#asks for ensha

[izar-tarazed]

What is your OC's pain tolerance like?

What is the worst thing you have put your OC through story-wise?

(Questions form the edgy character ask meme)

What is your OC's pain tolerance like?

I had to think about this a lot, but I guess it’s somewhat medium for Izar. She has learned to put up with pain because she simply suffers it a lot from getting in fights, and I have this headcanon that being brought back by the grace still comes at a cost and is painful. If necessary, she can endure a lot through sheer willpower. But at the same time, she’s still a scholar and a sorcerer and—despite all her experience—not really a hardened warrior. A certain amount of pain will totally wreck her. I’m not sure how long I imagine the painful-weakened state after being revived at a site of grace to be but I know Izar hates it and tries to avoid going through it as best she can.

(As for Ensha, I’d say his pain tolerance is a lot higher, in part because he’s an experienced fighter and in part due to whatever else he is.)

What is the worst thing you have put your OC through story-wise?

I’ve struggled a bit with this question because I found it hard to decide what to count as things I’ve already put her through, or what is part of the story already. (Far from everything I have in mind is written down, and some of the things that aren’t yet written are still shifting and changing and may be discarded completely.)

From the already written stuff it might be the instance when Izar was threatened with losing the guidance of grace and therefore the privilege of immortality, making her realize how vulnerable and limited in her possibilities she would be without it. (But making sure she’d keep it would force her to pursue the Elden Throne with more focus and ambition than she felt, and keep her from what she actually wanted to do.

The other thing that deeply impacted her as a character is Rogier’s death (they were close friends) and her feeling partially guilty because she feels like she didn’t try hard enough to save him. (She feels like she didn’t even try. Izar can deal with failure as long as she knows she did her best.)

(For Ensha, I think the worst thing is the idea that he was still secretly reporting to Gideon all the time that he was travelling with Izar—this is both why he was allowed to accompany her in the first place, but also how Gideon learned all the spells from the great enemies she defeated. I don’t think I’ve mentioned this in detail before. But burdening Ensha with the struggle of genuinely wanting to keep Izar safe and stay by her side but only being able to do so by secretly betraying her trust for a very long time is absolutely the worst thing I’ve put him through, especially because he knew that Gideon would use all that gathered knowledge against her eventually, but kept hoping that he’d somehow come up with a solution for this in time.)

[ask-mrpuzzles]

Hi Pusztavision!

P: .. .

E: Oh that's your actual name?

A: hehe Pussyvision

P:NO.

[katyspersonal]

Hey so, i kinda am a little confused at how things make more sense now, (referring to the post with tigers) how does it makes sense now?

Okay, this is a reference to this post:

I am cracking up at this meme format every time hdfshsdg I assume you both are referring to the last part and not just anon, since the first one is kinda simple: Marika's reactionary paranoia towards any subspecies that believes they are divine has backstory, former deifying of Crucible was part of her clever plan to screw Hornsent over as soon as she can since they mention her "betrayal" and snakes are seen as traitor of the Erdtree as Messmer and his simps were thrown under the bus blablabla we heard all this

As for Ensha: My friend @val-of-the-north made a better post on the topic here ( x )! I recommend simply reading it, but I will summarise anyway!

So, the gold of the Erdtree and Scadutree are connected as they're two sides of each other, for starters! Ensha's bones are strangely golden too, and they even share the same passive power of slowly healing the wearer as gold of the Erdtree with their stones of tailsmans depicting the Erdtree sap! It is now very likely to suggest that he was a warrior blessed in a similar way, but brought back since he was a king, a very important figure!

