asylum.

Orpheus during 1 of his trailers said he tried to "escape from reality", as well as suffered shock and delusion. It is also highly likely it is because of this event he develops his Nightmare personality as well as becomes the manor owner and eventually begins the manor games.

Jose’s Blessing

From here, the Baden family’s fame and fortune continue to grow, just like Jose’s father wanted. Unfortunately, Jose’s issues only continue to worsen over time, but Jose’s father doesn’t care and forces his son to continue helping him (the Captain) in his (Jose’s) role as First Officer. The major reason Jose’s father needs Jose is because of his son being “blessed by the god of the sea”, which caused “the winds [to] be silenced” and make the “ocean calm”. Considering the “nightmarish waters” that killed a majority of the crew, Jose likely had to have gotten this blessing right after that incident before they sailed home, or sometime after they finally completed that mission.

There is no information regarding where or how he got it, so the best we can do is guess.

Regarding the watch itself, the symbol on it is a Fouled Anchor:

Foul: a nautical term meaning to entangle or entwine, and more generally that something is wrong or difficult

Fouled anchor: refers to when the anchor has become hooked on some obstruction or has its cable wound around it

It is a condition at sea that is to be avoided, as it may cause the vessel at anchor to "drag" its anchor, thus endangering the vessel. To correct the situation was dangerous and time-consuming, and could usually only be accomplished by the most experienced sailors on the vessel

The fouled anchor has been the official seal of the British Admiralty/Lord High Admiral since 1588 (personal seal of Lord Howard of Effingham, who helped defeat the Spanish Armada).

It is also the emblem of the Chief Petty Officer (US Senior Noncommissioned Officer Rank)

Due to the fact the symbol and watch itself aren’t anything unusual (the watch itself was likely for the watch system aboard the ship, which I explained earlier), I don’t think he received the watch itself, more likely he already had the watch but it was blessed by someone or something else.

One possibility is he got it from Lakeside Village after they shipwrecked or when they landed when their ship was damaged from the nightmarish water. Fiona in her 4th letter does discuss the bottom of the lake and something strange about it, and we already know the villagers at Lakeside worshiped the lake deity aka Hastur, who has a Poseidon skin. Maybe if Jose fell in the lake after their wreck, that could’ve been when he got the blessing? Maybe from Hastur? Or maybe from Grace, or whoever that voice that spoke to her was in her last deduction.

Another idea is he got it some other way while at the village or Oletus Manor, since Dennis and his family did like Greek myths, but who knows.

Getting it while at Lakeside Village or Oletus Manor sometime during, after, or because of their trouble with the nightmarish water feels like it’d make the most sense.

I don’t think he got it as a reward or for any other reason from the Queen. If she did have it, why not give it to someone else sooner, or why not take it back when Jose’s father disappeared, since if she stripped the Badens of everything in her belief his father stole her treasure, she should’ve taken the watch with the blessing too if it did come from her.

I also think he would have to have gotten it fairly soon after the incident and their return, as Jose’s backstory implies a major part of their fame and success came because of that blessing.

(Even though Jose’s 4th letter mentions “The swaying pocket watch is finally back where it started” when he sees the umbrella, I’m not sure the blessing could’ve come from Wu Chang, as it was only recently they had it aboard the ship before his father disappeared, and the blessing is phrased like it’s been around awhile. It’s also possible that there is no blessing and it just has to do with the hypnosis he performs on himself or the “deep hypnosis” done to him, but we don’t know right now. I’m not yet ready to say for certain it’s not real, as Jose’s father is pretty intent on his son doing his job that it seems suspicious. Anyways.)

Drugs and Forgetting

Either way, for now, due to the lack of any information on this subject, it’s impossible to say for certain how exactly he got it. All that matters for now is Jose’s father needs it to continue to ensure his fame and fortune, which is threatened by Jose potentially being unable to sail due to his worsening panic attacks/night terrors.

Jose’s father needs to find a fix for this problem, but not because he cares. He still only sees Jose as an object, and just wants him to continue to do his job to ensure his own success and wealth.

