#camilla should clearly be left in charge

[dabblingandbabbling]

Ianthe was the best necromancer but she as an absolute dumass about the living...

Now spoilers

To continue....the three most dangerous/powerfull necromancers were Ianthe, Palamedes and harrowhawk.

Judith Deuteros (2)(for she was shitty) refused to play the rules to any game but her own and Marta functioned as her inforcer. I cant remember marta ever questining her necro...in retrospect that was a bad sign.

Isaac Tettares (4) was 14 and doing his best but he was in over his head and got necr-ophaned to young. And Jeanemaire was doing her best to have his back like a best friend should but they never stood a chance.

Abigail Pent (5) was a badass but i think she cared as less about being a necro-mancer then she did about being a good necro-parent and historian. So she died of perfectly understanable, wrong genre assuming, lack a paranoia. Magnus was an awesome husband, abigail was lucky to be necro-married to him but he was shit in a fight.

Palamedes Sextus (6) the sex-pal himself, was an awesome human being who had pretty much all his shit together... and any shit he missed camilla took care of quickly and effectivly. But they functioned as equals....love... repect...paranoia...all that jazz, they were comfortable working independantly or together and Paladedes CHOOSE not to become a lycter. He picked his moral mountain to die on and camilla had his back.

For the sake of this rant Dulcinea Septimus (7) does not count..... for reasons

Silas Octakiseron (8) is an asshat who used Colum as his servent/battery and silad would rather sit on his dubius moral hillock then learn anything.

Harrowhark Nonagesimus (9) only truely seemed to care about two things: keeping the tomb locked and keeping gideon with her. She was cruel and cunning and hardworking to ocomplish her goals. She was also a rageing bitch but she loved gideon and HARROW IS VERY VERY BAD AT EXPRESSING HEALTHY EMOTIONS. Normaly I am very not okay when love is expressed as abuse but I dont think it ever occoued to Harrow that she could hunt Gideon. Because nothing could kill Gideon. Everything else in Harrows world was decaying or dead but Gideon was unkillable. Harrow did some fucked up things to gideon, but i think it was always about gettingngideon to focus on harrow. So when they get to the first house Harrow firstbtries to limit gideons contact with the others for Harrow knew that Gideon was pure of heart and dumb of ass so a gernerly likeable human being...and she understood that she(harrow) was not. Then Gideon come and saves harrow and harrow starts to understand that maybe there are options to keep a persin with you ither than controll. So they land in a great lesbian pile if rage and respect, horemones, facepaint, and fair two many sharp boney bits for two girls to resinanably have.

Which brings me back to the idiots of the third house. Ianthe, Coronabeth and Babs who clearly have about 50% to much human for thier partenership. From what they say ianthe was being strangled in the womb by Coronabeth...and thier father wanted a Matching set so Ianthe faked Coronabeths power.

Coronabeth should have been Ianthe's cav. They would still have been a matched pair. Babs was basicly Coronabeths overgroomed beard. Ianthe was an idiot for killing Babs instead if enlisting Caronabeths help. I think that Corona would rather have been awknolaged as Ianthes cav even if it meant dieing just to be honest. But ianthe was shit with people and let coronabeth do all the heavy lifting of human interactions and she went off to be smart and skulk around....if ianthe bothered to investigate the other houses eeven for an hour or two she would probably has figured things out a lot soonner.

Also if the lycters have the mucle memory of their cav's then ianthe/coronabeth would have worked best! Identical bodies....different memories

In conclusion

1. I cant spell/tpe worth shit on a tablet keyboard

2. Judith is the kind of bitch who woukd declair herself king during the apoclypes just because she had been in the army

3. Ianthe should have picked her twin over the duechhair

4. Isaac snd jeannemaire could have kicked 14 year old harry potter and hermionie grangers ass.

5. Abigail and Magus were the adults eveyone else needed when they were 6.

6. Sexpal and cammilla were fully functional adults whos lifechoices and threats i fully respect

7. Dont trust the girl made of Cancer and her man made of lemons

8. 8th house is full of asshouses

9. Harrow and gideon really needed abigal and magnus when thy were 6 to show them how adults have relationships

Thankyou for reading my shitpost

[fantasyfandommaiden]

Rossi VS Regal (ML Counsellor AU)

Lila Rossi was beyond mad at this point. Her plans to get Marinette expelled had failed, and she had had to lie about yet ANOTHER condition that she had in order to not get into (too much) trouble, but when the STUPID school counsellor insists on talking to Lila and her mother about all the ‘trouble’ she is causing, Lila decides to deal with the neustants the same way she deals with all her problems… with a little bit of magic.

(Post Ladybug, also slight Ladybug Divergence)

~~~~~

[[MORE]]

Lila Rossi comes from a long line of magic users, dating back nearly two and a half centuries… Okay, maybe it wasn’t a long line considering some of the OTHER families, but still, 250 years worth of magic users wasn’t something to scoff at. Her family all specialised in matters of the mind and trickery, her mother was in fact in charge of altering the memory of non-magical people so that word didn’t get out about the magical community, and was top in the field. That was one of the reasons they had moved her from Italy, because some trouble makers were using the chaos of Hawkmoth’s akuma attacks to cause trouble and her Mama needed to alter the memories of some mortals so not to cause too much chaos.

Lila on the other hand was unnaturally charismatic, whatever words she spoke people would instantly believe her and wouldn’t bother fact checking… at least to a certain point. If she told a lie that someone else knew to be false without an ounce of doubt, then the spell would break and suspension would begin to set in (for example, if she stated that she was Ladybug’s best friend and Ladybug herself heard this, having never met the girl, the spell would break).

Marinette was one of those people who knew she was lying, and that made her a threat. So, Lila tried to sew doubt into her classmates, however that proved to be extremely hard to do, because as one of the classmates pointed out ‘Yeah, Marinette can be jealous sometimes, but she would NEVER be down right mean or bully someone!’ meaning that if she claimed Marinette was bullying her, there was a good chance that the spell would break and her hold on the class with it.

So, she had to be clever. Marinette didn’t get a lot of sleep? She didn’t have time to study and decided to cheat on the test. Lila had to escort her to the principal's office? Marinette had been so distraught that when Lila tried to comfort her, Marinette accidently pushed her down the stairs, hurting her knee badly. Her necklace went missing? Marinette was already known to have a history of stealing items from other classmates.

What she DIDN’T count on was Adrien Agreste all but threatening her to tell the truth… which she did begrudgingly. What she hadn't counted on was being told that her and her mother had to speak with the counsellor to ‘check up’ on Lila. Mlle Regal had been out of the country for a week to see her family and had only just returned, and she was not happy with what happened well she was away.

Lila had to deal with this quickly. Her mother had paused to speak with a teacher and Lila had told her Mama that she was going to go on ahead and let Mlle Regal that they were there.

She all but ran to the woman’s office, opening the door and walked into the office, her hands raised slightly as she began to cast her spell, using several complex hand gestures. She ignored the feeling that she shouldn’t do this, even though she felt her magic almost scream at her not to, she pushed that down. Her reputation was more important than her ‘conscious’. Before Mlle Regal could even speak a word, Lila had already began reciting her spell.

“You will tell my mother that there is nothing wrong, that what the principal asked us to speak about is someone else’s song. You will tell my mother that I am the ideal student and that there is nothing that I need to do to repent.” Lila finished the complex hand gesture as her eyes flashed a poisonous green colour. The hand gestures were needed in order to complete the spell, even if she sometimes felt ridiculous doing them, but with time and practice, eventually she should be able to do this sort of thing with just a twist of her wrist, or possibly even just blinking her eyes, but only powerful mages could do that.

She then sat down in one of the chairs, a victorious smile on her face, her and her mother would be out of here in five minutes tops.

Mlle Regal sat at her desk frozen for several moments as Signora Benigna Rossi appeared at the door way, but she did not enter the office. She stood there confused for a few moments as she looked towards Mlle Regal who looked right back at her. The red haired woman gave a small smile and a nod “Please, come on in Signora Rossi.” she said warmly. Benigna gave a small, almost uneasy smile as she entered as well, taking a seat beside her daughter. “I hope that you had no trouble finding my office, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.” Mlle Regal said, still smiling.

Lila’s mother gulped slightly, but smiled “Oh, no trouble at all Mlle, do you have other meetings?” she asked almost nervously which confused Lila. Mlle Regal wasn’t nearly as intimidating as other teachers, why be nervous?

“Oh no, I don’t have any other meetings, I just feel like this meeting will either be very short or very long, I have no preference really. Now that we are all here.” Mlle Regal’s eyes flashed a brilliant ember colour as the door slammed shut and locked, as well as the curtains closing so that no one on the outside could see. The woman leaned forward, elbows on her desk as she delicately placed her chin on top of her hands, looking at the two woman with a soft smile yet a dangerous gleam in her eyes.

Lila felt a chill go up her spin as she finally allowed herself to FEEL the room she was in, her blood run cold. There was so much magic here, it almost radiated in the air within the room; she had entered someone’s domain. No wonder her mother paused before entering, it was considered rude to enter without asking permission first! It also explained why her magic had told her not to, it hadn’t been her conscious… she had done not one but TWO misdeeds well in someone else's domain, the worst part? Mlle Regal seemed to be extremely powerful if the lack of hand gestures were any indication.

Mlle Regal smiled dangerously, almost in a feral way before saying in a sickly sweet voice “Lets talk.”

~~~~~

For almost a solid minute no one spoke. Lila was trying desperately to figure out how to make this turn out okay for her, well Carmine simply sat there, smiling that dangerous coy smile. It was finally Bengina who broke the silence.

“I had no idea that a magic user was placed in this school.” she said, giving a small smile, “I’m sorry, but the name ‘Regal’ doesn’t ring any bells for me. Your family isn’t from France, are they?” she asked, clearly trying to break the ice.

Carmine’s eyes flickered over to the woman, giving a small smile, “I’m not surprised you haven't heard of us, your originally from Italy. The Regal family is mostly based in England and North America, however, my mother was a Rosewood before she married my father.”

“Rosewood? As in Yarrow Rosewood?” Bengina asked curiously. Lila felt her sense of dread growing more and more as Mlle Regal nodded. Yarrow Rosewood was on the council here in France, and the Rosewood (from what Lila understood) were a VERY old magic family, dating back to the time of Merlin himself.

