#kale-maiden

[shutupineedtothink]

Trial order and why Lilia, not Agatha, is last (not counting Rio)

Kay, so I got another off-the-wall theory for you, this time around the order of the trials and why Lilia, not Agatha, is actually going to be last (if we don't count Rio). It goes back to maiden mother crone and some of the trauma/generational trauma stuff I already talked about in a previous post. As with The Road, continue at your own peril.

Right so I couldn't get this idea of maiden mother crone, intergenerational trauma, dealing with the long history of violence toward witches thing out of my head that the show is doing. And I think we've all been assuming that Lilia's trial will be next, saving Agatha and probably Rio for last, because those are standard main character of a TV show rules.

But the more I think about it, the more weight I feel like Lilia's journey carries for this overall theme of trauma toward witches and the history of witches, etc. She seems to have the most intense connection to the pain of witches past, like old-world witch stuff, and she's the one who's brought up multiple times that witches aren't really as they've been portrayed, there's all these negative stereotypes, etc etc. And she's sick of it. She's lived through it for the longest of all of them (again, leaving whatever Rio is out of it).

Idk, something that big, addressing the long history of violence toward witches and witch stereotypes, that feels like you have to deal with it last. That's a culmination of all the witch references, pop culture and otherwise, the show has been making, of which there are MANY.

So I thought ok, for funzies, let's assume Lilia's last, which puts our trial order as follows: Jen -> Alice -> Agatha -> Lilia (and I guess true last would be Rio but I'll get there in a second).

Assuming that order, something else pinged for me: maiden mother crone. Another massive theme in the show, portraying these generations of witches and women in general, and again, for reasons I can't explain, it really feels like it has weight to me. Like they're doing something with it.

So leaving Jen aside for a second, don't worry I'll come back to her, that makes Alice our maiden. Her role, particularly in the context of her trial, is the role of daughter. She's also the youngest of the witches, as far as I can tell. She's even coded as kind of the rebellious one, the young angry one who still hasn't quite accepted her heritage, until after her trial, she does.

Agatha is the mother. We are really going for the mother/child relationship with her and Teen, and of course dealing with her son's death and whatever part she played in it. I would assume her trial will be about that, but we could also be saving that for the end. The mother is also the connector generation between maiden and crone, so maybe there's something there about Agatha fully stepping into the leader role of the coven, and accepting these women around her, idk.

Lilia, the eldest, is our crone. She carries the true history and memory of generations of witches with her, she has lived the longest through the most trials. She is the most experienced in the craft and takes it the most seriously. The journey is hers to end.

Except -- we have two other players left. Jen, who kicks off the trials, and Rio, who I'm assuming doesn't really have a trial but will be there at the end... because, you know. 💀

So why would Jen be first? What comes before the maiden?

And then she said it herself.

"I never fully identified as a witch. I am an 11th-generation root worker and midwife."

This one line almost puts her in a similar category to Rio, at least thematically. She's a witch but also more, neither and both. And she's a midwife, someone who helps facilitate birth. Someone who, at her best, supports and sustains life. Someone who allows the first phase of life, the maiden, to come into being.

And guess who that leaves us with at the end, the opposite bookend to Jen's life-giving power -- the mistress of death herself, Rio. The one to which all life must eventually return.

The trials aren't just about elements, or moon phases, or even different witch specialties, they're taking us through the stages of a witch herself. The stages of ALL women really (whether you are an actual mother with children or not, the mother phase is mid-life). Linking us all together, generation after generation.

So in this theory, the trials go like this:

Jen -> Alice -> Agatha -> Lilia -> Rio

Birth -> Maiden -> Mother -> Crone -> Death

Even the moon phases line up. Full moon is birth, a full-term pregnancy and then birth. Waxing moon, growth, renewal, hope, promise -- the maiden. Half moon, mid-life, no longer maiden, not yet crone, the in-between -- the mother. Waning moon, the last quarter of life -- crone. New moon, darkness, returning to the void -- death. They're playing fast and loose with the moon phase order, so I am too.