Jose’s deduction 8 references “drugs” and “to forget is the best cure”. This implies Jose’s father may have at least thought about trying if not actually attempted to use drugs on Jose. Though we know from his deduction 6 that doctors “tried a variety of drugs with no obvious effect”. This implies Jose’s father had to have either been trying something abnormal, not one of the usual drugs.

If not drugs, it may at least imply he sought or attempted to utilize a solution that involved making Jose “forget”. As the trauma causing Jose’s night terrors and panic attacks revolved around the incident in deduction 3 and 4, caused by the nightmarish water which potentially led to Jose’s father participating on the attack on Oletus Manor, Jose’s father may have needed to cure Jose by making him forget that entire incident.

In terms of not the usual types of drugs, we know the manor owner has several, including Dionysus and Hydra which revolve around changing a person’s memory (either to forget or to rebuild it).

Though if Jose’s father did help cause the incident that resulted in the death of Alice’s parents, I’m unsure if the manor owner would want to help. Not to mention it seems like few are actually aware of the drugs he’s created, so I’m unsure if Jose’s father would’ve been able to hear about them himself. Though if he did, it’s possible he might’ve wanted to try to use his drugs on Jose. On the other hand, we do know Jose’s father to some degree was working with Sam Bourbon based on Jose’s 2nd letter, which states he carried cargo which belonged to Sam.

I say Sam as he was the 1 to create Dovlin, which is confirmed by both Demi’s release backstory as well as Demi’s 3rd letter. Dovlin we know was very popular based on her backstory, so much so that when Sam disappeared and Demi had to take care of the bar, business was bad because all the customers wanted was dovlin, and Demi didn’t have or know the recipe. Only Sam did.

From parallels with the summer event with Sea Salt Mocktail as well as Demi’s 3rd letter, we know dovlin uses the same “raw materials” the manor owner uses with his own drugs, except its effects (dovlin presumably) compared to the owner’s own drugs were “completely different (opposites even)”, and that a “strong drug resistance [is] created by any interactions between them”. He even essentially described dovlin as a drug when he said “the final effects of the drugs were completely different”.

The summer event and Demi’s backstory and deductions also tell us dovlin can be addictive if you drink too much of it (but that’s alcohol in general). Kevin’s description of the key ingredient for sea salt mocktail includes how it “greatly enhance[s] the flavor of food”.

From Demi’s 2nd letter, it implies the initial effects of dovlin caused the mice to “all [die] in fear with no exception”. In-game, health is called “fear”, so dying of fear would be like a survivor being downed or eliminated. Also, from in-game we know the description for dovlin states that it “reduce[s]” fear aka it heals damage a survivor has taken. Helping eliminate “fear” could be the sort of thing that might help Jose with his panic attacks/night terrors and inability to sleep, and thus help him to be more fit to sail.

Although, I haven’t seen anything explicit that says dovlin helps you to “forget” (besides the false myth that alcohol can make a person forget), though maybe that’s how it “reduces” fear, by making the drinker forget their problems.

The only other issue I can think of is how Sam didn’t perfect his dovlin recipe until later, meaning I don’t think it could exactly “heal” yet, though it may still make the person “forget”. So, there’s a chance he wasn’t given dovlin yet. Or maybe Sam told him it wasn’t complete yet but had Jose’s father help him, potentially by retrieving the material he needed based on Demi’s 1st letter as well as Jose’s 2nd letter.

The last option is Vilhelm Lamb from Wu Chang’s 4th letter, who may be the “medical professor” that adopted Alice aka “Eury Lamb” to be an “experimental subject” and subject her to “prolonged medication and physical therapy”. As we know Jose’s father, Joaquin, was working with Vilhelm, that means Joaquin knew Vilhelm and could’ve asked him for something to fix Jose. If he is performing experiments, and is even using “medication”, it’s possible he also had “drugs” that could make Jose forget (or in some other way allow Jose to do his job). It’s even possible Joaquin was doing the job he was for Vilhelm as (basically) payment in return for the drugs for Jose.

Route Amendments

It is unknown whether or not he did actually give something or do something to Jose, especially as Jose’s deduction 8 (when translated) mentions the letter Jose’s father wrote to whoever he was asking to help fix Jose is described as being “torn to shreds”. The fact it’s “torn” may imply Jose happened to see the letter his father wrote, though it’s also possible his father or recipient tore it up to keep it secret, but I’m not sure I see Jose’s father being the type to do that (or really care much if Jose or someone else saw it). I could be wrong though.

