#butcher army arc

[wildwinterlunas]

What I always found irritating and hypocritical of the exile arc is that immediately after c!Tommy was exiled c!Quackity, c!Tubbo and c!Fundy started making plans to straight up kill c!Techno. Like Tommy greifed George's house with no intention of taking a canon life, while the Butcher Army did have that intention.

Cause all three of them gave Tommy shit for provoking Dream by stealing from George and burning a couple blocks of his house. Which was fixed in the stream after in under 20 mins and Tommy was given the actual appropriate punishment of being greifed back. Then immediately after that punishment of exile is given they start making plans to kill Techno.

And while yes, Quackity and Fundy disagreed with the decision to exile Tommy, that doesn't negate the fact that they still gave Tommy shit for it. When at least Tommy had the knowledge and experience to know that Dream could be overpowered, there was no evidence of that with Techno and as we see with the Butcher Army, Techno can't be overpowered like Dream can. This is also something Tommy knew cause I distinctly remember him saying that he did want to go after Techno but could right now cause he knew they would loose (though I might be misremembering).

At the end of the day, do I think this would have mattered? Do I think the outcome would have changed if Tommy wasn't exiled? No, Tommy was likely already spiraling after Wilbur's death, and if Niki is any constellation on how New L'Manburg acted in that regard, I don't think anyone would have checked in on Tommy regardless of exile. Tommy's downward spiral was an inevitability no matter what happened with exile, Dream and exile just sped the process up. I also don't think Tommy's reluctance to immediately go after Techno would have changed that outcome either. It would have at best lead to Tommy not being informed of the situation and ending up in a similar situation to Ranboo, or at worst Tommy also being put under house arrest cause he tried to stop them from making a very obvious bad decision.

Though none of this is to say I hated this arc, in all honesty I think it's a good example of how the different perspectives of the characters affected them. Tubbo, Quackity and Fundy all had mainly negative interactions with Techno and Techno never got the chance to know them outside of L'Manburg's government up to that point like he did with Tommy. Honestly I may be of the opinion that a lot of things would have changed if the plot happened differently but Doomsday is one of the only circumstances that I think were unavoidable.

I just wish the hypocrisy of the Butcher Army happening right after Tommy was exiled was addressed at some point (If it was addressed though please tell me cause honestly don't think it ever was).

[itsnotmystic]

watched an old stream of quackity's and its the one where he's trying to get over his fear of Techno from mcm, and one way he does this is by briefly asking him out on a date to pogtopia and all I can think is- wouldn't it have been so funny if in later lore while Quackity is trying to get Techno to take him seriously if Techno were just be like, "my guy, you asked me out on a date because you were scared of me. I really don't see you as threatening."

Like, I know that stream was more just goofing off and not lore, but it's just a silly concept that's tickling my brain rn.

[brokenankleproductions]

(MIGRATED FROM INSTAGRAM, ORIGINAL CAPTION BELOW)

Rip I'm a meme account now

Anyways guess what your boy did today :D

Also bro I haven't been able to get the Ængus storyline out of my head. If I do an animatic to Ængus the Prize Winning Hog about a fandom that died about three years ago don't question it

[zorishy]

Ode To L’Manberg: It’s Not Your Time to Die

Here is the third work in my series presenting story of L’Manberg in my main DSMP au (Symphony of Gods and Dreamers). The lore dumps I have posted about this au can be found under the “Zorishy’s Bursona Lore” tag.

This poster covers the events of the New L’Manberg/Exile arc.

AU specific details:

• Tubbo gets a custom green L’Manberg uniform

• Dream manipulates Tubbo into exiling Tommy by framing him for helping wilbur blow up L’Manberg

• after Tommy’s exile is announced, Technoblade tries to attack Tubbo, fights and scars Quackity, and then runs off

• Butcher army never finds Techno

• Techno arrived on the SMP in the Technoplane

• Ghostbur doesn’t get his stab wound until the first revival attempt

• Fundy has been aged down, he’s around 3 here

• Wilbur actually has a grave!

•Tommy successfully kills himself by jumping off the tower

• Dream revives Tommy after he jumps off the tower

[midnight1404]

Sansa had always thought Lancel Lannister comely and well spoken, but there was neither pity nor kindness in the look he gave her. "Using some vile sorcery, your brother fell upon Ser Stafford Lannister with an army of wargs, not three days ride from Lannisport. Thousands of good men were butchered as they slept, without the chance to lift sword. After the slaughter, the northmen feasted on the flesh of the slain."

...

"Silence, fool." Joffrey lifted his crossbow and pointed it at her face. "You Starks are as unnatural as those wolves of yours. I've not forgotten how your monster savaged me."

...

"I'm punishing her."

"For what crime? She did not fight her brother's battle."

"She has the blood of a wolf."

A Clash of Kings—Sansa III

Something i never see mentioned is how robb is maybe the only king in the wo5k so deshumanized till he is not human anymore for his enemies (or even allies atp), having people telling tales of him as a violent animal or a savage, (ik making war is something inherently violent and even robb's army is cappable of raw cruelty (like its showed in affc) but you never see someone speaking this way of tywin or the mountain lol) something i think it matters for his character arc bc a lot of the identity crisis robb is going on through ASOS is being treated as part of his wolf and he being scared that is true +also how sansa is also deshumanized here for having "blood of a wolf" ( and if i dont remember wrong, it wont be the last time)

I know maybe im repeating myself to much but more i go into my re-read, more im convinced the starks, and the north fit much better as non-white lol.

[ghostly-omens]

Anyway Quackity was one of the people on DSMP who was most involved in and invested in lore. Las Nevadas and the Butcher Army and the Red Banquet and everything with L'Manberg. He clearly loved telling the story he wanted to tell and playing on a roleplay server.