The term 'soulless' is otherwise used exclusively for the Demigods that died in the Night of the Black Knives; Godwyn and those who are now buried in Mausoleums and guarded by their headless knights! Ensha is not only called that, but also his "weapon" is a literal skeletal arm latching onto him 🤔 Him having been one of the warriors blessed upon death, but having his death somehow disturbed after Shattering works naturally! Maybe other corpses instinctively crawled towards him because the healing power still lives in him. I also like to think that this golden energy was what deceived D's radar x) Besides, Roundtable Hold welcomes not only Tarnished because Dolores, stated to once have been a part of the Roundtable Hold, wasn't one for example:

Radiant golden eyes are not the thing that happens with Tarnished, with the exception of Anastasia who became monstrous upon eating many people ( x ) Hers are closer to the effect of eating Dragons' hearts on the eyes than grace

(P.S. Mentioned already, but Ensha can't talk and Alberich, who was driven mad by people talking shit about him, coincidentally drops a Tainter's Tongue which is also golden! Alberich was heretical from the Golden Order standpoint, so Ensha's backstory being linked with it would explain speaking not kindly of him.. and paying I guess 💀 )

As for Dung Eater: Apparently, sun-face is connected with the Fell God!

I need a button on my keyboard that just says 'sorry I forgot to copy a screenshot' fdshdfhsd Okay so, I did kinda think that 'the guidance he once saw' was supposed to refer to being called by Grace, especially since Gold has subtle connection with the sunlight. But even back then it didn't make much sense because all Tarnished depicted in the intro were shown to be raised from their deaths by Grace (except for maybe Fia but overall it is complicated how deathbed mechanics works)! And so he already had the sun symbol before:

Besides, according to Boggart, who shared jail with him (weird flex to put a thief together with a serial killer but sure), he was already doing.. whatever he was doing. So I decided I didn't have enough braincells to understand and left it for later, and I was right I guess fhhdfsd

Apparently, Fell God has connection with the horns, so, Crucible! It is like a missing link in why two of Marika's children were born Omens and why Leonine Misbegotten, the ones with red manes, are internally known as 'children of radagon' ( x )! Also, one of the Leonine has Radagon's sword!

Omens also are haunted by Wraiths, who are both fire creatures and have horns:

^ a kind of 'fire' Omens with uncut horns can summon, fire Morgott explodes into upon stage transition, and also Dung Eater can summon wraiths too! The wraiths do respond to the bells of wraith-callers as well!

The nature of these spirits is for another tangent (and yes I do have a guess fdhfds), but yes it seems like that the "guidance" he envisioned was actually about Fell God, and not Grace! His goal is and already was to curse everyone with Omen stuff, whatever is the reason. He might have came in contact with a weird power and decide it was a good goal to pursue, much like Gowry and Shabriri (Flame of the Fell God states that Fell God still lurks even after death). Or maybe he was strangely in contact with the wraiths despite not being an Omen himself, and their own yearning for curse upon everyone descending from Marika rubbed onto him? (could also explain why he feels like he should have been born an Omen) Or maybe he himself just researched a lot, in simple terms, he is Just Like That xD In any case there is finally some extra context to it!

[velvet-apricots]

Ensha for the ask meme since I don't see anybody talk about that guy

OHHHH YAYA

favorite thing about them

I love how he is just... there. All the time. Just outside the door, leaning and watching. Why is he there? *shrugs* He just is. Kinda creepy. I also love how loyal he is, to a fault.

least favorite thing about them

He is very underutilized. Like, if you go the whole game with out ever getting a medallion piece, he just vanishes at the end of the game. Doesn't even leave his armor. *poof* gone.

favorite line

Bro says nothing. He says less than Horace from DS3. Horace groans a bit but Ensha just looks at you and gives you a gesture and thats it.

brOTP

Ensha and Gideon, and Ensha and my lil Kindred of Rot baby, Geralt. That is his uncle bones right there!

OTP

Don't have one. Ive considered Ensha/Gideon which shockingly has NOTHING about them (i thought y'all liked old man yaoi????) Also toyed with Gideon/Fyra/Ensha, but nothing has ever come of it. Id imagine if someone i knew started shipping an OC with him, I'd be into it.

nOTP

No one ships him with anyone. But let me filter through a list of npcs.... *pulls out a name card* Milicent? yeah okay. hate that ship.

random headcanon

Imma just toss a few in here, first i just flat out consider canon, second is an interesting 'what if?' thing, last one is from something an rp partner came up with (i miss you allknowingofnir =( )

Ensha is mute and speaks with sign language

Ensha is actually Gideon's maiden and is ftm. (he sometimes has breasts if you remove his armor)