Considering Jose in his 4th letter mentions “drugs” (that cause hallucinations) it makes me wonder if this could be evidence that his dad did in fact use something on him, but also that Jose found and was aware (at least eventually) of what his dad was doing.

If Jose did see the letter his father wrote, it could relate to why his next deduction (9) mentions Jose having made a “large number of corrections” to “the route”. This sounds like a specific route, a single one rather than many. If we’re talking about a particular route Jose made changes to it in response to learning his father wants him to “forget” (about the incident), the route he amended may be the alternate route Jose’s father took in response to being caught in a storm. The route that led them to the “nightmarish waters”, causing the loss of most of the crew and cargo, as well as damaged or sank their ship.

If Jose thought he might forget, it’s possible he made corrections to the “dangerous” route to better outline why it is dangerous, based on their experience when his father took that route to avoid a storm in an attempt to avoid being delayed. This might’ve been to dissuade anyone using that chart (like his father, though he doesn’t seem the type to let this sort of thing change his mind) from using that route. It’s also possible he made these changes to help remind himself (if he did forget) about that route being dangerous.

Maybe he did this help himself avoid going on a voyage if they did use that route. Maybe that’s why he didn’t board the ship on certain voyages.

Jose as a sailor in the navy isn’t a coward, and he didn’t seem to avoid every voyage, as based on his backstory he did serve well to honor the Baden family name, as well as help his father earn fame and fortune. Yet we know at least close to when his father disappeared as well as the day he did disappear, he was being reprimanded for failing to board several times. I think the reason he fails to board those times, and thus why he drinks, is because of his panic attacks and trauma, as drinking is said to be the only way to allow him to sleep (he doesn’t drink only because he enjoys it).

It’s possible on those days he happened to have a panic attack or nightmare. It’s even possible he might’ve had either even if he was made to forget, as some part of him might’ve still remembered, and that was why he was drinking and failed to board the day his father disappeared (based on implications from Departure Date’s design notes). Or maybe his trauma was triggered if the voyage they were going to take that day involved the “dangerous” route or their destination being Oletus Manor (if Jose’s father made deliveries there to Sam while he was working on dovlin, or even deliveries to the manor in general as both Sam and the manor owner’s drugs used the same raw material, aka the ferns), which are places tied to his trauma.

It's possible that Jose was made to forget, as he doesn’t seem to reference or hint towards the nightmarish water incident later despite being at the manor. Maybe the reason he was potentially partying and drinking fairly care-free the day his father went missing based on Departure Date, who doesn’t seem obviously suffering from trauma, was because his father succeeded in making Jose forget how to be a “good man” as implied by his father in Jose’s deduction 8.

“Deep Hypnosis”

Maybe he forgot because of drugs. Or maybe it was because of the “deep hypnosis” hinted at by the manor owner in Jose’s 3rd letter (which also describes Jose as a “gift” from an “old friend” that passed away, which helps to provide a bit more evidence to the idea Jose and his father knew the manor owner aka Orpheus in some way).

We have no information who did it. Not even the manor owner seems to know. The only thing we do know is whoever did it buried a “spiritual anchor” for him that he could use to avoid a mental breakdown. The only 3 specific options I can think of so far for who did it are:

Jose himself, as his ability in game is hypnosis and we know he performs “self-hypnosis”.

Jose’s father, who’d have access to Jose’s watch to some degree, as Jose’s watch is the thing Jose uses in-game to perform hypnosis.

A bit of a crack theory, but the 3rd idea is Ada, who we know is the 1 person in the story said to “devote herself to hypnotherapy research, using hypnotic suggestions to eliminate the pain, fear, and other negative emotions plaguing her patients”.

Jose, I think, is unlikely as I don’t think you can perform “deep” hypnosis on yourself.

Jose’s father I’m doubtful of as “deep hypnosis” should likely require someone experienced and skilled.

