#hes very loyal to his people but for the greater good he made a choice that negatively impacted them

[sunsetzer]

I only got three votes last time so I'm gonna try again lmao. I've explained it a little more so maybe people who aren't playing veilguard but are fans of ff6 can vote too!

In favour of Minrathous: He's a Shadow Dragon. It's his home, and Edgar is of course very loyal to Figaro so it would make sense (even though Rook isn't really a Minrathous native, they were adopted by the Shadow Dragons). He'd want to make sure the Shadow Dragons survive the attack to continue fighting the Venatori. If the cult takes over the government, they could hand Tevinter right over to the gods, which would be Very Very Bad.

In favour of Treviso: There are a lot of defenseless civilians already under Antaam occupation. They have no standing army, and while there's corruption in the Templars, he has reason to believe that in this circumstance they would help defend Minrathous from the dragon and could last longer against it while they help the Crows defend Treviso. The blight getting into the waterways also wouldn't just affect Treviso, theoretically it could travel to other places and contaminate their water as well.

Both are all around a Bad Time and there's not really any right choice to make here which is both great and awful at the same time, thanks bioware.

(Also if Minrathous gets blighted and the Venatori take over, it kinda mimics the events of ff6 following Edgar's decision to protect Terra- I'm thinking about South Figaro's occupation by the Empire and the attack on the Returners hideout specifically).

[apenguinbird]

Animal familiars in NRC: Ignihyde and Diasomnia edition.

(A continuation of this, this and this)

Ignihyde

Idia: Dog

Dang it, he wanted a cat. 

Still, he recognizes dogs are cute.

Let’s call him Cerberus for now. I think it would be a dog breed like a Cretan Hound, Greek Harehound, Molossus of Epirus, all big dog breeds from Greece.

Cerberus is very loyal to Idia and loves to sit by his side when he is playing games.

Scary dog privileges heck yeah. Idia hopes it will keep the extroverted students away from him (spoiler: It doesn’t work)

When working at STYX Cerberus works as a guard dog, not really necessary but Idia likes the feeling.

Cerberus is one of the few reasons why he goes out and takes him on walks. Although Ortho is usually the one taking him out, for Idia’s safety, the last time Cerberus basically dragged him across campus.

Makes memes with his dog.

“Oh Cerberus, we're really in it now.” 

Ortho

(Light spoilers for chapter 6, nothing mentioned though)

Unfortunately, Ortho is not able to have a familiar in the traditional way.

He loves Cerberus though!

Usually the one in charge of taking him on walks.

Cerberus is so careful around Ortho even though he is made out of metal.

Ortho has millions of files about taking good care of dogs.

Idia is/was planning on building a familiar for Ortho but the idea makes him sad.

Diasomnia.

One of the best examples of how the bond between mages and familiars works. Some familiars can become really really old.

Silver: Snow Owl

(Reference for chapter 7)

Yeah.

Honestly Silver was probably the youngest when it came to finding his familiar, with the number of animals close to him it was predictable.

He took a nap somewhere and woke up with the owl looking at him.

Lilia felt happy for Silver, although he felt like life was being a bit passive-aggressive with him.

If Silver is sleeping his familiar is somewhere watching over him.

Silver uses the owl to look for Malleus when the latter is nowhere to be found.

Special alarm, aka the familiar will peck Silver until he wakes up.

Sebek: Hawk

The perfect look for a knight, Sebek likes the respectable image they have going on.

LOUD DUO.

“WAKA-SAMA!” *hawk noises.*

Sebek is training it to attack people. Plus he trains with silver to use their familiar as trackers.

One time Sabek almost hits him with a lightning bolt and has been apologizing ever since.

The hawk once sat in one of Malleus’ horns which he found amusing, Sebek not so much.

Lilia: Bat

I know it was a really obvious choice but it was the best one for Lilia.

Same energy. Let me tell you that bat is old.

“Aren’t we cute?”

They both like to hang from the ceiling.

Silver’s babysitter was back when he was a kid. From making sure baby Silver was safe while Lilia was busy and/or adapting to parenthood, making sure he was safe in the woods as a kid, up to this day it makes sure Silver fell asleep somewhere safe.

Has saved the young one from Lilia’s cooking, the reason why sometimes Lilia finds kitchen ingredients or tools gone missing, is for a greater cause.

Will screech to get your attention.

Has had to drag Lilia by the ear to bed when he stays up too much time.

He and Lilia enjoy having tomato juice together.

Sometimes he joins Lilia in the music club, it doesn’t sound great but it is the passion that counts.

Malleus: Crow

A bit of an odd case because Malleus passed centuries without a familiar, they found each other rather recently.

He finds it rather interesting how it fits the story of the Witch of Thorns and her crow companion.

Malleus can and will tell you a lecture on what makes ravens and crows different creatures.

A good company, a bit of a one side conversation but the two look happy in the process.

“And that’s why gargoyles are often carved out of marble or stone and are attached to buildings.” “Caw.” “Interesting indeed.”

Malleus’ grandmother has a crow familiar too, maybe it’s a Draconia thing.

His familiar also enjoys old builds and statues which Malleus finds endearing.

Sometimes the crow disappears and reappears at random times. Malleus will never admit it but he’s rather bitter at the idea of not being invited.

Loves shiny things and has a nest of things it has collected around the school.

No, the crow doesn’t sit on Mallues’ horns but sometimes you can find it on his shoulder.

That crow is in the top 5 of those who Sebek respects.

The most respected and feared bird in all of the school. Some students are sure there must be something fishy with that bird.

[goblins-riddles-or-frocks]

He is a villain who thinks he is a hero in a believable way which i think a lot of authors can't do properly. I can see his thought process AND I can see that it is fucked.

Also he does do a lot of work in ruling the country? Like before Alina came along he was almost always working, at least that is what is implied idk.

Also this probably you might not agree with but I think he was loyal to his goal till the end i.e. he genuinely did want to make the world safer for grisha till the end. He sucked at it and his methods would have failed and everything but i think that's what he WANTED most of all.

Your "kicking puppy" line made me remember the statement Leigh gave when she said that if she wanted everyone to just purely hate the Darkling, she would have made him kick puppies and kill children. So she changed her mind later i suppose lmao. Because he most certainly was killing children.

I think he’s pretty consistent through the story tbqh! I feel like people say he’s OOC evil by the end, but he’s about as cruel, and if anything, more humanized by the third book. That’s when we get the name reveal, when we get the few scenes of genuine vulnerability he has with Alina. Whereas any positive scene they had in S&B was based in manipulation, like they are actually connecting by that last book. I just really don’t think there was any sudden shift.

But yeah, I have to say I partially agree? Partially disagree? Like I do think it’s integral to the plot, the series’ themes, and Alina’s own arc, that he did genuinely start out with values close to her own. That he meant well, but just took means to an end morality so far, and became so corrupt in his old age and isolation, that his views became warped over time. That that is something Alina might herself fear turning into.

The series’ main point is the corruption inherent to power. I wish it did more with it! It’s clumsily handled lol. But I think that is like the very heart of the story. And so the Darkling, as a foil to Alina, must start out as someone genuinely attempting to act towards the greater good. But then, similarly, I think he must completely lose sight of his morals by the end, and be only concerned with self interest and simply accumulating more power.

I see the argument a lot that, by canon, he’s still primarily concerned with protecting Grisha, but we don’t really see him work towards that beyond claiming he’s going to? Like sure, the Little Palace exists, and he’s made Ravka into a relative safe haven. But those are past choices. In the present, what does he actually do?

If his main motivation was from a genuine desire to protect, then I just think he’d be less focused on killing anyone who does not immediately side with him lol. Like I think he was probably still telling himself that he must have more power *for the greater good* just because that’s what he’s thought for so long. The real desire is just for power.

Anyway yeah, he’s complex! I don’t think either side of the fandom really acknowledge that depth because they have particular biases and preferences for what the story should have been about.

[lifeofresulullah]

The Life of The Prophet Muhammad(pbuh): His Youth, Trade Life, His marriage to Hazrat Khadijah

The Prophet goes to Damascus for the second time

Most of the Meccan people did trade for a living. Abu Talib also dealt with trade for a while. However, he no longer had the financial strength to trade due to having too many members in his family, tribal wars, and outbreaks of famine and drought. For this reason, he was unable to attain another opportunity in joining a caravan after the previous journey he made to Syria with our Holy Prophet (PBUH).  He was making a living by doing some jobs in Mecca.

There was a rich widow, who lived in Mecca and was one of our Holy Prophet’s relatives, by the name of Khadija bint Khuwaylid; she was a partner in the caravan trade.

When our Holy Prophet (PBUH) was 25 years old, the Quraysh was preparing to send another caravan to Damascus. This caravan was also going to carry Hazrat Khadija’s goods. As usual, Hazrat Khadija was looking for reliable and trustworthy men to deliver her goods.

Abu Talib, who was writhing in the distress of trying to get by, heard this news. He called his nephew, the Marvelous Master of the Universe (PBUH), to his side and was left with no choice but say the following:

“My nephew, you know that I do not own any property or possessions. This harsh famine and drought has dried up our stock; it has left us with no business and no strength and energy to stand up. Look, the tribe’s caravan of trade is preparing to leave for Damascus. Khuwaylid’s daughter, Khadija, is looking for some individuals from this tribe to load her goods to the caravan and to deliver them. Khadija is a wealthy woman who deals with trade and wants others to benefit from her wealth as well. She is in need of someone like you in this matter, someone who is trustworthy, loyal, and honest. If you go and explain this matter to her, she will probably prefer you over others due to your honesty and superior virtue.”

After this talk, he indicated his sadness and hesitation in this way, “I am hesitant about sending you to Damascus. I am afraid that the Jews will try to harm you. However, what can I do? I cannot think of anything else that will guarantee our livelihood.” 

Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) comforted his uncle by saying, “My dear Uncle, do whatever you wish.”

Hazrat Khadija heard about the conversation that took place between our Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his uncle, Abu Talib. Khadija knew that the Master of the Universe (PBUH) was a trustworthy, reliable, honest individual and that he had a superior code of conduct. For this reason, she immediately sent for our Holy Prophet (PBUH) to come. When he arrived, she said to him:

“I would like to send my commercial goods that are to be shipped to Damascus with you. I know that you are an immensely trustworthy, honest, and ethical person. I am going to pay you a high sum that I have never paid anyone else.“

Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) informed his uncle of this offer. Abu Talib was happy beyond measure, “This is a blessing that Allah has bestowed on you”.