Ensha is a former child soldier for a king named Ensha, who was an enemy of the Golden Order. Gideon saved him from death when the King and his forces were wiped out. He thus donned the king's bones and took the name Ensha

unpopular opinion

I don't really like the headcanon that he's a Puppet. I just think he's a loyal and weird dude who follows Gideon around.

song i associate with them

Uh.... Hmmm....

favorite picture of them

*shuffle shuffle*

[crybaby-tarnished]

Ensha pokes Fyra repeatedly. Poke. Poke poke. Poke. - allknowingofnir

Fyra gives a little smile, lifting a long slender hand and, after some hesitation as she wasn't quite sure how much force to use, she gave him a firm poke back in the chest.

"Hello Ensha. It's me, Fyra... Just in case you can't tell."

[wispwatched]

@ncmad said: "how do you get your hair to do that?"

💬🌩 — Rare be it for anyone to take the large man off guard... and yet, here she had. With such little effort too... how frustrating.

Ensha's gloved fingers still, his slender form straightening out as he peers over his shoulder at her for perhaps a few moments too long, before he simply utters out a confused (and perhaps a tad impatient) sounding, "... do... what?"

Just for a moment, he does fall into his curiosity and glances downward at the long, silver-blond hair cascading over his shoulder, but he sees nothing special about it. He has no idea what she means. So he makes it known with a flicker of his eyes towards her and a tension in his brow– frowning a little. "...It isn't doing anything." He says rather flatly.

[rotten-pest]

She hated indebting herself further, but truth be told a drink of something that was not swampy water was very welcome.

“Yes, eating is important” Cotesia said, less blithe or sarcastic and more plainly observational. “And drinking. Many thanks, for the tea.”

(Contrary to popular belief, Pests did eat. Usually it was an ‘anything goes’ kind of affair, they weren’t picky. Sometimes Pests spat into each others mouths, if one was too weak—usually reserved only for larva, though. Generally regarded as gross by humans, but she didn’t expect them to understand the tenderness of the gesture anyway, not that she had plans about spitting into anyone’s mouth).

She was a tad jealous of Izar’s meal, the bread especially. But envy ebbed where a bit of confusion came through. For all her care for him, she offered him not, nor did he provide his own provisions. Very strange. Maybe she was still sore of their argument? But somehow that didn’t seem the case.

It was not her intention to start needling him again, quite yet. So she kept her skepticism to herself, and dipped her tin cup into the pot, then blew on it to make it cool, before taking a sip and kind of making a face. Not because it was bad but because she’d never had it before and wasn’t expecting to be so… bitter? Very flavorful.

Maybe it was having her stomach no longer empty and something warm and clean to drink, but an idea finally alighted. Aha! She had something to provide. Valuable, too, she hoped. With a jolt she reached to rummage through her pockets before pulling out a spool of fine silk Pest thread. Perfect for all sorts of things—mending garments, or sewing wounds closed. Unlike silk-silk, it didn't foul the wound either. It dissolved more easily than animal gut too.

“I know you said I did not owe you” Cotesia said, reaching back to remember Izar’s phrasing (rather than just the sting of being refuted), “but I would be remiss to simply make use of your services and be on my way. Tis refined silk. Not enough to make a garment whole-cloth, but if you know a skilled seamstress they may have use for it. I, myself, use it close wounds mostly. You could also sell it, I suppose.”