The above reasons are essentially why Ada feels the most likely, even though we have not seen her related to Jose’s backstory at all yet. I do think it’s possible he could’ve been sent to the asylum (and maybe the church’s doctors are the ones who tested various drugs on him in deduction 6).

Back then, people didn’t understand mental health. Those who exhibited PTSD or other mental health problems didn’t receive the help they needed because they didn’t recognize or understand the issues.

By the end of the 18th century and during the 19th century, there was an increase in the number of sailors being admitted to London’s asylums due to mental breakdowns, especially after major battles.

The men suffered from severe anxiety, depression, and trauma. But back then, people only recognized the symptoms, such as partial paralysis, sleep disturbances, dysesthesia, delusions, and so on.

It also took a long time to recognize malnutrition, trauma through violence, and mistreatment.

Doctors noticed sailors in their everyday lives were "restless, had severe insomnia and delusions, and their moods quickly went from happy to sad". These were actually cases of bipolar disturbances, but doctors treated it like a fever, so many sailors ended up hurting or even killing themselves. The doctors just didn't know how to deal with these men.

Depression was dismissed as melancholic mood, which was treated with sea air, sunbathing, and walks.

Schizophrenia was treated liked malaria.

Many hoped for help in the asylums. Around the start of the 19th century, maybe 25% recovered, while another 25% died due to the treatment, and a good number simply disappeared. More serious cases were sent to Bethlem Hospital, 1 of the most notorious/infamous asylums.

The men here were seen as incurable. Conditions in the asylum were inhuman. Basic equipment (tables, chairs, beds, plates, cutlery) were forbidden. Sanitation was non-existent. They had a minimal diet, no medicine or fresh air, and were left to fend for themselves.

Mental issues had a stigma attached and those seen as having those issues were called insane. As a result, many attempted to hide their problems, otherwise they'd face social trouble or weren't taken seriously.

Sailors were seen as masculine and tough, which led society believing them incapable of having such illnesses, yet depression was indeed a major issue in the Navy.

Pressure from their higher-ups and a high demand for results in a short time worsened things.

Even officers were affected, due to the strain of responsibility.

The Navy Board considered men who were unable to perform their duties as having no place in the Navy and doctors were of the opinion that mental health issues made people "unfit for service".

While Jose’s at the asylum, he could’ve met Ada, who may have had the chance to perform hypnotherapy on him, which feels like it’d be very fitting for him. In her 4th deduction, it’s even said she studied and researched “psychology”, which again would fit with Jose’s issues. Emil in Ada’s 9th deduction is even said to suffer “recurring night terrors”, while 1 of his backstories mentions him having PTSD, which are the same sort of issues Jose is suffering from according to translations of Jose’s 5th deduction.

The Disappearance

Whatever the case, we know Jose fails to board his father’s ship 1 day while likely drinking in Liverpool, potentially due to a panic attack or nightmare or some other issue (or because he forgot), with Liverpool potentially being where they usually depart from (and thus could be where they may live close to).

From Jose’s 1st letter, we know the mission was supposedly to go to some spot in the northeastern corner of the Mediterranean.

We know they brought mostly weapons like cannons instead of cargo out of caution due to the area being somewhere they apparently hadn’t been to before. The 1 non-weapon we knew they had was Wu Chang’s umbrella.

As the Queen thought they had stolen her treasure afterwards, as well as how they were said to “serve as the [Queen’s] royal escort”, meaning they might be protecting royals or their treasures, combined with how Jose’s backstory states they performed tasks such as “shielding English ships, or transporting royal treasures”, the latter may have been why they had the umbrella that day. In general, guarding her treasures may have been the “special mission” she assigned to them back in deduction 5. The antique umbrella may have been 1 of her treasures.

From Wu Chang’s 4th letter, we’ve learned that Joaquin, Jose’s father, was in the Mediterranean Sea to “perform trades” on behalf of Villhelm Lamb, with some of their cargo, including the umbrella, as collateral.

This connects back to Jose’s 2nd letter, as we hear about the “Bourbon” signature, and back in Jose’s 2nd letter, he said he saw the signature “Bourbon” on his father’s “list of goods” once. With what we now know about Villhelm, considering Jose says he’s only seen that signature “once” that implies Joaquin and Sam likely only worked together on this one mission (rather than them having a long term partnership).