But a lot of creators have pointed out that the most fun they had on the server was when they were doing improv, when they were reacting to things that happened and building the story naturally that way. When things got scripted, when creators had to come up with and write and execute their lore basically on their own, when it stopped being playing and started being acting, that's when you got players disengaging and losing interest and motivation. By the end, literally every bit of lore was scripted. Most of it was prerecorded just so it could end up telling a complete story, instead of starting a dozen plot threads that had to be abandoned when the other people involved didn't answer your DMs or the big lore day that was meant to move the whole server's story along didn't happen. The last big, whole-server lore event only happened because Technoblade was dying. Communication was so bad that was the only thing that could get everyone to get organised enough for a single day of lore, a story event that had been set up for months.

And so when Quackity comes up with his own server, he wants it to have a strong roleplay element (if that's what the other creators involved end up wanting). Quackity loved his roleplaying on DSMP. But he wants it to be fun for the creators as well as for the fans, and the way lore was fun on DSMP was for it to be improv, not for it to be creators acting out a script. But things got scripted because once they set up a story, it had to escalate in a specific way in order for it to be narratively satisfying, which made it less fun. A single arc is fine, but things just won't work for more than that without at least a loose script. By the end DSMP wasn't roleplay, it was acting. Some creators managed to tell satisfying stories, but it wasn't the same as when it was a bunch of friends messing around doing Hamilton Breaking Bad improv because it was fun. The DSMP, for a good chunk of its life, was not fun to play on. So people didn't.

But how do you set up satisfying, coherent stories over a long period of time while also maintaining the fun roleplay element? Someone needs to guide them and develop them, but it can't be the creators on a server if you're going to keep the fun roleplay element.

Hence the admins, and their role not just maintaining the server, but in developing and guiding the story. Their role is basically a GM, in tabletop roleplaying terms, and the creators get to be player characters roleplaying in reaction to that. Creators don't know much more than we do; how many times have creators said they don't get told shit, have they been told to log on and been faced with huge big developments they didn't see coming and have to figure out how to roleplay that? QSMP works kind of like Dungeons and Dragons but in Minecraft. Keeps the story consistent and escalating, without the need for creators to sacrifice their own enjoyment of their content.

I don't know how stuff like Karmaland works, maybe Quackity got it from there. But as a former Dream SMP fan, I see Quackity taking the best part of DSMP and finding a way to make it work for something a lot more sustainable and ambitious, keeping it fun and enjoyable for both fans and creators.

[flamedraco]

I want to rant about them. Buckle in, this is a long rant.

I want to just say that I love TNT Duo. Just as a whole. In whatever form they take. These stupid little men and their stupid little rivalries and tension.

I am not a "DSMP" fan in most senses of the term. I never really got into the story all that much (though the lore was cool and more well thought out than most people give it credit for) and there wasn't much to really keep me interested. But these two characters. These two.

shakes them

I love them. I love how Wilbur is emotionally unstable even on his best days and his entire arc of going from a leader that others looked up to slowly devolved into a man driven mad by his own legacy. Writing Arsonist's Waltz made me really take a long look at his character and how I wanted to write him in that fic and it really made me think about how young the character must've been when he died and how tragic that is. I think about him a lot. He's my favorite blorbo to torture for a reason he's the perfect character for tormenting really. And it's so easy to write him with a strained relationship with his family, seeing how Phil did the bare minimum for him and his mother is either a Fridge or The Goddess of Death depending on how you interpret the lore because personally I don't see either as being wrong. Or him being married to a fish (Sally go brrrrr). Or canonically being the one to give birth to Fundy. And the idea that he was usually such a doting father but the second Fundy needed him most he was just gone and the complications that brings to their relationship. I love him and how it's so easy to either make him just a guy or some eldritch FUCK. I can make him BIRD. I can make him FREAKY and INHUMAN and I love to torment him.

And then Quackity. Fuck let me talk about Quackity. This is the BEST EXAMPLE of a FALLEN HERO character I have EVER SEEN in my LIFE. And if you know me you know I am WEAK for Fallen Hero shit.

C'mere shrike bitch we're talking about you now!

(just picture me grabbing him by the back of his stupid little button up and holding him like that, I've scruffed his dumbass)

This FUCKER went from being one of the most goofy, joking, just fucking around and having a good time person, to one of the most well thought out and interesting character arcs in the ENTIRE SMP if you ask me. This man went VILLAIN no matter how you want to slice it and that idea of someone who GENIUNELY tried to see the BEST in others deciding "fuck it, I've had enough of this" is just. The best kind of Fallen Hero to me. I love his entire casino theme. Gambling is one of my favorite aesthetics, and I love how when I came into this fandom despite the overwhelming amount of Duck Q stuff I found I managed to find ONE PERSON who made SHRIKE QUACKITY and it was SO PERFECT FOR HIM! Like there's nothing wrong with Duck Q and I recognize why that's the most common thing in the fandom because obviously the fucker's name is QUACKity and he has his whole thing with ducks but like. Shrike Q tho. The leader of the Butcher Army being a Butcher Bird. One of the most violent songbird species known for brutal kill methods and eating other birds being reflected in the man who ATE THE FUCKING HEART OF HIS EX. Like C'MON. (Yes other birds will eat other birds all the time but I'd like you to point me at another songbird species that has the absolute BALLS to attack something so much bigger than them) ((seen a video of what I think was a loggerhead shrike attacking a duck once)) (((though if you can find more aggressive songbirds like this I would LOVE to see them and learn about them))) ((((FUCK I LOVE BIRDS)))) It's perfect. I don't care. I love him. I love him and his Loggerhead/Northern Tendencies.

I love him for all the ways he didn't START violent and cruel but BECAME that way because he felt like he HAD TO. His arc is SO GOOD. The way he manipulated others he perceived as being "forgotten" like him to try and join him. I just. This man. This man. I'm going to shake him. I'm going to put him in a jar in the /affectionate way.

And then THEM TOGETHER. There is so much APPEAL to this ship in how you can write their dynamic in any way you want. From the more playful early days of the SMP where they were clearly friends and enjoyed each other's company to those stolen tense moments of Pogtopia to the eventual EVERYTHING that was LAS NEVADAS. You can write them on some of the best kind of healing arcs, with the idea that no matter what you did or who you were that you can still find love and forgiveness with the right person. You can have them heal together and learn to love again after so much tragedy. Or you can go down the route of making them ABSOLUTELY tearing each other APART and making each other WORSE. They can be absolute BASTARDS to each other but keep coming back to each other because they are the only two people on the server that have seen SO MUCH of the other person and the paths they went down.