Izar returned the smile, although something about Cotesia’s seemed just a little bit off to her. But that might just be her imagination—or Cotesia still feeling a little tense. A tension that thankfully seemed to have eased, for now. She glanced back at Ensha who was back to staring at Cotesia warily, but Izar could tell that the anger was gone. She blinked when Cotesia brought out a piece of dry meat and tore into it in a way that reminded Izar of… well, a feral animal, maybe? Not that she was going to judge anybody for their table manners. ‟Ah, don’t you worry. We have our own provisions. Speaking of which, I’ll put water on and make us some tea. Do you like tea? It’ll warm us all up.” With that—and a short glance at Ensha to make sure he was fine—she scurried over to the other room again to retrieve the pot she had found earlier. When she returned to the fireplace, Ensha had already brought out the waterskin and the collection of dried herba, so Izar could pour the water—from the Hold’s well, not Liurnia’s muddy lake—into the pot, toss the leaves in and place it on the fire. She felt a little guilty for that rushed and unceremonious way of preparing the hot beverage. When the nomadic merchants did it, it was calm and dignified, and usually included far more sophisticated blends then a handful of herba. But well, this would have to do. Truth to be told, Izar also was a little hungry, but she hesitated to bring out their provisions. She wouldn’t have minded sharing them with Cotesia, but knew that Ensha wasn’t likely to partake in that kind of meal, which—same as him not taking off his armor—would probably seem odd. So she was rather grateful when Cotesia brought up the topic of the map again. ‟The map, yes. I’ll get to it right away,” she said, her treacherous stomach rumbling softly, which earned her a serious look from Ensha who reached for the backpack once more—chest heaving with a silent sigh— and pulled out everything from the sachet they had brought along: a small loaf of bread, dried meat and mushrooms, a bit of cheese. Then he briefly gestured both at her and Cotesia, and added: You should eat first. You tend to forget that over your map-making. A brief pause, then, with emphasis and quite reproachfully, Always.

[mercurialmalcontent]

I killed the Omenkiller with Nephili this afternoon, and when I noticed she'd vanished from the map I thought huh, maybe she's at Roundtable Hold. So I teleport there, notice it is ominously dark--

"Ensha has invaded!"

Excuse me????

After soundly beating his ass and asking Gideon what the hell that was, then finding out he cast out his own adopted daughter -- who he talks about like she's some useless underling -- I wouldn't mind giving Gideon a sound beating too. I mean, I already didn't trust him, but now I'm expecting a knife in the back every time I go back there.

Also, to hell with Cliffbottom Catacombs and its plague of Omens. (Yes, I died on the floor under the staircase. I had to go out anyway at that point, so I may or may not be back to finish clearing it out. Stupid Omens...)

[alberichfanpage]

i would like to ask about alberich for the character game~

(sorry for not saying there was no ask box, i thought maybe with sideblogs you had to go ask the main person or sth haha)

Thank you for the ask, I love your posts! (No problem, I should have checked before I posted it)

Before I start, I have a confession. Guys, I like Alberich a very normal amount; I just picked this blog name on a whim when I wanted to make a sideblog...

Favorite thing about them: Considering there is so little content on him in the game, it is pretty hard to pick between his little bow gesture, his spooky outfit and his immaculate vibe. My favorite thing is probably how he combines two of the most overpowered status effects into one build.

I ended up incorporating aspects of it in my Int/Fai playthrough but I am really considering doing a dedicated Alberich cosplay run just because it is that fun to use.

Least favorite thing about them: My least favorite thing is the same as my favorite. His build is great but awful when it is used against me...

Also, he has a big chunk of glintstone on his headpiece if you remove the hat but it doesn't glow with the erudition emote!

Favorite line: Invaded by Mad Tongue Alberich! <- scariest popup to see in a supposed safe place

brOTP: Gideon for sure comes to mind. There is this fan theory that Alberich is Gideon's son, biological (same hair color) or adopted (like Ensha and Nepheli). Alberich probably enjoyed performing the grim tasks of the All-Hearing Brute with less stoicism than Ensha. Very much a one-sided evil henchmen kind of relationship. That was most likely his undoing, too.

OTP: This one is so hard because I could see so many toxic pairings. I think him and Ensha pair nicely as the only two people you can fight within the hold. They also share the fact they are in service to the Hold.

Rogier could be really interesting as the ultimate big hat power couple. But specifically, those hats are a sign of heresy and they are in very close proximity within the Hold. Then again, Rogier has quite a bit of romance going on already and I think the poor guy needs some rest.

Speaking of pointy hats, since Alberich knows cold sorceries, it may be possible he had something going on with the Snowy Crone that Ranni based her current appearance off of.