The collateral (including the umbrella) would be returned once Joaquin gave Villhelm the “receipt of the goods from the specified area in the Mediterranean Sea”. We know from Jose’s 1st letter that Joaquin and his crew, aboard their ship which is called the Parthenope, never returned from this mission, which is why we see the umbrella exchanging hands in the latter part of Wu Chang’s 4th letter. It ends up with Qi Shiyi, who likely brought it with her when she went to the manor for her game. Jose goes to the manor himself when he learns that the umbrella is there.

Based on Jose’s 1st letter, as it says “the cannons couldn’t kill them”, it seems the crew somehow ended up hallucinating, which ends up being what caused their deaths (they likely sank, maybe by shooting their cannons at their own ship).

Considering we know Sam had some involvement with this voyage based on his signature, I do wonder if it’s possible he’s the reason the crew hallucinated. I’ve already discussed Sam and dovlin, as well as Demi’s 2nd letter, which states “the new mice all died in fear with no exception”. The crew based on Jose’s 1st letter were definitely “afraid”, and in terms of Sam’s experiment, they could be seen as “mice” aka lab rats. Since we know everyone died and the Parthenope likely sank, everything would match with what’s said. Joaquin and the crew of the Parthenope may have been experimental subjects for Sam’s dovlin and/or the manor owner’s drugs.

Shipwreck

If the Parthenope sank in the Mediterranean, that could mean that the shipwreck at Lakeside came from the Baden’s incident during Jose’s deduction 3 and 4, after the “nightmarish waters”, and why they ended up at Lakeside and the manor, which leads to them potentially getting involved in the tragedy where the DeRoss couple died.

Notable items on the ship include:

Map of the Mediterranean

Chinese symbols matching the ones on Xie’s (White’s) compass

The Teru Teru Bozu doll (used to pray for fine weather)

Picture from Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea depicting a sailor being grabbed by a giant squid

The Nighttime picture which seems reminiscent of Wu Chang’s trailer when Fan dies

The Jolly Roger/Cthulhu flag

“SAVE” (written in blood?)

The other reason being how we know Wu Chang’s umbrella ended up at Oletus Manor.

Various letters, including Hastur’s 2nd letter (which is before the Lakeside villagers disappeared) and Fiona’s 3rd letter, both describe it as a “shipwreck”. We also know the route Jose’s father took was described as “dangerous” and having “nightmarish waters”, and so entirely capable of causing a shipwreck.

Going to Oletus Manor

Jose waits from sunset to moonrise (as indicated by the titles of Jose’s 1st and last deductions, as well as from his backstory) for his father’s return, but he never appears.

The time between Sunset and Moonrise is usually between 30-90 minutes.

Due to the ship’s disappearance, the Queen believes they stole her treasure, leading her to punish the Baden family by taking their family’s wealth and titles.

Sometime after this, Jose hears that the umbrella turned up at Oletus Manor, and so he goes there to either find his father (despite how Jose’s father didn’t love Jose and how he treated his own son, Jose still attempts to look for him) or “retrieve our honor”.

Miscellaneous

Scurvy

Scurvy is caused by not having enough vitamin C (something the human body doesn’t produce naturally), which orange juice is rich in.

Back then, before refrigeration, sailors needed to ensure they had enough food on board to survive the journey. This meant mostly only salted or nonperishable food, like ship’s biscuits, salted beef, pork, cheese, and fish. Thus, without regular access to things like vegetables or fruit, sailors developed scurvy.

Scurvy killed more than 2 million sailors between the time of Columbus’ voyage and the rise of steam engines in the mid-19th century. The problem was so common that shipowners and governments assumed a 50% death rate from scurvy for their sailors on any major voyage.

The 1st symptoms of scurvy developed at least 3 months after having extremely low vitamin C levels.

The earliest symptom is lethargy, which was so intense people once believed laziness was a cause of the disease.

It was debilitating. Your body feels weak. Your joints ache. Your arms and legs swell, and your skin bruises at the slightest touch.

As the disease progressed, your gums become spongy, and your breath fetid, your teeth loosen, and internal hemorrhaging makes splotches on your skin. Old wounds open; mucous membranes bleed. Left untreated, you will die, likely from a sudden hemorrhage near your heart or brain.