These two characters just. Scream a level of UNDERSTANDING with each other that they wouldn't GET with other CHARACTERS.

And can I talk about how flexible they both are when it comes to AUs? I'm going to talk about them in AUs. They are FASCINATING TO ME in AUs. HEAR ME OUT OKAY!

So as someone who's been in a lot of fandoms there's a keen difference between being into a fandom for the content itself of the world, and being there for a specific character or groups of characters. I was into BNHA because of the lore of the world, not really an attachment to the characters themselves even if I did love them. Persona 5 was driven, again, by a love for the world and also the aesthetic of the game itself (and also a bit of the characters, I'll admit they changed my brain chemistry a little). Danganronpa, in contrast, was something I got into for the driving force of the characters and the murder mystery aspects. Assassination Classroom, obviously more character driven. Fairytail, also more character driven than anything else.

I got into DSMP specifically because of TNT Duo and my friend introducing me to them. But I've discovered something interesting about TNT Duo and why my hyperfixation over them has been lasting for so much longer.

Because they're easier to pry out of their world than other characters are. Which is why I was so surprised when I found so much more Canon Divergence AUs and less AUs in the sense of other universes. Like when I came to this fandom there was: No flower shop AUs, maybe a single coffee shop AU or two, not a single dragon or naga AU, and maybe one Siren AU. And the rest of it was mostly canon divergence! Which felt weird to me because these two feel so adaptive to other AUs you put them in!

While other characters feel, in some regards, tied to their original universe, these two don't feel as heavily weaved into their world. When I try to take them out it doesn't feel like I'm ripping them out and damaging them as I do. I don't feel tearing seams or fabric ripping, they just kinda...pop out. Which let's me take them and throw them into any roles I want, any AUs I want, and what I've noticed is that people do this a LOT with SBI and that they don't feel tied to the universe they originated from either. And I feel like that's in some part due to how the characters have lore from previous SMPs, previous worlds, previous experiences, and even future ones where the characters flow and adapt to fit whatever situation they're put into.

Some people might argue that I'm misrepresenting the characters in my fics or characterize them differently from the original source material, but that's because these are characters heavily formed around their experiences! Which makes them SO COOL for AUs! Because obviously the experiences are going to be different in an AU versus the source material! Making them a superhero or supervillain isn't the same experience as starting a country from the ground up! Making them a prince or king is different from elections and surviving from the land. Or dying and getting revived. Or overcorrecting into becoming a villain so nobody can ever hurt you again. AUs bring different experiences and that's why the characters are so fascinating to put in different AUs. And obviously some characteristics will carry over, but it's up to an author to decide what they carry over from the source material. Usually I carry over Wilbur being related to Phil, Techno, Tommy, Kristin, and sometimes I'll carry over Phil and Kristin's divinity which sometimes makes Wilbur an angel or demigod. Some authors usually carry over his mental instability, I like carrying over his sense of individuality. I like that he's stubborn, good at leading but not always enjoying it, yet always having the qualities for it. For Q? I like to carry over his general gambling aesthetic because I write mostly Las Nevadas Q since that's kinda who I know best out of all of Quackity's characterizations in the DSMP. Which means I write him as a manipulative little shit most of the time, who sometimes has second thoughts but usually pushes through for what he sees as the best outcome. And for their relationship usually what I carry over is this sense of tension or opposition between them. Hero/Villain, Angel/Demon, Human/Fae, Hunter/Vampire. This sense that they are on opposite sides, but not so different from each other when they look deeper than surface levels and titles.

They are such interesting characters. And I love them so much. They give me so much brainrot. So many ideas because they can just. Go anywhere I throw them!

I think I'll write more about them later. How I like to characterize them based on what I know about them from DSMP. Maybe rant more about why I think Q is definitely a shrike and that Magpie Wilbur is the only correct option. I feel like talking about them. I want to talk about them more.

Talk to me about them. I like hearing other people's thoughts about these fuckers.

[basu-shokikita]

Thinking about Toki's character arc in Metalocalypse...

Now that Metalocalypse is officially over, or so it seems, I wanted to go over what Army of the Doomstar means for Toki's growth.

Warnings for spoilers for, well, the entirety of Metalocalypse.

So, over the course of the show, we see Toki repeatedly trying (and failing) to form a meaningful bond with several living beings, people and animals included.

Analysis under the cut ⬇️

Season 1

It starts with a dying little girl called Juliette Sarmangsadandle in Dethkids (S1E16). Toki is upset over being misunderstood aka his public image being associated with kids and vehemently fights the idea by adopting an edgy personality.

When he watches Juliette's video, about being a child that longs for violence, it speaks to him and his childhood. Toki feels seen by this little girl and imagines his child self singing with her.

Sadly, when he goes out to meet her, she's already dead. Here goes Toki's first attempt at connection, utterly butchered.

In the following episode, we're introduced to Rockzo in Dethclown (S1E17). Toki brings his clown friend over and everyone pretty much almost instantly dislikes him. Not to mention Rockzo tries to betray Dethklok for drugs. Still, he sticks around for the remainder of the show as Toki's friend.

Though it's important to mention how much of that friendship involves Rockzo abusing Toki's kindness and generally being a shitty person. He's not exactly someone Toki can rely on.

It is not that significant but I'd also like to give a shout out to Dethwater (S1E02), where Toki is locked in an oxygen chamber and sings to the fishes and creatures in the sea. It's an early episode, but already portrays Toki's friendly nature and colorful life outlook.

Season 2

In season 2, we have Dethlessons (S2E02). After having a disagreement with Skwisgaar's teaching method, Toki meets Dimneld Selftcark. Though initially wanting him as guitar teacher, it's clear Toki doesn't actually intend to perfect his craft and more than anything appreciates his company. Toki even refers to him as 'a father friend'.

