#get into the scales of war adventure path

[marvelstars]

Star Wars: The failed mentor and the fallen Chosen One

His inability to train this kid properly effectively turn Anakin into Darth Vader and drives the rest of the stories. Not only he lets his mentor(Qui-Gon) down, but it plays into the collapse of the Republic. This is why he feels obligated to rectify the situation with Luke.

At the end of the film, TPM, Obi-Wan takes on the obligation to train Anakin one that he can´t really fulfill because it´s over his head.(George Lucas about Obi-Wan Kenobi)

One of the reasons why I always enjoyed star wars so much is that it made me remember those classical stories we all read as kids, those stories resonate with us because they tell the old battle between light and dark at a cosmic scale but also a very personal one.

In the case of Anakin and Obi-Wan that´s no different, Anakin is the chosen one who fell to the darkside and Obi-Wan was his failed mentor but Lucas goes a little farther than just condemning them for their choices, he brings in TPM a whole context from which their choices made sense from the beggining.

In Obi-Wan´s case, he is described as the guide who is a support and companion of Qui-Gon in his adventures, he doesn´t like the fact Qui-Gon likes to bring "beggars" to their journey because he is very mission focused and believes they will only slow them down(sounds familiar?) but Qui-Gon believes it´s ok to bring on the beggers because they can be useful, in fairytales the beggars often become central to the story and even the one element neccesary for the heros to win, that´s the role of JarJar and Anakin. They don´t seem like much purposely, because their potential is hidden but it´s there and in Anakin´s case he is central to solve the current confrontation between the Jedi and the Sith but he isn´t part of either group, he is a neutral in the fight and he depends on the guide he receives to go to one side or the other.

So at the end Qui-Gon dies, Obi-Wan feels "obligated" to take on Anakin to fulfill his mentor wishes but he is going to fail at it, because he is over his head, he never wanted to bring in Anakin, he believes he is dangerous and too powerful, the main reason why he is going to train him is because of his promise to Qui-Gon, Yoda himself warms him about this because that´s not how one begins a mentor relationship but Obi-Wan is decided to go this path and it costs him everything.

So Obi-Wan trains Anakin badly, they often can´t agree, we don´t see him trying to guide Anakin into the self reflection neccesary to use his powers and make decisions wisely the way he did with Luke in the old trilogy or even the way Yoda did it, he only gives orders to Anakin, he expects to be him to obey, not reflect, this only makes Anakin more resistant to his authority because Anakin was a slave who relates to masters as the ones who give orders and his mother/Qui-Gon mentor as the ones who guide with love and care but also give him the chance to make decisions and ask him for his pov, after his mother and Qui-Gon deaths the only person who fits this description is Palpatine(You must do what you think is correct, Palpatine tells Anakin in ROTS ) so Palpatine ends up becoming to Anakin what Obi-Wan was to Luke in the OT, he is his mentor but it´s a poisoned mentorship, he means to destroy Anakin´s sense of self, use his power, make him his slave and destroy the republic alongside him. Anakin is a thing to win for Palpatine and he gets him at the end of the PT.

So Obi-Wan feels directly responsible for Anakin´s fall to the darkside, not because he believes he is responsible for Anakin´s actual actions but because his training was insuficient and was full of conflicts he carried from his previous relationship with Qui-Gon and he messed up when it was his turn to train Anakin.

He does considerably better ad Luke´s mentor but he no longer trust himself to train him personally, neither does he has the time but he manages to inspire in Luke what he failed to do with Anakin, trust in the force, trust in himself and teached him how to make his own choices.

But Obi-Wan is also kind of Palpatien like for Luke, because while he is a good mentor who means Luke and Leia well he has hidden motives, from the beggining his plan is to point Luke agaisn´t Vader(Luke´s father) as the way to correct his first mistake in training Anakin and when Luke discovers this he recents obi-Wan´s actions, he feels manipulated by his favored mentor and Obi-Wan decides to be honest with Luke, something he could never do with Anakin, he tells Luke he truly believes Anakin is death, Vader must be killed, the Emperor must be defeated for the galaxy to be free.

Yoda shares many of those sentiments but after discovering Vader himself told Luke he was his father, Yoda understood Vader´s feelings for his Son were genuine, so he wasn´t as supporting of the idea of having the Son kill the father as the beggining, unexpected that was indeed.

Obi-Wan is a better mentor for Luke that he ever was for Anakin but he is still hurting from his experiences and it´s flawed and it´s alright.

Luke understands Obi-Wan´s actions came from a place of love and hurt and decides to seek the best path ever for their dilema, treat his father with compassion and love because unlike Obi-Wan, Luke has been able to sense those feelings from Vader because Vader only is able to be open and vulnerable to Luke.

So we end up back to the beggining, the thing that allows Vader to wake up Anakin and become a Jedi once again is undoncitional love and just like his mother and Padme were inspirations for Anakin in the beggining, Anakin is old and tired enough to recognize Luke as the best possible future for everybody, because Anakin before and after falling, wanted to make justice, wanted to help everybody, this wish was buried deep in him but it was still there and if Luke could forgive even him he could not let him die.

Obi-Wan realizes his friend was still alive and while he could not save his body he still could offer him a way to connect with the living, so he was able to see his Son and daughter once more, he did this because he was finally able to forgive him.

The kingdom is saved, the story goes on and both the fallen chosen one and the failed mentor were able to redeeem themselves. It´s this message of hope the thing that brings me back to star wars, no one character is perfect, they are not always correct, they just do the best they can and that´s what drives the story.

The psycology of Star Wars is very old. Wether is knights in armor or greek warriors or western gunslingers, you are always telling the same story where you combine the larger cosmic and spiritual issues with the temporal issues of who you are and what your limitations are.(George Lucas on Star Wars)

[classicanalyzer]

Free Comic Book Day 2025: Star Wars 1 Thoughts

This is a nice free release of three stories tying into the three mainline Star Wars comics except for the new Aphra run.

The Legacy of Vader and Jedi Knights sections of the FCBD issue are pretty nice, but the mainline 2025 run really didn't do well.

If I had read Alex Segura's portion of this FCBD issue before reading the first issue of his mainline run, I would've thought the comic was cooked. Thankfully, the first issue was much more solid than the mainline run's FCBD section. The only good part of his issue is Phil Noto's artwork; Phil Noto is always a win.

Luke saying, "The lives of New Republic citizens is my business!", is one of the most OOC lines I've heard from him lmao. It felt like Alex Segura didn't see Return of the Jedi at all.

As a friend pointed out, Luke getting cheap shotted by the Pyke Syndicate member's hammer felt a bit too much in terms of power scaling.

The way he forced the trader to tell him about the pirates felt very TCW Anakin than Luke. In a nutshell, Luke acted very OOC in this issue.

I do like how we do get Rynn's full backstory by the end of the FCBD issue. It was already elaborated on throughout the Jakku comic, but it's nice to get more information and summarize what we know about her.

Charles Soule's Vaneé story is the best of the three stories in the FCBD issue.

Soule really dives deep into what makes Vaneé tick in his service to Vader. Vaneé truly was devoted to his former master to the point of accepting his punishment from Vader as "lessons" and welcoming them as a result. It's really disturbing to see all of that.

I like how the issue is all about Vaneé's five stages of grief as he processes Vader's death. It's also nice to see the origins of his B'omarr monk droid style appearance in the comic. The use of hope for a villain is a great touch by Soule, especially when Vanee finally sees his salvation for purpose might lie in the hands of Kylo Ren.

I absolutely love the fact that they referenced Vaneé's origin story in his character bio from the Star Wars Adventures: Shadows of Vader's Castle issue.

Tensu Run is actually a bit cool in the Jedi Knights FCBD section. It made me go back to the Inquisitors comic, and while the comic was pretty boring, Tensu Run did interest me a bit.

I really like how the issue establishes that Corlis Rath is connected to an incident when Qui-Gon was still Dooku's Padawan. I'll be very interested to know why Qui-Gon simply forgot about the entire incident, especially with how Dooku called out to Qui-Gon for his presumed scarring of Corlis. Maybe scarring Corlis isn’t on Qui-Gon’s events to remember list.

I find it interesting that Vader uploaded the death of Tensu Run onto the Holonet. But that feels like a classic Vader move to miss the point of Tensu Run’s final moments and words to Vader.

The character bios at the end of the issue are a fun read, and they gave some interesting trivia and recaps of the characters.

Overall, it was a noice issue with the mainline 2025 run being lackluster and the other two bringing some interesting relevations and questions for their future issues.

"I remade myself, just as my master had long ago. In my new form, I could last as long as needed, until he saw fit to return. I returned to my duties and begin my vigil anew. But in time, even I had to acknowledge...the passage of time. In the thirty years since Lord Vader's alleged demise, I heard no reports of his presence, no plausible rumors. If he lived, I like to think he would have reached out. Made some effort to...Well. He did not. That was the worst day of my life--when I finally acknowledged the truth. I grew despondent. Service to Lord Vader was all that gave my life meaning. I searched the Holonet feeds incessantly, hoping I was wrong, hoping for some evidence of Vader's continued presence. I found nothing. Until one day...I did. Not Darth Vader, but perhaps...another path. A way I might continue to serve, to persist in the journey I knew was my destiny. For that day, you see, I discovered...There is another." Vaneé

[ukiyowi]

Mini PAC IV

If you were a character in a fantasy novel, what would your quest or adventure look like?

Piles read 1 -> 4

Note: This is a bit different, more intuitive and wrote this in the train back home, hope you enjoyyy

Book a reading! || Ko-fi

🪽 Pile 1

In your fantasy novel adventure, you are an aspiring mage with a unique ability to communicate with ancient spirits. Your quest is to find a codex, a legendary book said to contain the secrets of controlling the elements. With this power, you hope to prevent a catastrophic war between rival mage factions.

Your journey takes you through enchanted forests, treacherous mountains, and forgotten ruins, where you encounter magical creatures and uncover cryptic clues. Along the way, you must make choices that balance the ethical use of your newfound powers with the greater good of your realm.

As you get closer to your goal, you discover that the Codex is protected by a guardian spirit, and you must undergo a series of trials to prove your worthiness. These trials test your wisdom, empathy, and resolve. Ultimately, you succeed but must decide whether to keep the Codex's power for yourself or use it to broker peace among the warring factions, knowing that doing so may come at a great personal cost. Your adventure is a tale of magic, self-discovery, and the enduring struggle between power and responsibility.

🪽 Pile 2

In your fantasy novel adventure, you are a skilled rogue known for your exceptional agility and wit. Your quest is to track down a notorious group of thieves known as the "Shadowed Serpents" who have stolen a powerful, cursed gemstone that can control minds.