Abu Talib did not think it was appropriate for our Holy Prophet (PBUH) to set off on the journey without a price having been determined. Therefore, he told our Holy Prophet (PBUH) to discuss this matter with Hazrat Khadija herself. However, our Holy Prophet (PBUH) made it clear that he did not want to do this and so Abu Talib went instead. He said, “Oh Khadija, we heard that you gave two male camels for so-and-so’s services. We will not accept fewer than four camels for Muhammad’s services.”

Hazrat Khadija was glad to have found someone reliable. She answered, “Oh Abu Talib, you have asked for a very easy and agreeable fee. I would have still accepted if you had asked for a much greater one.” 

Abu Talib was beyond happy for having heard these words.

Hazrat Khadija placed her slave, Maysara, under our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) authority and issued a warning:

“If he commands you to do anything, obey immediately. Do not do anything that goes against his words and do not make him repeat his requests. Inform me on his every condition.”

All the preparations had been made for the journey. Abu Talib and our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) aunts came to see him off and requested that those on the caravan look after him.

And the caravan set off on the journey…

The trade caravan arrived on the soil of Damascus after three tiring months. Every participant in the caravan set up his/her stand in a suitable spot in the Busra Market. The Master of the Universe (PBUH) went underneath an olive tree that was near a monastery.

Nastura, the Priest, and our Holy Prophet (PBUH)

Bahira, the priest who was in the monastery during our Holy Prophet’s previous visit to Damascus, had passed away and left a priest by the name of Nastura in his place.

The arrival of the caravan procession and our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) descent underneath the olive tree had not escaped from the priest’s eyes. He called Maysara, whom he met before, and asked about the person who was lodging underneath the tree.

Maysara replied, “He is a respected figure in both the Quraysh and in Mecca.”

For a moment, Nastura was lost in thought. Afterwards, he expressed an idea that had left him astounded: “No one, other than a Prophet, has sat underneath that tree.” 

Later, he asked Maysara:

“Does he have redness in his eyes?”

When he received the answer, “yes” from Maysara, Nastura was certain in his recognition: “He is a prophet. In fact, he is the last prophet.” 

Maysara was bewildered by his excitement. The happiness and bliss of serving the Prophet of the Future (PBUH) spread to all of his cells in an instant. The priest’s words became thoroughly engraved in his memory.

The sales were finalized and the necessary items were bought. They found out that our Holy Prophet (PBUH) had made greater and more profitable sales than everyone else. This time, the procession’s amazement and bewilderment was added to that of Maysara’s.

The caravan departed from Busra and headed straight towards Mecca.

Angels Casting Shade

The caravan was advancing towards Mecca on top of the hot sands. The burning sun was thrusting its arrows of fire to the ground. Yet, what was this? Maysara could not believe his eyes. Was he imagining things?

No, what he saw was completely real. Two angels were shading our Holy Prophet (PBUH) so that he would not be bothered by the scorching heat, like a cloud. 

Maysara was unable to stand still in his place due to his wonder and excitement. The sun’s heat did not affect Maysara all that much after having witnessed the comforting warmth of this strange incident. However, he could not find the courage to explain everything that he had seen and heard to our Holy Prophet (PBUH). He was hiding his excitement, wonder, and bewilderment inside, and was using whatever energy he had to prevent it from being seen by others.

The caravan was now beginning to be seen in Mecca.

Hazrat Khadija was watching the caravan from the rooftop of her home with the Qurayshi women. She was amazed just like everyone else; the ones arriving were our Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Maysara. What were those on top of Muhammad’s (PBUH) head? The two angels were casting shade upon the Master of the Universe (PBUH) once again. Khadija pointed out this strange occurrence to the other women with excitement, “Look, look, Muhammad is being shaded by the angels!”

The caravan reached Mecca. Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) submitted the goods to Hazrat Khadija. Hazrat Khadija then sold the goods and made a great profit. 

Meysara Explains his Observations

During this journey, Maysara saw and learned many things in regards to our Holy Prophet (PBUH).

First and foremost, our Holy Prophet (PBUH) observed cleanliness to the highest degree, his code of conduct was excellent, he was honest, and his friendship was sincere and in earnest. Nothing could be said about his honesty in trade.

Maysara explained all of this, all of what Nastura had said, and everything that he had seen on the journey, one by one.

Without wasting time, Hazrat Khadija went to Waraqa bin Nawfal, her uncle’s son, and explained him what she heard from Maysara and what she had seen.

Without wasting time, Hazrat Khadija went to Waraqa bin Nawfal, her uncle’s son, and explained him what she heard from Maysara and what she had seen.

Waraqa was a knowledgeable Christian and was not in favor of idol worshipping. He was a quiet and wise old man.

He was unable to hide his astonishment in the face of everything that Khadija had said. He then replied: If everything that you have said is true, than Muhammad is undoubtedly the Prophet of this community. I already knew that a Prophet for this community was going to appear and was awaiting his arrival. This is his exact time. 

Hazrat Khadija’s heart was filled with happiness upon hearing this statement and acknowledgment.

[baatarthefirst]

Red Apple and Peach for an OC of your choice

🍎 [RED APPLE] Who does your OC value above all else?

Aviv: Honesty. Even if someone is an ass, he can respect an honest ass. He can/will not associate with people after he's caught them in a lie.

Jaiyana: Honor. She recognizes honor means different things to different people. She respects that, but certain things are universal, she feels; don't hurt the innocent, give your enemy a chance to surrender, stay loyal to your family.

Aditya: Community. He's a firm believer in 'together we thrive, separated we starve'. If anyone places themselves above the people around them, they instantly lose his respect and trust.

🍑 [PEACH] How do they show their kindness? How kind are they truly?

Aviv: He listens. He listens and tries to help in any way he can. He tries to be kind and usually succeeds. He's seen as a kind and fair person, but sometimes he will make harsh decisions for the greater good (he would do everything in his power to help a neighboring kingdom's food crises, short of letting his own people starve for example).

Jaiyana: She empathizes. With the exception of hurting the innocent or defenseless (or other such atrocities) Jaiyana will always put herself in other's shoes and imagines what she would do in their position. If she finds that it's understandable, even in the slightest, she will offer mercy (a soldier of hers went awol once to witness his child's birth. She didn't jail him, but made him clean the stables for a month). She's considered to be very kind.

Aditya: He gives. Gifts, compliments, advice, a shoulder to cry on...petty revenge -whatever is needed from him. He's usually thought of as kind, others think of him as kind...of a pain in the ass.

[kittie1996]

what are ur opinions on each saw movie?

OKAY SO

i stopped watchin the ones after amanda died tbh all of the movies after 3 are dead to me except for x of course but i just heard it gets super lame after that and i only really watched for her. tbh i think it was made painfully obvious that amanda had been carefully plucked out by john to be groomed into becoming his apprentice like looking at the brutal self mutilating traps others had to get out of compared to hers where she never had to hurt herself or self amputate or anything except prove that she could kill someone “for the greater good” (i use that term loosely). i dont think it ever couldve worked because john and her come from extremely different backgrounds and it’s very obvious in saw x when amanda tries to reason with john and get through to him about gabriellas addiction and he just brushes her off with a “everyone has a choice” and my friend said that in that moment he made it obvious he views amanda as lesser than him because of her past addiction. i think gabriella and amanda are extremely similar in the way they worked for someone evil but at the end of the day theyre just a means for them to attain power and nothing else. cecilia rubs it in gabriellas face by saying “well im not the one addicted to drugs” and amanda looks at john when she says that. amanda saw so much of herself in gabriella and i think seeing john treat her like subhuman filth touched a sore spot. cecilia killing her just salted the wound and amanda had the worst freakout about that. when gabriella is begging for her life at the stairs as amanda and john go up to watch the torture from afar, amanda looks at her with a look of regret or pity or SOMETHING but then looks up at john who stares back disapprovingly. he also guilt trips her a shit ton for these feelings and when she has these lucid moments and feels guilt for hurting people, he goes on a “oh so youre NOT willing to do what it takes to carry on my work?” tangent, trying to make it seem as if his work is something greater than them both and not a self serving narcissistic, sadistic wet dream. and when amanda starts to go crazy because she cares deeply for john and hes DYING so she starts making unbeatable traps and becoming fiercely jealous of lynn, shes flawed. john practically spits in her face and calls her a failure as shes dying. he kidnapped her, groomed her, forced her to kill people, and in the end says he hates her for it after he gets her killed.

ok now lynn time :3 THEIR SEXUAL TENSION WAS OFF THE CHARTSSSSSS this was my favorite saw movie tbh. they had intense hateful sexual tension and it’s when amandas confidence AND insecurity is peaking so ofc disaster is imminent. shes learned to make traps at this point, her body language is much more confident and mirrors how i imagine john would behave if he wasnt. yknow. terminally ill. and by that i mean sassy asf. but now she doubts john and his methods and resents him for prioritizing lynn over amanda and urging amanda to control herself and to stop hurting lynn and i think it’s like a “i dedicated my life to you and she’s just another victim” kind of jealousy. when she walks in on john holding lynns hand and he says “we’re fine amanda we dont need you” and she takes that PERSONALLY. it seems like john wanted a pet more than he wanted an apprentice because he never wanted to put emotional work into amanda and wouldve rather had her killed off than correct her mistakes. anyways. shortly after, john orders her to undo lynns collar and she snaps, holds her at gunpoint and says “you gave her control over me” like NOOOOOO you gave john control over you. she wouldnt be in this mess if she werent so loyal to john. ik abt hoffmans letter to amanda tbh idgaf like i said everything after saw 3 is dead to me after learning it was supposed to end there and Lips can eat my meat

[acourtofthought]

Hello!

In Acotar we know that Lucien was like his father (Beron) and that all his brothers were monsters.

In the second book of the series we have a melancholic Lucien, I believe that what happened Under the Mountain changed a lot in his life.

That Lucien wouldn't be a good mate for Nesta, and neither would she be a good choice for him. I think it was through the complexity of the character that SJM saw that Elain was someone who was ready for this, as well as he would be someone of support and her equal in the future.