Regardless, I believe there is not a world in which Alberich would be in a healthy relationship (post mad tongue title) so therefore all pairings would be very unhealthy lol

nOTP: Sellen could be interesting but I think he might be a little too heretical for her liking. She might be a little interested in what's going on with his red glintstones from a purely academic standpoint, though.

Random headcanon: Literally the only information we have on Alberich is his clothing description, anything outside of that is headcanon:

Alberich was an aloof yet disturbed heretical sorcerer said to have been driven mad by jeering tongues during his service to the Roundtable Hold long ago

I don't really buy it, but I really wanted there to be some connection between the Blood Star and the Formless Mother just to tie in connection because the faith blood sorceries and the blood incantations. I thought it would help to roundout the world building and show how thin the line truly is between sorceries and incantations. Alas, these things remain very separate.

However, we did get two new sorceries in the dlc that are boosted by Alberich's set/staff but are related to the Scadutree. While the Thorn Witches themselves are related to the Fell God. Honestly, the worldbuilding around these things are really weird. My only other headcanon is that Gideon tasked Alberich into exploring experimental magic for him.

Unpopular opinion: Alberich drops the Taunter's Tongue item and a lot people treat this as his tongue, but I like the theory that this is actually Ensha's tongue and that is why Ensha does not speak would really make the OTP toxic if true. Considering I see a lot of fanart with him with a gold tongue, I consider this to be unpopular.

Song I associate with them: He seems like he would like Christian Death, the song Figurative Theatre comes to mind because of this line:

Their razor-sharp tongues invite to relax as they slip the skin of your eyelids back

Favorite picture of them:

Very biased but this picture I took while cosplaying him is so good, I am not sure I could replicate this again if I tried.

Thank you again for the ask!

[allknowingofnir]

"What is it about Sundays, is it the position of the Moon or something?" Gideon asks, looking at an astrology tome.

Ensha tilts his head.

"When everyone gets antsy, if you understand my meaning." He says gruffly.

Ensha snickers, but shrugs.

[izar-tarazed]

19, 7 and 23 for both Izar and Ensha <3

(Questions from the Edgy OC ask meme)

7. What's one way your OC has changed since you first came up with them?

I found this one surprisingly hard—I was sure I’d come up with plenty of things for both of them but most are rather additions to what I had initially envisioned for them, discovering more facets as I went along.

But I think that Izar had a way more serious personality initially. She has become somewhat more bubbly and up for mischief, and overall more lighthearted.

As for Ensha, the biggest change wouldn’t be personality-wise. But when I first started toying with the idea that he could become a companion for Izar, I still went with the canon that she had killed him, and had to come up with a bunch of rather complicated explanations as to why he returned. (It’s not like Elden Ring’s worldbuilding and lore wouldn’t allow for that, but it still made everything unnecessarily complicated.) Then at some point I realized that Izar being Izar wouldn’t even have killed him in the first place, and her simply sparing him has made so much more sense.

19. How does your OC behave when enraged?

Izar tends to get extremely snarky and blunt. Depending on the context, she might also just start spamming sorceries (not targeting anyone) to channel her fury. When facing foes, she might be more impulsive than usually.

Ensha—due to obvious reasons—is normally very good at concealing his emotions, but will care less about doing that when really enraged. It’s usually apparent in the way he signs (somewhat more choppy and fiercer gesturing) and moves in general. He might clench his fists. If a foe is responsible for his rage, Ensha will likely just lunge at him.

23. What emotion is the hardest for your OC to process? How about express?

Interestingly enough, I think guilt is hardest to process for both of them.

For Izar, her guilt is often deeply linked with grief but not always. The certainty of having failed someone and being unable to make it right because they’re gone for good is something she struggles with a lot. On the other hand, when it’s due to something that she still might fix, Izar is quick to offer apologies and try to atone. I’d say she’s generally better at expressing than processing it. (I’m having a hard time figuring out which emotion would be hardest to express for her; she’s usually good at expressing and rather bad at hiding them.)