However, as luck would have it, Selftcark is ill and dies in Toki's arms after Toki gave his first recital.

Then there's Dethdad (S2E15), where Toki learns that his dad is dying of cancer. Toki is very much visibly affected by his parents' abuse towards him, though he still decides to pay his father a visit. When Toki finally gains the courage to see him and bond one last time, his father requests to see the cottage he was born at before dying.

Unfortunately, Toki steps and slips on his way there, dropping his father into the ice. Toki watches his father die and is unable to do anything about it.

This boy is really just collecting traumas all the way, huh?

Season 3

Dethhealth (S3E03) has Toki adopting a cat he found at a concert. Although he is not the best caretaker of the animal, Toki is very obviously fond of his new pet.

But, of course, the cat was dying, solving the mystery of who was the person dying within Dethklok. Toki is so devastated that he faints and then proceeds to have an elaborate dream sequence for closure.

Fertilityklok comes three episodes later (S3E06) and we find a Toki jaded with casual sex encounters. He decides he wants to meet a partner whom he can have children with. Though initially facing Dethklok's indignation, Toki goes forward with the idea and lands in a dating agency.

They find the perfect partner for Toki but nothing ever goes well with this guy and the lady in question disappoints Toki both in looks and personality. To make things worse, the agency wants to force him in a relationship with her and for Toki to impregnate her, even.

Toki manages to escape the whole charade and decides he's better off with sluts. This one is not so tragic as much as it's just another total failure at forming the connection Toki so desperately craves.

Season 4

Diversityklok (S4E04) and Bookklok (S4E05) feature Toki's interpersonal problems within the band so I figured they were mentioning as well.

In Diversityklok, Toki complains about feeling constantly left out by the band, so he forms a 'special persons invite club' to gain agency over his friends. He still ends up being forgotten by them at the end of the episode.

In Bookklok, Toki has a fallout with Skwisgaar after being denied a solo and writes a book denouncing his behavior towards him. In modern lingo, he essentially cancelled Skwisgaar. He fails to consistently maintain the fans' approval as he flunks the solo he so desperately wanted. His fight with Skwisgaar is not resolved (at least, not on screen).

Finally we get to Dethcamp (S4E07), where Toki's erratic behavior conflates with the mainline plot. In the search for friends, Toki goes to the Rock-a-Rooni Fantasy Camp, where he's almost killed by one of the campers. He's saved by Dethklok's former rhythm guitarist, Magnus Hammersmith and they subsequently become friends.

Good ending? No, Magnus stabs and kidnaps Toki over Roy Cornickleson's funeral, his fate being unknown as the season ends.

Doomstar Requiem

We finally learn how Toki joined the band. He showed up late to Dethklok's auditions and had a guitar duel with Skwisgaar, where he eventually lost. Defeated, he was abandoning the premises when Skwisgaar says that nobody made him play as well as Toki did, inviting him to join the band.

From then on, it's all rainbows and happiness for Toki as his life finally takes a turn for the better. He has found a family and a home. He loves his brothers and his life. Current Toki is on the brink of death and thinking about Dethklok is his only solace.

I might be biased in saying this but the sequence from 'I Believe' feels like the peak of the movie, and I don't think this is incidental.

While Toki is rescued at the end of the movie, we don't get to see a proper reunion.

Army of the Doomstar

Cut to 10 years later, Army of the Doomstar releases and while the plot is much about the end of the world, we get to see post-DSR Toki.

First of all, at the start of AOTD it is stated that Toki (as well as the rest of the band besides Nathan) has forgotten about what happened during Doomstar Requiem. However, his attitude towards the band is very loving, stating he's happy to be back with them.

He's especially fond towards Skwisgaar, attempting to hug him multiple times, worrying and being generally attentive of him. Toki shows both verbal and physical affection towards Skwisgaar over the course of the movie, finalizing in the bridal carry during the before last scene. Compared to the show, it's a huge contrast to their relationship, where Skwisgaar and Toki behaved as rivals, with Toki feeling simultaneously admiration and envy towards Skwisgaar.

But what are you trying to say with all of this, Basu? Well, essentially it's the following:

At some point, Toki started feeling neglected by the band and began seeking love from outside sources. The childhood companion he never had (Juliette), a father figure (Selftcark), his actual father, a pet, a girlfriend and finally...an actual friend he could rely on (Magnus). All of the aforementioned failed, eventually landing him in an even worst situation where he started.

However, being stuck there, wounded, malnourished and dying is what reminded him of the best time of his life. Of the people most important to him. And even if those memories were seemingly gone, the feeling prevailed.

Sure, Dethklok is massively flawed and there's lot of work they have to do with regards to interpersonal relationships, but they're his family and his life. Perhaps the lifestyle or his need for ego/power (Skwisgaar plays a big hand in this) made him forget about it for a second, but he knows it now. He doesn't need to look for love from strangers, he already has it in them. They're everything he's always wanted and he's going to cherish them for the rest of his life.

And if you're wondering why the special emphasis on Skwisgaar, my theory has to do with the age regressing that was confirmed in the movie. While it mostly happened over the Ishnifus funeral, I think Toki has generally gone back to the emotional state he was in when he joined Dethklok. A young, easily impressionable man happy to finally have found a family.

Which means he holds Skwisgaar in special regard, considering he is the guy that accepted him into the band. Not Nathan, Pickles or Murderface, it was Skwisgaar.

You could almost say that Toki might view Skwisgaar as his hero, given that he is the reason Toki has everything he has right now. So I think Toki's gratefulness is expressing in that almost overwhelming affection. Just like Toki's not going to let himself forget his feelings for the band, he's not going to let them forget about his feelings, either. It might not be easy, but Toki's priorities are clear now. His heart is with Dethklok.

In short, even if Army of the Doomstar didn't address Toki's issues the way we would've wanted, it's still a happy outcome for him and I fully believe he'll have more than enough to work on them. Metalocalypse is, at its core, a story about found family. This is specially true for Toki.