“Yes, he’s my uncle.” Mlle Regal said smiling, “We are very, VERY close.”

“Oh that’s wonderful! I just saw him this morning! Next time I see him, I'll be sure to tell him I’ve finally met you! He talks very highly of you, that is if your the one he refers to as his ‘Little Camilla’?” Bengina said with a warm smile. “He says you are a very talented magic user!”

Mlle Regal gave the woman a soft smile back “Yes, that would be me. And speaking of magic, can we discuss WHY Lila has been using hers well inside the school against her classmates and staff so they will believe her stories?” Mlle Regal asked ever so innocently.

Lila felt herself panic as Bengina looked at the woman with a confused expression “Mama, she’s exaggerating, I don’t abuse my magic-”

“Tinnitus in the left ear caused by a jet plane engine from when she saved Jagged Stone’s cat, arthritis in her wrist from volunteer work in Achu while with Prince Ali, being best friends with Ladybug herself, being away for SEVERAL months due to traveling abroad, and a medical condition that makes her lie about things uncontrollably.” Mlle Regal said, looking down at a clipboard that was on her desk before looking up at the two Rossi woman with a raised brow “This is just the big things of note, but there are others on this list from Lila’s teacher, as well as concerning students-”

“Mama, there’s this one girl, Marinette, who has been bullying me-” Lila began however a cold glare from Mlle Regal stopped her mid-sentence.

“Lila, I am only going to state this ONCE. Do not attempt to lie while you are within my domain.” Mlle Regal stated “This list was brought forward to me AFTER your attempt at getting Mlle Dupain Cheng expelled, which I have a feeling your magic also had something to do with it.”

“Now Mlle Regal, that is going a little far.” Bengina finally commented, looking at the woman. “Yes my daughter has a decent amount of magic, but she would never use it against her classmates unless it was for a good reason.”

Mlle Regal raised a single brow at the statement “Oh really?”

“Yes, and what is this about traveling to Achu? Lila and I haven’t left Paris since we arrived here.”

“Lila claims that the reason for her absences from school was due to her being in Achu doing volunteer work for the past several months.” Mlle Regal stated evenly.

Bengina’s eyes widened as she slowly turned to Lila, who shrank slightly at her mother’s glare. “... Mlle Regal, has the school been closed at all during akuma attacks?”

“The longest the school has ever been closed because of an akuma attack is a single day, Signoria Rossi. Chat Noir and Ladybug are usually able to handle any akuma within the first few hours of them appearing, I believe the longest it took them to take one down was roughly seven or eight hours.” Mlle Regal stated truthfully in a matter of fact tone.

Bengina stared down at her daughter “... You’ve been LYING to ME?!” she accused, her eyes narrow as Lila shrank in her seat. “You stated the school has been closed for months because Ladybug and Chat Noir were having difficulty doing their job! I was going to go to the council next week with a request to send in magic users to assist them!!!!”

“We wouldn’t be able to anyway.” Mlle Regal stated in a matter of fact tone, which caused both Italian’s to look at her confused. “The Miraculous are immune to our magic but we can still be affected by them. Even with a summoning spell we weren't able to summon the Butterfly Miraculous to use, nor do scrying spells work so we can’t pin-point his exact location.”

“What about anti-glamour spells, so at least we can find out who is really is?” Bengina asked with a raised brow.

“Hawkmoth has only ever showed his face in public twice to my knowledge, both times he disappeared too quickly for that sort of spell to be cast, and like I stated before, the Miraculous are immune to any spell casted.” Mlle Regal stated “However we are not here to discuss Hawkmoth, we are here to discuss your daughter’s abuse of magic, as well as her absence from school.”

Lila’s eyes widened as the attention was placed back on her. “I just wanted to make friends-” she began only to see her mother and Mlle Regal look at her with a look that stated ‘Do not lie.’

Lila dropped the act and rolled her eyes, leaning back in her chair “It’s an inherited ability that anything I say seems believable to mortals. Whenever we moved I always tested it, if I am going to be an amazing magic one day, I need to practice. I’ve never done anything that caused someone harm.” she stated, looking at the two woman “Everyone claims to know a celebrity or two, I don’t see what the big deal is.”

“You know what Lila, you are completely right.” Mlle Regal stated, giving a warm smile surprising both Rossi women.

“I am?” “She is?”

“Yes. Magic, like any skill, needs to be practiced. And if its a sort of magic that you can’t fully control, I understand the feeling of needing to be ABLE to try and master it.” Mlle Regal said, still smiling warmly.

Lila blinked, before smirking. Looks like she was going to get away with it after all. Mlle Regal couldn’t exactly tell the school about her magic without breaking the law on it, and even IF her uncle was a council member, he only had so much pull and Lila doubted that he would bother with something so minor as a child lying about knowing celebrities.

“However.” Mlle Regal said, still smiling warmly “What about trying to get Marinette expelled?” she asked ever so sweetly, looking Lila dead in the eye. “Or trying to get the whole class to turn against her by claiming she stole your grandmother’s ‘priceless’ family heirloom?”

Mlle Regal placed her hands on her desk as she slowly stood up, her warm smile turning cold, than deadly, the very air in the room seeming to become denser.

“What about using your magic to manipulate the staff to jump from investigating straight to expulsion against a student? Or better yet, what about you coming into MY office, my DOMAIN, trying to cast a SPELL against ME to make me sweep everything under the rug so you can get away with all of the vile deeds you’ve done?!” Mlle Regal all but snarled at the girl, the air crackling with magic energy.

Lila sank further into her chair, trying despratly to get away. It seems that Lila had underestimated Mlle Regal in every way possible. Lila looked around the room anxiously, looking for the sign of an akuma to get out of this situation… but none showed.

Mlle Regal took a deep, slow controled breath, seeming to calm down as the buzz of magic slowly calmed down. She looked towards Bengina, who still looked stunned at everything that had just happened.

“Your daughter has broken one of the basic rules of any domain by trying to cast a spell against me, not to mention…” the red haired woman’s eyes narrowed at the girl “She has caused chaos while within the school with her magic against mortals.”

Bengina stayed silent for a long time, looking straight at Mlle Regal. “... whatever punishment you find fitting for this I will support.”

Mlle Regal raised a brow “... Even if I state that her punishment shall be the lose of her magic?”

Lila’s eyes widened with fear as she looked at her mother who simply nodded “Mama, you can’t be-“

“Lila, you broke domain and have been using magic against mortals. Your lucky that Mlle Regal hasn’t summoned a member of the council here yet.” Bengina hissed, glaring at her daughter.

Mlle Regal leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes deep in thought. “... I won’t take your daughters magic away. She is still young, I would hope that she still has time to learn… However, no ill deed can go unpunished…” she walked around her desk to stand in front of Lila, looking at her bracelet. “Give me your hand.”

Lila looked at her, almost glaring “Why-“

“Give me your hand or I WILL take your magic and summon the council.” Mlle Regal hissed, her eyes flashing an almost demonic yellow. Lila hestitantly held out her hand, Mlle Regal grabbed her wrist, her hand encompassing Lila’s woven bracelet. Her eyes turned from hazel to ember as she began to speak.

“From this day forward until you repent, every spell and incantation shall cost twice what is spent. Every lie that is whispered from your lips, shall make you feel pain from your toes to fingertips. And if you ever try to harm one of your peers because of jealousy or greed ever again, you shall find yourself at the mercy of the councilmen.”

Lila felt her bracelet get unbareably hot, it felt like someone had placed red hot iron shackles on her wrist. She tried to scream but no sound came out as Mlle Regal let go of her wrist with a cold expression on her face.

“What did you do?!” Lila hissed, glaring at the woman who looked back at her.

“Surely you were following along with my incantation.” Mlle Regal stated with a neutral tone. “But, I will simplify it for you. Until You repent for everything that you have done here and at your other schools, you will now find it incredibly difficult to do even the most basic of magic. Also, every time you lie you will feel pins and needles going through your entire body. Finally, if you EVER…. and I mean EVER, even AFTER you find yourself repeating for your crimes that you try and do something like you did to Mlle DupainCheng” Mlle Regal looked down at the girl with a cold expression, one that had never been seen before on the usually warm Counsellor “... you will be instantly teleported to the council, for them to decide your fate.”

Lila felt her heart stop as she stared in horror at the woman “... you…. you can’t do that!”

“I believe I just did.” Mlle Regal said evenly. “See that you learn your lesson Rossi… otherwise, the council will not be as forgiving as me.”

No one touched or messed with Mlle Regal’s students… No. One.

[muffinworry]

Some Desperate Glory

For @pinkcupboardwitch, who requested The Secret History and fencing.

***

En garde

*

When she mentions that she and Charles had fencing lessons once upon a time, Julian is delighted. She understands that it fits perfectly with the image he has of them, of her.  A sun-dappled childhood, lazy afternoons in the southern heat, a tumbledown house, vast and secretive. Genteel poverty and peeling paint. Bare feet. Fireflies. It’s as good a past as any, she decides, and lets her drawl thicken. Behind Henry, she sees Charles lift his eyes heavenward, but she knows he’ll support her. He always does.

Bunny, of course, won’t let it drop. Let’s see you fight, he says later, go on, it’ll be fun. All those movies where a duel ends in someone’s clothes being dramatically cut off. She snaps her book shut and stalks off before she can see his reaction.

In front of her mirror that night, she draws herself up and takes a careful stance.

*

Prêt

*

Nobody actually says, let’s do it. It comes to all of them, listening to Julian and the visions he conjures up for them, like a shared dream (folie à deux, isn’t that what the Frogs call it? Bunny will say. Folie à cinq, more like). Nonetheless, it’s very clearly Henry who’s going to be in charge of the preparations. The wine is easy, although trying to give it an authentic smoky flavour only results in broken bottles in Francis’s fireplace, and Charles cutting his hand. The sheets, well, every classics student has worn a chiton or a toga at least once. Camilla weaves crowns out of whatever leaves she can find, and Francis steams fragrant herbs for them to inhale, according to Henry’s rather dubious research.

“We’re lucky the woods are so close,” says Charles, and Francis snorts. “I can’t see anyone trying it in some city college, can you? Or…on a beach? Palm trees?”  They all look at each other, and silently agree that Richard can’t possibly, at least, not yet.