Ensha is less likely to feel guilty in general—he can’t afford having qualms to carry out Gideon’s orders—but when he does, he’ll often consider it something that is now set in stone. Having served for a long time in an environment where failure was simply not an option, Ensha still takes it for granted that failure can’t and won’t be forgiven, so essentially guilt is something that must be endured—because whatever caused it has happened and cannot be undone. This perception conflicts a little with his distinct understanding of balance when it comes to being indebted and being owed (he deeply dislikes being indebted and will do everything to restore balance). So he’ll search for (often subtle) ways to make up for mistakes because it’s the right thing to do, but will not necessarily believe it will earn him forgiveness—which is the same reason he’ll rarely offer an apology.

[ask-mrpuzzles]

A: don't you fell like someone it watching us?

P: No we should be-

A: WHAT THE FUCK!!

A:HEY WHO ARE YOU?! DONT YOU KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS TO REPAIR HIM?!

E: Oh sorry I got distracted....

[Mr Puzzles will be gone for 3 asks and New character Ensha will be added To our wacky adventures!]

[katyspersonal]

Gideon for the ask meme. =)

(Ask from this ( x ) meme)

Favorite thing about them:

I like that he kind of subverted the trope he seemed to be going for! I already answered the same thing in your ask regarding what exactly made him turn around and abandon everything ( x ), and honestly I DID need to answer that question to myself first of all so thank you for that one! x)

He feels like the trope of a guy who is very smart with books but not a smart person, or rather, "knowledge does not equal wisdom"! Like, you know this trope! And a very pleasing trope to latch onto, because we all knew at least one person like this! One who is very well-informed, a walking encyclopedia, but either doesn't make real sense of this information or misses the main point in all these facts and details! Well... nonetheless, he understood something not even we have: Marika's true wish!

He understood the lie of "consort of Marika", and why exactly she shattered the Elden Ring! He understood she wanted to end the vicious cycle that existed as long as she does, and sure she did not want another one to start by Elden Ring being repaired! Unfortunately, "a God can't die" (though she probably hoped Hewg and someone he helps would find the way?), so the best he can offer to approximate her wish is to gatekeep the Elden Ring endlessly!

Not only he understood what we, who seek Lordship, didn't. Being the head of the Roundtable Hold was THE massive chunk of his life, his main accomplishment. He gave all this time, research and even many deals with his own integrity for the purpose that the called Tarnished were promised. He lived hell knows how long and the lie of Two Fingers was all he ever knew. And yet, as soon as he glimpsed into truth, his instant reaction was "alright then, new plan". A typical trope of this character would've had a severe cognitive dissonance at least, a pathetic reaction of rejecting the truth at most. But he just... rolled with it. No denial, no despair. Instantly embraced the fact that everything he's been working on was a lie. How many people do you know that take having their whole world shutter THIS well and simply accept the new facts?

This is commendable. He might have made many mistakes in his life and appeared arrogant and became cold, but he passed THE one trial for whether he really values knowledge that mattered the most. He, in the end, lived up to what he aspired to be with no struggle beyond "shuddering in fear".

Least favorite thing about them:

Oh, I definitely agree that it got to be the way he disowns Nepheli, but it speaks more about him. Because this is the same trait that allows him to take Ensha's death as just an inconvenience that must not distract him any longer! Ironically, it is simply the other side of the trait of his that I JUST praised above!

He is quick to adapt and bounce back from the stress, true... But he is also quick to severe the bonds if his goals or situation calls for it. I do not believe he never cared for Nepheli! The way he talks about her, both words and his voice tone, betray respect and affection.

And yet he later says he "no longer has a use for her".

The man can't get mentally staggered by anything, which is his power, but a power that comes with a price. ....that usually other people will pay. He will instantly move on from a breakup, not shed a tear at the funeral of a loved one, bounce back from betrayal as though he never expected anything to begin with, and he definitely, DEFINITELY won't hesitate to cut the ties if the hold him back! Does this man have a heart? Can truly lasting, deep bonds be formed with him, if he doesn't let anyone's hand hold his heart strings?

Strange, how the same trait can be commendable strength of the character in one instance, but a rather repulsive callousness in another, don't you think?

Favorite line:

"Despite knowing next to bloody nothing, he's so far up his own arse he won't suspect a thing. His inevitable display of arrogance will certainly be a sight to behold."