In Acowar, SJM changed many things about Lucien. His powers, his paternity and it gave Eris space to be the HL of the court that probably would have been Lucien's.

All of these changes were made solely due to mating with Elain, among other issues. How do people not see this?

How can people not see the changes being made. Lucien is someone loyal and a good friend, and is he being that with Vassa because they are said to be romantic?

If Lucien is in love with or interested in the human queen, why is he still carrying a gift for Elain and wearing that look of longing and sadness?

It is still there, awaiting its place for a long time, while others feel that they have the right to shorten its existence.

I don't know if you've noticed, but in every mention of Vassa, Jurian is right in the same vein.

Lucien and his cohorts have already been mentioned. When they talk about Koschei at the beginning of Acosf, Jurian is there looking at Vassa with an unreadable face, while Lucien's is a look of compassion.

Lucien admires the two humans, but doesn't seem to agree with their methods of conquest.

Because they still insist on the idea that Lucien is confused about Elain, and who is lost about his feelings is Azriel.

He's still tense when a male who fucked Mor asks for her. Does he choose to give the necklace to Gwyn, because this is the man who is deserving of keeping Elain?

Anyone that is 100% convinced that Lucien is romantically interested in Vassa should revisit his interactions with Feyre. I'm not saying there's zero chance of Lucien ending up with her. I think it's unlikely but until the book is written, none of us know anything for sure. But Lucien has expressed no greater fondness toward Vassa than he did Feyre. He was willing to die for Feyre, took abuse from Tamlin for Feyre, offered to train Feyre, acknowledged her strengths, comforted her WITH HIS SHIRT OFF when he thought she had a nightmare. We know Rhys and Feyre were meant to be but there were way more romantic hints for Feyre and Lucien than I ever saw for Vassa and Lucien but they only ended up as friends. So I find it difficult to believe Vassa and Lucien are going to end up as any more than that. I think Lucien's character took a turn when we saw how he reacted to the blue fairie losing his wings in Book 1 and Tamlin later mentioned to Feyre that Lucien's wounds ran deep. I love snarky Lucien but that moment made me think that maybe his snark was a defense mechanism. And after the situation with the Naga and the Suriel, we note a lot of sincerity in his interactions with Feyre (as well as ownership for his mistakes). I don't know exactly when SJM realized he and Nesta wouldn't be well matched but those stand out to me. Nesta and Cassian are both extremely loyal and they obviously have deep emotions but Lucien's developing sensitivity and openness in communicating (he's very good at expressing himself with words) would not have been a good match for Nesta's tendency to lash out and shut down. I honesty can't see a character other than Elain being perfect for Lucien. She hasn't said much but when she does, it's meaningful and she too is expressive with her emotions. They are two characters who could truly connect on an emotional level and who would give them the understanding they've been missing. Could SJM have changed her mind on Elain and Lucien ending up together? Sure. But like you said, she's invested A LOT into changing Lucien's entire background. Making it so the family in Elain's life is finally coming around to accepting Lucien (cough, Nesta, cough cough). Having other characters pointing out that Elain should give him a chance, others saying she just needs time, Feyre thinking maybe Elain should have used Lucien's gloves after all, Cassian feeling sad for Lucien (and thinking NOTHING about Az and Elain), drawing attention to their compatibility and placing hints that Elain and Lucien are going to end up in the same places in future books.

[6ahaha1amjustaperson9]

Both b-day: 21st August

•Name:Alsiha Mahmoud

•Age:20 y.o. (3020 as she was trapped in a card)

•Personality. Introvert(INFP-A), calm, quiet, open-minded, imaginative, empathetic

•Gender Female (she/her)

•Height: 190cm

•Sexuality: Straight ally

•Likes: horses, nice and long walks, fencing, nighttime

•Dislikes: loud and crowded places, Eaqib (/jk ofc, she loves him)

•Abilities: with the extraordinary powers granted by the ancient Egyptian gods, she can bring hope, prosperity, and well-being to all those she touches

•Name: Eaqib Mahmoud

•Age:20 y.o. (3020 as Alsiha)

•Personality: Extrovert(ESFJ-T), very loyal, confident, too selfless

•Gender Male (he/him)

•Height: 195cm

•Sexuality: Bisexual

•Likes: horses, exercise, fencing, nighttime, teasing people

•Dislikes: extremely loud and crowded places, a$$holes, Alsiha (/jk ofc he loves her deeply too)

•Abilities: with these powers, he has to invoke them responsibly and judiciously, as punishment is a serious matter and should align with a just and balanced system of divine justice and never for revenge.

—————————————————————————

Backstory: Alsiha and Eaqib were ancient priests hailing from a long lineage of revered spiritual figures who possessed the rare ability to communicate with the gods. Their family's ancestral patriarch, a wise and devoted man, had constructed a grand temple dedicated to Sekhmet, the powerful Egyptian goddess of war and healing. Filled with immense faith and devotion, the progenitor and his kin caught the attention of the goddess and the other deities. Impressed by the family's unwavering loyalty and their determination to honor the gods when no one else would, Sekhmet and her divine counterparts made a pact with them. They chose the progenitor and his descendants to serve as their representatives, conduits of divine energy, and guardians of the greater good. To empower their sacred duty, Sekhemt bestowed upon the family a mystical earring, a conduit through which they could channel the gods' energies to aid those in need. However, fate took a treacherous turn for the twins. After the untimely demise of the pharaoh and his fiancee, chaos gripped the kingdom. In the aftermath, the secret court emerged, blaming Alsiha and Eaqib for their failed divination, claiming that their vision had led the pharaoh and his beloved astray. Unjustly accused and condemned to death, the two priests were left with no choice but to flee and seek refuge. Knowing they were on the verge of being discovered, the two twins devised a daring plan to protect themselves from their pursuers. They channeled the remaining energies of the gods through their earrings and performed a powerful ritual, trapping their souls within two enchanted cards/stones. By sacrificing their physical forms, they were able to escape certain capture and imprisonment.Over time, the cards that contained the spirits of Alsiha and Eaqib were separated and fell into the hands of different masters. Unbeknownst to their owners, these cards were not mere game pieces but held the trapped souls of the ancient priests. The twins, in their new existence as Duel Monsters, continued to serve the gods indirectly, awaiting the day when fate would align their paths once again, and they could break free from their ethereal prison to fulfill their divine purpose and seek redemption for their family's tarnished name.

[monocytogenes]

Oh man, that reply I did yesterday got the wheels turning on this one--

It's principles for Isra. Her entire identity is tied up in her role as an honorable, patriotic warrior; she has a code of ethics that she takes pains not to break. She knows what it's like to be a noncombatant in war, as well as to be discriminated against, so she tries to rescue civilians and deal patiently and compassionately with low-ranking enlisted or wet-behind-the-ears officers. When Jedi fight fair, she'll meet them in kind, and dispatch them respectfully when she brings them low. She does carry out the time-honored Sith tradition of vengeance, but generally with a bigger-picture aim beyond her personal grievances--this is a woman who did a fair amount of murdering in KOTFE beneath the justification of "these assholes are complicit in the mass killing of thousands of my countrymen" layered atop her "I'm pissed the fuck off about them stealing five years from my life." Personal grudges are one thing; it's the greater costs that give her license in her own mind to go apeshit.

Her insistence on purporting herself in a principled manner is also something of a reaction to times in her life where she didn't have that luxury. Baras had her carrying out a whole lot of dirty work that didn't sit right with her but, in the interest of earning her lordship, she assented to anyway--cutting down enslaved people, taking out agents whose only crime was becoming inconvenient loose ends. After Baras decided she herself was a loose end that had to be snipped off, she fretted over whether she could have handled much of that differently, while knowing that doing so would've been playing a very dangerous game. She's determined never to become trapped at the beck and call of such a man again.

Pravin is...interesting as far as principles go. I think he's someone who is fundamentally a good person, and when he does bad or selfish things, it's generally out of anger or fear. He can talk a good story about wanting to take out the Star Cabal for the good of the galaxy--and mean it, really--but whereas for someone like Isra that'd be the bulk of her motivation, he's much more driven by personal grievance. When I ran him through the expansions, he made far more questionable choices than Isra did (including letting the sun reactor explode and accepting Valky's power) because he was intensely aware of his position as a badass normal in a sea of Force users and didn't want to die. He had one unarguably heroic, utterly selfless moment in his class story, which was the choice to not go along with Jadus' plan at the end of Chapter 1 (with full knowledge that he might be reduced to a stain on the floor for his trouble), but given everything that transpired after that...the man's got some damage now.

All that said, the instances where his conscience pings him are really compelling, because they're usually a result of his empathy overcoming his more negative impulses. There's a moment in ATTWSG where he makes a snap decision to talk down his terrified copilot and save his life because the man's PTSD-induced overreaction mirrors his own experience. Similarly, he has an opportunity to kill an unconscious Theron in the fic I'm working on--a pragmatic choice, given that he suspects Theron's SIS and the guy's seen his face...and he can't bring himself to do it, because it reminds him of a time he offed an injured teenage kid to maintain his cover, a choice that haunted him in retrospect. The ethical boundaries are there, they just shine strongest through the lens of personal encounters with people.

So yeah, I do think he's more loyal to people on the whole. It's that person-to-person stuff that affects him, and he certainly has folks in his life that he'd do damn near anything for, like his bestie Vector and Shara, the woman he's in love with. It's not that he doesn't care about doing right by a greater code or the greater galaxy, it's more that he thinks his heroism is well behind him, leaving a whole lot of poorly processed trauma and the precious comforts that come through interpersonal connection.

(He thinks it's behind him, but I reckon he's wrong.)

Is your OC more loyal to people, or to principles?

[lifeofresulullah]

The Life of The Prophet Muhammad(pbuh): His Youth, Trade Life, His marriage to Hazrat Khadijah

The Prophet goes to Damascus for the second time

Most of the Meccan people did trade for a living. Abu Talib also dealt with trade for a while. However, he no longer had the financial strength to trade due to having too many members in his family, tribal wars, and outbreaks of famine and drought. For this reason, he was unable to attain another opportunity in joining a caravan after the previous journey he made to Syria with our Holy Prophet (PBUH).  He was making a living by doing some jobs in Mecca.