I can probably fudge the elements here too, but it's a little harder mostly because I don't know what Agatha's element is. I heard someone say spirit, but idk.

Anyway, what do you think? Am I on to something here? Batshit crazy? Would love to hear your thoughts in comments. :)

[evesfallen]

MAIDEN MOTHER CRONE ; CHAPTER TWO

an agatha all along twine fan game.

summary: your first trial awaits you as you find yourself on the witches’ road; a road you were certain didn’t exist.

link here to play!

[lithiumrian]

literally just wanna go to sleep but i can't stop thinking about how right when Jen was finally growing close to Lilia and beginning to understand her, Lilia just up and sacrificed herself

like wtf dude

[thingsasbarcodes]

Agatha All Along 1x09 - Maiden Mother Crone

[mndvx]

SASHEER ZAMATA as JENNIFER KALE in AGATHA ALL ALONG — Maiden Mother Crone (Episode 9)

[watchnrant]

Betrayal, Ballads, and Big Witch Energy: The Story of Agatha All Along

When Agatha All Along was announced as a spinoff to the acclaimed WandaVision, expectations soared. How could anything live up to the vibrant, genre-bending magic of its predecessor? The answer: by conjuring a show that embraces its own quirks, doubles down on emotional storytelling, and takes viewers on a spellbinding ride down the legendary Witches’ Road. Marvel Studios and creator Jac Schaeffer deliver a series that feels simultaneously intimate and expansive—a darkly whimsical tale with Kathryn Hahn’s devious charm at its center.

Plot and Characters: A Coven of Misfits

Picking up three years after WandaVision, the show begins with Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) still trapped in her Agnes persona, living a humdrum life as a Westview police detective. It’s a gritty setup with a supernatural twist, as a Jane Doe case and the arrival of Joe Locke’s mysterious Teen catalyze Agatha’s journey to reclaim her identity and power. Alongside her is an eclectic coven: Patti LuPone’s diviner Lilia Calderu, Sasheer Zamata’s potion-wielding Jennifer Kale, Ali Ahn’s haunted Alice Wu-Gulliver, and Aubrey Plaza’s enigmatic Rio Vidal (aka Lady Death). Each character brings a distinct energy, and their uneasy alliance is rife with tension and begrudging camaraderie.

Kathryn Hahn continues to dazzle as Agatha, infusing every line with delicious wit and layered vulnerability. Her scenes with Aubrey Plaza are a highlight, their simmering chemistry electric as they navigate a past steeped in betrayal. Plaza, playing the sardonic, chaotic Vidal, commands attention, especially when her true nature as Death is revealed in Episode 7. Joe Locke’s Teen provides a surprising emotional anchor, and his mysterious connection to Agatha hints at the deeper wounds she carries.

Themes and Tone: A Witchy Adventure with Depth

Jac Schaeffer’s magic lies in balancing spectacle with substance. While the Witches’ Road is a visually surreal marvel, complete with vivid colors and practical effects that evoke an ’80s horror vibe, the series shines brightest when exploring its themes. At its core, Agatha All Along is a story of redemption, self-discovery, and power. It doesn’t shy away from the darker roots of witchcraft, confronting themes like misogyny and generational trauma while celebrating the strength of its female characters.

This tonal balance extends to the writing, which skillfully marries campy humor with poignant moments. Agatha’s transformation back to herself in Episode 1 is a standout—a noir detective peeling away layers of forced personas to reclaim her truth. The show also embraces episodic storytelling, with trials on the Witches’ Road that test the coven’s unity and personal resilience. From Alice’s haunting family curse to Jennifer’s struggle to reclaim her bound powers, each arc adds richness to the overarching journey.

Standout Episodes: A Spellbinding Journey

Among the nine episodes, several stand out as masterclasses in storytelling:

Episode 1: “Seekest Thou the Road” establishes Agatha’s fragmented identity with a detective noir twist, culminating in her cathartic reawakening.