I do love all of his nerding, but him being salty about Seluvis felt sooooo satisfying! xD I don't know why, this dialogue just always makes me smile! It is both the sense of "being against the same bitch" even if briefly AND knowing that he is not wrong though. >:3

brOTP:

Him and Dolores, I think!

I was talking about his callousness that doubles like strength of the character for a while, right? I feel like he was friends with Dolores and Seluvis before he developed to be like that, in younger years!

It is not quite like Gideon that we know now, to cut the ties with someone because they've harmed a person he cared about and not because "they are no longer of use"! More than that; whatever you say about Seluvis as a person, but I'd say he is quite useful acquaintance!

I am not sure whether this experience broke Gideon's heart and he never assed to glue it back, or he simply changed over years on his own. But nonetheless, he held her dear. "Both a critic and a friend of Gideon the All-Knowing". He appreciated a person who had the balls to disagree with him, and you KNOW she had actual arguments and good points to be respected as a critic by HIM! It is another glimpse into how he really IS the man who values the truth over "being right". She must have been the type to be clever even without much knowledge or read books, and he for sure is aware that being informed doesn't mean understanding this information. Their debates must have been very productive for both of them! I can see how he valued her honesty and insight, yet back in his better days, he grieved her, not her "lost use".

OTP:

I think maybe, again, Dolores? It feels like this ship would've never came to fruition in canon! I can picture either him having a crush but never expressing it, or her not feeling the same and them bouncing back to being friends very quickly! Still, the "love" from Gideon we know these days is a treacherous kind, ready to leave you behind as soon as the situation calls for it. But, he used to be different.

I also like to think he liked Wilhelm and Vargram both! True, Vyke was the Roundtable Hold Tarnished who approached Lordship the closest! But, he respected the approach of those two more. Wilhelm is a goddamn NERD as well, peering as far as primeval current and accepting the "Insight" that told him to fight his friend! Vargram took the task put on Tarnished so seriously that he fashioned himself after a Shadowbeast! And found Gloam Eyed Queen's sword?! I could picture his respect to the two who take it as seriously as he does growing into something stronger! Don't know which guy though. 🤔 In any case, these things are from the days long past, but he wishes Tarnished at least half-way as endearing as those two joined again.

nOTP:

I think Gideon x Seluvis just doesn't hold appeal for me.. I do not mind 'hatefucking' kind of pairs at all, okay? *voice of a guy who wrote that mini speculation about Hornsent and Leda lol* They're funny! But it is the "they fell apart because of Dolores" that seals the deal for me...

It is a Serious One, to be together with someone who obliterated the free will of a person you cherished for that free will to begin with! Gideon is a different person now, but I think he reserves the younger Gideon that lost her as inseparable part of his history, and buildup to who he became. And that includes grudge with Seluvis. These days, he would've "forgiven" someone like that as long as they're "of use" as he learned to not expect any human decency, but the pillars of the past may remain untouched.

Random headcanon:

As you can see, Gideon is unprecedented case of a Nox Tarnished, something we don't get to have in character creation presets nor anything seen in any other character!

From the way he speaks of Nepheli, he is not quite blind to someone's origins or heritage! As much as he ultimately values someone's own potential, these biases he can't fully uproot, and it includes him. Deep down, he feels proud to descend from folks that angered the Greater Will itself and dared to try and do no one else would! In an oddly poetic way, it played nicely into the end of his story, where he did favor what Marika wanted rather than what Two Fingers and whatever behind them wanted! Without intending to, he lived to the mindset of his ancestors...?

Still, he always knew he was "not like other kids" for his looks, and felt glad if someone was able to recognise his kind of eyes.

Unpopular opinion:

Most (all of them) things people guilt Gideon for actually apply to Seluvis! Seluvis is the arrogant one, Seluvis is the all-books-no-wits guy! Seluvis is a disgusting scheming bastard! Seluvis is the one "coping"! Gideon IS wise and knowledgeable, Gideon DOES have principles even if he lost the struggle to uphold him on his way! STOP LIVING IN A LIE WAKE UP

Song I associate with them:

For some reason this, makes me think of him... More particularly, his gradual descent into making more and more deals with his own consciousness.