*

She hasn’t eaten in two days, like the rest of the supplicants, and her eyes see sparks whenever she moves her head too quickly. Her legs wobble, and it would be so much easier to sink down and rest. Richard is asking something about her plans for tonight, his voice too-casual. She holds herself straight, the lies Hermes-quick and easy on her tongue as always, her whole body quivering. Divinity requires sacrifice.

Bunny shakes his head and slips away, and they decide as one that it’s better without him.

*

So. Here is wine, and chanting, and a fire. The blood is pounding in her ears, and her heels are drumming as she spins barefoot, holding her thyrsus and pointing it at each of the boys in turn. There are hands, gentle, unpinning the once-white sheets, and there are mouths, gentler still.

It’s not enough.

Francis says nothing afterwards, just looks at his long fingers joined in his lap, his shoulders tense with disappointment. Charles is staring at the sky, and Camilla reaches over to pluck the cigarette from his lips.

We try again, says Henry, the only one of them who seems unbothered.

And they do.

*

Allez

*

It turns out that gentleness had been the problem. The deity they’ve been calling to wants neither softness nor hesitation. Whatever combination of drink and drug and sex has crystallized into raw, alchemical belief. She runs howling through the woods, yelps echoing through the darkness all around her, and she spurs them on. She is Potnia theron now, mistress of animals, and her feet are unmarked, her body effortless and light as she barks and shrieks and cries to the moon. There’s blood on her teeth, and between her thighs, and Camilla throws her head back and screams in utter ecstasy.

It’s less than six hours later that it shatters, and the shock of finding herself back in her mortal shell is unspeakable. Literally. She doesn’t struggle to get the words out; she doesn’t even try. She was a goddess once. There’s nothing more to be said.

*

She hadn’t thought about the complications. It’s absurd, in retrospect, but there it is. They were going to live forever. She and Charles have always danced with truth and bent it to their will, but the sheer weight of this secret grows heavier and heavier until her shoulders ache and her arms are trembling with the effort of keeping it up. She smokes too much, and escapes back to her books whenever she can, which isn’t often enough.

When Bunny starts to act strangely, especially to Henry, it becomes clear that something has to be done. One incautious word, a phone left ringing, a door opened at the wrong time – and his point will strike home.

Camilla will turn herself sideways, make herself a smaller target. They’re at war now.

*

And then it’s done, and she may be polluted, defiled, but it no longer matters. She’s safe. Charles is safe. Henry needs her, and Henry has never thought he needed anyone in his life before. They speak to each other in old, old words, and delight in how they shine against the heavy, leaden, sluggish police and teachers and the other students: dull, dull, dull people.

She begins to lie to her brother, for the first time, and shocks herself at how naturally it comes.

Charles becomes demanding, frightening, fault lines running deeper through him than any of them suspected. Henry and Francis and Richard throw their protection around her, layer upon layer of concern and affection. She thinks of Tullia, suffocating under the weight of all those shields. A bloodless end. She betrayed Charles, and she can’t seem to care as much as she should.

She wonders when the last time she felt anything was. Camilla watches herself with distant interest as she lights a cigarette, takes a slow breath, and puts it out on her inner arm.

[pepperstrawberry]

While I am slowly working on art things... have a bit of fiction?

So, I did a post earlier about Elly, and figured that I should post this maybe for amusement. It’s a drabble I puttered on after being inspired by @wearepaladin‘s post that I linked up there... There is more that is starting to form. I was originally going to add her to my ‘Dragon Quixotic’ story (and she still kinda is, but becoming less and less direct so), since the main city I came up with has a strong history of Paladin stuff (now thanks to this drabble is called ‘Mithvalor’... for now at least XD )

Going to put it under a cut cause it’s like a few pages long on the googledoc XD

Note: This was tossed together as a sort of ‘character moment and background’ thing… Feel free to make any commentary, but please do it in the light that a) I haven’t really tackled Paladins until very recently in any tangible way and b) this is more or less a rough draft take on a scene that popped in my head.

Note the second: One of these days I -will- make a straight forward paladin, but I’m still in that beginning ‘break all the things/see where things stretch to phase of character creation ^_^;;; (I do have a whole story that plays with the idea of gods, paladins, right and wrong, good and evil, and all that where the heroes do end as more or less proper pallys, but the start isn’t what it seems… at the moment that idea is on the back burner though)

The Gods are fallible.

This statement was the backbone of her faith.

Elizabeth Camilla Makeda had come to distrust any priest that would proclaim the perfection of any single god. Not in that she hated them or thought they were leading people wrong. It was more that they had blinded themselves to the bigger picture.

In a world where there were multiple gods, each with their own domains and focus, she could not believe that any single god could understand enough of the universe on their own to be anything but a flawed, incomplete creation. For many, this revelation would bring a deep distrust in the gods if they believed in them or even a complete rejection of any value in religion if they didn’t. But for her?

It brought her a sense of relief.

If the gods were fallible, then it just meant that the problems of the world, how sometimes monsters could win, how children could die from plagues, or how people could fall to their own vices made more sense.

Some gods would show a streak of hubris just as man does. Other times, it was pettiness. Some gods tried so hard but their domain was limited in scope, and thus was their ability to change things.

If she viewed the gods much as she viewed her fellow man, it made a lot more sense.

It was these thoughts she took into the academy of her city of Mithvalor. Paladins were a traditional position in her home, a place of many faiths, working together to make a stronger world. Her home, a hub city of trade and community, had once housed a council of seven paladin kings known in legend as ‘The Faith’. It had been many generations since The Faith was broken, but the grand tradition of this land to be a bridge between countries as well as the material and the ethereal worlds made being a Paladin both a privilege and an honor.

While she had a leg up thanks to her mother being a Paladin of the God of Courage, it didn’t mean she had a free ride either. Her family had always been about hard work and helping others. Her father had helped her train her body by working the fields of their farm on the outskirts of the city. She was put to work during festivals to help bring food around to those that needed and deliver parcels of ingredients to cooks preparing the big feasts.

Her father was big on the God of the Harvest and while her parents where in a bit of a bet of who she would chose, they knew she would make the right decision for her and continue the proud traditions of both the city and her family.

And so it was that her training began. And trouble soon showed it’s head. When it came to lessons on the gods, she would ask strange questions. Not improper ones, only ones that kept everyone guessing with which god would she finally plague her oath to, let alone what that oath would even look like. Many thought she might side with either the God of Knowledge given her persistent questions, the God of Wisdom due to how they were worded and thought out, or even the God of Mischief given how vexing some of the questions could be.

It would be the day she found her weapon that would reveal all…

---

“Come on, Elly. I know you have been paying attention to your lessons.” Sir Dulgear sighed.

Elly was once more on her butt. Her sword and shield to either side of her, the result of being so astoundingly disarmed. Again.

“It… It’s just doesn’t feel right, Sir.” She growled.

Dulgear knew that growl well. It was not directed at him in the least. It was directed inward. Her mother, the Lady Gallamir Pearl Makeda was one of the absolute best with a sword and shield. Having actually been her training partner when they were in Elly’s position, he could confirm it without any doubt. And he could see some of the parent’s talent in the child. Hell, she was worse with a warhammer or even a mace. They had tried many other combinations and while she wasn’t bad with any, she was never that great either.

And the forces she might have to face needed to be met with greatness in all aspects.

This girl had something in her, he knew it. It’s why he kept as an instructor. His best was in seeing through the rough bits to the shining gems that were waiting to be revealed. Still, he was getting worried. While she excelled in all other areas, she needed to be able to protect those around her as well as herself. And right now, she was barely above a regular great of soldier.

“Come on Elly. I know you can do this. Remember…”

Elly stood, picking up her arms and took her stance. “Think around the problem, then push through” she repeated. It was Sir Dulgear’s way of saying ‘stop and think’. She rather liked it, and it had fit her own way of thinking very well.

And thinking was what she was doing. Dulgear stood ready. She was to make the first move, so she had time, not forever, but some. She, too, stood. It was a perfect stance, the forms where never an issue. She could swing any weapon as is with just as much aptitude as any other recruit. Of course, those were also practice weapons designed to do little damage and be primarily for training and nothing else.

In her hand was a live sword. A dull blade, sure, and her trainer had protections all over him. But it was still a live blade.

A blade can cut with ease, sometimes too easily. She had seen even veteran guards accidently do too much damage to someone they were trying to subdue during a tavern fight. A mace can disfigure or even cause permanent brain damage with a strike to the head. A warhammer can crush unenchanted platemail with ease.

Deadly. All her options were decided to kill as their primary function, with little thought to what other potential these things might have.

Of course, staves, saps, and other blunt weapons didn’t quite feel right to her either, but they rarely served as good weapons for a Paladin. Those you would more often see in the hands of a monk or a cleric. Not that she didn’t try them. Still, a stave felt too ‘reed’y to her and even a sap felt like it would be better just to…

She had an epiphany.

Dulgear saw Elly square her shoulders and then charge him. He could already see the sword strike a mile way. Infact, there was even less finesse then before. Could Elly be getting tired? Or maybe she was about to try something? He smiled and brought up his shield rather than dodge. This lesson was about getting used to live weapons and focusing the potential of using a Paladin’s most universal and signature attack: Smite.

Sure, the magic the trainee’s were bless with only simulated the power, as they had yet to take their oaths, but the mook smite could be used against anything with a nice pop of pressure to give positive feedback for a success.

The sword hit the shield as was intended by both parties. Dulgear flicked his gaze to the shield being raised. For a split second, he wondered if she was going to try to bash him with it. She was always a touch more defensive minded then many of the other recruits, and while exceedingly rare, it was not unheard of for a paladin to make their weapon of choice some modified take on a shield.

However, he discarded that notion as soon as it came to mind. With how quick her bulky frame was, he would have been already feeling it. Clearly she was assuming he would strike back, and he did so not wanting to disappoint.

His sword came down and she moved the shield to properly block him. The clang didn’t have time to fully echo when he noticed something felt off about the block. She twisted and pulled to her right. That didn’t make any sense. That was her sword hand, and you don’t get another chance to strike if your opponent has locked swords with you.

The moment Elly felt her trainer’s sword make contact, she flicked both shield and sword down to her right, letting them go. Her foot work shifted, sliding her right foot back and around her left, before left followed along. She turned her entire body around, a clockwise spin, bringing her out of danger of counter attack as her shield was still between her and Dulgear’s sword.