There was a rich widow, who lived in Mecca and was one of our Holy Prophet’s relatives, by the name of Khadija bint Khuwaylid; she was a partner in the caravan trade.

When our Holy Prophet (PBUH) was 25 years old, the Quraysh was preparing to send another caravan to Damascus. This caravan was also going to carry Hazrat Khadija’s goods. As usual, Hazrat Khadija was looking for reliable and trustworthy men to deliver her goods.

Abu Talib, who was writhing in the distress of trying to get by, heard this news. He called his nephew, the Marvelous Master of the Universe (PBUH), to his side and was left with no choice but say the following:

“My nephew, you know that I do not own any property or possessions. This harsh famine and drought has dried up our stock; it has left us with no business and no strength and energy to stand up. Look, the tribe’s caravan of trade is preparing to leave for Damascus. Khuwaylid’s daughter, Khadija, is looking for some individuals from this tribe to load her goods to the caravan and to deliver them. Khadija is a wealthy woman who deals with trade and wants others to benefit from her wealth as well. She is in need of someone like you in this matter, someone who is trustworthy, loyal, and honest. If you go and explain this matter to her, she will probably prefer you over others due to your honesty and superior virtue.”

After this talk, he indicated his sadness and hesitation in this way, “I am hesitant about sending you to Damascus. I am afraid that the Jews will try to harm you. However, what can I do? I cannot think of anything else that will guarantee our livelihood.”

Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) comforted his uncle by saying, “My dear Uncle, do whatever you wish.”

Hazrat Khadija heard about the conversation that took place between our Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his uncle, Abu Talib. Khadija knew that the Master of the Universe (PBUH) was a trustworthy, reliable, honest individual and that he had a superior code of conduct. For this reason, she immediately sent for our Holy Prophet (PBUH) to come. When he arrived, she said to him:

“I would like to send my commercial goods that are to be shipped to Damascus with you. I know that you are an immensely trustworthy, honest, and ethical person. I am going to pay you a high sum that I have never paid anyone else.“

Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) informed his uncle of this offer. Abu Talib was happy beyond measure, “This is a blessing that Allah has bestowed on you”.

Abu Talib did not think it was appropriate for our Holy Prophet (PBUH) to set off on the journey without a price having been determined. Therefore, he told our Holy Prophet (PBUH) to discuss this matter with Hazrat Khadija herself. However, our Holy Prophet (PBUH) made it clear that he did not want to do this and so Abu Talib went instead. He said, “Oh Khadija, we heard that you gave two male camels for so-and-so’s services. We will not accept fewer than four camels for Muhammad’s services.”

Hazrat Khadija was glad to have found someone reliable. She answered, “Oh Abu Talib, you have asked for a very easy and agreeable fee. I would have still accepted if you had asked for a much greater one.”

Abu Talib was beyond happy for having heard these words.

Hazrat Khadija placed her slave, Maysara, under our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) authority and issued a warning:

“If he commands you to do anything, obey immediately. Do not do anything that goes against his words and do not make him repeat his requests. Inform me on his every condition.”

All the preparations had been made for the journey. Abu Talib and our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) aunts came to see him off and requested that those on the caravan look after him.

And the caravan set off on the journey…

The trade caravan arrived on the soil of Damascus after three tiring months. Every participant in the caravan set up his/her stand in a suitable spot in the Busra Market. The Master of the Universe (PBUH) went underneath an olive tree that was near a monastery.

Nastura, the Priest, and our Holy Prophet (PBUH)

Bahira, the priest who was in the monastery during our Holy Prophet’s previous visit to Damascus, had passed away and left a priest by the name of Nastura in his place.

The arrival of the caravan procession and our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) descent underneath the olive tree had not escaped from the priest’s eyes. He called Maysara, whom he met before, and asked about the person who was lodging underneath the tree.

Maysara replied, “He is a respected figure in both the Quraysh and in Mecca.”

For a moment, Nastura was lost in thought. Afterwards, he expressed an idea that had left him astounded: “No one, other than a Prophet, has sat underneath that tree.”

Later, he asked Maysara:

“Does he have redness in his eyes?”

When he received the answer, “yes” from Maysara, Nastura was certain in his recognition: “He is a prophet. In fact, he is the last prophet.”

Maysara was bewildered by his excitement. The happiness and bliss of serving the Prophet of the Future (PBUH) spread to all of his cells in an instant. The priest’s words became thoroughly engraved in his memory.

The sales were finalized and the necessary items were bought. They found out that our Holy Prophet (PBUH) had made greater and more profitable sales than everyone else. This time, the procession’s amazement and bewilderment was added to that of Maysara’s.

The caravan departed from Busra and headed straight towards Mecca.

Angels Casting Shade

The caravan was advancing towards Mecca on top of the hot sands. The burning sun was thrusting its arrows of fire to the ground. Yet, what was this? Maysara could not believe his eyes. Was he imagining things?

No, what he saw was completely real. Two angels were shading our Holy Prophet (PBUH) so that he would not be bothered by the scorching heat, like a cloud.

Maysara was unable to stand still in his place due to his wonder and excitement. The sun’s heat did not affect Maysara all that much after having witnessed the comforting warmth of this strange incident. However, he could not find the courage to explain everything that he had seen and heard to our Holy Prophet (PBUH). He was hiding his excitement, wonder, and bewilderment inside, and was using whatever energy he had to prevent it from being seen by others.

The caravan was now beginning to be seen in Mecca.

Hazrat Khadija was watching the caravan from the rooftop of her home with the Qurayshi women. She was amazed just like everyone else; the ones arriving were our Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Maysara. What were those on top of Muhammad’s (PBUH) head? The two angels were casting shade upon the Master of the Universe (PBUH) once again. Khadija pointed out this strange occurrence to the other women with excitement,  “Look, look, Muhammad is being shaded by the angels!”

The caravan reached Mecca. Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) submitted the goods to Hazrat Khadija. Hazrat Khadija then sold the goods and made a great profit.

Meysara Explains his Observations

During this journey, Maysara saw and learned many things in regards to our Holy Prophet (PBUH).

First and foremost, our Holy Prophet (PBUH) observed cleanliness to the highest degree, his code of conduct was excellent, he was honest, and his friendship was sincere and in earnest. Nothing could be said about his honesty in trade.

Maysara explained all of this, all of what Nastura had said, and everything that he had seen on the journey, one by one.

Without wasting time, Hazrat Khadija went to Waraqa bin Nawfal, her uncle’s son, and explained him what she heard from Maysara and what she had seen.

Without wasting time, Hazrat Khadija went to Waraqa bin Nawfal, her uncle’s son, and explained him what she heard from Maysara and what she had seen.

Waraqa was a knowledgeable Christian and was not in favor of idol worshipping. He was a quiet and wise old man.

He was unable to hide his astonishment in the face of everything that Khadija had said. He then replied: If everything that you have said is true, than Muhammad is undoubtedly the Prophet of this community. I already knew that a Prophet for this community was going to appear and was awaiting his arrival. This is his exact time.

Hazrat Khadija’s heart was filled with happiness upon hearing this statement and acknowledgment.

[lichdragon-fortissax]

So here's a weirdo question for you. What do you think Morgott, and Rannis' relationship was/is like. Ranni feels like such a big character but it seems like we get very little of her relationships with her siblings/half siblings

Oh this isn't a weirdo question at all- it's something that I thought about quite a bit, as Morgott and Ranni are two of my favorite characters, and I like to imagine them interacting.

Unfortunately, none of their meetings ever went well. Ranni was far kinder to Morgott than most of his family, as she wasn't raised with a prejudice against Omens and was sympathetic to his suffering under the Golden Order, but Morgott quickly figured out her sly, tricky nature and did not trust her because of it, even though she had no intention of turning her cunning on him. In fact, her kindness to him likely made him dislike her even more, as he would have seen it as a means of worming past his guard to injure him further even though she herself meant nothing of it. Morgott cannot understand praise as anything other than mockery, and the change that Ranni wished to bring went against everything that Godwyn told him to revere. Why then, should he trust his conniving half-sister, instead of the father that taught him how to fight, even though he was told by the Order that Omen children were supposed to be locked away for good? He's been trained as a guard dog and locked off from all else, a scheming little vixen isn't going to escape his fangs if she chooses to ignore his growl.

As for Ranni, I think that his circumstances angers her, and that she wishes that her half-brother would allow himself to find happiness, but overall he's nothing more than an afterthought, one that she wouldn't have any problems with killing if he got in her way. It's not out of cruelty, it's just that Ranni herself is someone who prioritizes the end goal over the sacrifices in between, and finding her own freedom/ending the tyranny of the Golden Order is worth more than her personal feelings on the manner. She likely wasn't raised around anyone but Rykard (now a giant snake) and Radahn (a zombie), so Morgott and Mohg hold no emotional value to her other than a reminder of the tyranny she must slay. Miquella and Malenia are Empyreons sired by her witlessly loyal hound of a father, so not only are they enemies that must be put out of the way before they claim her territory, they are also a sore reminder of what her own family lost. And while its possible she met Godwyn, there's pretty much no emotion in what she did to him because I believe that Godwyn's death was direct penance to Marika for stealing Destined Death for Ranni's freedom, so he was just a bump in the road anyways. Really the only people she cares about are those who actually raised her, which is probably why she wants us to tell Iji and Blaidd that she loves them before she goes to kill her Two Fingers. The other demigods don't matter.

And honestly? That's what I like about her. I firmly believe that a good ruler should always choose the fate of their kingdom over their own family/personal needs, so Ranni killing off her own family in order to free the entirety of the Lands Between from a tyrannical god is exactly what makes her the most eligible for true godhood, while I believe that Morgott should have become Elden Lord/remained Lord of Leyndell via birthright alone (something denied to him not because he was unworthy- he was PERFECT for the job- but because he was 'tainted' to the Greater Will. Which, remember, does not care about the amount of blood it needs to shed to stay in power). Ranni is sympathetic to the plight of those around her, but when shit goes down, she will always choose what needs to be done. Blood doesn't mean shit, and sometimes killing a few to save a thousand is the right choice to make when there's no other options to choose from

[mcmactictac]

Hello hello I was randomly thinking about this as I was at work and I’m finally getting a chance to write it this is gonna be a long one folks buckle up today we’re talking about the hunger games, and specifically the “love triangle”

I’ve watched/read the series throughout various points in my life and my opinions have always changed slightly as I grow older and gain more knowledge. I personally see Katniss as aro/ace, I think it makes sense for her character. I’m not really qualified to talk about that but I have seen some people in that community do a wonderful job explaining it. So with that in mind I’m looking at this through a more practical lense, who compliments her personality and needs best.