To catch the Shadowed Serpents, you'll navigate a sprawling, ancient city filled with hidden passages, secret societies, and corrupt officials. Alongside your trusty band of misfit companions, each with their unique skills, you'll decode cryptic clues, outsmart traps, and engage in thrilling rooftop chases.

As you close in on the thieves, you'll discover their leader possesses a dark secret connected to the gemstone's curse. Your journey becomes a moral dilemma, as you must decide whether to break the curse, which might endanger the city, or use the gemstone to expose corruption and free the minds of its victims. Your adventure is a thrilling blend of espionage, cunning heists, and the complexities of right and wrong in a shadowy world.

🪽 Pile 3

Your adventure takes a darker turn as you become the leader of a formidable group of supervillains. Your quest is to unleash chaos and establish dominance over a sprawling metropolis known for its vigilant superheroes.

As the cunning mastermind behind the Syndicate, you'll recruit a diverse array of superpowered individuals, each with their own unique abilities and motivations. Together, you'll concoct ingenious schemes to disrupt the city's peace and challenge the superheroes who stand in your way.

Your journey will involve heists on a grand scale, unleashing destructive powers, and psychological manipulation to exploit the heroes' weaknesses. Along the way, you'll delve into your own character's complex backstory, exploring the motivations that drove you to become a villain and your desire for ultimate power.

As your plans escalate, you'll face increasingly powerful heroes, leading to epic showdowns and thrilling battles that could determine the fate of the city. Your adventure is a morally ambiguous tale that delves into the depths of villainy, exploring the complex motivations and personal struggles of those who choose to walk the path of darkness.

🪽 Pile 4

In your story, you are a talented, yet reclusive, artist living in a picturesque coastal village. Your quiet life takes an unexpected turn when a charismatic and mysterious stranger arrives in town. This stranger, exudes an aura of intrigue and possesses a passion for restoring antique books.

Your adventure begins when the stranger discovers a hidden chamber in the village's ancient library, rumored to contain a love letter written centuries ago by a long-lost soul. They enlist your artistic skills to bring the letter's sentiments to life through illustrations.

As you both work together on this project, you unravel the story of a profound, forbidden love between two people from different eras. The more you delve into the past, the closer you grow to the strabger. Sparks fly as the line between the story and reality blurs, and a deep connection forms between you two.

Yet, secrets from their past threaten to tear you apart. The quest for the truth behind their enigmatic identity becomes as important as preserving the love story from the past. Along this romantic journey, you'll confront your own fears, past heartaches, and find the courage to embrace a love that transcends time.

All rights reserved - Ukiyowi©

[thusamistakewasmade]

Andor Finale Thoughts

SPOILERS AHEAD YE HAVE BEEN WARNED

That's a hell of send off. I'm glad best girl Kleya survived, I was getting worried she was going to buy the farm after delivering the Emperor's Mercy (pardon the 40k phrase) to Luthen. ISB Tactical Team, we hardly knew ye. They were a cool little introduction that we kinda figured was there but nice to see on screen. I really appreciated two things about them. 1.) that each member looked unique, be it in terms of weapons, headgear, or web gear. 2.) Their armor was dirty. The stormtroopers, at least on Coruscant, were all shiny and clean. The ISB Tac unit though was grimy, showing that they care more about results then looking good while doing it. Honestly, I'd love to watch a show or read a comic, or play a game about them or a unit like them. The whiplash between seeing a KX series droid in horriffic action on Ghorman and then K2 clearing a path was funny. I also really liked seeing some of the wider Yavin base as well. I had honestly thought the temples had been fully converted to bases. I am happy that Vel also seemed to be settling into a logistics/training role within the Alliance. The ending felt bittersweet with Rogue One having been out for almost a decade now. I did like very much though. I'm happy the B2 and Bix found peace. I'm not entirely sure that's was Cassian's kid though since this volume was seemed to go right into Rogue One and I don't think the two had seen each other within a year or so. (I've also liked the pair of Jyn and Cassian more than I Bix and Cassian) The bit with Melshi training the Pathfinders at the end was cool too. It was a nice call back and also a nod that the Alliance is trying to be a more organized and disciplined fighting force.

Part of me is glad that Andor is only two seasons, since that way they got to keep everything nice and tight in terms of story and tone. But also that any more would feel like rubbing salt in the wound that we can't get any more stories with that awesome crew from Rogue One in the rest of the OT era and beyond. I feel even more solidified in my opinion that not everyone should have been killed off. I know there's been some talk about having Gilroy back and in charge, but I'd rather he and his cadre just have a desk in the newsroom. Cause again, I like Andor as a whole very much, but the retconning of Rebels from last weeks volume still doesn't city well with me. What I want to see going forward with Star Wars is the quality of Andor to go forward. Give me the writing and design quality but have the next show be about some plucky Rebel or New Republic pilots having adventures and fighting the bad guys. Or Band of Brothers but in space following a platoon in the 501st, 212th, or 41st during the Clone Wars. Because after the ISB Tac Team, I wanna see their Alliance counterparts, not a unit like Saw's Partizans. Bonus points if said unit is using liberated Imperial Gear or Republic Surplus. I don't begrudge Andor it's success, but if everything tries to chase its success, we really won't get good Star Wars again.

........I still would have preferred a large scale firefight and the Ghost crew coming in to save Cassian and crew.

[theresattrpgforthat]

do you have any games with a sci-fi fantasy setting that are adventuring/exploration focused, similar to numenera or wildsea? the flexibility to play more or less mature games, lots of character creation options, and a solid combat system would be a bonus

THEME: Exploration

God I wish I could recommend As the Sun Forever Sets yet but it’s still in development. It’s a game inspired by The War of the Worlds, and is a Forged in the Dark hex crawl. The creator is partnering with Evil Hat so you’ll want to keep an eye out for when they start crowdfunding it.

If you’re interested in games like The Wildsea, I’d also recommend checking out the Wildsea Discord, where there are plenty of games in the works using the Wild Words engine. I don't think much there has reached playtest levels yet, but there's a lot of game-things that look very interesting.

Anyways, let’s see what else is out there.

Dreams and Machines (Players Guide) (Game-Master's Guide), by Modiphius.

Dreams and Machines is a brand new RPG setting where people come together to rebuild their world following a catastrophic war. You will venture into a world of mystery and adventure, a world where slumbering mechs dot the landscape and people build their lives anew in the wreckage of paradise. Take on the role of one of the new tribes of humanity, an Archivist, Dreamer, Everan, River, or Spear, and forge a path for yourself and your people.

The war against the machines was 200 years ago, but many threats from that era abound, along with others, like raiding parties of Thralls from the deep ruins, that have arisen in the intervening years. The machines are dormant, but they sometimes awake, causing death and destruction until they are stopped. Hideous, mutated, creatures infest the landscape, vicious byproducts of the war. Ghostly nanograms lurk in the ruins promising knowledge or luring the unwary to their deaths. Yet against all this, humanity is rebuilding. People live full, happy lives despite the threats that assail them. Cooperation and mutual aid are everywhere, humans coming together to build something new amid the ruins of the past.

If you are a fan of Horizon Zero Dawn, this game was made for you. While it’s not taking place within the official licensed setting, the inspiration is visible all over this game. The game uses the 2d20 mechanic found among many of Modiphhius’ well-known titles, tailored for the large range of movement and large-scale conflict expected in a game like HZD. Characters are composed of an origin, archetype, temperament and bond, and refer to attributes and skills when determining whether or not the succeed. Some rolls have a difficulty determined by truths attached to locations, scenes, or equipment. Others are contests, and the outcomes are determined by the results from each opponent. These pieces point towards a complex ttrpg that has plenty of potential both for exploration and combat.

If you don’t want to get the Players Handbook and the GM’s Handbook without a bit of a first taste, you can check out the free Quickstart!

Between Clouds, by Andi Licht.

Between Clouds is a colorful, biopunk, tabletop RPG about a family of misfits navigating the open skies atop their beloved flying beast. Life among the clouds revolves around the Kirin, oversized animals that possess volatile genetics and the gift of flight. Across the skies, floating vessels and cities are held aloft by the animated remains of hunted Kirin, whose beating hearts defy gravity itself. Commoners are wary of becoming abducted or eaten by these creatures, while propaganda and folklore only stoke their fears. With an uninhabitable surface below, humanity must learn to coexist with the flora and fauna of their airborne realm or perish.

In Between Clouds players assume the role of Symbiotes, rare outcasts who have formed unbreakable bonds with a Kirin. It is not an easy choice to join forces with such a reviled creature. Those who crave power and a comfortable life seek to hunt the Kirin, and the Symbiotes with them if necessary. Few are ever approached by the flying beasts, and fewer still head the call. Those who do lead nomadic lives. They travel across Empyrea atop their airborne companions, making allies and enemies along the way, all while striving to help those in need and protect the wild Kirin that they encounter.

This game looks so pretty. The world looks very unique, with larger-than-life creatures called Kirin and a number of isolated biomes accessible only through riding on their backs. While the system uses the Year Zero engine, the creator also claims inspiration from Belonging Outside Belonging and Forged in the Dark games, so I’m expecting a complicated world with a lot of narrative prompts to drive the story forward.

Electric Bastionland, by Chris McDowell.

Bastion - The Electric Hub of Mankind. The only city that matters.

In Deep Country, the land stretches forever. The long shadow of our embarrassing past. Villages rot away, trees don’t bother to flower anymore, and the potato is eaten cold from the ground. Things were better before. Better before Bastion.  In the Underground are impossible tunnels beneath time and space. Devious machines release their creations into the corridors. All while the twisting network grows and touches everything. Connects everything. You can get anywhere, but there’s always a challenge. 

You have a failed career and a colossal debt. Treasure is your only option. A spark of hope in Electric Bastionland.

Electric Bastionland is a roleplaying game written by Chris McDowall, author of the critically-acclaimed Into The Odd. It uses and expands upon the systems developed in Into The Odd, resulting in a rules-set that’s easy to run as a Referee and even easier to play. It’s not a sourcebook or an expansion - it’s a standalone journey into an unknowable world. 

If you like OSR games this might be a game for you. Bastion is such a unique city that begs you to explore it. Your characters start as people who have failed in another career before, which is an interesting premise to give you at the beginning of the game. Treasure hunting was nobody’s first option, so your entire crew already has something in common. This feels like a game where survival is difficult, and everyone is trying to get themselves out of a rough place to a slightly less rough place. If you want a fantastic setting that might beat you up a little bit, I recommend Electric Bastionland.

Odyssey Aquatica, by Old Dog Games.