The first weapons she learned would always be her most trusted. She had to use them against thieves in dark alleys when they tried to catch her unawares when on errands for her mother. She had employed them against drunks that would get a bit to roudy when she visited her uncle’s tavern. And she made plenty of use of them in play with her elder brother.

Spinning her body completely around was a showboat move, but it was the easiest way to allign her attack and make sure it connected. With concentration, she pushed the energies down her arm. Her right fist clenched within the gauntlet.

Dulgear had a split second to see Elly had already fully turned herself around, and her fists up near her face. His eyes widened in complete surprise.

Elly’s feet finished their turn and she planted the ball of her left foot to the ground, twisting her hip, continuing the force of her spin, drawing power from the earth, through her leg, the alignment of her hips, her upper body leaning into the motion and finally the strike.

The last thing Dulgear saw was the golden energy collecting at the knuckles of her gauntlet as Elly’s left fist fired out. The strike  connected right against the side of Dulgear’s helmet right at his cheek. And then a burst of light blinded him as he felt his entire body followed with the arc of his head being thrown back. He flew through the air and landing square on his back several feet from where he once stood.

Pieces of her gauntlet floating in the air as her fist made it’s follow through, the armor not built to handle power flowing through it in such a fashion. The glove under was smoldering from the radiant fire that exploded from impact.

Many of the other students that had been watching, as well as a few of the teachers, were rooted to the spot in shock. They had never seen something like that from a paladin before. All of them stared save her mother, who had subbed in that day for a friend. Her smile was incandescent.

Elly didn’t mean to knock him back that hard. She ran over quickly, checking her instructor for injury. While the side of his helm was dented a bit, the magic protecting him was still intact. Fortunately for him, the wards on his armor were ‘one size fits all’ in that they didn’t just keep it to the power level that should have come through the pseudo-smite effect, but from a full attack. Of course, the enchantment was also one shot, so the helmet needed to be repaired and re-enchanted before the next time it’s used. But that was just working as intended.

What was less expected was being thrown that hardback by a punch from a girl a spare few years from full adulthood. Even one as strongly and stoutly built as Elly.

Dulgear was surprised, “That… wasn’t the test spell. You… used the power ‘Smite’. The actual ability…” It wasn’t unheard of for those that had already taken an oath to seek formal training here. Hell, he was one of those sort. When he had sworn to his god, the divine being specifically led him here for training. But no one was aware that Elly had taken any oath. In fact, by all accounts, no god seemed fit for her in any direct manner, at least if her many questions during lectures and her interesting debates with some of the scholars was any indication. “When did you take the Oath? And with whom?”

As Dulgear took her hand, Elly smiled warmly, “I took no single god. The gods are fallible. I do not deny their greatness, but nor will I ignore that if all the stories are true, they are no less weak to lying, cheating, avarice, or any other vice known to mortals. I could not swear any more devotion to a god then I would to any man.”

Once her trainer is standing again, she holds his hand in both of hers, turning his hand palm up, “Faith in a friend is a powerful thing. I have that faith in many gods. But I can not worship them. I do not worship anything. For many, worship is liberating. For me, it’s stifling.”

She looked back into his eyes, “Sir Dulgear, I swore my oath on the roof of my home, laying and staring at the stars. I had thought to myself, ‘The gods are fallible’ and I was not afraid. I was happy. A god is like a king, a force for good or ill, a seat of wisdom and a source of authority and hope. But a king can fall.”

Dulgear wanted to say something, but he remained quiet. This wasn’t just one of her debates with a scholar, she was speaking her oath. “If an Angel can fall, a Devil can transcend. A god can make a mistake just as a mortal can. And we work together, we strive for better. So to do the gods together. I seek no one master, but I vow my word to the very heart of what a Paladin is: the hand of the gods in the world of man. A hand to help, a hand to defend, and when needed a hand to bring low the true monsters of the world.”

She looked back at her sword, “Blades kill too easy. But my fists are my hands. A sword must be sheathed to be seen as peaceful. I need only open my hand and offer it to do the same.”

Having spoken it out loud for the first time in years, Elly was able to start to form a more codified version. Stepping back, she held her hand out, palm down, “The gods are fallible as are men. My oath is to the very concept of Honesty, Compassion, Honor, and Duty. That I might serve the needs of all gods, all men, all that have good will and the need of help.”

She turns her hand palm up, “The Angel can fall, and the Devil can transcend. I will give quarter to any that ask save a true monster. A true monster is that which has actively rejected all light from their heart. Such beings, whether in heaven or hell, deserve my full wrath.” She punctuates her statement by clenching her fist and punching it into her left palm.

She spread her arms wide, hands open again, “I pledge to help any that I can. To do the least harm I am able. To strike down the true monsters. To lead the fallen and the lost to the light, and I look to all the gods and all my friends to help me stay in that same light.

“My oath is to the Hallowed Hope that springs eternal in every heart”

Sir Dulgear smiled, “Unorthodox, and while I don’t fully agree, I can’t see any personal fault with your view point. Such an oath would normally be a tenous thing. Swearing to the very nature of things. So nebulous. But… you don’t look at it that way. Your faith is in a deeper ideal.” He offers his hand, “I hope you find strength in your oath always and that the gods find favor in your devotion, even if it’s not directly to them.”

Dulgear smiled. Sure, a paladin could get silly with their speachafying, but it was also a part of what they did. It wasn’t so much pageantry of words as much as their words guided by their faith and hearts. “Elizabeth Camilla Makeda of the Sacred Oath of Devotion to the Hallowed Hope. I welcome you.” He grinned wider, “Now, let's look into designing you some ‘hallowed knuckles’ to go with that oath of yours.”

[artyloreviews]

Film Review - Polar (2019)

A thrilling and ultraviolent neo-noir film, that is guaranteed to get your adrenaline pumping, whilst also giving you a good laugh with it’s sheer ridiculousness .

As a fan of Mads Mikkelsen’s work, I was instantly drawn to this gritty neo-noir film, which cover depicted a drenched and snow-soaked Mads with gray hair and an eye-patch, looking suspiciously a lot like Big Boss from the Metal Gear series, which by now you should know is near and dear to my heart. Upon watching the trailer out of curiosity, I found that this was going to by one of those films over which the word ultraviolence was pasted in big bold and blood-red letters. I was instantly hooked and I anticipated the release with glee.

Upon viewing it however, I can’t help but wonder whether I think Jonas Åkerlund’s Polar is simply a lower budget attempt to emulate the success of the John Wick franchise, by melding it stylistically with the Dark Horse graphic novel Polar: Came from the Cold, or a great, straight to the point action film, that is enveloped in Tarantino-esque storytelling, gratuitous violence and beautiful cinematography. In the end, I believe it is a bit of both. The parallels that can be drawn between Polar and John Wick are clear as day, as both their plots revolve around a retired assassin being forced back into action; however, the difference is that in John Wick’s universe, there was some semblance of cleanliness and professionalism to assassination, a sort of class act per se. In Polar’s world, however, assassination is this act of gratuitous bloodshed, where everyone but the main character seems to believe killing the target to be secondary to killing each and every innocent bystander on the way to the target itself.

Mads Mikkelsen plays Duncan Vizla, referred to as The Black Kaiser throughout the film; a renowned and ruthless assassin, who I couldn’t help but see is a somewhat different manifestation of Mikkelsen’s other role as Hannibal Lecter, sharing the same sensibilities of professionalism and showmanship in murder. His persona is built as this scarred, yet carefree veteran in his field, who seems to inspire awe in all of his peers. The only somewhat sane character in the film – Vivian, repeatedly warns that people ought to “not fuck with him” (which, ironically, every second woman featured in the film seems to do or has done previously), shining a light on his dangerous nature, much like the stories about John Wick and his infamous pencil, that are constantly retold throughout that film’s dialogue. And yet he is this kooky old man, who inflates balloons and hangs cardboard “Happy Birthday!” letters above his fireplace, chops and sorts his neighbor Camilla’s firewood, has difficulty picking what brand of sweets to buy at the shop and accidentally shoots the dog after being woken from his PTSD-infested dreams, only to replace it with a goldfish, as well as going to a local school to show kids knife tricks and pictures of sun-dried corpses, and presents Camilla with a goddamn gun as a heartwarming gift. I’d go as far to say that he is bloody lovable in a twisted and endearing way.

On a side note, after he shot his dog after the first shown occurrence of said dreams, I had this expectation that as a man who always sleeps with a gun in his pocket, he’d continue to perform the same accidental ballistics after every subsequent dream. To my immediate shock, the next time he decided to doze off was in a bloody passenger plane. I was just bracing for that inevitable moment where some innocent bystander was about to bite the bullet, but for better or worse it never happened.

The overall visual presentation of the film is probably its strongest asset. I can’t speak to the accuracy of the recreation of scenes from the graphic novel, but there is a distinguishable picturesque quality to every frame in the film. Even throughout the marketing material, one can see the clear comic-book-esque symmetry. The color grading is a whole topic on its own. Scenes with Duncan are show in this very high-contrast low saturated gray, while most scenes featuring the supporting cast feature this very vivid neon saturation where the colors pop and sometimes bleed into each other, showing this clear contrast between the old and grizzled Kaiser and the newer younger blood out to get him. The only thing that has any color to it in Duncan’s life is perhaps those dreams he keeps having, which are bathed in saturated dark reds and a lot of glitchy, distorted visuals. Even the typography used throughout the film shared that iconic VHS displacement. The addition of Gothic lettering among the brief flashes of titling is very stylistic in referencing the Germanic origins of Duncan’s nickname – him being The Black Kaiser. The layers of effects however made it almost impossible to read the text in the split second it is shown on screen, which left me waiting for character’s names to appear in dialogue, so that I can confirm that what I read was right. The cinematography is usually amazing, each shot being framed and lighted in a way that only a graphic novel could entail. However, the film features a lot of fish-eyed lensed drone photography which clearly differs in quality to the cinema-grade cameras used for the rest of the film, leaving it looking amateurish at some of the key points in the plot.