Episode 3: “Through Many Miles / Of Tricks and Trials” takes the coven to the eerie Witches’ Road Mansion, blending psychological horror with a trial of poison and hallucinations.

Episode 7: “Death’s Hand in Mine”delivers a haunting blend of sacrifice and revelation as Lilia Calderu’s ultimate act of redemption unravels her fragmented life, while Rio’s shocking identity as Death shatters the coven’s fragile trust in a tarot-laden trial of fate and free will.

Episode 9: “Maiden Mother Crone” wraps up the Witches’ Road saga with an emotional finale that leaves Agatha poised for future adventures while resolving the coven’s trials in deeply satisfying ways.

Visuals and Style: Practical Magic at Its Finest

Visually, Agatha All Along is a feast. Its practical effects—a conscious departure from CGI-heavy Marvel fare—lend the series a tactile, almost dreamlike quality. Every magical element, from the fog-draped Witches’ Road to the eerie glow of fireflies, was crafted with painstaking attention to detail. The commitment to practical effects extended to action sequences, such as Episode 7’s dramatic sword drop, where actual metal blades were dropped from the ceiling with precision mapping, adding an edge of realism and danger.

The Witches’ Road, in particular, stands out as a masterstroke of set design. Built twice to achieve the perfect scale, the final version is a rich tapestry of mud pits, mushrooms, and glowing flora—all filmed in-camera to enhance its tangible, studio-bound aesthetic. This hands-on approach immersed the actors in the environment, bringing authenticity to their performances and grounding the fantastical elements of the series in reality. The physical demands of navigating the road’s uneven terrain, paired with the magical atmosphere created by fog and glowing mushrooms, enhanced both the storytelling and the visual experience.

By embracing practical effects and studio-built sets, the series pays homage to the golden age of fantasy filmmaking while adding layers of depth to its narrative. This approach makes the Witches’ Road feel like a character in its own right—otherworldly, dangerous, and entirely unforgettable. Music plays a recurring role, too, with the Ballad of the Witches’ Road threading through key moments, adding a haunting resonance.

Final Thoughts: A Bewitching Success

While it doesn’t quite match WandaVision’s genre-defining brilliance, Agatha All Along forges its own path, embracing its quirks and delivering an emotionally resonant, spellbinding tale. It’s a bold entry in the MCU’s television experiment, proving that magic doesn’t always have to be about explosions and world-ending stakes—sometimes, it’s in the characters, the journey, and the haunting echo of a song.

If this truly marks the end of Kathryn Hahn’s tenure as Agatha, it’s a fitting, triumphant conclusion. But if the final notes are any hint, there’s still room for more cackling chaos—and honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.

[thehawkeyefan]

Updated Parallels to the Wizard of Oz

So back after Episode 5, I made a post exploring the parallels to the Wizard of Oz that Agatha All Along has.

If you want, you can view it here.

Anyway, I wanted to post an updated theory, because I believe I have a deeper understanding than I had before.

Agatha Harkness: The Wicked Witch of the West. The Antagonist/Villain of the Wizard of Oz, in this case reversed and she is our protagonist. She is responsible for each of the deaths on the road in someway. But unlike the Wicked Witch of the West, she's not actively seeking out to murder Billy and his friends, she wants to protect him. She wants to give him the chance she never got, and she wants to help. Also another reversal, in the Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West is killed when Dorothy splashes her with a bucket of water, which causes her to melt. In a strange twist of fate, it's the water witch that is the path ahead for the coven.

Billy Maximoff: The Wicked Witch of the East. This is a bit of a reversal as in the Wizard of Oz, it is the Wicked Witch of the East who is killed when the house is dropped on her by the Tornado, but in this case the car crash instead gives the Wicked Witch of the East a chance at life. In this

William Kaplan: Dorothy. Is the one who seeks out the Wizard of Oz in the story, in this case, his death gives Billy the chance to be reborn.