So, I really believe that Toki is eventually going to heal and be happy with the band. :)

[anarchy-and-piglins]

Restyled Techno wig, because we stan the butcher army arc leaving a white streak in my man's hair

[victoriadallonfan]

Hi, since I haven't seen anyone mention this on reddit or tumblr, I'd just like to say, as someone whose first language isn't english, Worm's cape names are fucking weird. Are all of them words? Who knows, i read Worm and Ward without knowing Eidolon and Brandish are real words and not made up words. Or they are words i know but idk wich meaning is? Is March like the month or like the organized walking verb? So do all cape names mean something, and say something about the one who chose them? I refuse to google them at this point, but Anelace? Cinereal? Myrrdin? Couldn't they pick more known 2 word combinations? Do parahumans get a discount on thesaurus? Thats all I wanted to say, thanks. PS. Wildbow, the fuck you doing using Califa de Perro as a name, couldn't you ask any Spanish speaker?, i'll kill you.

BIG ANALYSIS INCOMING

Eidolon = spectre, phantom, and idolized object/person

Brandish = to flourish and wave about an item, usually a weapon. Also an epitaph for Athena

March = to move in a uniform manner and derivative of the roman god of war, Mars

Anelace = double-sided dagger used by civilians

Cinereal = grey matter of the brain and nervous system

Myrrdin = Too many to count but generally tied to Myrddin Wylt, prophetic folklore bard and a facet of Merlin (genuinely more work than I can ever give on the topic of how insanely intertwined those myths are)

The thing about Wildbow's cape names are two-fold:

In the 80+ years of superhero genre, a LOT of cape names have been chosen and used already. Taylor mentions this to Armsmaster as a meta-joke in the first arc (ironically, DC also has a Skitter, who debuted in 2011.... the same year as Worm), so he has to be creative and sometimes creativity is simplicity.

He loves giving character names multiple meanings.

To go down the list:

Eidolon's name is ironic, because he notably not idolized (and pushed out of the spotlight compared to Legend), and he ends up becoming one of GU's spectres.

Brandish creates weapons, yes, but there's connection to Pallas (brandishing) and Athena accidentally killing him while distracted to Victoria accidentally caving her head in while distracted. (There are several story iterations, including one where they had a parental relationship).

March is about how she organizes her megacluster like an army or marching band, but also reference to her civilian name (May), the Mad March Hare from Alice in Wonderland (which her entire fight with Vista is a huge reference to), and the Ides of March (notorious for the stabby stab stab of Julius Caesar)

Anelace is a master of weapons, but he's notably reluctant about that fact, and is noted to have a healthy civilian life by other characters

Cinereal is the grey matter of the brain. She is the Atlanta Protectorate leader that turns things into grey matter (ash)

Myrddin = See the King Arthur and various clusterfuck of mythos

Even his main characters have this: Taylor tailor makes her outfits and is a silk Weaver, Khepri is an Egyptian god that bring a sunny morning... and she debuted on Gold Morning. Victoria is a Roman Goddess of Victory (Contessa uses her to find "the Path to Victory"), Antares means "Anti-Ares/Rival of Ares/Anti-War" and is the constellation "heart of the scorpion" which is Victoria inside of the wretched forcefield. We can even stretch this to Khepri and Antares: Khepri is a beetle that carries the sun on to a new day. Antares is a binary sun system (with one sun being invisible to the naked eye). In the slaughterhouse 9 fight, Taylor and her beetle (khepri) carry Victoria and the fragile one (antares) to safety (to live another day).

WE CAN EVEN GO FURTHER: Atlas is the man holding up the sky in Greek Mythology, which Taylor names her beetle. Victoria's PHO name is Point_Me_@_The_Sky (which is also a Pink Floyd reference). In Worm, Atlas holds Victoria up in the sky.

Its really fun to analyze.

Califa seems to be a simple goof. Or maybe Taylor just butchered his name.

They can't all be winners.

[ghostly-groves]

me and my friends are always locked in debate about this one, so:

rb for a larger sample size!

[appleflavoredkitkats]

ultimate c!fundy ask game 🦊✨

just in case you have opinions about his dsmp character you'd like to share. reblog if you want people to send you asks!

what's your favorite thing about c!fundy?

what is your favorite c!fundy mc skin that he used in the dsmp?

what is your favorite c!fundy arc?

what is your favorite c!fundy quote?

what is your favorite item or pet c!fundy had in the server?

what is your favorite build of c!fundy's?

what is your favorite pairing with c!fundy? it can be romantic, platonic, or familial.

which book of c!fundy's is your favorite? (ie. spy's diary, books from his dreams, butcher army agenda, etc.)

what's your least favorite c!fundy arc?

what is your least favorite c!fundy moment?

what do you think is the most interesting character flaw c!fundy has?

what characteristic of c!fundy is your favorite?

what's your favorite c!fundy moment in the dsmp?

which of c!fundy's pranks is your favorite?

what do you think of c!fundy's relationship with c!wilbur?

what do you think of c!fundy's relationship with c!philza?

what do you think of c!fundy's relationship with c!niki?

what do you think of c!fundy's relationship with c!eret?

what do you think of c!fundy's relationship with c!tommy?

what do you think of c!fundy's relationship with c!tubbo?

what do you think of c!fundy's relationship with c!ranboo?

what do you think of c!fundy's relationship with c!schlatt?

what do you think of c!fundy's relationship with c!hbomb?

what do you think of c!fundy's relationship with c!quackity?

what do you think of c!fundy's relationship with c!dream?

what do you think of c!fundy's relationship with l'manberg as a whole?

what c!fundy relationship do you think is underrated?

which character would you have loved to see c!fundy talk to more?

what did you think of c!fundy during the beginning of the dsmp?

what do you think of c!fundy during the l'manberg era?

what do you think of c!fundy during the pet wars?

what do you think of c!fundy during the elections arc?

what do you think of c!fundy during the manberg era?

what do you think of c!fundy during the new l'manberg era?

what do you think of c!fundy during doomsday?

what do you think of c!fundy during the las nevadas era?

what's your interpretation of yogurt?

what's your interpretation of sally?