Another aspect of the visuals, which some may find refreshing in the current politically safe age of cinema, while others can find it to be incredibly jarring and distracting, is the generous displays of gratuitous sex and/or T&A featured liberally throughout the run-time of the film. It seems that each and every character in Polar’s universe has slept with each other, or is yet to do so. The difference with other graphic novel adaptation, Sin City, which by any other mean can be cited as a direct influence on this film’s style, can be drawn in a sense that even in a city filled with vices, there was this tasteful approach to the sexual, often being purely implied. Polar on the other hand has no such restraint and appears to flaunt it at every opportune moment, which I found to be garish and unnecessary, as it provided nothing to the film’s substance.

One of the best aspects of Polar is dedmau5’s amazing soundtrack. With heavy lingering synth melodies and energetic electronic beats, it creates an amazing atmosphere of tension and serenity, especially in scenes of intense drama. The tracks that stood out the most on my first viewing were “somb”, which was used in the serene and calm opening to the film, followed by “cabin”; with its very nostalgically charged synth, rhythmic drums and haunting baseline, introducing us to Duncan. “chill” features a very tense and unnerving piano tune, signaling that not all is right as a sign of what is to come. On the more action-packed side however, the heavy hitters are “midas heel”, “main” and “nosedive”, each used in some of the most visually intense bloodbaths you will ever see, pumping with adrenaline and keeping you on edge with heavy electronic beats and whining synths. And none of that youth dub-step shit, that one could expect – dedmau5 provides an honest to god EDM soundtrack with his staple melodic progressions and no-nonsense sound, mixed to perfection.

The last point of contention I could think of is probably the ending. In the interest of avoiding spoilers, I would describe it as initially surprising, but well hinted at throughout the film on second inspection. One could see it as an attempt to generate a sequel, though I am not familiar enough with the original graphic novel to say what that could entail.

Overall, I believe that Polar is a fantastic film, that wears its inspirations on its sleeve and creates an ultraviolent romp of revenge and drama, filled with all the staples of a gritty Neo-noir setting, featuring larger than life humans, able to withstand a lot of punishment, but dish out a lot as well. Even though that some aspects of its plot seem unnecessary, along with the purely visual bloating, I’d say it is worth it to sit down and watch through, but probably not with your parents, especially if you are a fan of Mads Mikkelsen or films like Kill Bill, Sin City and John Wick. I’d go as far as to say that if you enjoy video games like Hotline Miami, this can definitely be a nice intro into that type of cinema.

8/10

[blahblahemblem]

heroes barracks tour: cavalry + updates

exactly what it says on the tin

Note: I started writing this post last year and some things have changed since then. I’ve decided to keep the stuff I originally wrote and cross it out rather than replace it outright. Additionally, aside from the write-up on my cavalry units this post contains a small update to my armour and flier intros as it’s been long enough that I’ve acquired a few more units and changed some plans I had for the old ones.

Armour update

Build improvements

Not much in this category. I gave both BK and Arden Swap (although only BK had the SP available to learn it), and Henry learned Draw Back (which ended up being surprisingly useful in combo with Armour March).

New units

I made the first armour post before summoning on Winter’s Envoy. Here’s what I got from it:

+def –atk

Got her from the last orb on the first summoning circle.

Despite her awkward IVs, awful outfit, and my general distaste for Tharja as a character, she quickly became one of my favourite units (see also: summer Corrin). I enjoyed using her in the Arena so much that I bothered to invest into improving my score, which is how I got into tier 20 for the first time. I’ve tried using her again last week and failed because the maps weren’t as favourable (she survives and counterkills brave Lyn on defensive tiles, but last week’s rotation included the stupid fucking boat map where she got wrecked all the time because there’s nowhere to run).

Her default set is just so damn good. It’s very gratifying to have another unit with Close Counter that isn’t poor defenseless Takumi (who doesn’t even run it anymore), and Vengeful Fighter is, of course, mindblowing. Hone Armour is for Henry’s bladetome. She also has Hone Atk 3 that I gave her in a desperate rage trying to put together an arena team last week, which I regret a bit since it’s unlikely to see use again but it’s not a big deal in the long run.

Usage: I had an absolute blast running her in the last Tempest Trials in tandem with Henry and (spoilers). The boost to her defences and the Close Defence 3 seal turned her into an all-purpose tank with very few things that scared her. I might try to incorporate her into future arena teams again, and she’s of course quite the green counter option for AA.

Future improvements: I’ve seen people replace her special with a 4-charge one, since it works perfectly with Vengeful Fighter and also deals more explosive damage. I hesitated on doing that while her Tempest was running as the boost to her stats combined with the support bonuses from (spoilers) meant she wasn’t always getting doubled, but for general usage it would make sense. I’m holding out a bit since I’d rather focus on units who don’t have already functional builds first. Another thing is refining the Candelabra (haven’t decided whether to go for even more Def or round out her Res yet). I don’t see myself replacing her weapon for now except maybe with Raudrowl, but I don’t have even one Katarina yet.

neutral

Second summoning circle yielded me this strapping gentleman.

Unlike with Tharja I don’t have a very long ode to his abilities, he’s a good unit but his kit just isn’t Close Counter + QR on steroids. That said, he’s an excellent all-around blue counter with good mixed bulk, so I’m glad to have him. (Plus his voicelines are hilarious. “Party?”)

I don’t really know what else to do with him while I’m this low on quality A skills, so I just left his default kit untouched and added Fortify Armour (mostly for Henry, but Tharja obviously made good use of it too) and Ignis (Bonfire would be better with its lower cooldown, but I didn’t have available fodder and didn’t want to spend feathers on this).

Usage: See above about countering blues. He also provides Fortify buffs to those who need it in AA. Otherwise he’s stuck in the same rut as other armours: they’re great and all, but the movement makes it awkward to use them, and the colour overlap makes gluing him to Henry for Armour March a bit inconvenient.

Future improvements: IDK. Giving him a Slaying Axe could be something, but I like to leave seasonal units with their default weapons if I can help it, I think it adds to the charm. That leaves refining Sack o’ Gifts, although same as with the Candelabra I don’t know whether to go with +def or +res, and replacing Ignis with Bonfire.

Change of plans

Gwendolyn is dead. Thank god I’m free. I used her to give Tharja Hone Armour as I didn’t have an unmerged 4* copy and didn’t want to waste feathers. Rip in pepperoni, I won’t miss you. (I’ve summoned another fucking one since then but I’m not even going to bother merging her again, I just hate her art so much.)

Flier update

Build improvements

I got enough SP on Shanna for Firesweep L+ and on Tana for Swap and Hit & Run, and inherited Desperation 3 on Caeda. Otherwise nothing new.

New units

Happy New Year to me!!

+res –hp

Finally an Azura with IVs that don’t suck. In general I’m beyond happy that I have her; I love Azura, I love dancers in Heroes, her art is great, she has Hone Fliers, she’s a goddamn flying singer when I adore flying units, what is there not to love?

Very simple kit, I don’t want to waste Fury on dancers hence Spd+3 as a budget solution for improving her most important stat (TA is an option, of course, but I think with access to flier buffs Airzura needs it less than other dancers). Kind of wish I waited a bit for The Most Important Unit I’ve Ever Summoned (who will be shown in the next update) before launching to refine the Hagoita... but I really needed the Divine Dew and besides, it’s not like it doesn’t help.

Usage: She’s a dancer...

Future improvements: She has WoM3 inherited, hopefully she will get a lot of kills in today’s TT with the buffed stats (as it’s torture to grind SP for dancers otherwise).

+hp –spd

Bummer IVs, but as I wasn’t expecting to have her at all (she came in the same circle as the Most Important Unit; as the pity rate was at 4,50% I just decided to summon the rest after getting him and there she was) it’s fine. Camilla also has boosted BST to make up for bad IVs lol. In general it’s great that I have her as she fills exactly the niche I was looking to fill, a tanky sword flier.

Keeping her default kit and adding Hit & Run. With flier buffs I think her bane doesn’t hinder her so much that I need to give her something else.

Usage: I just got her four days ago... She’s about to see a lot of action in the new TT though, and afterwards I will probably arrange a secondary flier team with both Camillas and Airzura on it, fourth member being debated (Shanna? or I might replace Cordy with Cherche on the first team and put Cordy here?)

Future improvements: I’m going to refine the Kadomatsu (for +spd) instead of replacing her weapon, I think. Slaying Edge is an option, but as I said before I try to keep seasonal weapons whenever possible. I’ve also seen this video on the effectiveness of a build utilising the Deflect Melee seal and Vantage; it worked excellently there because the test subject with Michalis with WoDaoclere-charged Ignis so it might not be as good elsewhere, but there’s always the option of giving Cammy Wo Dao? We’ll see.

Change of plans

1. Since I got NY!Camilla, I don’t need to build a Palla anymore. I will hold onto the 4* neutral version, maybe even merge her into a +spd 4* if I get one, and use her for HM grinding just because I really like Palla, but I’m not investing into her.

2. I made up my mind about spring Camilla. I summoned a Nino and now that I have Hone Airzura it makes even further sense to just go for my favourite build of all time, blade nuke.

Back to cavalry, finally

My main cavalry team isn’t particularly well-put together or impressive, and in general as it turns out I don’t have a whole lot of horses available, but I did go through a period where my horse team carried me through a bunch of difficult content and they’re still my closing act in Arena Assault as I can usually expect them to be able to handle anything.

5* builds

(I don’t have ANY sword cavaliers. This isn’t true anymore, but I still wish I had Xander as well. I didn’t get him because back then I didn’t expect that I’d change my mains and I didn’t want to try dealing with a GHB when I didn’t even have a single level 40 unit on this account yet. I have everything ready for Xander’s rerun that will probably not ever happen now, I have fucking Distant Defence fodder ready, WHERE IS HE INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS IT’S BEEN EIGHT MONTHS)

neutral

No, he’s not my freebie from CYL, I got him off Gunnthra’s legendary banner. Very happy about it because that’s a (relatively) fast offensive sword cavalier, something I didn’t have before. Also he’s adorable and I love his art and wah he says “Roy’s our boy” when you go into battle

I think his default build is fine, maybe he’s a bit on the slower side for Desperation but with emblem buffs, who cares?

Usage: Clearly I haven’t even got around to completing his default skillset... I’ve been busy with fliers and armours :( I’ll put more effort in later

Improvements: Needs an assist. He has Fortify Cavalry inherited but not learned, and also needs to learn his default skills.