Now I have always stood by that at the very beginning of the series, Gale and Katniss made sense. They were on the same wave length, they survived off each other and made good sense. If they had actually decided to run off before the games, they would have worked. But as soon as Katniss comes back from the games, it all goes to shit. Because she’s no longer on that wavelength with Gale. He doesnt understand and he never will. And during the games Peeta was the person she “survived” off of. Yes she carried them but they were in it together for a while you know?

Now she doesn’t really trust Peeta yet. I mean yeah she likes him, she put in the effort to help him but she doesn’t have that connection she had with Gale at the start. And you have to keep in mind that the games were really not that long. Katniss and Peeta hadn’t spent that much time together before the games ended. So although they are intensely bonded out of trauma and necessity, once shes out of that situation she tries to detach. But you can’t go back to how it was before. Suddenly you’ve killed people and you almost died and you lost people and it’s intensely traumatic. Katniss never wanted to show off, it was all about practicality and survival. And you come back different than before, with the guy you spent so much time with interpreting your actions wrong. He wants conflict. He invites it for the “greater good”. Katniss really doesn’t want to cause more fighting. She has already fought enough. And Peeta is the only other person (besides Haymitch) who knows what the games are really like. And her and Peeta will always share that burden together.

Like Katniss, Peeta never wants conflict. He’s smart and he can get what he wants in other ways. Without him admitting his crush on Katniss in the first book, he likely would have died. He can get closer to what he wants without hurting people. He only volunteered in the Quarter Quell to protect Katniss, not because he wanted to go in and prove something. He fully intended to die so that she can live. He’s fiercely loyal and understands in a way no one else ever could. Even after mockingjay, at his core those qualities are still there.

Gale is a raging fire full of heat and passion, Peeta is the gentle warmth of a fireplace. Gale leads with practicality and Peeta leads more with his heart. Gale is the sharp sting of wind on a winter morning as it freezes your skin, Peeta is the warmth of natural sunlight in the summer. For a long time, Gale guaranteed safety. But after the games, that wasn’t true anymore and especially after Mockingjay with Prim. Gale is 100% responsible for that. In a war situation, it’s a good move. A really really low blow, but effective and he knew that. He spends so much time wrapped in his anger and his determination to do what’s right he loses his empathy along the way.

Katniss wants safety. She doesn’t want to fight, she doesnt want to run anymore. Gale can’t give her the stability, the safety, the comfort that she so desperately needs. But Peeta can. He’s going through the exact same thing. “Choosing” Peeta promises stability snd understanding. Not having to fight. Just enjoy the peace and simplicity. Peeta makes sense because Gale is never going to understand her. She’s always going to feel isolated around him.

Peeta understands. He’s connected to her through their history, and they grew and changed together. Gale and Katniss grew apart as Peeta and Katniss grew together. At the end of the series the only “choice” for her is Peeta because she doesn’t trust Gale anymore. He isn’t safe, he isn’t the more peaceful life she wants anymore. He evolved and wants something different, and their values don’t line up any more. Peeta provides the soft warmth and compassion she needs.

That being said she doesn’t NEED anyone. But she does a shit job taking care of her own mental health, and Peeta would be able to help her with that in ways Gale can’t. Post everything, Peeta is a better support than Gale, despite Peeta being unstable himself.

That being said I was a Gale fan the first time I read the books like years ago but the older I get the more it’s like. They’d never work. They aren’t the same people they were at the start. After Katniss comes back from the first games they were never going to work because Gale was always focused on moving the revolution aspect forward, and not on the fact Katniss was in severe mental distress.

Katniss is perfectly capable of providing for herself, but she needs someone to support her emotionally as she works through her trauma. Peeta is the only person who can do that by the end because he’s the only one who understands and that she trusts. That’s all!!

[horizon-verizon]

It was a leap for Mirri to make about Rhaego bc Drogo had already been dying with no recourse by the time she was killing Rhaego. She could have let the man die without incident by pretending she couldn't even do a thing for him, have Rhaego raised by Dany (who would single parent and raise this kid under her queen regnant or solo mother authority when she took over the entire khal or whatever), and thus Rhaego would likely have not become a rapist. Why didn't she have the thought that Dany would be the best influence on Drogo? The prophecy of the Stallion that Mounts the World, sure...but she never thought that would be Dany? The girl who despite everything reisked her life saving her, thus showing a bravery and leadership? The girl who has loyal people even after Drogo's death and dying period? Or best yet, how can Rhaego become the Stallion with Drogo dying with no way out and thus no longer being capable of raising his son or raising him in an oridnary khalasar?!

The idea that certain habits and acts or ways of thought are inseperable from the physical body is both an ableist one and a racist one. The fans' insistence on some sort of "inevitablitiy" of Rhaego becoming like or worse than your typical Khal and needing forced abortion from its "host" of an already mad-disposed mother is racist in nature. The argument of "that baby will become a rapist bc it's in his genes from his father" is inspired by or well paired/supported with historical scientific racism. Again, I think Mirri herself wasn't racist per se but it is not a "weak argument" for the fans to be racist by assuming that Rhaego would turn into a rapist or a pillager bc they argue that he being of his father's side AND of Dany's side that they feel will def turn her evil makes Rhaego incapable of escaping the Dothraki-Targ violence loop. As both groups to them are essentially, innately, and irrevocably violent "peoples". Like in their genes. And that pairs and works well with the still-alive-idea that "savage" groups need civilization from the "white savior"--who they say Dany embodies and are wrong bc slavery is not even race-based and she was enslaved and even Westerosi participates in the Essoi slave trade now and again.

Martin writes Dothraki very simply, exotically violent, and it's too easy for people to thus see Dothraki as an innately violent people and carry ideas from scientific racist beliefs that are still used today to justify the "innateness" OR "predisposition" of violence in Black people or drunkeness in American indigenous people, etc.

Finally, thus you can't separate the treatment Dany gets and its "Nature over nurture" race-inspired ideology (again, the idea one's moral value or moral capabilities and predicted actions is mostly or only determined by their mind and body's state/genes...tell me this isn't coming from phrenology?!) from how they argue for Rhaego's death and Mirri's undebatable "heroism". They use the same arguements for Dany for Rhaego and vice versa.

Like this anon points out:

I actually do think it's a CHOICE to use modern indigenous women comparisons to justify Mirri tricking a trafficked, displaced bridal slave into stillbirth and possibly even STERILIZING her all because it's for the greater good and also the baby was made up of two EVIL RACES. Read the room people.

Walk with me here, but I think a big part of this fandom's problem is idpol. It's why you have braindead takes like "Yes Mirri was right to kill the child of another enslaved child." "justice for the brown woman" but they never mention that Mirri's argument for the forced abortion of Rhaego is racially essentialist in nature. "The brown baby boy will grow up to be a huge brown rapist" was Mirri's argument and this fandom eats it up uncritically because they hate the "white slave owner".

Their arguments for mad kween Dany are also essentialist in nature. You can never escape the cycle of generational trauma and violence. She will eventually become like her rapist father because his evil is literally written into her genes. No matter how far you come or how high you go, you will never escape your genetics.

I wouldn't mind criticism of Dany's actions if they dug deeper than just "white girl bad, brown woman good" but the arguments are never that, they want to analyse Dany's actions under the world's largest microscope but never ask the hard questions about Mirri's actions.

They don't care about canonically brown/black characters that have been harmed by white characters in the text. They want to talk about how Tywin has Alayaya whipped and thrown out of the Red Keep or how Cersei has her abducted and beaten to punish Tyrion and how all Tyrion can think is "thank god it wasn't Shae."

How Oberyn purchases sex from the 16-year-old Alayaya. How George has written the Summer Islanders and how that in itself is racist. How Oberyn beat Obara's mother and took Obara from her. Illyrio Mopatis and his horde of enslaved people despite the fact that slavery is outlawed in Pentos.

The fandom would be better if more people bring their metas down to earth. Because we should not be having these conversations all these years later. The first book is older than me, you'd think the fandom would have gotten all this out of their system.

N.B. Until we as a fandom are ready and willing to have a serious conversation about how often a large majority of the fandom slips into fascist talking points to justify their hatred for the teenage girl, we will never have meaningful discourse about these characters or this universe.

empty idpol idiots 🤝🏾 fascists for some reason.

Ultimately I agree with your points about people not analyzing the text for what it presents and how it's written for the sake of taking superifical details and running with them for advocating for whatever identity they are advocating for. I don't think Mirri was necessarily using essentialist arguments for hurting Dany, though and I am confused as to the some of the writing here, and I don't feel I can make any deeper comments otherwise.

This is what Mirri-Dany's exchange (A Game of Thrones -- Daenerys IX):

Dany gestured at Ser Jorah and the others. "Leave us. I would speak with this maegi alone." Mormont and the Dothraki withdrew. "You knew," Dany said when they were gone. She ached, inside and out, but her fury gave her strength. "You knew what I was buying, and you knew the price, and yet you let me pay it." "It was wrong of them to burn my temple," the heavy, flat-nosed woman said placidly. "That angered the Great Shepherd." "This was no god's work," Dany said coldly. If I look back I am lost. "You cheated me. You murdered my child within me." "The stallion who mounts the world will burn no cities now. His khalasar shall trample no nations into dust." "I spoke for you," she said, anguished. "I saved you." "Saved me?" The Lhazareen woman spat. "Three riders had taken me, not as a man takes a woman but from behind, as a dog takes a bitch. The fourth was in me when you rode past. How then did you save me? I saw my god's house burn, where I had healed good men beyond counting. My home they burned as well, and in the street I saw piles of heads. I saw the head of a baker who made my bread. I saw the head of a boy I had saved from deadeye fever, only three moons past. I heard children crying as the riders drove them off with their whips. Tell me again what you saved." "Your life." Mirri Maz Duur laughed cruelly. "Look to your khal and see what life is worth, when all the rest is gone." Dany called out for the men of her khas and bid them take Mirri Maz Duur and bind her hand and foot, but the maegi smiled at her as they carried her off, as if they shared a secret. A word, and Dany could have her head off … yet then what would she have? A head? If life was worthless, what was death?