how would you picture c!fundy's fox side? (ie. shapeshifter, half-fox, full fox, etc.)

how would you interpret c!fundy's family situation?

what do you think is often misinterpreted about c!fundy?

how would you headcanon c!fundy's gender and sexuality?

what do you make of c!fundy's prophetic dreams?

what aspect about c!fundy's dreams do you want an explanation of?

what do you think is an unexplored aspect of c!fundy?

what do you think is an underrated headcanon of c!fundy?

what do you think is an overrated headcanon of c!fundy?

do you have a headcanon of c!fundy that doesn't connect to canon at all?

what's your favorite fanart of c!fundy that someone else did?

what's your favorite fanfiction of c!fundy that someone else did?

what's your favorite character design of c!fundy?

what's your favorite c!fundy character song?

what's your favorite c!fundy post you've seen from someone else?

what's your favorite c!fundy theory or meta post you've read from someone else?

what's your favorite fanart of c!fundy that you've done?

what's your favorite fanfiction of c!fundy that you've done?

what's your favorite post about c!fundy you've made?

what's your favorite c!fundy theory or meta post that you've made?

if you can add anything to any c!fundy storyline or arc, what would you add?

in what arc do you think c!fundy is underutilized?

what arc of c!fundy's do you think is complete?

what arc of c!fundy's do you think is incomplete?

who do you think c!fundy's official father should be?

what do you think of coconut2020?

what do you think of the c!fundy and c!dream marriage?

what do you think of the dreamons?

what did you think of drywaters?

what was your favorite c!fundy character from tales from the smp?

what did you think of c!fundy's involvement with the egg?

what did you think of c!fundy's reunion with c!wilbur?

what did you think of c!fundy's last appearances on the dsmp?

why do you think c!fundy never forgave c!wilbur?

why do you think c!fundy is a true neutral, people-pleasing character?

why do you think c!fundy joined las nevadas?

why do you think c!fundy viewed schlatt's sword as an heirloom?

why did you think c!fundy donated the schlatt sword to the museum?

what's your favorite dsmp fandom moment involving c!fundy?

are you ultimately satisfied with how c!fundy's storyline?

do you watch fundy outside of the dsmp?

how would you explain c!fundy's storyline to someone who hasn't heard of him at all?

wildcard! share anything you want about c!fundy!

[simplepotatofarmer]

Go off king tell us why it Wasn't justified

so here's the thing!

c!techno was 1.) not under their jurisdiction and 2.) actively retired, on his pacifist arc, showing zero interest in doing anything other than like, beekeeping.

which means they had no right to try extract justice from him because dude had nothing to do with their country. he hadn't done anything. trying to justify it based on past actions is a shitty thing to do especially because like. the previous incident was under vastly different circumstances and techno didn't even follow through! they did, in fact, restart their government and he was just out in the arctic.

so there's that.

then there's the fact that c!quackity admitted it was a power play. that it was to prove a point and take out their possible rivals. which is a shady and not okay thing to do. oh and do you remember how they dehumanized techno? the pictures of bacon, the axes, the bloody aprons, the name 'the butcher army'?

it wasn't about justice or defense. it was about dehumanizing and being brutal towards someone you consider to have more power than you. like, even if i suddenly decided Governments Are Good, Actually, that would still be a deeply inhumane and wrong thing to do.

when you put that all together with the fact that techno pleaded with them to leave him alone, actually begging them to go, and then they didn't even give him a trial (not that a trial would've actually made it better).... well. that's just murder in a really terrible way, isn't it?

[maybeiwasjustjade]

Alright y’all, place your bets on the timeline for the rest of the show.

This season has been a mess and a half, and if the new leaks are through then this season has been basically a boring filler for over half of it. Rumor had it that the Fall of King’s Landing happens in the finale. New leaks have come out that nothing of the sort seems to be happening until S3.

Assuming the show lasts five seasons, how do you think each season will pan out?

* 5 seasons because I think there’s too many battles and events for it to end in 2 more seasons, and HBO does not have the budget for a dragon battle almost every episode after 3x01. Also half the cast would be dead by s3 ending alongside almost all the dragons. Even if the show ended with Rhaenyra’s death, a lot of fan favorites will die in quick succession to make up for the shit storytelling. And knowing how pro TB the writers are, I doubt it’ll end before Aegon III is crowned.

What I think:

Season 3:

King’s Landing falls within the first 2 episodes. Aegon is snuck out by Larys alongside Jaehaera. There’s a minor timeskip during the season to prolong Rhaenyra’s reign because the writers seem to be obsessed with her. And because it gives the child characters time to grow up enough for certain events

Maelor is born in captivity, and then snuck out during the chaos of the aftermath of the Gullet.

Honeywine is mid-season episode, and the true introduction to Daeron and Tessarion

Butcher’s Ball will probably happen this season too

The Gullet happens at the penultimate episode. With Joffrey being so young still, he’s sent away with bby! Aegon and Viserys to Pentos. The battle happens; Aegon barely escapes, Viserys is lost, and Jace is more than likely going to be killed by trying to get to Joffrey on time (who probably also dies). Rhaena-as-Nettles feels insurmountable levels of guilt; Rhaenyra blames her for Jace (which leads to the Nettles-Daemon part of the arc).

Finale is Aegon conquering Dragonstone and killing Moondancer. Baela’s fate is left up to interpretation (for now)

Season 4:

Maelor is killed in the premiere as a shock value. Doubt the writers are brave enough to go the Mushroom route of the Brothel Queens arc, but who knows if Rhaenyra goes insane after all but one son is killed. His head is delivered to Rhaenyra. Helaena goes insane. First Tumbleton happens.

Considering the show seems to be trying a little too hard to redeem Daemon at the moment, and if Rhaenyra does go insane after the Gullet, then Daemon might actually go the Nettle arc for Rhaena. Gods Eye happens as the mid-season arc; Aemond and Daemon are both killed.

Second Tumbleton will probably happen before the Dragonpit, making that event the damning end of the dragons. Daeron, Addam, Hugh, and Ulf are all killed, and their dragons too.