+atk –res

Also from Gunnthra’s banner, a defensive sword cavalier to complement the offensive one. Sigurd is really awesome all around so I have no complaints. It’s so convenient that the newer units they release tend to have good builds from the start so I don’t have to scramble around trying to find anything worthwhile to put on them among the piles of trash in my barracks

Usage: Unlike Roy he got to get his default set filled out at least...

Improvements:

I should probably give him Hone Cavalry.

+res –def

My one and only red cavalier, yay!

So Leo’s been sort of shafted by Heroes in terms of default builds (aside from the fact that motherfucker comes with QR3, one of the absolute best skills in the game). Brynhildr is now overshadowed by the goddamn Gravity+ staff, Elise has better offensive stats despite being a healer, etc etc BUT.

I’ve said it before and I will never get tired of saying it: I love monotype bladetome nukes. Who made me love them so much? Cecilia Leo. He was the first unit for whom I bit the bullet and promoted another unit to 5* just to sacrifice them, and what a dazzling fucking introduction to the world of weapon SI that was

Darting Blow seems silly at first glance, dude has 22 whopping spd, but with it, Hone, Goad, and a support he gets up to 40 and can double quite a lot in PvE, and various armours in Arena Assault. Leo in particular is thriving now with all the OP green armours melting when he breathes in their general direction. QR is for when he needs to soak some magic hits, something he did quite well even before Raudrblade.

Usage: Maxed 3k HM, of course! For the rest, see above. Definitely in my top 10 favourite units. I’m very very happy I chose to summon on Male Mages over Female Mages during the third gauntlet (because lol I got all of those female mages as pitybreakers later anyway...)

Improvements: He has everything he needs for now. I could maybe give him Glimmer over Iceberg just for the reduced cooldown, but eh.

At least I made the account switch in time to get him. If I missed both of the DC cavs I’d have died of an ulcer by September

Camus is good. He’s capable of doing both enemy and player phase fairly well (unlike Xander who would be a purely enemy phase unit). Sort of like a blue horse Ryoma. I think he desperately needs merges though.

Usage: Maxed 3k HM. He doesn’t really do a whole lot of work these days even when I get out the team for Arena Assault, but that’s because I’m usually dealing with, like, armours and Ayras and I don’t want a special to trigger so I ORKO them with the ranged cav trio instead. Camus faithfully provides Goad Cavalry and an S support to Leo, and Swaps units around, and he CAN do combat if necessary, so that’s all I can ask for.

Improvements:

Going to +1 him. EVENTUALLY IS will feel maybe a tiny bit of shame and they’ll fucking give him a rerun, that would be two more copies since he didn’t have an Infernal difficulty the first time.

I haven’t been paying attention to him a whole lot before fairly recently, but I was always sitting on some plans for him just because he’s a TT unit and I sort of want to have some kind of functional build going for all of them as I only have copies of them on my main (unlike GHB units who are a lot easier to get).

Now he lucked out. I did three circles on Winter’s Envoy. The first two got me Tharja and Chrom, and the third one somehow contained THREE off-banner 5*s: Catria, Hawkeye, and Cain. They were all used as SI as they all had shitty IVs. Clive got Catria’s lance. Now he can enjoy 2 charge Bonfires.

Usage: I used him a bit in the TT he came from, haven’t done a whole lot since then. I’m hoping to put together a bunch of second-string horse teams (horse mages are a bit more available than flier mages, I’ll get a fucking Reinhardt EVENTUALLY) and he’ll make it on one of those. Plus there’s always walling reds and blues in AA.

Improvements: After I refine the weapon of the Most Important Unit, I’ll evolve his Killer Lance to Slaying Lance. Then he’ll be put on the waiting list for refinements. I’m also not that sure what to do with his B slot. Lancebreaker 1 came from the same Arthur as Swap. IDK if I should just give him LB3, or wait until I have more Subakis (but there’s a very long queue for that). I’m also debating if I should give him Fortress Def.

+atk –res

Another pitybreaker from Ylissean Summer. I don’t mind much since that same summoning circle gave me a very special unit (you will see them in the next post) that I wouldn’t have opened if I hadn’t seen that Peri’d reset my rate.

Peri gets a lot of flak, but she’s not at all a bad unit, she just has a lot of competition in her niche, as Roderick and now Oscar both have similar offensive statlines to hers. Peri is lucky in that I find her amusing and don’t give a shit about either Roderick or Oscar.

Usage: For now I occasionally get her out when I need to deal with an annoying DC Vantage red in AA. Winter Tharja’s also a pain in the ass that she can help deal with handily.

Improvements: Clearly I’m going for a Firesweep build, but I haven’t inherited the + version to her yet. She needs to learn LaD2 (I didn’t bother taking a new screenshot, but she has LaD1 learned now, everything else is the same) and inherit an assist. I’m also on the lookout for a +spd copy to merge her into because I think +spd would be a lot better.

(It’s only now that I’m adding new units to this post that I realised I didn’t have any axe cavaliers originally...)

+def –atk

Bit of an odd one. When the Christmas TT banner dropped, I had a lot of orbs since I was saving for the next legendary and spent considerably less on Winter’s Envoy than I expected. I decided I can afford to pull all reds (for Lucina) and greens on that banner. There were, in fact, only two greens and no reds, and the green was this Frederick. I’ve been considering building one for a while, so it was welcome, even though his IVs are questionable.

He picked up the Hawkeye from Winter’s Envoy. DB3 is just nice to have, and it’s going to sit around for when (if) I give Fred a Brave Axe.

Usage: See Clive.

Improvements: I’m looking for a +atk or +def copy that isn’t –def or –atk respectively, so I can merge. He needs an assist, probably a different B skill, refinement on the axe, and to learn Bonfire.

neutral

My freebie from CYL. I don’t regret picking her, but I am kind of reluctant to use her a lot outside of Horse Emblem because frankly Arena has made me resent her. I’m so fucking tired of seeing this face. When will she fall off her horse. I have no love left for her and I’m gleefully killing the copies of her I have on alts for Swift Sparrow left and right and it gives me a rush every time. It’s kind of sad since I was initially very excited to get her but that’s what countless deathless runs ruined do to a person. I just had to unglue a Brave Bow Lyn from a QP Moonbow Reinhardt earlier today*. Ugh.

* when I originally started writing this post

Usage: She’s on my main cav team and is quite helpful, and has around 2600 HM. Those are the nice things I can say about her.

Improvements: I am not giving her anything else ever as an act of protest

4* merge projects

+spd –hp, +3

I originally intended to make him a +10 thinking I’d never get a brave Roy. Well, I have a brave boy now, but I still want to build his dad, if only because they’re a bit different. I also quite like Eliwood; he’s not the most interesting lord character in the world, but I have a soft spot for him. His Heroes art is atrocious but what can you do.

Short term goals are continuing to merge him (right now I have two more 3* copies waiting), giving him an assist, Fury 3, and probably Swordbreaker.

Long term goal is eventually, once he hits +7 or so, merging in a 5* copy to acquire the Durandal, then evolving it to Blazing Durandal.

+2

The only blue mage cavalier I have :(

Short term goals are merging in the last 3* copy I have, giving her Blarblade & Moonbow from an Odin, Darting Blow 3, some kind of B skill (undecided on that one), an assist, and probably a horse buff.

Long term goal is merging in a 5* copy (that one is a very long way off) to acquire Keen Blarwolf+ (and Death Blow 3) for some anti-horse options in AA.

+spd –forgot, +1

I really like Titania’s art and clearly I’m lacking in the green cav department. I just don’t know what to do with her build really. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it (aka when she’s got a bunch more merges)

+spd –res, +4

The fourth member of my “main” cavalry team. An excellent testament to the power of bladetomes when combined with emblem buffs, as on my old main I in fact used a 3* -atk copy in this role to great effect.

I have a 3* copy hanging around, but I’m conflicted on whether to use her for the extra merge or to give somebody else Escape Route 3.

I’m also on the lookout for a +spd –hp copy instead, as –res bothers me a bit.

I don’t think I’ll change anything else in her build, besides maybe giving her G Tomebreaker at some point. Gronnblade works perfectly fine without upgrading it to its + version, and my obsessiveness about these things doesn’t quite trigger when it’s a 4* unit in question.

+spd -def, +2

+atk –hp, +2

Healers who require standard healer improvements, not much to say here. They might both see some kind of 5* sacrifices at some point so I can get my hands on those sweet sweet Wrathful refinements on their staves (and better healing staves too), but that’s miles and miles out there.

Not pictured

Berkut. Same as all other GHB units that I don’t want to build.

[allegivnce-blog]

   character sheet:   T h e   A l l e g i a n t .

❛       Isn't it IRONIC ?                                She'll take care of EVERYONE,                                    Except     H E R S E L F .        ❜

{ *** TW:  Child abuse, war, death, mental illness }

BASIC

NAME: Calista Levine NICKNAMES: Callie, Little Deer AGE: 20 BIRTHDAY: September 28th 1996 HOUSE: Unaffiliated, currently  GENDER: Female PRONOUNS: She/her

FAMILY

MOTHER: Camilla DeMarco  FATHER: Birth father: identity unknown, never met. Stepfather: Zared Levine (DECEASED.) SIBLINGS: Tomas Levine FAMILY: Grandmother and Holocaust survivr, Bella DeMarco

PHYSIAL ATTRIBUTES

FACE CLAIM: Odeya Rush RACE/ETHNICITY: Israeli NATIONALITY: Israeli HEIGHT: 5″4 WEIGHT: 121 lbs BUILD: Mesomorph HAIR: Long, curly, though she usually blowdries it wavy or straight FACIAL HAIR: N/A HAIR COLOR: Dark brown EYE COLOR: Strikingly blue SKIN COLOR: Tan DOMINANT HAND: Left ANOMALIES: Slight deformation of left ear, inferred due to the repeated subjection of physical contact; A slight limp that’s only noticeable when she’s physically exhausted, having never fully recovered from a detonation she suffered while working in the Israel Defense Force (IDF) SCENT: Laundry detergent, home cooked meals, sometimes faintly of latex and rubbing alcohol ACCENT: Israeli PHYSICAL DISABILITIES: Slight limp, however this has yet to prove problematic LEARNING DISABILITIES: None noted ALLERGIES: None noted DISORDERS: PTSD, prone to migraines, insomnia, anxiety, and panic attacks FASHION: Bohemian chic, lots of floral and long skirts in the summer. In the winter, she’s clearly not acclimated yet to the cold, but insists on bundling herself up in sweaters and mittens and pompom hats. NERVOUS TICS: Aversion of eye contact, twisting at the rings on her fingers or bracelets on her wrists, lip worrying, nose twitching, mouth quirking QUIRKS: Always has candy with her, refuses to leave home without her first aid kit, prefers reading from books than the computer, rarely leaves the house unless it’s to walk her pup or head to the hospital, makes lots of references to scientific facts in everyday speech, rambles on tangents about random things she’s read