The year is 1960 and you are an Oceanographic Adventurer, a brave or foolhardy soul who goes to the most remote seas and the deepest ocean trenches to conduct groundbreaking research, help those in peril, document the wonders you discover — and bask in the glory. You will chart your character’s life work, from their first expeditions to their last, and record memoirs of the years lived in-between. 

ODYSSEY AQUATICA adapts the fast and flexible PARAGON system to a world of 20th century oceanographic adventure inspired by The Life Aquatic, Subnautica, and the life and times of Jacques Cousteau.

I’ve talked before about how AGON is a great tool for exploration games by providing you with a new way to journey, and plenty of the supplements for this system confirm my theory. Odyssey Aquatica keeps the exploration at sea, but brings it into the modern day, adding memoir rules that expand the game’s timeline to cover your characters’ careers. It’s also beautifully laid out, with a stunning boat sheet to help you keep all of your tools and equipment organized. If you like PARAGON games, you’ll like Odyssey Aquatica.

Bug World, by Alfie.

maybe the apocalypse could have been averted, but it wasn’t, and here we are, in a brand new world. this isn’t your cold, nuclear winter, sparse and dead kind of post-apocalypse. the end sent the world on a new course, brimming with life - just not quite as much human life as before. ok, barely any. in the super oxygen-rich atmosphere of the earth today, insect life has thrived.

it only took a few decades for bugs to reach incredible sizes, and now, about a century-and-a-half after the disaster, gargantuan insects are a normal sight. from a ladybug the size of a dog, to millipedes that might as well be trains, to horned beetles with skeletons big enough to use as shelter. bugs are huge and they are everywhere. the remaining humans have domesticated some, trained others, made wary peace with some intelligent groups, and carved themselves out sections of the world to live.

BUG WORLD is a Powered by the Apocalypse TTRPG where players navigate this post-apocalyptic jungle world, with all its scavenger towns, junk economies, and incredibly huge bugs. playbooks include more classic TTRPG options alongside bug wranglers and jockeys, rock collector archaeologists, and mob bosses.

Currently a work in progress, this game is all about exploration and survival. It uses a PbtA ruleset with moves like deal damage and survive harm for combat, and playbooks that specialize in it, like the Brutalizer and the Exoskeleton. As a post-apocalypse game I think it has plenty of opportunity for death and danger, and like plenty of PbtA games, the setting is baked into the character options more than anything else. I like the premise of this game and I think it holds a lot of promise, even if your play group has to build a lot of the setting themselves.

Nibiru, by Araukana Media.

Nibiru is a science fiction tabletop roleplaying game, set in a massive space station in a neighboring solar system. Players take on the role of Vagabonds; people who woke up in the space station with no memories of their past.

Nibiru tackles themes of memory, nature and artificiality through simple mechanics, evocative art and immersive worldbuilding.

This feels like such a unique game to me. Nibiru has a character creation system that you engage with during the entirety of your campaign experience, as your characters are uncovering more of their backstory as they play. You will fill in pieces of your memory as your character tries to do new things, and each new experience has the potential to cement a part of your character’s personality. The world itself is also begging to be explored: the Skyless World is a monstrous space station with an unknown purpose. Each choice your characters make will draw them deeper into the world, and have ripple effects on the world around them.

If you want a unique method of character generation, and a truly breathtaking reading experience, I recommend Nbiru.

Games I have Recommended in the Past

Apocalypse Roadtrip, by Mynar Lenahan.

Songs for the Dusk, by Kavita Poduri

ICON, by Massif Press.

Ultraviolet Grasslands, by Wizardtheiffighter.

[legionofpotatoes]

All other criticisms of modern Star Wars aside, the thing that gets me the most is how every single story is being written to fit into some Avengers-level grand finale that just isn't laying a solid enough foundation to make it worth the wait. Regardless of whether the individual stories are good or bad, what makes them fall so short, imo, is that there's usually no real payoff within their own runtimes (unless you count cheap callbacks or loose promises of More, which you shouldn't)

Like, I already knew halfway through Ahsoka that we were in for a cliffhanger and it's just like...alright, guess we'll see how this ends in about 5 years? Even Mando, which had a great first season and was poised to stand on its own two feet and ride off on a rootin' tootin' bounty huntin' adventure, has ultimately become yet another dusty path on the road to the current Big Plot with an indeterminate due date. That's not deliciously addictive media, it's a dry-ass carrot on a spindly little stick, lol

Of course, this is a problem that many franchises are happily getting cozy with lately because everybody wants to have their own Infinity War / Endgame moment, but I guess it seems a bit more egregious with Star Wars because, ironically, it used to work best because it had less overall focus. Like, sure, we had concurrent movies, animated series, and games, but they were always happy to do their own things and tell their own stories with definitive conclusions. Now it all has to funnel into the Big New Plot and, man, I honestly just can't bring myself to care when it feels like an endless waiting game

I definitely need to get around to watching Visions at some point because, every time it pops up, it sounds like the lifeblood that Star Wars sorely needs atm

Yeah the setup-and-payoff a-to-b type dramatic clarity that seemed so entrenched into the very bones of cinematic grammar - up to around the emergence of streaming, wink wink nudge nudge - is sorely missed in star wars atm. sure maybe downsized writers rooms fidgeting with limited series formats instead of doing actual seasonal TV has something to do with it, but even that is probably such a small piece of the larger issue that spins all this longform storytelling bullshit ferry wheel around.

Another part is certainly chasing the MCU business model of it all like you said. Carrot on a stick is verbatim how I've often described these things myself, the endless promise of another promise of another promise instead of forming a complete thought with a beginning and an end. servicing the plot before story at all costs. another part still is reverence towards the aesthetic trappings of the source material instead of its themes, trying to nail the exact texture of tatooine's huts and dial in the perfect balance of lightsaber choreography and pay homage to a thousand iconic shots before articulating something true in the text.

And like it's an endless laundry list, this confluence of capital-I Issues both industry-scale and creatively-driven that seem to be flaying the skin off the bones of whatever star wars even "is" nowadays. no one can answer that in the context of billions of dollars made off toys and storylines centering around this one moment in fictional history about sons and fathers and empires and rebellions. so they just keep twisting in the wind filling in any gaps within that period. I don't know nonnie, it's all so bleak. ahsoka and obi wan and even mando tbh. as charming as season 1 was, it truly felt like it coasted on its incredible restraint to avoid muddying its aesthetic with cameos, and lucked into effective storytelling as a result of that utterly unintentional alchemy. that's obviously well and truly gone now as its true optics have reared head.

what star wars is by itself is such a pointless discussion, right? andor argues it's a perfectly functional heightened universe that can support incredibly nuanced and dramatically charged stories of grassroots rebellion and the bureaucratic strain of fascist regimes. visions argues it's a world beholden to the force, an endlessly mutable and elegant metaphor that can support infinite monomyths and fairy tales. both are equally fantastic at executing on their takes, despite being in diametrically opposite extremes of interpreting the source. so it's not really about that at all, why the other stuff sucks this bad.

they're just bad at the craft of it, that's really it. whether it's auteur worship or business decisions rotting that fish down, it still rots all the same. maybe the new writers' guild contracts can shift the winds a little, because I was so securely done with star wars and then the aforementioned 2 shows came and affected me. so, so profoundly that I'm back on the hook again. like a lil sucker!

[emcapi-gaming]

Ok, so I mentioned in the tags on my last post that there are 3 major factors in Ardwin's likelihood of being attracted to someone (excluding non-specific Vibes and external context). In no particular order, they are:

A. Pretty, especially in an androgynous way

B. Badass, especially in terms of melee combat

C. Understands Her, especially on a unique level

A brief ranking of her various notable romantic interests on that scale:

Muriel (the gladiator from the blacksmith quests): 6/10 pretty, 7/10 badass, 3/10 understanding. Being seen as an artisan first and a fighter second was definitely a novelty for Ardwin, she is not immune to Being Flirted With By Hot Girl, and they had a very brief, casual fling around the ARR patches.

Ardbert: 5/10 pretty, 10/10 badass, 100/10 understanding. Literal and metaphorical soulmates. Most likely to be eternally bonded, except they aren't particularly interested in the big ceremony. Also they think it would be more than a little redundant, given that their souls are semi-fused and they share a body 95% of the time. You don't really get more 'eternally bonded' than that.

G'raha: 8/10 pretty, 8/10 badass, 3/10 understanding. Definitely saw her as The Warrior Of Light over simply Ardwin, at least initially, which was a pretty significant turn-off (though this improved later). -100/10 for trust issues bad enough that any romantic relationship between them is totally unfeasible (see previous post).

Zenos: 7/10 pretty, 10/10 badass, 5/10 understanding. Called her out for being a feral little shit who loves fighting, which gave him solid points on the "unique understanding" front, because pretty much everyone else just sees The Hero. He really called a WAR main a savage beast and she was like "thanks! I do try!" She reciprocated (to a lesser degree) his battle-horny and regular horny towards her, though I don't think he recognized the second part, which Ardwin was in denial about all the way until she got back from Ultima Thule.

Fray: 8/10 pretty, 9.5/10 badass, ∞/10 understanding. Shares Ardwin's appearance (except with gold eyes), which leans a little more towards handsome than pretty. Knows her better than she knows herself, ironically, because they're literally made of all the stuff she was repressing. Half point deduction on the badass scale because she did beat them the one time they fought.

Zero: 10/10 pretty, 10/10 badass, 9/10 understanding. She showed up, kicked ass, and then turned out to be very uniquely capable of understanding the Zenos situation (because she had a front row seat to that trainwreck), the Ardbert situation (because having Some Other Guy Who You Sort Of Ate Still Hanging Around is apparently normal for voidsent), and just The Horrors in general. Point docked from understanding because she (accidentally) gave Ardwin a horrible PTSD episode/panic attack with her stunt with the Light crystal wall. (This was nearly a disaster for their relationship, but then Fray raked Ardwin over the coals for being a huge hypocrite, given that - between RPR and DRK - she's been doing practically the exact same thing with Darkness.)

Arkose: 10/10 pretty, 3+/10 badass, 8+/10 understanding. Also soulmates, though there's more of a gap because of very different life experiences. Ardwin and Ardbert followed really similar paths with adventuring, hitting stuff with axes, saving the world, etc; Arkose has, until very recently, been stuck in a literal bubble and unable to fight. The plus signs, though, is because now that they have the opportunity, they're catching up fast. (They're also very new as a character, so I can't totally predict how they'll end up developing, but I'm guessing they will end up around 9-9.5/10 badass and >11/10 understanding.)