This song made me imagine Gideon constantly having to convince himself that this is "the last atrocity he commanded", that the situation simply called for it now, but surely, when he (or someone he helped) becomes a Lord, all will be fixed and redeemed? He will be back on the track to his goal to fix the world and never let oppression happen again! This is just this time, he will have better options later, eventually, for sure...

Favorite picture of them:

[tarnishedinquirer]

Person of Interest: "Skull Knight"

Name: Ensha Title/Alias: Unknown Race: Unknown Gender: Male? Occupation: ? Affiliation: Bodyguard Notes:

Don't know anything about this person, they just seemed shifty.

Reminder: Ask Gideon

Gideon Ofnir's bodyguard

[velvet-apricots]

Gideon for the character ask meme

favorite thing about them

Almost everything about him. I love the tragedy of his character, how he forsakes everything he was working for for some perceived will of Marika. His armor and the deep layers of symbolism in it, and his weapon. His voice, his design, its all just *chefs kiss*

least favorite thing about them

I truly hate his treatment of Nepheli. He sounds so proud when he says she is his daughter, and yet he tosses her aside.

favorite line

"If you haven't anything to say, I would prefer if you didn't pester me for attention."

also "Ah. I knew you'd come."

brOTP

Gideon and Ensha of course. Ensha's loyalty is quite commendable, even if a bit too eager. (rip)

OTP

Obviously Fyra/Gideon. I love the dynamic the have developed. But I also LOVE Dolores/Gideon. Their relationship has only little blurb in the game, yet it holds so much tragedy in it. The fic "And Lo' Unto Eternity" has allowed me to finally stop flip flopping on it and just go "yeah they were a thing"

nOTP

I do not like Gideon/Seluvis at all. HOWEVER. i kinda like it if it is VERY specifically done. it needs to be a pathetic one-sided thing on Seluvis' part that is never ever fulfilled/reciprocated to the point of jealous rage.

random headcanon

The markings on Gideon's mouth are scars gained from speaking forbidden rites he was not prepared enough to.

unpopular opinion

The fandom is REALLY annoying about him. Like so damn annoying. They always make the same jokes over and over. Gideon the All-Coping, Gideon didn't know very much at all, ect. SHUT UP SHUT UP. None of you are funny! He's reduced to a single joke, or relentlessly bashed and its honestly sad and infuriating. I just block people on sight now who do it.

song i associate with them

the kinda melancholy note to the music and the association of a man thats fighting you, but does not want to, fits gideon very well.

favorite picture of them

[benevolentcalamity]

Gideon for the meme….

favorite thing about them

Even I can admit Gideon's a pretty well rounded dude. His character, while yes can fall into the wise grandpa trope, turns on its head towards the end of the game after asking you what the right thing is. He's written pretty well, and tbqh I feel like he's underrated. (Did we as a fanbase move on from him too fast after murdering him?)

least favorite thing about them

Eh. My first impression of him, really. I destroyed everything in that man's study every chance I got. Cause like, and I've pointed this out a lot, what bothers me by the end of it is the concept of an authority figure you're supposed to respect treating you like garbage. Mind you he changes his tune when you have a Great Rune, but I'm not one to forgive or forget so easily. (Maybe it's daddy issues-)

favorite line

"Find the Albinauric woman."

brOTP

Gideon and Ensha cause I'm a basic bitch with no awareness.

OTP

Gideon and @velvet-apricots OC Fyra and don't you fucking forget it.

nOTP

No idea, dunno if this old coot has any ships. I will update this.

random headcanon

Gideon will take notes of points of history and further study them if they hold his particular interest. Being all-knowing means you have to do this anyway, but when he finds his niche? Yes.

unpopular opinion

Because he can stand hunched and read all this shit in the Roundtable Hold while I'm getting royally fucked by Crucible Knights, he probably would criticize modern cashiers for sitting down and working.

song i associate with them

favorite picture of them

"Son, your mother and I are very concerned."