LIFESTYLE

HOME ADDRESS: "Wherever Tommy lives” RESIDES: Bucharest, Romania.  BORN: Tel Aviv, Israel RAISED: In Israel with her birth mother and stepfather VEHICLE: None registered, has a license, however. Opts for public transport, bikes, and walking to reduce her carbon footprint. PHONE: Samsung Galaxy S5 LAPTOP/COMPUTER: Macbook pro PETS: Her little mutt, Bella, named after her grandmother since they both have an amputated leg and require a prosthetic 

HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION: Completed COLLEGE EDUCATION: Completed with honours and early graduation, now has her M.D (Doctorate of Medicine), is in the midst of completing her residency  MAJOR: Pre-medicine (biochemistry & molecular biology) MINOR: medical neurobiology CAREER: Training to become a doctor, specializing as an Emergency Medical Specialist and Family Medicine Physician EXPERIENCE: Basic training, 1 year of service in the IDF as a medic, 1 year of internship, commencement of residency EMPLOYER: Hospital of Bucharest TRAINED IN: emergency medical && family medicine physician specialization, basic training from IDF, eidetic memory, advanced knowledge of medical innovation with respect to chemistry and engineering, archery, horseback riding

POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Unaffiliated RELIGION: Reform Jewish, used to be conservative Jewish BELIEFS: “Despite everything, I still believe people are good at heart.” MISDEMEANORS: None on record, potential charge in the pilfering of medicine from the hospital FELONIES: Has never been arrested, but will be sentenced to life incarceration should she return to Israel for abandoning her military duties halfway through her mandatory serving TICKETS AND/OR VIOLATIONS: None noted DRUGS: Occasionally medical for insomnia and anxiety. SMOKES: Never. ALCOHOL: A glass of wine on occasion, usually on the holidays for prayer purposes DIET: Kosher diet, tries to restrict herself to home cooked meals but long shifts at the hospital means she usually eats what she can when she can

ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: Panromantic SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Greysexual MARTIAL STATUS: Widowed CHILDREN: None yet AVAILABILITY:  Betrothed to her textbooks LOOKING FOR: More puppies

LANGUAGES: Hebrew, Yiddish, Arabic, English, Romanian, Italian

PHOBIAS: Fear of failure and defeat, claustrophobia, thantophobia { fear of death or dying }, losing Tommy, fear of violence, fear of explosions HOBBIES: Archery, learning/ reading, drawing, horseback riding, dabbling in medical engineering, treating syndicate patients from home, cooking, and baking TRAITS: Sincere, introverted, genuine, empathetic, anxious, self-belittling, loyal, self-loathing, inclusive, naive, quick to trust, curious, finds the best in others SOCIAL MEDIA: None

FAVOURITE

LOCATION: Her bed SPORTS TEAM: Maccabi Tel Aviv GAME: Flashcards MUSIC: Indie SHOWS: Scrubs, anything on Discovery Channel  MOVIES: Documentaries RADIO STATION: None noted FOOD: Watermelon, shawarma  BEVERAGE: Iced hot chocolate COLOR: Florals & Pastels, notably peach and rose 

CHARACTER

MORAL ALIGNMENT: Neutral Good “The Benefactor” MBTI: ISFJ MBTI ROLE: The Defender ENNEAGRAM: #2 ENNEAGRAM Role: The Helper/Giver/Mentor TEMPERAMENT: Phlegmatic -- Water -- Getting WESTERN ZODIAC: Libra CHINESE ZODIAC: Rat PRIMAL SIGN: Vulture HOGWARTS HOUSE: Hufflepuff ILVERYMORNY HOUSE: Pukwudgie TAROT CARD: The Star &&. Strength TV TROPES: Scientist vs. Soldier; All-Loving Hero SONG: “How Far I’ll Go” by Auli'i Cravalho (Disney’s Moana)

IDEOLOGIES: “Be good to your fellow humans, you never know what their stories are.”

[harryandmeghan0-blog]

Meghan Markle and her independence threatens royal family - NEWS.com.au

New Post has been published on https://harryandmeghan.xyz/meghan-markle-and-her-independence-threatens-royal-family-news-com-au/

Meghan Markle and her independence threatens royal family - NEWS.com.au

Typically, when Princes William and Harry embark on a royal world tour, they host drinks nights for the members of the press who accompany them.

In a show of camaraderie, they’ve invited the press for tea in South Africa and a hotel-bar night in New York City.

But things were different this past October, when Harry and Meghan — the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex — toured Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.

“They basically blanked the media on this tour, which is very shortsighted,” according to Duncan Larcombe, who covered the royal family for London’s The Sun for many years.

Larcombe told the New York Post that this is just another example of how the once-jovial, beloved prince has changed since his marriage to the American actress and how his long-term relationships are suffering as a result.

All of Harry’s staff have always thought he was fantastic, but the two of them (together) are high maintenance,” said Larcombe of the royal couple, adding that the prince has become “quite grumpy and aloof from his own inner circle of staff. Harry was always very pally with [them], so this is very unlike him.

“What people love about Harry is that he wears his heart on his sleeve,” Larcombe added. “He’s down to earth, a normal guy trapped in the royal world, and he doesn’t take himself very seriously. But now he is.”

The difference, sources say, is Meghan — whose American independence is rubbing some royal insiders the wrong way.

They add that it’s been tough for the strong-willed duchess, who is expecting a baby in April, to go from controlling her own personal and professional life to not being allowed to make all her own decisions.

As a result, she is allegedly taking her frustrations out on those around her.

“During their tour, just before they were about to go to the Invictus Games, Meghan was bawling at her hairdresser to get her hair right, while at the same time someone was ironing the bottom of the dress she was wearing,” said a tour insider.

Larcombe said he is “not in the least surprised there’s been teething problems” as the duchess adjusts to her new life and the constraints that come with it.

While her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, briefly held a position as a part-time fashion buyer before marrying Prince William, Meghan is unprecedented in that she previously had a high-profile acting and philanthropic career.

“As an actress, Meghan expects perfection,” he said. “But when you’re in the royal family, you have to learn that it’s not about you, it’s about what you represent.”

According to a longtime friend of Meghan’s, part of the culture clash comes from her eagerness to make her mark.

“Meghan is a great girl — the kind you can go and have a drink with. She’s always there for her friends and is extremely loyal,” the friend told the New York Post, pointing out how the duchess has had the same close pals for years, including her college BFF Lindsay Roth and stylist Jessica Mulroney.

But, the friend added, “She’s ballsy. She’s unashamedly ambitious — she has a great work ethic — and I can only imagine how that’s gone down inside the palace.”

Indeed, Meghan has thrown herself into her work. She’s hands-on at the Royal Foundation, the philanthropic organisation she leads with her husband, Prince William and Kate. And Meghan recently aligned herself with three more pet causes: The National Theatre and The Association of Commonwealth Universities, both of which are patronages she took over from Queen Elizabeth, as well as the charities benefiting ­unemployed women and animal welfare.

“Meghan wanted to get (deeply involved) from the beginning,” said a palace insider. “She’s very bright and questioned absolutely everything from her first briefing.”

It was Meghan’s idea to publish a cookbook to aid the survivors of London’s Grenfell Tower fire, which caused the deaths of 72 people in June 2017.

The Duchess of Sussex’s hard-driving work ethic has even pushed sister-in-law Kate to work harder since her recent return from maternity leave. “Kate has to keep up with Meghan!” said the palace insider.

However, this ambition has also ruffled feathers, with three key members of Meghan and Harry’s staff resigning in the past few months.

Among them, the couple’s private secretary, who had previously been the Queen’s personal secretary and was charged with helping Meghan settle into royal life. The duchess’ personal assistant had previously worked for singer Robbie Williams but, the Mirror reported, left the palace because “Meghan put a lot of demands on her and it ended up with her in tears.”

Similarly, Harry and Meghan’s chief protection officer quit after only six months because of resistance from the duchess.

“Even though (Meghan) was a famous actress, she could still do what she wanted in the way of getting around freely,” a source said. “But in her current role she can’t go anywhere without her protection team, and that’s a massive constraining force on an individual like her.”

All of this is stressing out her husband, sources say.

“Harry wants to be protective of Meghan,” Larcombe explained. “If she’s getting frustrated and stressed, he is the one reading the Riot Act to the staff and doing the demanding on her behalf.

“But you can’t blame Meghan, she’s gone into her biggest role yet and she’s put her heart and soul into it. Yes, she is firing off e-mails to staff at 5am, but she’s super-keen and Harry is taking his lead from her. He is under a lot of pressure behind the scenes.”

Adding to tensions are Meghan’s extended-family members. While her yoga teacher mother, Doria Ragland, remains dignified and quiet at home in Los Angeles, Meghan’s father and half-siblings have proven to be a constant embarrassment.

Despite having a reportedly strained relationship with her father, Thomas Markle, Meghan asked him to be a part of her May 2018 wedding to Harry. But days before the ceremony, he was caught staging and selling paparazzi photos — leading to him not attending the wedding. Since then, he has given interview after interview about how he has been unfairly cut out of his daughter’s life, how he hung up on Harry during a heated phone conversation, and how Princess Diana — Harry’s revered late mother — never would have allowed this treatment of him to happen.

He has even publicly begged the Queen to intervene.

Meanwhile, Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., and half-sister, Samantha Grant — to whom, friends say, she has never been close — have also been mouthing off to the press and stirring up chaos. Grant, who threatened to crash the wedding after she wasn’t invited, has criticised Meghan for wearing a $75,000 dress for her engagement photo but not sending their father any money. She has called Harry a “wuss” for not standing up to her half-sister, whom she has variously referred to as “the Duchess of Nonsense,” “Cruella deVille” and “Witchy Poo.”