Driven to insanity over what happened to Maelor (because it was too similar to Jaehaerys) and the deaths of nearly all her brothers and her daughter and Aegon still ‘missing’, Helaena jumps to her death in the penultimate episode.

The Storming of the Dragonpit takes up most of the finale. Depending on whether Joffrey and Tyraxes do die at the Gullet (or just Joffrey) then Joffrey is lost in the chaos, and all King’s Landing dragons killed. Rhaenyra and bby! Aegon escape.

Season 5:

The premiere episode will probably end with Rhaenyra and Aegon arriving on Dragonstone.

Episode 2 is Rhaenyra’s death. Knowing the show they’ll probably make it that she tries to tell Aegon bout the damned Prophecy while she’s dying. Followed by Sunfyre’s. Chaos reigns in King’s Landing. If the show follows through with the existence of Trystane Truefyre, then he and Gaemon will make an appearance.

Aegon returns to the capital by the end of episode 3. Episode 4 will probably be about Aegon trying to hatch another dragon + agreeing to marry Cassandra Baratheon. The Battle of the Kingsroad begin.

Aegon is poisoned and killed in episode 5. Aegon III is crowned. Cregan Stark and his army arrive at King’s Landing.

The Hour of the Wolf would take up over an episode so maybe 6-7

Series finale will be the marriage between Aegon III and Jaehaera, and the regency of Aegon III. Morning hatches to signify that it isn’t the end of House Targaryen (it is). Alicent dies, representing the death of the Greens.

Alternatively, Rhaenyra dies in the premiere, speeding up the events. Aegon dying and bby! Aegon is crowned as part of the mid-season episode. Aegon III and Jaehaera are married by episode 6, and Jaehaera is killed by episode 7 when Daenaera Velaryon is introduced. The series ends with Viserys’ miraculous return (because Condal and Hess just loves TB that much)

*Hilariously, before the season began I was so sure it wouldn’t last more than four seasons. Rook’s Rest would be 2x04, the Dragonseeds by 2x06, and the Gullet in 2x07. Honeywine and The Fall of King’s Landing by the finale. But for that to happen Maelor and Daeron would have to exist…2 years ago in the writers room.

Then Butcher’s Ball, Tumbleton, Gods Eye, and Dragonstone falling by the end of s3. The ending shot of s3 (or even rhe beginning of s4) would be Aegon claiming Dragonstone after being missing for over a season. Then s4 would just have to deal with Tumbleton redux, and Helaena dying by episode 3. 4x04 would be the Storming of the Dragonpits. 4x05 is Rhaenyra and Aegon III’s mad dash to Dragonstone only to discover that it has been taken. Rhaenyra dies, then Sunfyre. 4x06 deals with Trystane Truefyre and the Kingsroad Battle, Aegon’s agreement to marry Cassandra Baratheon, and then Aegon’s poisoning. 4x07-08 is the Hour of the Wolf, and the series ends with Aegon III and Jaehaera being forced to marry.

[ultraericthered]

One Villainous Scene: Enough To Feed A Whole Army

It's serendipitous that this one come not only as Winter Is Coming, but also soon after the final episode of The Penguin, as the scene in question pulls a similar thing to what the events of that episode did.

Episode 14 of the first season of Vinland Saga, titled "The Light of Dawn", might just be the most uncomfortable episode in the series, and in any anime series. Rather oddly centering heavily around a bit character who never matters in the series narrative ever again beyond this particular episode and what it sets off for the following one, it reaches its climax when the viking army that Thorfinn, Prince Canute, Ragnar, Priest Willibald, and the rest of Ragnar's men are accompanying - y'know, our main characters - arrive at Anne's village and raids the place, rounding up all the villagers to force them out into the snowy cold while the vikings ransack all the houses to check the grand total of all supplies in the village, particularly the rations.

Only Anne managed to flee to safety but is watching what befalls her family and neighbors from a distance away. We see men, women, children, and even crying infants, all people who have done no harm to these Danish invaders whatsoever, huddled outside. Askeladd has determined that the village holds enough food for 50 people to last the winter, which comes up short for 104 soldiers. After chiding Willibald for an earlier display of defiance towards him and making a threat on his life should he do so again, Askeladd's attention is turned to the villagers as one pleads with him to let the villagers keep half of the food supply, with the other half being forfeited to the Danes. He even plays the "I have a baby!" card as an appeal to Askeladd's humanity. Only no such humanity seems to be moved in Askeladd, who dryly responds "A baby? That's rough." A stern, cold-blooded Askeladd announces to the masses that he has put all of them into consideration, and looks to ensure that none of them have to worry about going hungry during the winter...or for any winters to come for that matter. He intends to release them from their suffering, by ending the lives of all of them. Every last man, woman, and child.

At the protest of doing this to innocent civillians, Askeladd replies with only stone cold rationale - if he were to let all of them live but banish them from their home village, he'd have no food or drink to give to them that would sustain them out in the winter's cold, as he plans to keep all of the village's food and make it last for as long as they're able to stay there before winter fades, and should any one of them escape with their life, they'd be able to tell Thorkell and his forces where they are (which is indeed what ends up happening with Anne after her survival btw). As such, they all must perish. Askeladd's already had his warrior flunkies dig deep holes in the snow-covered ground to cram in up to 62 dead bodies. "But these people are Christians!" Ragnar protests. To which Askeladd gives a literal, word for word "So what?" Askeladd belongs to no conventional religious faith, and he doesn't let beliefs, affiliations, nationalities, gender or age set for him any standard of who he can or cannot shed the blood of without hesitation should the cause of the moment call for such blood to be shed. Which this moment does, as he's keen to remind Ragnar: this is what's best for Prince Canute. So with no more questions to be asked, Askeladd issues his command: "Kill them."