[wandringaesthetic]

Top 5 JRPGs

So in order to answer this question I had to have a few existential crises. First: what is a JRPG (we just don't know)? I'm going with the more purist answer here since we're narrowing it down to 5. So no action RPGs or tactical RPGs. Second: do I just put down my personal favorites here? because that's going to be 4 Final Fantasy games and idk Suikoden II, probably, and that's not very interesting. I don't really believe in objective quality, but at the moment I find it interesting to take a stab at it or at least name things I think are genuinely very good and polished and have relatively universal appeal. In the end, ugh, whatever, here's a list:

Final Fantasy VII - this is the one that made me fall in love with the genre. I don't have much to say about it that hasn't already been said. I will say, while I mostly like Remake/Rebirth there's something about the original they're never going to catch, and there's a lot to be said about being (relatively) more succinct and focused and leaving some things to the imagination.

Dragon Quest V - This is as good as the UrJRPG series gets. Charming and funny and bright and occasionally tragic. It's about growing up and family and perseverance. It did the monster recruitment thing before Pokemon. I played the Super Famicom version via fan translation and emulation, so I don't know if the remake(s?) of this have quite the same charm. It's helpful for older games to look their age so you can put them in the context of their time, I think. I feel like relatively few people in the west have played this one, which is a shame because it's the missing piece in the influences of Lufia, Earthbound, Chrono Trigger, possibly even Pokemon. Really fun, really solid game that was genuinely touching and made me feel childlike wonder.

Suikoden II - I first played this one when I was in college and Going Through It, and I've been meaning to replay it ever since. So, my memories are a little muddled but I'm going to do my best. Two boys take diverging paths to the same end. A war story that takes on a human scale by developing a huge cast of characters and by having your base grow around you. It takes one of the most interesting middle chapter twists I can think of in a video game. It's one of the best looking and sounding sprite based games to exist. It has an iron chef cooking mini game.

Shadow Hearts Covenant - balances between horror and quirkiness. Atypical setting (in the shadows of IRL World War I). Atypical protagonist with many demons, literal and metaphorical. Really good gameplay. Takes the FFX conditional turn based thing, where you can see the turn order and where some skills alter it, and runs with it. Timed hits, but it's customizable so you can make the system more or less forgiving and balance risk/reward with precise inputs versus guaranteed, but lower, accuracy. Adds up to a really fun game. Vibes are immaculate. Cast is great. But I cannot speak to how good the plot is because I don't remember most of it. It and the rest of the series have never been ported or remade and likely never will be. Keep circulating the tapes.

Chrono Trigger - I mean if you're only going to play one JRPG this is the one. The love child of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, with the bright, fun adventure qualities of DQ and the scifi/fantasy fusion and existential angst of FF. Did gameplay stuff it took other games decades to do and did it better. One of the best looking SNES games. The music makes me feel feelings I can't name. I paradoxically think it's overrated even though I'm putting it on the list, because it's not a personal favorite and I don't think anything in the world lives up to the hype around this game. It is very good, however, and a distillation of the genre.

[wizardingworldlibrary]

Lesbian!Hermione Granger Masterlist

90 Days to Wed (ao3) - Yanana hermione/narcissa, minerva/andromeda E, 48k

Summary: When Hermione discovers that the Sweet Seventeen party Andromeda hosted for Teddy was actually a weekend of alcohol and gambling she arranged for herself, she downs a few shots of Dragon Scale too many and finds herself sobbing in the arms of an equally drunk Narcissa Black formerly Malfoy. When they both wake up the next morning in the Wizarding Vegas Hotel with very expensive rings at their fingers, neither witch remembers what happened the night before.

Back at the Burrow (ao3) - publishingprince hermione/ginny E, 3k

Summary: Hermione and Ginny find themselves alone in Ginny's room.

Breaking the Window (ao3) - Useful_Oxymoron hermione/bellatrix E, 271k

Summary: When they find a magic pool in the Forbidden Forest, it kicks off an unlikely friendship for two lonely girls thirty years apart of each other. Hermione begins a desperate search to find a way to save her new friend from the fate she knows awaits her, all the while dealing with the severe repercussions of having lived through a war. It becomes the start of an unexpected adventure.

Different Perspectives (ao3) - LexaDeLavode hermione/minerva M, 208k

Summary: Immediately after the battle of Hogwarts, Hermione Granger takes a moment to reflect in private and ends up on the embankment of the Black Lake. She passes out and is later found by Minerva McGonagall, setting both women on an unexpected path to start spending time together. Despite the age-difference, they seem to have more in common than anyone originally would’ve thought and a tentative friendship quickly ensues. Amidst the post-war happenings they grow closer than either of them anticipated and both witches struggle to come to terms with their developing feelings. Insights and comments from those around them contribute to their confusion and when a certain Time-Turner and cursed scar are added to the equation, the results change both of their lives forever.

Foolish Bravery (ao3) - hmweasley hermione/daphne T, 1k

Summary: Daphne has been working on a project with the Ministry of Magic and hasn’t failed to notice Hermione. With the project coming to an end, can Daphne finally reveal her feelings?

French Witches and the Smell of Parchment and Ink (ao3) - InsomniacAndBi fleur/hermione, harry/ginny G, 9k

Summary: Hermione has a big fat crush on the Beauxbatons Champion and her friends are absolutely sick of it OR Hermione’s friends thinks that she is a big gay mess and resolve to get her to ask her crush of the Ball

Heart-Shaped Kiss (ao3) - maraudersaffair hermione/pansy T, 1k

Summary: The first time Hermione and Pansy shared a kiss they were in the Hogwarts library.

Hermione and Luna Craft a Memory (ao3) - RummyStarlight hermione/luna E, 7k

Summary: Harry suffers under the weight of his responsibilities. Hermione and Luna endeavor to help him forget his troubles. This story contains graphic sexual content - F/F.

Hermione Granger and the Year of the Veela (ao3) - InsomniacAndBi fleur/hermione, luna/padma, katie/alicia T, 56k

Summary: The Triwizard Tournament comes to Hogwarts and Hermione would much rather give up reading forever then gush over the attractive foreign students but, of course, fate always had ways of fucking with her. OR Fleur comes to Hogwarts to compete and didn’t expect to find her mate while she was there

In Defiance of Destiny (ao3) - AgentGrey fleur/hermione M, 197k

Summary: Voldemort didn’t stay dead at the end of the Battle of Hogwarts, and things got very, very bad. Ancient magic returns a 19-year-old Hermione back to her 15-year-old body, and she must set up complicated plans in secret to ensure the end of the world doesn’t come to pass. Her first goal is to stop Voldemort before his body is restored, but she cannot do it alone. She must enlist the help of at least one of the champions of the Triwizard Tournament if she has any shot at stopping Voldemort and protecting Harry in the process. And she is as surprised as anyone when she finds love along the way.

Just A Few Illusions (ao3) - Larkspur hermione/narcissa, draco/harry M, 9k

Summary: It’s a couple of years after the war ended and everyone - Harry, Draco, Andromeda, Ginny, Narcissa, Luna - are taking little Teddy Lupin into muggle London to celebrate his birthday. But, Hermione is missing… Or is she?

Petting A Pussy (ao3) - WestOrEast hermione/luna E, 69k

Summary: Hermione’s looking forward to a long, relaxing summer where she can work on and perfect a new spell. And with her trusty helper Luna, surely things can only go well, correct. And with a simple miscast, things end up going very well indeed.

Pink & Blue (ao3) - Hermione_Stranger hermione/luna E, 302k

Summary: While patrolling the castle one evening Hermione runs into a certain someone or rather falls over a certain someone. A rather odd someone in fact, who is in need of a little help.

Rebirth (ao3) - Sylnarri hermione/daphne M, 159k

Summary: Hermione always knew she was different, she just didn’t know why. She thought she was just an ordinary muggleborn who was incredibly smart. Her grades were the best that Hogwarts has seen in decades. Being named the greatest witch of her age, just one of the many achievements she has received. Little did she know, just how different she was, once the fractals appeared.

Second Chances (ao3) - Kamaro0917 fleur/hermione E, 169k

Summary: Everything changed in the blink of an eye. Harry Potter was dead and the war was lost. The remaining members of the Order of the Phoenix go into hiding and Voldemort’s rise to power is complete. In a twist of fate, Hermione finds a Time Turner and makes plans to fix the mistakes of the past. Little does she know, she’s not the only one making the time jump.

Self-Prevention (ao3) - Useful_Oxymoron hermione/bellatrix M, 112k

Summary: When Bellatrix has an encounter with a mysterious vigilante who has been making Death Eater's lives miserable for some time, it sets in motion a series of events which will change both her life and that of Hermione Granger forever.

Snowbound (ao3) - the_samovar_is_hot hermione/bellatrix, andromeda/ted, draco/harry E, 327k

Summary: A missed connection on the way home from Hermione's family ski trip in the middle of fifth year changes everything, and causes Hermione to question some implicit assumptions of the wizarding world.

It also lays the groundwork for her inexorable collision in the Department of Mysteries with the /last/ woman to hold the title of "Brightest Witch of Her Age" -- Bellatrix Black Lestrange.

And their battle will lead to the very situation they both want least--together, a struggle to survive, far away from any support.

The Dangers Of A Curious Mind (ao3) - zerozerozero (zerodawn22) fleur/hermione M, 141k

Summary: Hermione, curious about magical creatures, sets out to research Veela. Fortunately for her, there is a part-Veela at Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament. As things progress, Hermione quickly finds herself in over her head. Eventual Fleurmione. Rating will go up in later chapters.

The Way Back Machine (ao3) - dovesari hermione/narcissa M, 101k

Summary: Three years after the war Hermione Granger has completed multiple masteries and begun work on magical inventions involving time and mind magic. Upon hearing from Draco about Hermione's work, Narcissa hires Hermione to help investigate a question that has been haunting her since the Battle of Hogwarts " Why did Bellatrix end up the way she did?". As the investigation progresses it becomes readily apparent all is not as it seems.

Unwrapped (ao3) - SerenaBinetWrites hermione/pansy E, 6k

Summary: Alone on her birthday Hermione decides to drown her sorrows in Firewhisky—until Pansy Parkinson finds her and reminds her how she should be celebrated.

Pansy leans down and practically purrs in Hermione’s ear. “Oh Granger, the evening is just beginning. Let me surprise you. I promise I make a far better present than anything the Weasel could give you.”

[valorxdrive]

Do you believe you'll ever return after what you've done? The world made its choice in saying there's a place for you no longer.

Again with these voices. Permeating, coalescing from the bitter determination to ensure that his callous hand stopped distorting reality in cosmic wars endured. Sora found himself as a lone traveler amidst this land that holds no land. Beautiful blues and a lifeless expanse awaited him, as a realm composed strictly of the sea and sky is where he carries his voyage.

An important lesson ingrained into his bones was to not stop. Each step made, each trial triumphed over, that was another essential step to return to his very reality.