As a result, the Sunday Times reported in December, Grant has been placed on Scotland Yard’s Fixated Persons watchlist — meaning police and royal security will keep an eye out for Grant should she turn up at Kensington Palace uninvited (which she has already done) and could be detained.

The palace has taken the approach of ignoring the familial issues. A royal source told the New York Post there are no plans to “give into” the Markles’ antics, and no plans to contact the father at all.

As if that’s not enough, some of the British newspapers have claimed there’s a rivalry between Meghan and sister-in-law Kate. Camilla Tominey of The Daily Telegraph — who first broke the news of Harry and Meghan’s romance — reported that Meghan had made Kate cry during a fitting for Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress. Tellingly, it was not denied by the palace.

But a prominent London high-society source told The Post, “I don’t think it’s true that Meghan and Catherine don’t get on — they are just very different people. Catherine is so incredibly lovely, and Meghan is clearly very determined and ambitious and is applying the same principles to this job as to any other [acting] role.”

The high-society source added that Meghan has a reputation as a social-climber: “In the early days, Harry’s closest friends tried to help Meghan out when she was the new girl on the block, but she didn’t really need them after she got the ring on her finger.”

Next up, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will soon relocate to their new home at Frogmore Cottage — which has undergone a $US5 million renovation — within the grounds of Windsor Castle. News of the move caused a storm in the UK, where there was speculation the couple were trying to distance themselves from Kensington Palace neighbours William and Kate, and reports that the brothers had fallen out over Harry and Meghan.

But Larcombe disputes this, saying, “They’re so, so close. I think that William was just concerned that (Harry and Meghan) were getting off on the right foot.”

Besides, he added, “Kensington Palace is like a posh prison! You’re surrounded by a public park and one half is a museum. The only place Harry would be able to play outside with the baby is a little courtyard.”

In fact, that child may be what eases tensions for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

“I think the baby is the biggest light at the end of the tunnel,” said the palace source. “It will give Meghan a chance to restock and to stay out of the limelight for six months so she can reflect on the way forward.”

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and is republished here with permission

Source: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/meghans-independence-threatens-royal-family/news-story/7c5e7db12e6946b6ecb8203d3f819670

[harryandmeghan0-blog]

Meghan Markle and her independence threatens royal family - NEWS.com.au

New Post has been published on https://harryandmeghan.xyz/meghan-markle-and-her-independence-threatens-royal-family-news-com-au/

Meghan Markle and her independence threatens royal family - NEWS.com.au

Typically, when Princes William and Harry embark on a royal world tour, they host drinks nights for the members of the press who accompany them.

In a show of camaraderie, they’ve invited the press for tea in South Africa and a hotel-bar night in New York City.

But things were different this past October, when Harry and Meghan — the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex — toured Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.

“They basically blanked the media on this tour, which is very shortsighted,” according to Duncan Larcombe, who covered the royal family for London’s The Sun for many years.

Larcombe told the New York Post that this is just another example of how the once-jovial, beloved prince has changed since his marriage to the American actress and how his long-term relationships are suffering as a result.

All of Harry’s staff have always thought he was fantastic, but the two of them (together) are high maintenance,” said Larcombe of the royal couple, adding that the prince has become “quite grumpy and aloof from his own inner circle of staff. Harry was always very pally with [them], so this is very unlike him.

“What people love about Harry is that he wears his heart on his sleeve,” Larcombe added. “He’s down to earth, a normal guy trapped in the royal world, and he doesn’t take himself very seriously. But now he is.”

The difference, sources say, is Meghan — whose American independence is rubbing some royal insiders the wrong way.

They add that it’s been tough for the strong-willed duchess, who is expecting a baby in April, to go from controlling her own personal and professional life to not being allowed to make all her own decisions.

As a result, she is allegedly taking her frustrations out on those around her.

“During their tour, just before they were about to go to the Invictus Games, Meghan was bawling at her hairdresser to get her hair right, while at the same time someone was ironing the bottom of the dress she was wearing,” said a tour insider.

Larcombe said he is “not in the least surprised there’s been teething problems” as the duchess adjusts to her new life and the constraints that come with it.

While her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, briefly held a position as a part-time fashion buyer before marrying Prince William, Meghan is unprecedented in that she previously had a high-profile acting and philanthropic career.

“As an actress, Meghan expects perfection,” he said. “But when you’re in the royal family, you have to learn that it’s not about you, it’s about what you represent.”

According to a longtime friend of Meghan’s, part of the culture clash comes from her eagerness to make her mark.

“Meghan is a great girl — the kind you can go and have a drink with. She’s always there for her friends and is extremely loyal,” the friend told the New York Post, pointing out how the duchess has had the same close pals for years, including her college BFF Lindsay Roth and stylist Jessica Mulroney.

But, the friend added, “She’s ballsy. She’s unashamedly ambitious — she has a great work ethic — and I can only imagine how that’s gone down inside the palace.”

Indeed, Meghan has thrown herself into her work. She’s hands-on at the Royal Foundation, the philanthropic organisation she leads with her husband, Prince William and Kate. And Meghan recently aligned herself with three more pet causes: The National Theatre and The Association of Commonwealth Universities, both of which are patronages she took over from Queen Elizabeth, as well as the charities benefiting ­unemployed women and animal welfare.

“Meghan wanted to get (deeply involved) from the beginning,” said a palace insider. “She’s very bright and questioned absolutely everything from her first briefing.”

It was Meghan’s idea to publish a cookbook to aid the survivors of London’s Grenfell Tower fire, which caused the deaths of 72 people in June 2017.

The Duchess of Sussex’s hard-driving work ethic has even pushed sister-in-law Kate to work harder since her recent return from maternity leave. “Kate has to keep up with Meghan!” said the palace insider.

However, this ambition has also ruffled feathers, with three key members of Meghan and Harry’s staff resigning in the past few months.

Among them, the couple’s private secretary, who had previously been the Queen’s personal secretary and was charged with helping Meghan settle into royal life. The duchess’ personal assistant had previously worked for singer Robbie Williams but, the Mirror reported, left the palace because “Meghan put a lot of demands on her and it ended up with her in tears.”

Similarly, Harry and Meghan’s chief protection officer quit after only six months because of resistance from the duchess.

“Even though (Meghan) was a famous actress, she could still do what she wanted in the way of getting around freely,” a source said. “But in her current role she can’t go anywhere without her protection team, and that’s a massive constraining force on an individual like her.”

All of this is stressing out her husband, sources say.

“Harry wants to be protective of Meghan,” Larcombe explained. “If she’s getting frustrated and stressed, he is the one reading the Riot Act to the staff and doing the demanding on her behalf.

“But you can’t blame Meghan, she’s gone into her biggest role yet and she’s put her heart and soul into it. Yes, she is firing off e-mails to staff at 5am, but she’s super-keen and Harry is taking his lead from her. He is under a lot of pressure behind the scenes.”

Adding to tensions are Meghan’s extended-family members. While her yoga teacher mother, Doria Ragland, remains dignified and quiet at home in Los Angeles, Meghan’s father and half-siblings have proven to be a constant embarrassment.

Despite having a reportedly strained relationship with her father, Thomas Markle, Meghan asked him to be a part of her May 2018 wedding to Harry. But days before the ceremony, he was caught staging and selling paparazzi photos — leading to him not attending the wedding. Since then, he has given interview after interview about how he has been unfairly cut out of his daughter’s life, how he hung up on Harry during a heated phone conversation, and how Princess Diana — Harry’s revered late mother — never would have allowed this treatment of him to happen.

He has even publicly begged the Queen to intervene.

Meanwhile, Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., and half-sister, Samantha Grant — to whom, friends say, she has never been close — have also been mouthing off to the press and stirring up chaos. Grant, who threatened to crash the wedding after she wasn’t invited, has criticised Meghan for wearing a $75,000 dress for her engagement photo but not sending their father any money. She has called Harry a “wuss” for not standing up to her half-sister, whom she has variously referred to as “the Duchess of Nonsense,” “Cruella deVille” and “Witchy Poo.”

As a result, the Sunday Times reported in December, Grant has been placed on Scotland Yard’s Fixated Persons watchlist — meaning police and royal security will keep an eye out for Grant should she turn up at Kensington Palace uninvited (which she has already done) and could be detained.

The palace has taken the approach of ignoring the familial issues. A royal source told the New York Post there are no plans to “give into” the Markles’ antics, and no plans to contact the father at all.

As if that’s not enough, some of the British newspapers have claimed there’s a rivalry between Meghan and sister-in-law Kate. Camilla Tominey of The Daily Telegraph — who first broke the news of Harry and Meghan’s romance — reported that Meghan had made Kate cry during a fitting for Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress. Tellingly, it was not denied by the palace.

But a prominent London high-society source told The Post, “I don’t think it’s true that Meghan and Catherine don’t get on — they are just very different people. Catherine is so incredibly lovely, and Meghan is clearly very determined and ambitious and is applying the same principles to this job as to any other [acting] role.”

The high-society source added that Meghan has a reputation as a social-climber: “In the early days, Harry’s closest friends tried to help Meghan out when she was the new girl on the block, but she didn’t really need them after she got the ring on her finger.”

Next up, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will soon relocate to their new home at Frogmore Cottage — which has undergone a $US5 million renovation — within the grounds of Windsor Castle. News of the move caused a storm in the UK, where there was speculation the couple were trying to distance themselves from Kensington Palace neighbours William and Kate, and reports that the brothers had fallen out over Harry and Meghan.

But Larcombe disputes this, saying, “They’re so, so close. I think that William was just concerned that (Harry and Meghan) were getting off on the right foot.”

Besides, he added, “Kensington Palace is like a posh prison! You’re surrounded by a public park and one half is a museum. The only place Harry would be able to play outside with the baby is a little courtyard.”

In fact, that child may be what eases tensions for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

“I think the baby is the biggest light at the end of the tunnel,” said the palace source. “It will give Meghan a chance to restock and to stay out of the limelight for six months so she can reflect on the way forward.”

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and is republished here with permission

Source: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/meghans-independence-threatens-royal-family/news-story/7c5e7db12e6946b6ecb8203d3f819670