A)

I could be reading this ask incorrectly. Did you mean "they don't want" when you said: "They don't care about canonically brown/black characters that have been harmed by white characters in the text. They want to talk about how Tywin has Alayaya whipped and thrown out of the Red Keep or how Cersei has her abducted and beaten to punish Tyrion and how all Tyrion can think is "thank god it wasn't Shae."? Because with you saying "They don't care about canonically...in the text", it seems like it, but Idk.

B)

You: "but they never mention that Mirri's argument for the forced abortion of Rhaego is racially essentialist in nature. "The brown baby boy will grow up to be a huge brown rapist" was Mirri's argument and this fandom eats it up uncritically because they hate the "white slave owner"."

Mirri is Lhazareene/Essosi herself, so she is technically a brown person. Her seeming "Dothraki vs Lhazareene"-ism is not white-on-brown crime or violence. Dothraki do perform extreme violence--sexual or otherwise--on other groups and obliterate their ways of life to absorb them as free labor into their own communities for power. So--we're just thinking from her perspective here, not fans--when she is saying that Dany's son will grow up into someone like Drogo and lead more destructive/raping campaigns for "culture" and power, In her perspective, I think it wasn't really about genetics so much as what social environment the boy would grow up in and him being more influenced by the men/bad actors around him than a single girl/woman who saved her. Bc Mirri didn't expect Dany to be able or want to migrate out of a typical Dothraki community.

She's looking at the prospect of a child growing up into the sort of man who would rape and pillage and more than that, she's looking for personal vengeance against Drogo through that child and Dany. Because she cannot get to Drogo through a more direct means, she uses and targets Dany.

This does not mean that Mirri was morally correct and justified, she still targets & harms a child bride/rape victim for her own aims. I'm saying the opposite.

You: "Their arguments for mad kween Dany are also essentialist in nature. You can never escape the cycle of generational trauma and violence. She will eventually become like her rapist father because his evil is literally written into her genes. No matter how far you come or how high you go, you will never escape your genetics."

Yeah, I agree with this--the arguments against Dany are essentialist.

However, whether or not Dany is or is not going to lose her mind (she isn't), the very argument for her becoming that from those essentialist arguments is not equal/same as the idea of Rhaego becoming the worst kind of leader bc there isn't even an "understandable" base reason for them to believe a girl who didn't even grown up as a "typical" Targ--she was born while her brother and mother were fleeing, never to return to Westeros-- would become the worst of them or become exactly like the image of a Targ that is in their heads. Whereas Rhaego would have grown up in a khalasar, it makes sense for someone to assume Rhaego would become that versus Dany becoming a version of an evil queen.

Still, once again, Mirri targeted a child bride/rape victim for personal revenge and refused to accept the fact that Dany's influence might be enough to raise a better child. After the girl actually risked herself and went out of her way to save Mirri.

[silverlinedeyes]

Why (I think) ACOSF made it *obvious* Elain’s book is next

I know there have been a bunch of posts on this point, but I find it so interesting how I see so many posts assuming Azriel’s book is next (based mainly, I think, on his bonus chapter). I had the exact opposite reaction when I finished ACOSF and when I finished the bonus chapters. I came away thinking “the next book is 100% about Elain” and it wasn’t until I started interacting with different parts of the fandom that I realized most people were assuming Az’s book was definitely next. So I thought I would compile what made it obvious to me that the next book is Elain’s (and Azriel’s too, but that’s beside the point lol).

Elain’s Powers

We’re told there’s been no signs of Elain’s power since the war.

Elain, too, had revealed no indication of her seer’s abilities since then.

But there is quite a bit of foreshadowing that Elain still has them, which made me think we’re going to see them very soon.

All three sisters were now High Fae with considerable powers, though only Feyre’s were let loose. Even Amren had no idea whether Elain’s and Nesta’s powers remained.

“The last time we involved ourselves with the Cauldron, it abducted you,” Nesta countered, fighting her shaking. She found the words, the weapons she sought. “I thought you didn’t have powers anymore.” Elain pursed her lips. “I thought you didn’t, either.”

But Elain had confirmed it for everyone: both sisters still possessed their Cauldron-gifted powers. Whether they were as powerful as before, he had no idea.

Elain Coming Out Of Her Shell

We get several scenes showing Elain is coming out of her shell and that she’s not as weak/docile/nice as everyone seems to think she is, telling us, the readers, that there’s a lot more for us to learn about Elain. All of this to me seemed to be preparing us for Elain’s book, and telling us that her story is coming next.

Elain stiffened, but refused to balk from whatever she beheld in Nesta’s gaze. “You think I’m to blame for his death?” Challenge filled each word. Challenge—from Elain, of all people. “No one but the King of Hybern is to blame for that.” The quaver in her voice belied her firm words.

Elain remained in the doorway, her face pale but her expression harder than Nesta had ever seen it. “You do not decide what I can and cannot do, Nesta.”

Elain said, “Then I will find it. I might require some time to … reacquaint myself with my powers, but I could start today.” “Absolutely not,” Nesta spat, fingers curling at her sides. “Absolutely not.” “Why?” Elain demanded. “Shall I tend to my little garden forever?” When Nesta flinched, Elain said, “You can’t have it both ways. You cannot resent my decision to lead a small, quiet life while also refusing to let me do anything greater.”

Elain cut in sharply, “I am not a child to be fought over.”

But Nesta cut her off, seething at the pity about to be thrown her way. “Look who decided to grow claws after all,” she crooned. “Maybe you’ll become interesting at last, Elain.”

But Elain said, “I went into the Cauldron, too, you know. And it captured me. And yet somehow all you think of is what my trauma did to you.”

Nesta was wrong, Cassian realized, to think Elain as loyal and loving as a dog. Elain saw every single thing Nesta had done, and understood why.

“Oh, fuck you,” Nesta snapped, and then choked. Elain blinked. Nesta blinked back, horror lurching through her. And then Elain burst out laughing. Howling, half-sobbing laughs that sent her bending over at the waist, gasping for breath. Nesta just stared, torn between questions and wanting to throw herself into the icy Sidra. “I— I’m so sorry—” Elain held up a hand, wiping her eyes with the other. “You’ve never said such a thing to me!” She laughed again. “I think that’s a good sign, isn’t it?”

Predestiny vs. Choice

We also get several moments of how Cassian and Nesta see Elain that to me at least screamed “this is how Elain is seen, but this is not who Elain is or who Elain is going to choose to be.” These scenes to me are setting up the dichotomy between Elain’s predestiny and how everyone sees Elain, vsersus who Elain really is and chooses to be.

Lucien vs. Az (I don’t have a quote for this, but clearly this is set up as predestiny vs. choice)

It was always that way between them: Elain, sweet and oblivious, and Nesta, the snarling wolf at her side, poised to shred anyone who threatened her. Elain is pleasant to look at, her mother had once mused while Nesta sat beside her dressing table, a servant silently brushing her mother’s gold-brown hair, but she has no ambition. She does not dream beyond her garden and pretty clothes. She will be an asset on the marriage market for us one day, if that beauty holds, but it will be our own maneuverings, Nesta, not hers, that win us an advantageous match.

Elain could make her own choices. And had chosen to thoroughly shut the door on Nesta. Even as she fully embraced Feyre and her world. Nesta’s chest tightened, but she refused to think of it, acknowledge it. Elain was like a dog, loyal to whatever master kept her fed and in comfort.

Elain would love this place. So many flowers, all in bloom, so much green—the light, vibrant green of new grass—so many birds singing and such warm, buttery sunshine. Nesta felt like a storm cloud standing amid it all. But Elain … The Spring Court had been made for someone like her.

Elain in black was ridiculous. Yes, she was beautiful, but the color of her long-sleeved, modest gown leeched the brightness from her face. It wore her, rather than the other way around. And he knew the cruelty of the Hewn City troubled her. But she hadn’t hesitated to come. When Feyre had offered to let her remain home, Elain had squared her shoulders and declared that she was a part of this court—and would do whatever was needed. So Elain had let her golden-brown hair down tonight, and pinned it back with twin combs of pearl. He’d never once in the two years he’d known her found Elain to be plain, but wearing black, no matter how much she claimed to be part of this court … It sucked the life from her.

We’re given signs that Elain is over Graysen.

Elain cocked her head. Didn’t dissolve into the crying mess she usually became when Graysen came up. Instead she said, “You’re angry with me.”

We got hints of #spyelain

Elain spoke from the doorway, having appeared so silently that they all twisted toward her, “Using me.”

Elain had already departed with Feyre, claiming she had to be up with the dawn to tend to an elderly faerie’s garden. Cassian didn’t exactly know why he suspected this wasn’t true. There had been some tightness in Elain’s face as she’d said it. Normally when she made such excuses, Lucien was around, but the male remained in the human lands with Jurian and Vassa.

“You came,” Elain said behind her, and Nesta started, not having heard her sister approach. She scanned Elain from head to toe, wondering if she’d been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends.

While we also got quite a bit of Azriel in this book (admittedly more than Elain) and got hints that he’s unhappy and avoiding the river house for “mysterious reasons” (that are not mysterious at all after the bonus chapter), we didn’t get the same kind of in-your-face foreshadowing about Az that we did Elain. (And to me, after the bonus, it seems like all the mysterious things that were raised about Az might revolve around Elain and his feelings for her 👀).

Then the bonus chapters. I don’t have physical copies of those and don’t really want to go take screenshots, so I’m going to paraphrase what about them made me think Elain’s book is certainly next (aside from the fact that she was featured prominently in both).