"If I can't, then I'll do what I've always done. I'll make my own path." His voice finds itself tempered with vigor and flame. The Keybearer has endured no shortage of doomsday prophecy, of bitter words woven from schemers and their countless deceptions. As such, the ripples made by each step refused to cease as the night sky, reflecting with the light of lost souls seconds as miniature beacons to take.

Faint was it was, Sora can swear a pattern was being driven into his awareness. These heartbound echoes were attempting to give him a lead that words refused to assist in. "After everything that's been done to threaten all the Worlds, those universes, if the only priority kept by watching all of this is to worry about rule breakers." It was hard to keep the vitriol at bay from his very voice.

Yet how could that frustration not gnaw at his bones and heart? Were there forces that witnessed this, the machinations of Xehanort and his ambitions, of watching how that cosmic fabric that prevents the adventure of the Realm of Darkness breaking free-- And found it all okay? That this is a fine enough sacrifice?

Sora didn't believe himself to be capable of arrogance on this scale, but he frankly could not stand it.

"Then they can sit and keep watching this too. If I found a way to get myself banished here, then there's no doubt I'll get myself tear my way back to my home if I need to." The brazen declaration is made with his hand clenching into a fist, tempering those turbulent emotions into focus, into the very drive that made him brave reality itself unraveling around him. Chirithy forewarned that his methods that did get him here may be diminished or outright extracted from him.

How true that is remains to be seen. If it was the truth? Then he'll have to create a new way entirely.

Somehow, he could hear the resonant chime of approval from the Kingdom Key.

In a way? The hero found it an inevitable price. Getting involved with the totality of Kingdom Hearts was bound to drag things to immeasurable scales.

[totkdaily]

Day 80: Visions, and Friends Aplenty

It takes until morning, but I find the tear in the geoglyph on the hill above Lake Hyrule. 

A vision. I see...

Ancient Hylians in darkness. Rauru at Sonia's grave. This is after that moment at the Blood Moon, then. The Demon King has risen, and they are at war.

Zelda visits the King. Her worry is plain on her face.

She mentions Ganondorf - that name. I'm struggling to understand her meaning - she says a secret stone did something to Ganondorf, whoever that is. But… Zelda's words suggest that Ganondorf, the Demon King and the creature below the castle are one and the same. I knew I was right about the Demon King and the creature. But who is Ganondorf? Is that who the Demon King was before? 

I piece the visions together in my mind with difficulty - it's been months. But the man who became the Demon King - I've seen him before. He led the Gerudo when they tried to attack Hyrule. Is that Ganondorf? The name… I can only hope the connection to Calamity Ganon is a cruel accident. 

Zelda is at the point of despair. My heart aches for her. Rauru dismisses her concerns, though he acknowledges that its his hubris that got them here. Why won't he listen to her? My Zelda. 

I need to know more. I think there are four geoglyphs I haven't yet found. Which is easiest to reach? There should be one north east of Lookout Landing, if my map-making is any good. Could I spot it from the tower? 

I land briefly on Hyrule Castle itself - there's a shrine. But no geoglyph I can see. Alright, plan B. I head to Tabantha Bridge Stable  and from there south. 

I scale a flat rock to get a better view - but I suddenly realise it's beneath my feet! And there's a balloon at the far end - Impa's here! She and Cado are right near the tear. 

A vision. I see...

A pagoda by a lakeside. Zelda, Sonia and Rauru are taking tea - tears spring to my eyes as I see Zelda at peace, at rest.

Her eyes sparkle, as she talks of our time, or her powers, of me. Zelda. She wants to be able to have all the powers at her disposal - Sonia encourages her pursuit but points out that her own talents are far from insignificant. I am sorry that Sonia died. I am glad that Zelda knew her kindness for a time. 

Every path I take leads to an empty pool, with Zelda no closer. Still, I must try.

I travel back to Central Hyrule, intending to head south by the towers to the Gerudo region - I think there is a geoglyph in the Highlands there. 

Running across Hyrule Field feels like the old days. But then I hear voices - it's Hoz's crew! Looks like they're going monster hunting - I gear up and join them. 

Hoz is grateful once we clear out the camp - I even get paid! He says they're heading to Fort Hateno next, and wonders about my sword - he's heard something of the Master Sword. 

I'd almost forgotten about it. It's been in only one of my visions. Zelda must not have received it until after the Imprisoning War. What did she do with it then? But it was broken anyway. The time of the sword is over. 

I gather the useful monster parts Hoz and his crew left behind, and look around for the tower I was aiming for - but then I spot the familiar purple light of Kilton's shop - now Koltin's - and before I know it I'm sprinting across the field in the dark to catch him. I must have so many gems since I last saw him. 

Well, I have seven. But it's enough for him to give me a pair of trousers. 

He's parked right outside Lookout Landing, so I run back and fetch a horse from Lester - Pumpkin will do well for this adventure, I think.

[truevedicastrology]

I have my Sun, Moon & Mercury in Sagittarius in the 5th house. With a Cancer ascendant. And Venus and Mars in Capricorn in the 7th house. I have two stelliuim in my chart. What does that mean for me.

Cosmic Cocktail: Sagittarius Stellium & Capricorn Power Couple 🏹🌟🐐

Oh my stars! ✨ You've got quite the celestial party going on in your chart! Let's break down this cosmic conga line and see what it means for you, you celestial superstar! 🌠

🦀 Cancer Rising: The Cosmic Bouncer

First off, with Cancer as your ascendant, you're like the celestial bouncer of the zodiac:

Outward Persona: Nurturing, intuitive, and maybe a bit moody (but in a cute way!)

First Impression: "Aww, they seem so sweet and caring!" (Little do they know about your wild Sagittarius side... 😉)

Superpower: Emotional intelligence that's off the charts! ����💕

🏹 Sagittarius Stellium in the 5th House: Party Central! 🎉

Hold onto your horoscopes, folks, because this is where things get wild!

Sun in Sagittarius: Your core self is all about adventure, philosophy, and shooting for the stars (literally and figuratively).

Moon in Sagittarius: Your emotional self is equally adventurous. Emotional stability? More like emotional skydiving!

Mercury in Sagittarius: Your mind is a non-stop idea factory with a side of foot-in-mouth syndrome.

All of this in the 5th house? It's like the universe decided to throw a cosmic kegger in the fun zone of your chart!

What this means for you:

Creativity on Steroids: You probably come up with 50 brilliant ideas before breakfast.

Romance is an Adventure: Your love life is never boring. It's probably part rom-com, part Indiana Jones movie.

Risk-Taker Extraordinaire: "Play it safe" isn't in your vocabulary. You're more likely to say, "Hold my beer and watch this!"

Eternal Student of Life: You're always learning, growing, and probably enrolling in random classes for fun.

Life of the Party: You don't just attend parties, you ARE the party. 🎊

🐐 Capricorn Power Couple in the 7th House: Cosmic Adults in the Room

Now, let's talk about your Venus and Mars hanging out in Capricorn in the 7th house. It's like having the cosmic power couple chaperoning your wild Sagittarius party!

Venus in Capricorn: You may act wild, but deep down, you crave stability in love. You're not just looking for a partner; you're looking for a co-CEO for your life.

Mars in Capricorn: When it comes to going after what you want, you're like a determined mountain goat scaling Everest. Unstoppable!

In the 7th house of partnerships, this combo is potent:

Power Couple Vibes: You're attracted to ambitious, goal-oriented partners. Netflix and chill? More like strategic planning and excel.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race: In relationships, you're in it for the long haul. No U-Haul on the second date for you!

Work Hard, Play Hard: You know how to balance your wild Sagittarius energy with your grounded Capricorn side. It's like having an inner party animal and an inner CEO.

🌟 Double Stellium Drama: Cosmic Tug-of-War

Having two stelliums is like hosting two competing radio stations in your brain. Sometimes they harmonize, sometimes it's cosmic cacophony!

What it means for you:

Internal Conflict: Part of you wants to jet off to Bali on a whim, while the other part is worrying about your 401k.

Depth and Versatility: You have the unique ability to be both the free-spirited philosopher and the grounded realist.

Never a Dull Moment: Your inner world is rich, complex, and probably worthy of its own reality TV show.

Potential for Greatness: With all this cosmic firepower, you have the potential to achieve amazing things... if you can get all your inner planets to cooperate!

🎭 The Cosmic Bottom Line

You, my celestial friend, are a fascinating mix of fire and earth, adventure and stability, wild dreams and practical ambitions. You're like a cosmic cocktail that shouldn't work but somehow creates flavor explosions!

Your life path might look something like this:

Morning: Plan to conquer the world

Afternoon: Spontaneously book a trip to a country you can't pronounce

Evening: Create a detailed budget for said trip while philosophizing about the meaning of life

Embrace your contradictions, balance your energies, and remember: with great cosmic power comes great cosmic responsibility (and probably some great cosmic parties too)! 🎉🌠

Now go forth and dazzle the world with your unique blend of sagacious wisdom and capricornian ambition! The stars have dealt you a wild hand – play it with gusto! 🃏✨

[purefandomonium]

And Again

As promised, my other Glitchy Red AU. I'll post some headcanons for it too, but essentially this is my take on when Red became self-aware. I'll put some more details about it at the very bottom because I think knowing them beforehand kind of ruins it a bit.

I'd also like to warn people that this does get a little dark and there is some violence and slight gore in there.

This is a long one at almost 5,000 words, so you best be settled in for a minute, lol.

Getting the badge didn’t feel so special. Instead, the whole ordeal felt rather dull. He’d been so excited leading up to the battle, so focused on building up his team and figuring out strategies. This was his first real step towards becoming the Champion!

So why did the battle with Brock feel so… scripted? It was challenging, sure, but it also seemed easy compared to what he was thinking. Despite the disadvantages he had with a few of his picks he could still work out a winning strategy.

Did Brock let him win?

The gym leader revealed none of this to Red despite his repeated attempts to ask. He simply gave him a congratulations that felt empty and that was it. He had so many other things he wanted to know, but it seemed leaving was the better option.

He walked away feeling empty.

—————————

So many new sights and experiences! This was his adventure, his story. There were so many opportunities for him. This was supposed to be exciting! It was what he’d been waiting for ever since he was old enough to walk.

So where had all that childish excitement gone? As he stood outside of a Pokemart, having just finished a supply run, he once again felt that vague emptiness. The city was crowded; full of people milling about and trainers looking for a battle, yet Red felt like he was alone.

He was just homesick. He missed his mom, his home, and he really missed Blue. Sure, they’d just battled a couple of hours ago and the memory of his sour face at losing was still fresh in Red’s mind, but that was the whole problem. He missed Blue being his friend. It was no secret they’d always bumped heads, but back then it was so simple. Now they were friends-turned-rivals and Blue seemed like he had something to prove. Understandable. There could only be one Champion, after all.