Scurvy is treated by adding vitamin C to your diet. Most people treated for scurvy feel better within 48 hours and make a full recovery within 2 weeks.

Scurvy was brought to the public's attention due to commodore George Anson's journey around the world. He set sail with 6 ships for the Pacific in 1740 with 2,000 able seamen. When he returned to England with less than 700, the rest were found to have died due to the disease.

Anson's chaplain described their deaths this way: "those affected have skin as black as ink, ulcers, difficult respiration, rictus of the limbs, teeth falling out and perhaps most revolting of all, a strange plethora of gum tissue sprouting out of the mouth, which immediately rotted and lent the victim’s breath an abominable odor".

The Royal Navy discovered a solution to the disease in the 18th century thanks to surgeon James Lind. His experiment on board a naval ship in 1747 showed that oranges and lemons could be a cure for scurvy.

Explorer Sir Richard Hawkins in 1622 was the 1st to suggest citrus as a cure.

Dutch writer Johann Backstorm was the 1st to establish the true cause of scurvy

Captain James Cook circumnavigated the world from 1768 - 1771 on board his ship the HM Bark Endeavor, during which time no life was lost to scurvy.

Cook claimed it was because of the malt and wort he brought on board to test as a cure, but malt doesn't have vitamin C. His cleanliness and strict orders not to drink fat from the chef’s pans (that when came in contact with copper, irritated the bowels and made it hard to absorb vitamins) were actually more helpful.

Besides malt and wort, 1 other thing Cook had, found on the log of provisions put aboard, was 7,860 pounds of sauerkraut. Sauerkraut, which is made by fermenting thinly sliced cabbage in its own natural juices, is rich in vitamin C, though that fact was unknown at the time.

It wasn’t until 42 years after Lind’s experiment that the Admiralty first issued an order for lemon juice to sailors

Before Lind, some potential cures included:

"elixir of vitriol" (a dilute solution of sulphuric acid)

blood letting

applying a piece of turf to the patient's mouth to counter the "bad qualities of sea-air"

soup block (bones and scraps of meat from carcasses, boiled down then dried)

Cider

Sea-water

vinegar

1 cure besides citrus that did work involved sailors who ate the ship’s rats (as they synthesized their own vitamin C)

Superstitions:

Believed redheads were bad luck. If a sailor met a redhead before boarding, the sailor had to speak to the redhead before they spoke to him to mitigate the bad luck of encountering a redhead before setting sail.

Believed manta rays (aka devilfish or sea devils) could attach themselves to a ship's anchor and drag them under the waves to Davy Jones' Locker.

Tattoos and piercing are said to ward off evil spirits, while gold hoop earrings are said to bring good luck.

Had a fatalistic view of drowning. If someone fell overboard, they might not even be thrown a rope because it was believed their death was preordained. “What the sea wants, the sea will have”. Besides, a sacrifice to the sea gods might placate them so no more of the crew would follow.

Umbrellas were for foul weather use, and bringing one on board was thought to tempt fate.

Believed that earrings improved eyesight.

Wore gold earrings so they wouldn’t go broke. Even if they spent all their money drinking, the sailor could buy their way out of trouble. And if he died in a foreign port, there’d be enough money to take care of funeral expenses.

Similar superstition that gold coins placed on the eyes of a corpse were used to pay Charon for the voyage across the River Styx.

Why Sailors Wore Earrings

It was a mark of their voyages.

Earrings were given to young sailors to commemorate their 1st crossing of the equator or when they rounded the treacherous waters of Cape Horn (Southern tip of South America).

Believed pierced ears would prevent sea sickness.

Believed gold earrings would protect a sailor from drowning.

Silver or gold earrings were worth enough to pay for a sailor’s funeral.

Some engraved the names of their home ports inside their earrings so their body could be sent to their families for a proper burial.

If a man died on a ship, the earrings helped cover the cost of transporting his body home so it wouldn’t be buried at sea or on foreign soil.

Some sailors dangled wax from hoop earrings, which they used as earplugs when firing the ships’ cannons to help protect against hearing loss.

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