Feysand

We learn Elain refuses to use Lucien’s gift from solstice the previous year (and would apparently rather get cut and dirty than do so)

We learn Elain has no problem getting her hands dirty and risking pain

Feyre says that maybe Elain is not as docile as everyone thinks she is, basically foreshadowing that there’s more to Elain than meets the eye

Feyre says they should focus on helping one sister before they turn to helping the next 🚨🚨🚨:

Azriel

We learn both Az and Elain can read each other well

We learn they both have sexual feelings for each other

We learn Az has been avoiding family dinners because of Elain

We learn there have been lingering glances and grazing of fingers between them off the page that we haven’t seen 👀

We know that Elain is certainly confused after their near kiss, likely feels rejected, and returns the necklace

Based on all of this, I am *convinced* that Elain’s book is next (and that one of the purposes of Az’s bonus chapter was to tell us that the next book will also be his). That is what is most obvious to me about the next book. I feel a lot more certain about the next book when I look at it from the perspective of Elain than I do Az.

Now, this isn’t really an Elriel post, but I have to add that if Elain’s book is next, I’m also *convinced* it’s Elriel. Az and Gwyn just don’t have enough connections (if any) to the overarching plot of this trilogy to be the last book. Not to mention all signs currently point to Elriel at this point (both parts of ACOSF and Az’s bonus chapter). And I think if Elucien is going to happen, it needs a book of some further development between before it can happen (for example, Elain going to the human lands during Gwynriel’s book to help with something, which allows them to get to know each other better).

And, can I just say, I for one cannot wait to finally get inside Elain’s head and learn her story ❤️

[my-least-favorite-savior]

Should we first talk about why no other Volstrucker has ever left?

First of all, a big part of Trent’s process is making sure that they have nowhere else to go. First, he isolates them from their peers at the Academy. (Caleb says that Trent was originally one of many teachers he had the Academy, and then Trent became his primary teacher. Bren had no friends aside from his fellow Volstrucker trainees.) He takes over their schedules so they’re spending all of their time with him and others who are under his thumb, and he tells them that it’s because they are special and better than their peers anyway. They’re fifteen at this time, so they believe him. Then, he makes them kill their family. It’s kind of brilliant, in a sadistic way. He subjects them to slowly escalating abuse for years, and then he hands them a match and tells them to burn their only bridge away from him.

Let’s assume that Astrid really does have an uncle, and wasn’t just playing along. Of course she hasn’t spoken to him in years. What could she possibly say to him after murdering his sister? Making them kill their immediate families is also a pretty good way of blowing up their relationships with their extended families.

It’s not like Trent stops controlling them when they reach adulthood, either. They live in houses on his estate and report to him daily for orders. Trent chooses them when they’re 14 years old, destroys everything else they have, and keeps them right under his thumb for the rest of their lives.

Then he calls them family He takes their original families from them, but he offers his own twisted mockery of a family in return. And they take it, because it hurts less than empty space where their parents used to be. Caleb called the Volstrucker locked up in Rosohna his sister without ever having met her. Trent invited Caleb over for a family dinner. What happened to their parents was an unfortunate necessity, but they don’t have to feel alone; the Volstruckers are their family now; Trent is their family now.

The second reason they don’t leave him or tell anyone is that Trent specifically chooses students who are unlikely to do that. Trent chooses his students partly for the fun of it, to see what he can sculpt out of their unique natural talents, but he’d be a fool not to consider their temperaments as well. It’s easy to imagine Bren, Eadwulf, and Astrid as teachers pets who were eager for Trent’s approval as teenagers. Even now that they’re adults, Trent is very intentional with when and how he praises them, and praise is his go-to way of love-bombing Caleb at the dinner.

Trent has access to all the students at the Soltryce Academy. This is already the pick of the litter in terms of the Empire’s magic-wielding teenagers. Anyone he chooses is going to be gifted. He has the luxury of looking at other factors, like how eager they are to please him, how susceptible they are to pro-Empire propaganda, and whether or not their families will be missed. (Is it really a coincidence that Bren, Astrid, and Eadwulf were all from the same rural town that is firmly under the capital’s thumb? Probably not.)

So, after he picks out kids are that going to respond well to his brainwashing, he brainwashes them. That’s the third reason none of them have ever left before.

He tells them they’re family. Not by blood, but by shared goals and shared suffering. I can’t prove that Trent ever actually said that, but it fits perfectly with the way the Blumendrei talk about each other and with Trent’s view of the world. The pain they endure together bonds them (and they’ve got matching tattoos to prove it).

Their pain protects the innocent of the Empire. They do their bloody work so others don’t have to. They endure this pain so others don’t have to. Someone has to hurt, because that’s how the world is, and if it’s not the Volstruckers, it will be the innocent children of the Empire.

Sometimes, sacrifices have to be made. Your innocence. Their lives. Someday, maybe your life. These sacrifices are what keep little Empire children safe and warm in their beds at night. It’s for the good of the Empire. It’s what any good Empire citizen would do. You should feel honored to have been given this opportunity.

Trent inflicts pain in on them because pain makes them stronger. Because they are smarter and stronger than their peers and they can save the Empire, if they just let him teach them. Trent hurts them because he sees the potential in them and wants to bring it out. Trent hurts them for the greater good. Trent hurts them out of love.

That’s what he tells them. That’s what he told them at dinner.

They’re spoon-fed a million excuses for their own abuse, and they have little choice but to swallow those excuses, because (reason #4) Trent made them complicit in their own abuse, and each other’s abuse, and the murders of their families. The alternative to accepting Trent’s apologism put Bren in an insane asylum. “All of that pain and suffering and death was absolutely unnecessary and you not only subjected yourself to it for no reason, you helped for no reason,” is not an easy thing to process.

Liam has done a really good job of showing how Caleb struggles with that and how it led to so much self-hatred. And Caleb had a loving support network. Most Volstruckers have one or two equally broken people from their class that they can mostly trust, if they are lucky. Most Volstruckers are only given one framework to process these feelings through, and it’s the abusive framework laid out in #3.

We can’t go without mentioning that shared guilt is one of the oldest tricks in the book to get a victim to keep quiet. It’s the classic ‘You’ll be in trouble too.’ “Do you really want to go the king and confess to the murder of innocent Empire citizens? Your own family, no less?” It wasn’t like Trent put the poison in the food or threw the fireball.

Reason #5: Lots of people already know and simply do not care. While Astrid’s comments in e131 do imply that the king doesn’t know what Trent has been doing to the children of his kingdom, the Cerberus Assembly knows and has known for a while. Every time Caleb has brought up his abuse with a member of the Cerberus Assembly, he’s gotten empty sympathy and dismissal. He hasn’t even had to explain the abuse to them. Multiple people have heard that he was a student of Trent Ikithon’s and immediately responded with sympathy... but also in ways that made it clear that they didn’t plan to do anything about it. The Cerberus Assembly knows. Ludinus would be very bad at his job if he did not know, considering that Trent recruits from the Academy. The Volstruckers are used to Trent doing what he does out in the open, in front of other high-level officials.

It’s not like Trent is hiding his abuse of them, either. Trent takes kids home for the summer and they show up for Intermediate Transmutation the next fall with fucking experimental crystals in their arms. Ludinus knew. Even Vess knew. The Volstruckers know that Ludinus and Vess know. At best, they likely believe that there is no point in talking. At worst, it reinforces everything Trent is telling them and makes them believe that they are the problem if they can’t tough it out.

Last but not least: mortal terror is the sixth reason why no one has ever gotten away from Trent before. Trent broke Bren’s brain and then made him disappear for a decade. Trent made all of their families disappear. Do you think Astrid got investigated for murder after some poor neighbor found her family’s bodies? No. Trent made that disappear. How easily could Trent make one Volstrucker disappear? Volstruckers die all the time, after all. There wouldn’t be many questions asked about a Volstrucker’s death. There might not be any questions asked at all. Who would notice a Volstrucker was missing, except for other Volstruckers (who are loyal to Trent. And terrified of Trent. And may have helped with the murder.)

So that’s why Caleb is the first to ever leave. (1) Most Volstruckers have nowhere else to go. (2) Trent gets to hand-pick students to abuse, so obviously he’s going to pick ones that are likely to respond well (by his standards) to his abuse. (3) Volstruckers are brainwashed into accepting Trent’s abuse apologism. (4) Volstruckers are made to feel morally culpable for their own abuse and are not given space to process these feels outside of the brainwashing framework Trent provides them with in #3. (5) People with power don’t care; people who care lack power; people with both are out of reach. This is a pattern embedded in their psyches well before they kill their parents. (6) Trent could literally straight up kill them have a couple of teenagers dig a shallow grave in the woods. No one would ever ask questions.

[mfkinanaa]

LIBRA RISING.

Born with Libra on your Ascendant (or Rising), life is likely to be experienced as a constant series of choices.

It is important for you to consider everything from its various points of view.

Deliberation may be your hallmark, and eventually justice your middle name.

Libra is an Air sign, concerned with fairness, equality and right relationships.

Thus, you are likely to feel the need to be objective in all your dealings, and will specialise in relationships.

However the need to consider all perspectives may be somewhat crippling if a decision or resolution cannot be reached.

Reflective judgement with a committment to equity is the key note for you.

Your task is to find the right principle involved in a given situation, and then commit to it – maintaining your position without changing your mind.

Shall I Do This Or That?

When your Ascendant is Libra, the temptation to change your mind is ever-present. This can lead to vacillation, indecisiveness and a tendency to fence-sit when a choice is not made. You need to become aware of any intrinsic desire to avoid making a decision, as this will lead to others seeing you as fickle, and even opportunistic, rather than the finely balanced, fair-minded individual that you truly are.

You may be easily imposed upon because of a tendency to avoid openly stating what you really want. You yourself are likely to feel frustrated by this inability to choose. It is important to reflect on this and admit to yourself what your true motives are. Are you seeking others approval by avoiding action? Do stop yourself doing what you know is right in case someone else disagrees?

The Need To be Liked.

Often, the desire to be liked, and a willingness to please others can lead you to “people-please”, rather than commit to what is right or fair. In order to guard against this tendency, a reliable, fair and objective system of values needs to be established. You would do well to be guided by principle rather than popularity in the choices that you make.

A balance should be found between activity and passivity, between head and heart, intuition and logic. Negotiation through charm and objectivity is your forte, and you can help bring about resolution through a balanced assessment of facts.

You need to experience both confrontation and compromise to find out what is important to you. Thus, you can be both principled and assertive, willing to compromise yet clear in your objectives once you have decided on what you want. At your best, you are able to express the grace, poise and consideration which is characteristic of this sign. 

Harmony and Balance.