Still, Red found himself missing their pretend battles in his backyard, the sleepovers and birthday parties, even the prank wars they used to start despite Blue being more into them than he was. Even though they still crossed paths frequently, it felt like Red was just talking to a wall. It didn’t matter what he said to him; Blue would always find some way to steer the conversation back to becoming the Champion.

Despite the numerous interactions and even unlikely support, Red felt like he was taking the world on all alone. The weight of the Pokeballs on his belt was the only reminder he wasn’t.

—————————

He wasn’t prepared for this. Battling tough opponents, chasing after wild beasts and even obtaining what were essentially legends was one thing. Solving riddles and traveling alone wasn’t so bad either. Even Blue’s increasingly obnoxious behavior, while a bit higher on the ‘terrible scale’ than the previous examples, was still doable.

This, however? Taking on the mafia? That was something a child was ill-equipped for. He’d seen a few of their grunts before. Wrong place, wrong time. However, it hadn’t really hit him with what he was dealing with. Sure, he’d bested a few more gym leaders and took down some formidable foes, but that didn’t mean he was ready to fight a criminal organization!

Despite his panic at the situation, he found himself giving level-headed commands to his team and after a few close calls, sent the two of them scampering away. Relief washed over him like a wave as he recalled his team, and he wanted to flop onto the ground and process things for a while.

Instead, he wandered over to the objects sitting where they once stood. They must’ve dropped them in their panic to get away from him. The items were useful enough and it was clear they wouldn’t be needing them anymore. As Red pocketed the items, he wondered how he’d managed to beat them.

They were two older, experienced trainers who worked for an organization determined to make good use out of Pokemon. Their teams were impressive. Red was just some kid with big dreams who happened to wander into the wrong place at the wrong time again.

The more he thought about the battle—tried to analyze and understand it—the more it baffled him. He had been in utter panic, paralyzed by fear, yet he’d instructed his team well enough to gain the upper hand and win? He wasn’t even paying attention! All he could think about was how screwed he was, how upset his mother would be, how mad Blue would be…

His mind soon wandered to the possibilities of what they’d do when they found out. What would Blue do at word of his death? Of course he’d mourn, but would he go after Team Rocket himself to avenge his fallen rival and friend? Would he succeed?

Those were the only thoughts on Red’s mind throughout the entire battle. It happened so fast and he hadn’t been paying attention at all. So how was it possible he’d won?

—————————

Red found himself in some sort of a trance. He was too distracted, too unbothered by the outside world to break free of his own thoughts. It didn’t matter. Every trainer’s words felt meaningless anyway. He wasn’t listening and couldn’t care less about whatever it was they were telling him. Even when they seemed to have something of importance to say, Red spaced out on them.

Despite this, he found no hindrance in his goals, going exactly where he needed to be and doing exactly what he needed to do. It was an odd sense of knowing that he didn’t understand. He’d never done any of this before and yet he knew all of the necessary steps.

Had he always known?

—————————

He found that his lack of focus didn’t affect the outcome of his battles either. He could still let his mind wander in the middle of the fight and somehow, when he snapped back to reality, he was being handed money or an item and sent on his way. On the few occasions he did pay attention, everything still seemed to just… happen. It was like his body was on autopilot.

He was aware of who he sent out and when he needed to recall someone or heal them. He knew he was giving commands—how else would his team be attacking if not for his word? However, it still felt… choreographed. Despite Red’s increasing frustration at the lack of challenge, everything seemed to be laid out for him. At least he had his team. Something he did all by himself. Pokemon he caught and trained. Partners he picked out to help him on his journey. He fought hard for some of them. They were the only thing that felt special, the only thing he had any tangible say in.

So why could he swear that every time he checked his party, they seemed to be different?

—————————

He was going to lose this battle, just to see what would happen. Everyone seemed to expect him to lose, only to congratulate him—sometimes begrudgingly—when he won. What would failing do? Would they be angry? Confused? Even happier than when he won? Maybe he’d finally gain some feeling of accomplishment. He’d been zoning out, letting things happen. It was time for him to do something.

Red’s intention was to throw the battle. Send out the worst member of his team—he swore it was Golbat, but it looked like it was actually a Magikarp—use the most useless moves, and stand around and do nothing whenever he could. Maybe even take the time to ask a few questions, if this trainer was one of the more talkative types.

He really, really wanted to lose and maybe get some answers.

So why did he send out his ace and one-shot every single opponent without hesitation? Why, when he went to collect his dues from the rival trainer, did his mouth remain glued shut when his mind was firing off question after question?

Had he always been silent?

—————————

Blue.

Blue would surely know what was going on. They’d been friends for as long as Red could remember and that hadn’t changed now that they were rivals. They grew up together. They got their starters together. Red needed to know if Blue’s adventure up until this point had felt like a story that needed telling.

Red begged and pleaded with his friend to please stop joking around and answer him. He tried to; despite his rampant thoughts his mouth wouldn’t move. His face refused to convey the flurry of emotions he felt. The fear, the panic, the anger, the confusion… All of it buried behind a blank expression that merely watched what he thought was his best friend march away after another defeat.

Maybe he was in on it.

—————————

This was so pointless. Battling the Elite Four and becoming the Champion had once been all he’d ever wanted. It had been his dream. He and that fake had sought out to become the absolute best. Now that Red could finally prove himself…

He realized none of it mattered. It had been decided for him by some unseen force. His one dream, the only purpose he gave himself, was a lie. He wasn’t sure it was ever even his dream to begin with.

Everything he needed to do, he did. No exceptions. Even when he didn’t want to do it. Even if he wanted to do something else. This entire time it was all planned out. Everyone was a part of it. It was supposed to happen this way.

Except at no point did Red plan any of it. Which brought up the question: Who decided this? This was supposed to be his story, so why wasn’t he the one to write it?

—————————

Red was never fully prepared to see Blue as the Champion. He really shouldn’t be surprised about seeing him there by now. It was certainly nothing new. This was their… He couldn’t remember how many times he’d sent Blue packing. All he knew was that the feelings of betrayal and surprise were the only constants. Betrayal because no matter how many times he wanted answers from the other boy, he never, ever got them. Surprise because he couldn’t believe Blue was still on about this. His rival was always so intense about it. Red was over this whole Champion thing.

He knew that’s what they were both fighting for—at least, Blue was. Red had stopped caring a long time ago. Just like he’d stopped caring about why his party kept changing, why he always won, why things always worked out for him, and how he managed to take down the mafia. He stopped wondering why he’d always have to wake up in his room when it was all said and done and need to go through the same old motions.

Why all those around him acted like this was normal.

It just happened. It was supposed to happen.

When Blue was inevitably beaten and humiliated, Red closed his eyes and waited for his life to reset.

—————————

Each time he lived it, the fakeness of it all become more and more apparent. Painfully so. That wasn’t his mother—he was never born. Blue wasn’t his friend—he was just another obstacle. None of those trainers or champions were special—they were all meaningless tasks.

Characters. They were all characters. Not people. Not individuals with personalities. They all had roles they needed to fill. Scripts they needed to follow. He was supposed to be one of them. He was supposed to be in on it too. He used to be, once.

Too many times had he gone through with this. Too many repeats of the same. Old. Thing. The switch that flipped it all?

He made the mistake of wondering how he knew what attacks to use against someone he’d never even fought, let alone met, before. He remembered now. The tipping point. From that moment on, there was no going back. It all just stacked up from there.

The icing on the cake was that once the memories were revealed to be lies, Red couldn’t conjure up a single real memory of his life. There were only the false memories of hanging out with Blue and dreaming of becoming the best. He couldn’t recall any real family, friends, nothing. All he got were the constant episodes of each new ‘adventure.’ He was more real than anyone else in this useless world and yet he still couldn’t differentiate what made him so special.

After all, he didn’t really exist either.

—————————

Was this it then? To live through the same story over and over? To spend every waking moment knowing exactly what would happen next and being powerless to stop it? He just wanted it to stop. Just for once, he wanted to break free from the mold, do something different. Something that wasn’t meant to happen. He couldn’t take another playthrough of this. He didn’t want to be doomed to the same thing repeatedly, forever. Perpetually trapped in his own body as it did things for him and all he could do was watch.

What could possibly be worse than that?

—————————

How he wished he’d never asked. He thought he could get away with tempting fate and all it did was come back to bite him. Despite getting exactly what he wanted in this thing that wasn’t supposed to be happening, Red felt the most intense wave of fear at the sight of the entity floating above the island.

It hurt every fiber of his being to look at it, the horrid and incomprehensible droning that echoed through his mind tore apart his thoughts and left him with nothing but a deep-seated urge to run.

He remained rooted in place, forced to face this anomaly. He wanted to zone out like always, to get lost in his thoughts in this battle like all the others until it was over and he did what he was supposed to.

This was the first time he was ever fully aware of what he was doing. He couldn’t even close his eyes. It was horrific. His limbs felt heavy and stiff as they moved, as though forcibly pulled by something despite his wishes. He threw Pokeballs in an attempt to catch it.

Why did he keep trying to catch it? Who wanted this thing?! He didn’t!

He got it. Its sealed presence burned him. It was eating at him and he couldn’t tell where.

His bag was so, so heavy, and he realized he had an ungodly amount of rare candies he’d never need. Despite their diminutive size, each one seemed to weigh ten times as much.

The pain wouldn’t leave him as he trudged away and he was still vividly aware of the heavy stiffness of his limbs.

Try as he might, the pain was all he could focus on.

—————————

This was wrong, wrong, wrong. Why did he feel so wrong?

He’d felt like this ever since he caught that thing…

This was supposed to be a new start! He didn’t have it anymore. He checked. So why did he still feel it?

Why did he still hurt so much?

—————————

Its presence filled his mind and its corruption ate at his body. He was always aware of it. He was aware of them all. He never should have tried to make sense of where that Mew came from, or what the abnormal stats of some of his party said. He never should have attempted to use the impossible new move his Venusaur had learned. There was no escaping them, that much was obvious. It wouldn’t be so bad if he could pretend again. If he could just zone out like he used to, let his body run on autopilot, he could live like this. He’d be fine with the eternal repeats forever. Now that he’d lost the ability to do that, it was so agonizing. If ignorance was bliss, then knowledge was nothing but anguish.

He tried so, so hard to make it stop, to change things. Whatever had control over his life wasn’t letting go. He was sure it was laughing as his entire world broke apart, his body included. His mind was the last thing to go, still reeling from the sizzling pain his body was in as it deteriorated into nothing. He wasn’t spared the agony of feeling even his thoughts fizzle away.