The massacre that follows is appalling and horrific to behold, even though very little of the butchering is shown on-screen. But what gives it its horror isn't what's transpiring, but how and why it is, and by who's hand. Askeladd is the true protagonist of Vinland Saga's Prologue Arc (its first season in the anime) in many regards, and we've followed him up to this point and continue to follow him even afterwards. The insights into his past and how it shaped his present character, the glimmers of deeply held convictions, motivations, and beliefs we get out of him that offset his usual devil may care attitude, his badass warrior spirit and charming personality endear him to us and allow us to be invested in his actions that drive the plot forward. He is in fact so charismatic that the viewer will likely be so enraptured by him to the point of wanting to follow him, of wanting to root for his success, of disregarding or perhaps even forgetting the basic fact of who and what Askeladd is, which is what he's always been from the moment we met him: a remorseless, merciless, spiritually detached, machiavellian and oftentimes cruel mass murderer. He's not a man, he's a beast. He knows he's a beast, and he laments it only as often as he relishes it. The same man capable of murdering Thors in such a despicably underhanded, craven way is of course capable of ordering the bloody massacre of an entire village full of innocent civillians under rationalizations of taking life and butchering bodies when such evils are deemed "necessary" by him. He feels nothing about seeing people all the way down to literal babies get dispatched of swiftly but no less brutally and painfully. To him it's all just part of how he lives his life being the man he is and doing what a man like him does. But to us in the audience who've by this point bonded with him in a way and have come around to trusting, supporting, and liking the bastard, this moment comes in like a knife in the back or through the throat to serve as a wake-up call that pulls no punches. We see Askeladd and his viking crew through the eyes of non-players not affiliated with them and who know nothing of them that we've gotten to know, and it reminds us of the ugly truth of what callous, barbaric, inhumane monsters these people are to others.

And just as disturbing? The silent complicity of Thorfinn and Canute. They're a part of this too. They also own it. The blood of the innocent soaks their hands as well, even if neither one lifted a single weapon against a single villager. This is where the path you follow Askeladd down inevitably leads, and it will weigh on their souls forevermore.

[thecountesstribe]

HOTD SEASON 2X4 SPOILERS AND REACTIONS.

Babies we got our asses kicked today huh??!

I knew it was coming, I knew but that doesn't make it hurt less. As a matter of fact it hurts worse because I loved book Rhaenys and sure they changed and butchered her character somewhat in the show but that was Grandma and I loved her. I need Vhagar and Aemond dead bro. I'm not even playing I'm wishing for their downfall so hard right now. Rhaenys Targaryen was one of the greatest women in Westeros to ever live and stamp that. I'm not ready for the reactions of her family when they find out about her death. Baela, Rhaena, Jace, Corlys, Rhaenyra and the others just recently lost Luke and to lose her so soon after. I'll be sick. Her relationship with Meleys was so special to me. Meleys looking back at her for the first time during the episode and then taking her last look at her for the final time, I was in tears. I'll never get over this hurt. Her face when she realized that she wasn't going back home with Meleys and the fall 💔💔💔. I am not okay, I'm not okay. Rest in peace to them both.

Sunfyre I'm sorry you had that halfwit who barely knows his mother tongue for a rider even though that little nudge you gave him was actually super duper cute. Another one of my babies. Y'all don't think they rewrote the story to kill off Sunfyre because in the trailer for episode 5, Sunfyre wasn't shown.

Aemond I hate you! Living up to that kinslayer moniker. So we intentionally see him burn both his brother (honestly fuckin deserved and about time) and his dragon. Wonder how this is gonna play out, they better not give Aemond Baela's story arc. I'm so fuckin serious. That's it. I wanna fight.

Rhaenyra coming home to a tongue lashing was so satisfying. Jacaerys was fed up y'hear me. He was done. Her telling him about the song of fire and ice just like Vizzy T did for her warmed me a little.

Criston Cole shut the fuck up challenge. It happened years ago, it's time to let that hurt go. They let that old man read him for filth and spit on him just for me.

Alicent being potentially pregnant and having to take medieval plan b or is it medieval abortion medication is so funny to me. I wonder how crybaby Cole would take the news of her potentially getting rid of the child? It's gonna be a mess.

Jacaerys was angry this entire episode and I don't blame him. Why in a room full of adults with battle experience/tactics for the war to come does he and Baela have to act like the adults. On top of that his queen, the one who they're fighting for is just taking unnecessary stupid risks and not thinking like a leader. I'd be irritated asf too. The black council aside from a selected few are just a bunch of bickering childish idiots. Both him and Baela were tired. Baela and him stepping up and leading the council was so good. They literally fed us what could've been had they had a chance to rule. Westeros was robbed. Baela proving she's just as worthy as Jace is just *chefs kiss. One thing I could say about my boy is that he knows Baela could hold her own, she's proved it but he will never ever under any circumstances let anybody feel that they could dismiss her or disrespect her. Him letting that one goof know it's because of her they have actual information on some of the greens army and acknowledging her contributions, yeah they would've been both sat the throne. Ain't nothing like she's just a queen's consort with no power. They would've been co rulers fr. Him comforting her publicly when they brought up Daemon in front of the council no less, like he doesn't play about her. That's the kinda guy you want to be locked in for life with. Rhaenys looking on in the background was a parallel to the first time they held hands during the funeral and she came up to them and she peeped the same thing she peeped then. I know she knew that Baela was in great hands. 😭😭😭 Never beating the best couple in Westeros allegations.

They black council talking about Daemon probably having an orgy LMAOO, he's getting fucked alright. That man has not had one moment of peace since he stepped foot in spooky town and it's what he deserves. Laena being beautiful and haunting his ass, period boo and baby Rhaenyra wearing older Rhaenyra's clothes and the crown that was too big for her tiny head (symbolizing it was/is a burden) and tormenting him. Yeah I'm gonna have that on repeat.

Rhaenys already knowing Adam and Alyn are Corlys children before flying to her death and her informing him and that sweet scene with Alyn, I think she learned her lesson after the whole debacle with Laenor and his boys. That's growth. Wish we could've had more of that development on screen but what can we do.

It was honestly a solid episode. I'm exhausted this was probably a review too long and if you stuck around till the end thanks for reading my thoughts ❤️. Sunfyre, Meleys and Rhaenys didn't deserve that. Sending hugs.