Symmetry, proportion and balance are also important, and you are likely to prefer harmonious, refined or well-designed environments. You need to be surrounded by beauty and will function best in an organized and aesthetic space. Harmony is important for your mental balance.

You are also likely to be quite refined, with a sense of style that is often innate. It may be important for you to project a stylish appearance, and so, you may also be very fashion conscious.

The search for the ideal system, relationship or ideal can lead you into many areas of interest and exploration. This is a mental sign after all, so that information is a key theme. You are also probably known for your listening and negotiation skills, and ability to give good advice. This is the sign of wise counsel, and your capacity to make a detached assessment of any situation is likely to be highly esteemed.

The Gift of Libra Rising.

Relationships are a major concern, and you will get the best from your partnerships when you learn to first define who you are, and what you need, before then making any necessary compromises to keep things agreeable. Libra is the sign of partnerships, and you may feel that you need others to be able to fulfill yourself. Doing things collaboratively brings your best qualities to the surface. You may find it easiest working toward a goal when you have someone else to do it with. Through relationships, you learn to assert yourself, adjust to others, and to stand up for the principles which you believe are fair.

SCORPIO RISING.

Born with Scorpio on your Ascendant (or Rising) you are likely to experience life as a constant series of obstacles or crises in which you learn about the nature of power through transformation.

Whilst this may seem challenging, once understood in terms of a life lesson, you have the potential to be an inspirational and catalytic individual.

Your strength and insight gives you the ability to change your own life and help others overcome whatever is holding them back.

On the one hand, this is a difficult Ascendant.

On the other it offers you a magnetic and charismatic quality that makes you fascinating to others and deeply perceptive.

There is much in the experience of Scorpio Rising that involves learning to transform yourself and others through episodes of conflict, challenge and subsequent letting go.

Finding the Light Within.

When your Ascendant is Scorpio, a confrontation with that which is dark, hidden, destructive and taboo in your own nature is often required. Despite your best intentions, you may need to deal with negative, toxic and obsessive emotional states that seem to plague you.

Such destructive qualities need to be internally transformed by being acknowledged, accepted and brought into the light.

You may also meet the same qualities in others. You could find yourself confronting darkness in the outside world through facing extreme situations, or attracting negativity to yourself. Whilst your nature is inherently good, you are learning to experience both the positive and negative aspects of life.

Through overcoming difficult situations you find your strength and light.

The Eighth Labour of Hercules.

The themes which present with this sign on the Ascendant can be described by the mythic tale of Hercules battling the much-feared Hydra, a demonic creature of the Underworld with ten heads and a deadly bite.

The Eighth Labour of Hercules tells the story of how he overcame the beast. Victory required submission rather than brute force. Every time Hercules cut one head off, another would appear.

To overcome the Hydra, Hercules had to follow the guidance of his teacher – “We rise by kneeling, we conquer by surrendering, and we gain by giving up”. This experience could be described as the quintessential lesson for those with Scorpio rising.

The Curse of Jealousy.

Jealousy is often an issue, especially in the early part of life. You may find yourself envious of others apparent power, beauty or success – with no rational explanation as to why.

This destructive emotion can alienate you from others, generating friction that needs to be released. Envy pulls you down and can trigger a nasty backlash. If not released, resentment and associated feelings fester within, rearing their ugly heads at inopportune times with a powerful and destructive force. Internal pressure slowly builds until an explosion occurs.

Just like the Hydra, toxic emotions can only be conquered through submission. This means letting go of negativity and aligning yourself with something greater than your personal desires. Humility and self-acceptance is required.

You may find yourself oscillating between hopeful and hopeless responses to your feelings and external stimuli. You can unconsciously create dramatic events in your life which trigger catalytic personal experiences as you discover more about your true self.

Sometimes, situations of disability and impairment come about, so that the fear of helplessness or restriction is materialised. These challenges then become the opportunity for you to experience surrender, learning eventually to open up and trust others.

Private & Sensitive.

Private by nature, you are likely to give very little away about yourself until you know who you can trust. Others may not be sure of your true intentions. They may find you somewhat inscrutable, mysterious or just hard to read. You are likely to play your cards very close to your chest.

Rather than being secretive, you are self-protective.

Your acute sensitivity to environmental influences means you try to avoid exposing yourself and feeling vulnerable in any way. For you, letting others know how sensitive you really are means giving them a kind of power you are not sure you want to give.

You are often extremely aware of the underlying emotional currents surrounding you. This sign is extremely perceptive. You can easily pick up on another’s mood, and will sense how they feel – sometimes before they do.

You will also have a knack for exposing hidden intentions, and will need to dig deep to uncover the underlying psychological motives in any important situation with which you are involved.

You will also be aware of others potential to be deceptive, abusive and less than truthful, and so you can be at times disarmingly honest. Most often, your preferred form of attack is defence, and so you keep yourself to yourself.

You are generally quite content therefore to wait while others reveal who they truly are to you. 

Careful in Relationship.

With a warm and passionate heart, you are likely to respond intensely to significant relationships, and it will be especially important for you to find a partner you can trust. You do best with calm, placid yet strong lovers who are able to withstand the intensity of your emotional reactions, and your need to work them out through others.

When you have committed your heart to someone, you are loyal, giving and devoted. You need someone who is stable enough to ride any emotional storms and patient enough to give you the security you need.

In many ways you might take an “all or nothing” stance with affairs of the heart. You need time to get to know someone so won’t be inclined to rush in. Even if you do form a connection quickly, you will probably withhold parts of yourself. You need to know your partner is “all in” before you can trust them.

Or you could try avoid intimacy because it means you have to let your guard down. For this reason, you can be hard to get close to, as your self-protective mechanisms are very strong.

This can mean you end up remaining on your own, leaving others feeling uncertain as to where you stand but safely at a distance.

The Fires of Transformation.

Once the necessary transformations have come about, you then become a powerful catalyst or agent for change in your own and others lives.

You have the ability to renew and rebuild your life, and can show others how to do the same. Negative states can be transformed and redirected through internal processes. A creative outlet, some form of therapy, a mystical experience or an intense sexual exchange can serve as the means to refine these energies.

As you let go of pain and open up to light you find strength and wisdom within.

You are likely to have a penetrating kind of insight that makes you a valued confidante and friend. You have great compassion for others, but will not suffer fools. You are also likely to be patient, persevering and reliable, and can be a source of strength in times of need.

Your desire for truth means you may sometimes have to employ shock tactics to instigate change. Usually this is not to be upsetting, but rather because you know sometimes you have to say the things that others will not in order to shake up the status quo.

Your highly developed emotional intelligence can make you privy to others’ secrets. When you share vulnerabilities with others you also learn to let go of your own fear of being overwhelmed.

The Gift Of Scorpio Rising.

Yours is an intense rising sign, with the potential to experience great rewards. You have come to learn the secrets of resurrection and rebirth through experiencing transformation in certain areas of your life. Once you learn the techniques of inner growth by finding your power within you then have the capacity to become an incredible force for change.

SAGITTARIUS RISING.

Born with Sagittarius on your Ascendant (or Rising) you are likely to experience your life as a quest, challenge or search for adventure where the prize you seek is meaning.

Self-awareness comes about through expanding your horizons – at either physical, mental or spiritual levels.

You are likely to approach new experiences with a sense of optimism and hope – an expectation of success.

The dynamic, fiery qualities of this rising sign need to be directed toward reconciling some of the metaphysical and philosophical quandaries of life.

In your quest for meaning, you should leave no stone unturned.

The Search for Meaning.

When your Ascendant is Sagittarius, every situation can be viewed as an opportunity to learn. You are likely to feel a sense of restlessness and need to have the freedom to roam, explore horizons and see how far you can go. This might happen at physical, mental or spiritual levels.

At times, your life could feel like a pilgrimage, where the need to find the holy grail of your own “truth” is paramount. A way to express this approach might be – “I see the goal; I reach the goal, and then I see another”.

Gifted with energy and inspiration, you are often able to inspire and uplift others. You are typically broad-minded and so happy to let everyone live their own lives. Charged with faith and optimism, you can look for symbolic meaning wherever you go, finding portents in life’s circumstances and omens to guide you on your way. Usually, every event is seen as part of a larger, connected whole. You find meaning in patterns and serendipity at every turn.

Times of Excess.

Yet there may also be times where you allow your faith to dwindle. If you fail to find the answers you seek you can become despondent and cynical in the extreme. You must be careful not to set yourself up for crushing disappointment by setting expectations that are unrealistic or too big to achieve.

Added to this, there may also be a tendency toward excess, inflation and overstepping the mark. Your exuberance and optimism can sometimes turn to greed, recklessness or a lack of due care. Your tendency to go to extremes goes hand in hand with a belief in your own invincibility and need to push boundaries in terms of what is possible. It is worthwhile checking in at times to see if you have in fact gone too far – despite the fact that you want to. 

Sharing your Truth.

If your Ascendant is Sagittarius, you need to find your truth on your own terms, and there may be an extended period of searching for the right path, teaching or philosophy to satisfy your quest. You may spend significant chapters of your life travelling or immersed in a particular belief system, exploring ideas and concepts to their broadest level.

You are likely to be passionate about the pursuit of knowledge, and so it is important to allow yourself plenty of opportunity to explore new horizons, and broaden your sphere of reference.

Once you have found a path that fulfils, you can become so enthusiastic that you want to share with everyone else what you know. You are eager to teach others what you have learnt. Many excellent teachers have this sign pronounced in their charts.

Yet some of you can turn to preaching and even zealotry in your eagerness to share. There may be times when you go to extremes in your efforts to recruit others to your particular belief system. Care should be taken to extend to others the same intellectual, moral or personal freedom that you require for yourself.

In this way, you can manifest the darker side of Sagittarius, trying to co-opt others into agreeing with your version of the truth. Cynical disbelief can be equally vehement as optimistic faith. In the end you will find that trying to convert others is an ultimately futile preoccupation.

The Gift of Sagittarius Rising.

With Sagittarius rising, life is best viewed as a quest and adventure. Faith and a positive attitude are your greatest assets. You are likely to approach life in a grand way, excited by possibilities and certain of your right to experience them. Using your innate gifts of insight and perception gives you the ability to inspire and uplift others, helping them become the best that they can be by lighting the fire of meaning and purpose all around.