There was no escaping his new nightmare.

—————————

Why was he always made to go after these things? He wanted nothing to do with these corrupted entities that confused and hurt him. He wanted to go back to repeating his stupid adventure instead of hunting down these abominations only for them to tear apart his world. The pain was different every time. It seemed he wasn’t allowed the fortune of getting used to it. Just when he thought he’d experienced the worst pain imaginable—and Red was getting pretty good at that—someway, somehow, there would be a whole new layer of suffering for him.

When would it end? He was at point where he couldn’t wait for the one to finish it. Which nightmarish entity would corrupt the world so much that it couldn’t be put back together again? When would his body get to a point where it was too dissolved and broken to go on?

He hated being the only one to endure it. He was the only one in the entire world that understood what was happening. Sure, sometimes the others were hapless victims when an event happened. Occasionally, he’d see them ripped apart and even rearranged right before his eyes. When reality itself warped into something unrecognizable and incomprehensible they still attempted to carry on as normal. They didn’t scream in pain and terror. They couldn’t fathom what was happening.

Lucky bastards.

—————————

He hated, hated, hated this. The rage building up inside of him had reached a boiling point. It was the first thing in what felt like eons that numbed the pain a bit. He found it gave him a new sense of focus.

He was aware all his torment was the will of whatever had control over him. If only he could find out how to stop it. If it could control him like this and manipulate his world like it was a doll-house, then there had to be a way for him to get to it. It had to be somewhere. He always wondered about the thing that seemed to find this sick torture funny. He wondered what he’d do if given the chance to find the source of his misery.

What if he stopped wondering and started pushing back?

—————————

Had it always been so easy? Was he just stupid?

Red stood completely still, letting his newly acquired grip on his personal hell strengthen until the urge to keep walking disappeared altogether. This was it. He was finally free. He still suffered from the constant agony of his body’s corruption. He was still reeling from being thrown around like some broken puppet.

But now?

Now he was finally in control of himself, and he could do exactly as he pleased. What better way to test out one’s newfound freedom than by giving their sadistic tormentor a taste of their own medicine? How would they feel if their mind and body was destroyed by some monster?

He was all too gleeful to find out.

—————————

The young player dropped the Game Boy with a yelp as the speakers emitted a high-pitched whine at an impossible volume. Thinking quickly, they snatched it back up and flipped the switch off. The noise stopped instantly.

“Are you ok, Alex?”

They jumped again at the sound of their father in the doorway. “Yeah, Dad. Sorry about that. It froze or something and scared me.”

He nodded. “Well, it’s getting late. I know it’s the weekend but you should still try to get some sleep. It’s not a good idea to spend all night staring at that tiny screen.”

They shrugged. After that little scare, they were inclined to agree. They felt exhausted all of a sudden.

As they exchanged goodnight, Alex went about getting ready for bed. The Game Boy was set atop the dresser and the whole incident was promptly forgotten about as they dozed off.

—————————

Alex awoke in an empty void. It was completely silent; they couldn’t even hear their own breathing. Were they even breathing?

“Am I still alive right now?” they wondered aloud.

“You won’t be for much longer,” a voice echoed from the abyss.

He was clearly a child, but he looked nothing like innocence. His eyes were full of malice and the more Alex stared, the more unnerving characteristics they noticed. There were no lines or wrinkles on his face, no texture whatsoever. The shadows didn’t seem to make sense; they were sharp and jutted wherever they pleased despite the lack of lighting.

Alex whirled and found none other than what looked to be the character of Red standing inches behind them, form rigid and fists by his sides. He stood just below their height. His face held no emotion despite his words. His eyes glowed like his namesake and although his broken, garbled voice was unsettlingly deep, his face looked young. Younger than themselves even.

His outfit was dull and his eyes were the only real color he had. Despite his boyish look his skin was ghastly and pale; the shadows on his body and face were bold and stood out even amidst the darkness.

The worst, however, had to be his eyes. They—in addition to the unnatural red they glowed—lacked the usual attributes as well. Just blank whites holding two smooth irises with pupils and nothing more. The lack of detail on his features made him seem fake. Alex felt cold at the sight of him.

What kind of a dream was this?

Red observed the being before him. They weren’t at all what he was expecting. There were so many different colors. They seemed so vivid, their outfit standing out against the shadows. He could see little details on their skin; small spots and lines and bumps. Their brown eyes were wide, and Red noted little slivers amongst the color as well as thin red lines throughout the whites. He watched their pupils repeatedly change size as they made minute movements, no doubt taking in his own appearance. Even their eyebrows held an impossible amount of detail; being made of multiple fibers rather than two smears of color.

He could hear their faint breaths, their nostrils flaring with each inhale as their chest expanded slightly before the air was pushed back out. He was fascinated by the way their breath hitched as he brought his hand below their nose to feel the escaping warmth.

It was all foreign to him. When he focused on them as a whole he noted how they were just above his height, auburn hair messy and arms wrapped around themselves in some sort of hug. So this was the one behind all his suffering? This was his demented tormentor all along? They were clearly afraid of him.

His lips stretched into a demonic smile.

Alex began backing away as Red moved even closer, the smile never fading. “Wait,” they tried, hoping they’d wake up soon. “Stay back.”

Red's hands shot out like cobras to grip his former captor’s arms tightly. He found that doing so caused them to scream in pain, so he dug his nails in for extra effect. His fingers felt warm and something felt ready to give beneath them. Some sort of red substance began to flow out and fall to the floor in droplets. The smile became a wild snarl as rage overtook him.

“You thought it was funny, didn’t you?!” he screamed, voice breaking up. His whole body seized with painful glitches. Would he ever be rid of them?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” they cried, wanting to break away from Red but knowing that trying to struggle out of his grasp would only do more damage. They had no choice but to continue to face him. “I just wanted to mess around with the game!” They choked out another cry when his nails dug in deeper, tearing muscle.

“Game? Game?! Am I a joke to you?! Do you know what it felt like? Do you know how much pain and suffering I went through for your little game?” He grit his teeth so hard that the pain in his jaw drowned out his usual agony. For the first time ever, he could ignore the way his body fizzled in and out of solidity. He made his grip a little tighter and felt something crack. He watched their tears fall as the red liquid continued to ooze out.

He wondered how much of it would spill if he kept his grip and pulled; how much it would hurt for them to be violently torn apart by something that shouldn’t be. He wondered if he’d become as real as they were afterwards, if he could somehow take their details and colors and breathing for himself.

“Please…” they whimpered. This was no dream. It hurt too much to be anything other than real. Red’s anger felt suffocating.

Despite all he wanted to say, all the questions he wanted to ask, Red found himself laughing. The harsh sound echoed throughout the darkness as he watched them cower in his grasp. He’d really done it. He’d found the source of his suffering and the sooner he got rid of it the sooner he could live. No more scripts, no more repeats, no more being ripped apart endlessly. As much as he wanted to show them what his torment felt like, he was ready for all of this to be over.

The giddy feeling of victory overtook him as he laughed and laughed, reveling in the fear in his prey’s eyes. Without warning, he sunk his fingers in as deep as he could and pulled.

Alex’s arms were ripped off like they were made of paper and they fell to their knees with a horrid scream, legs having long given out from the pain of Red’s grasp. The insane laughter had settled into silence as they flopped face-first onto the ground, head turned towards their killer. They felt the fading warmth of their blood surround them as the pale-skinned figure stood over them, eyes glinting and that cruel smile back on his face.

Red watched the crimson puddle spread out and soak into their hair and clothes as their eyes became dull and unfocused. He observed the torn limbs he held—the way they still leaked red and the jagged white shards that stuck out from the ends. There were similar ones on the mutilated stumps of the body at his feet. Stretchy threads hung out limply. Out of curiosity, he squeezed one of the arms with all his strength and a wet crunch sounded as it bent at an unnatural angle.

After a few more moments of examining them, he grew bored of the severed appendages and let them fall to the ground with a dull thump. He brought his hands up and noted the sticky mess under and around his nails. This was really it.

It was so easy. Too easy.

—————————

Alex was powerless against the supernatural grip on their arms. They struggled and struggled, but to no avail. He wasn’t letting go.

“ALEX!”

Their eyes shot open and found not Red, but their parents staring down at them in fear and concern.

“Are you ok?! You were screaming so much and you’re bleeding!”

As their father released them, they shakily took in their surroundings and noted that they were indeed back in their room. They were in too much shock to say anything.

Alex's mother gently brushed their hair out of their face and pulled the sleeves of their pajama shirt up to inspect their arms, frightened about the bright red stains. The lack of a reaction from Alex made the fear worsen.

There were deep scratches like claw marks on the both of them. The light blue sheets were stained with the same red as their shirt.

All Alex could do was cry and beg to be hugged.

—————————

Red found himself in his room again, like nothing had changed. He felt a pull to go outside and wanted to scream.

It seemed whatever he’d done was temporary. Or perhaps that wasn’t the one controlling him. Maybe it was a decoy, or just another part of the act.

Fine. He’d go along with it for now. All he had to do was find them. He knew what he could do now too. Eventually, someone would have to be the one he was looking for.

He could wait. He’d gone on this long, he could keep going. With his newfound abilities, he’d find them sooner or later.

Oh, how he couldn’t wait to make them suffer like he had.

Please ignore that I said Red had no properly human features but then turned around and gave him nails. The thought of him not having them kinda grossed me out, lol. But yes, this version of Red is a psychotic bastard with a vendetta against literally anyone. In case it wasn't obvious, the story skips ahead a lot. It starts around the time the game originally came out--and I suspect people would've played it normally in the beginning. Then as time went on and word got out, people learned about all the fun ways to break the game. The gist is that after the first many playthroughs, Red starts feeling the deja vu and begins questioning things. He could've gone on like that forever and been none the wiser, but then players had to go an discover the glitches. If it weren't for that, Red wouldn't have realized he was in trapped in a game, he wouldn't be so angry, and he wouldn't have achieved actual sentience/sapience. He'd just be forever wondering why everything keeps repeating. Edited Fun Fact: When I first posted this, I made Alex an adult instead of the kid they were originally. I have decided to go back to that initial idea because I think it reads better and establishes this version of Glitchy Red's rage better too. This version of Red is hyper-aggressive to adults and children, so I think Alex being younger fits. Red is "11" here, and Alex is 13. I give Red's age quotes because chronologically he's much, much older. Although I like to think he doesn't care about age and doesn't really acknowledge it, due to his poor sense of time. But yeah, physically he is 11. Other than Alex's age everything else is exactly the same. Red is furious with anyone who interacts with the game in any way and thinks of them as his captors.

I kept Alex gn because I initially wasn't even sure I was gonna keep them in there. I kind of added them in because I happened to be mad at someone who happens to also be named Alex... You know what they say about pissing writers off... I will definitely be posting more on this at random, lol. Between working on Connection, of course. This is yet another project that got away from me and I spent several hours adding to it when I was supposed to just post it. Oops.

[minti-tales]

Minti makes good on a promise. We meet the Frost Queen, She Made of Ice.

---

Minti Chocolate had no desire to be in Coerthas again. And yet, here she was, riding her chocobo like she was late for supper, up-up-up the muddy path from the last post in the North Shroud. Broken twigs, well-trodden dirt, dead grass, goblin detritus - all these were hers, rewards for traveling during Eorzea's winter season.

The chocobo, a brown bird named "Riptide," wanted to press on despite the coming rainfall. Perhaps he thought this would get him out of a bath, dirty thing that he was, and each clawprint, each schluck from the grasping muddy ground, was further distance from his bullies, Soap and Tub. His confident "Kweh-heh-hehs" gave him away as much.

Thunder and lighting in Gridania's forests gave way to snow showers, causing the rain on Minti's winged golden armor to turn to frost. It was awful.

"Twelve above, girl, keep it together," the viera muttered, loud enough for Riptide to hear. The dirty bird might be relishing his time out of the free company stables, but Minti wasn't having this jaunt to the Observatory, and, quite frankly, neither was The Choir. To put their collected displeasure to parchment would take ages. The Volunteer was the only one excited about all this mummery and capering about.

It was that damned sense of honor, wasn't it, pushing rider and mount up the hills, past the river teeming with smallfish, past the wolves hungry for their next meal. It certainly wasn't the Volunteer pushing her forward, whispering in her ear about unfinished business. No. The Ishgardian "stiff upper lip" and need to maintain one's honor in the face of proper society, those were to blame. Yes, those. What wonderful gifts Lady Sabbatine had given her, a long time ago.

One last hill to crest, then to the First Dicasterial Observatorium, where Minti's honor kept a faithful vigil, ever waiting for her return.

Halone's faithful knight rides forth to confront the Dragoon, who lies in wait atop yonder tower.

---

Coming up from Gridania, aspiring adventurers are like to see The Observatorium's grand tower first, before they see the rest of the settlement. This structure holds an astroscope, a device which is used to study and document star patterns and movements.

During the time of the Dragonsong War, the tower and encampment was used by Ishgardian astrologians to predict the movements of the Dravanian Horde; with the ending of the War, it became a place to train new astrologians in the ways of the healing, although not as openly as some might wish. Here, too, was Ser Alberic Bale, former Azure Dragoon, current mentor to many of Eorzea's dragoons.

For many nights, Ser Bale had waited by the encampment's covered firepit, keeping both it and the hearts of his students warm. The end of the War gave rise to more soul crystals reaching curious hands, and more lancers coming up from the guild in Gridania. They needed guidance, and who better to give it than him?

This night seemed to stretch longer than most, which the biting cold and swirling snow around the Observatorium knew to take advantage of. To the imagination, it would seem as if a great ice dragon of eld, a frightful winged being with dark blue scales and gold claws, had made roost about the tower, and covered the Central Highlands with what Ishgard had known since the Calamity: Frightful, unending, punishing winter.

Of course, any Ishgardian worth their onze in salt knew that the weather was coldest before the start of Heavensturn. More logs for the fire were needed, then, and a hot cup of cider to ring in the new year. "Haisie, come by the fire, rest your bones and your spirit," Alberic called out to the shivering Twin Adder nearby. The Elezen was handing out Company scrip to a young archer and, as usual, complaining about the second watch not yet arriving. "There is little reason to suffer tonight."

Haisie must have said something to frighten the hyur, who ran off towards Camp Dragonhead at the fullest speed they could muster. "I would love a hot meal, and a place to warm my arse," the elf stammered out between shakes, "But I must keep watch, else I shall never be relieved of this gods-damned burden! Where is that second watch - Oh. *Well.* What fresh mummery is this?"

---

There was a new-old voice by the Observatorium's firepit, waiting to be acknowledged by Minti. A grand dragon of ancient ice, of Coertha's layers of snow, of the numbing cold that comes from the regrets men have of their younger years. She was tall enough to tower over Azure Dragoons, current and former, and small enough to be unseen for many winters past. A reminder of failures, of promises broken, of lies. Many, many wrongs, all kept in her pretty, glittering hoard of coins. A Frost Queen's ransom, perhaps.

My dearest child approaches, the dragon thought to herself as she flew to the upper mechanisms of the astroscope. No one would mind if she watched, would they? Creatures like her were always drawn to these sorts of spectacles, after all.

Ah! And what a fine spectacle this would be. Miss Chocolate herself, all dressed in shiny armor and lance, riding into camp like Emmanellian de Fortemps out a-courting. Head buzzing like a beehive, face scrunched up in such a serious expression. How much like a lady of Ishgard. How divine.

Our hero approaches that dottering old man by the firepit, yes, and sits beside him. Says nothing, just sits and looks over at him like a lost, frightened puppy. Is she nervous? Oh, she must be. She must be terrified.

What's this? They're talking. Real, deep, insightful conversation. Rubbish about how Minti hated how long it took to come back, and how sorry she is, and would Ser Bale please take her back, please, she'll be a very good girl this time around, sob sob sob! This isn't a good meal, it's a sad, pathetic snack. Bale would be in his rights to send Minti on her way. Everyone can agree on that.

The Queen nearly retched as Bale and Minti hugged, a long hug with rubbing of backs and soft words and forgiveness. And yet, in that sincere moment of forgiveness and acceptance, something about her changed. On a fundamental level, no less.

There must be time for forgiveness, the new-old voice of the Frost Queen considered, in between gusts of winter wind. A time for acknowledgement, and a time to move forward into tomorrow. We should learn from our failures as much as we should our successes.

Her hoard of coins had two faces on them now. How very odd.

As the night came to a close, and dawn was just about to come, the frightening visage of the Frost Queen shifted to one resembling a dear friend, an elezen who could call upon an Primal of Ice, then to an Au Ra wearing the blue and gold armor of a sworn Halonic Paladin. The Queen liked this form. It suited her well.

She would rejoin the Choir, and lend her voice to Minti Chocolate's cause. The rabbit would need her guidance to become a full Dragoon, after all.

[areax]

pythia lore dump (BG3 & DURGE SPOILERS)

the sorcerer has harmed me once more

is convinced shes the daughter or descendant of tiamat and operates on that assumption until act 3, which is pretty funny because it puts her into yet another existential crisis when she figures out whose daughter she actually is. to be fair she’s in the right ballpark at least and considering that she has horns and scales and a tail it’s a good guess. though i think those physical characteristics are a result of her mother being an unusual looking tiefling plus some of bhaal's forms having scales. technically in game she's a draconic bloodline sorcerer as there's not a class option to be a bhaalspawn sorcerer but im using the draconic bloodline as a placeholder. anyway i just imagine tiamat hearing bhaal’s wayward child's prayers to her and being like I AM NOT YOUR MOM!

wants to kill her dad not because of any resentment toward him or the way that he was raised but because murdering is the ultimate act of love for a child of the god of murder. she also wants to usurp him and does know or understand what a “sundering” is. she saw gale get horny about apotheosis and was like... yoink

before her brain got all fucked up she was a remarkably... calculated person in terms of killing. i think the parts of her brain that manage her impulse control and make her into an assassin, not just a wanton murderer, got damaged and it takes a while for her to recover from that but she never does fully. i like the idea that her Urge comes not only from being a bhaalspawn but secondarily from having something quite literally wrong about her brain. i mean duh not all ppl with brain damage become murderers but in her case the missing parts of herself (impulse control, moral compass) were filled in by the background radiation of bloodlust that comes from her Urge. nepenthe is the same, but instead of being like “my mind is telling me to do this so it must be right” she was like “fuck what my mind said. i have morals”

possibly my most sparkledog oc in terms of looks. she also later has vulture’s wings. enoby dark’ness WHO

she’s going to put raphael on a leash and he’s going to love it. the war of greeks v italians continues... she fucks his shit up to get the hammer but either leaves him barely alive or he finds a way to weasel out of dying (i absolutely buy the theory that raphael has some kind of resurrection contingency plan or that his soul goes to mephistopheles after his death to be tormented. i think there was some kind of saturn devouring his son imagery there. in any case she wouldn’t rescue him but if he ever came back she’d be impressed) and they meet again at least a decade after the events of the game and she pitches him her “quit your job. help me kill my father and i’ll help you kill yours.” idea. she says she’ll give him the crown once she’s ascended to true godhood and no longer has need of it; he’s not sure if she’s telling the truth but can’t resist the temptation. i haven’t yet decided what actually comes out of this union except absolute misery for everyone in their path

is the big bad of someone else’s campaign. she saw a magical artifact and immediately devoted herself to becoming a serious threat to a party of around 4-5 level 20 adventurers. like she fucks the gate UP for real. comparable to netheril.

[handfuloftime]

Fire Emblem time :)

Despite having played Radiant Dawn approximately one million times I've never played Path of Radiance, so this will be an adventure.

That may have been the shortest tutorial chapter of all time.

Ike is a baby, wow.

I know the overall outline of the plot but not the specifics, so I was kind of expecting Greil to die right at the beginning of the game. Instead we're just hanging out waiting for the plot to show up, I guess.

The animated cutscenes don't look half bad considering this game is twenty years old.

The last FE game I played was Genealogy of the Holy War back in early 2023, and I'm struggling to adjust my sense of scale--I've got about 50 minutes of playtime through the end of Chapter 3 (and I definitely could have done that faster), and an equivalent amount of time in Genealogy would put me about...halfway through the prologue? lol

I'm playing on Easy because I didn't want to have to deal with actual difficulty on my first playthrough and honestly I'm sort of regretting that so far--it's really easy (again, I have to adjust my expectations from Genealogy, haha). Ike and Boyd are the only units I've been even remotely worried about.

(Wait can you not do nested bullets on posts anymore??) Titania in particular is difficult because I'd intended to use her to soften people up for Ike to finish off, but she just kills everyone instantly. Oops.

Ike has grown six levels in four chapters, though, so it's not like I'm worried. Even if he didn't managed to fight anyone in the pirate chapter.

But actually, when is the plot going to start? It's been four chapters, and while it's nice seeing familiar faces (and I guess they do have to introduce the cast), I'm getting bored.

I miss the world map overviews at the start of every chapter that Radiant Dawn had--I have no sense of where this is taking place (I mean, I know it's Crimea because I know the overall plot of the game) beyond "area plagued with bandits".

Nasir???