The Car Crash: The House Dropping on the Wicked Witch of the East. In this case this event is reversed and it has killed Dorothy instead.

The Hex: The Tornado. When it's dropped the wicked witch of the east is transported to Reality (aka, Oz).

William's Body: The Ruby Slippers. This body is what protects Billy from full on death, and just like Dorothy in the story, Billy takes the ruby slippers from the corpse of William. In this case literally.

Jennifer Kale: Glinda the Witch of the North. Her trial is the first for the coven, she appears at the beginning giving Teen the warning about being careful around Agatha, similar to Glinda in the Wizard of Oz appearing before Dorothy to help her first prepare her for the Wicked Witch of the West. Her first action in her trial, the very beginning of the road, is to help defend Billy from Agatha. She does so by warning him of her danger and her history, and that he should approach her with caution. Of course, with all the reversals in the story, Agatha is not out to kill Billy but is instead projecting both herself and her dead son onto him. But still Billy does take the warning to heart, and the wisdom keeps him from truly revealing himself just yet. Plus she is described by the Lilia as the way forward. Glinda appears at two points in the Wizard of Oz. Once at the beginning to help Dorothy on her journey, and once at the end to help surmise her journey, and teach her how to obtain what she needed on her own. In the end, Glinda helps Dorothy finally get home. Also above irony that the water witch is the way forward for Agatha. I wouldn't be surprised if Jennifer's knowledge is the secret to helping Agatha get her powers back/learn to control them. The High Priestess is said to possess spiritual knowledge, and Agatha is the coven's Spirit Witch.

Sharon Davis: The Scarecrow. She just thought they were having a party. As she walks the road she does try to learn more about witchcraft and her new coven, but in the end, her lack of experience and knowledge doesn't prepare her for the first trial. She is killed by downing two glasses of wine without question and thus not being conscious to put her hair in the potion. Agatha is responsible for her death because she brought her into the coven and the journey down the road despite knowing she knows nothing about witchcraft. She is also the maiden death as well, as she is new/inexperienced to witchcraft.

Alice Wu Gulliver: The Tin Man. Alice came on the road thinking she was looking for her mother, instead she found the closure she needed to reignite her passion and heart for the world. Her death comes from her blasting Agatha with her powers in an attempt to save Agatha from her mother. This act of compassion got her killed as Agatha responded by draining her of all her power/life. Thus Agatha is also responsible for her death. She is the mother death as well, as in life she was always looking out for the maiden of the coven, Billy. And her death came about in a brazen act to save a member of her coven.

Lilia Calderu: The Cowardly Lion. Lilia came on the road because she was hoping to avoid Death, but in actuality needed a coven and community. Her death is finding the courage to face her coming Death head-on, and sacrificing herself to save her coven. Agatha is responsible for her death because she's the one who places the Death Tarot down sealing her fate. Lilia is also the crone death, as her death comes at the end of her long life, and she uses her time to impart a final bit of wisdom on each remaining member of the coven to help them fulfill the roles they'll need to take on after she's gone. For Billy she returns his Spellbook, encouraging him to continue learn and continue practicing the craft. For Agatha she gives a warning about an upcoming battle in order to help her survive. And for Jen, she spends the entire episode preparing her to fulfill the role of the coven's wise woman once she's gone. Encouraging her, building her up, and informing her she's their path forward now.

Evanora Harkness: The Illusion of Oz. Where Oz was just an illusion in the Wizard of Oz, Evanora is very real. While in the story Oz manipulates Dorothy and friends to go out and kill the Wicked Witch, an act to get someone to deal with the biggest threat to Oz. Evanora is just a bitter ghost taking advantage of the road and the trial to abuse her daughter beyond the grave.

Rio Vidal: Oz behind the Curtain. While Oz was just a fraud pretending to be great and powerful, Rio is actually great and powerful. Divine. Death waits at the end of the Road, just as the Emerald city.

The Salem Seven: The flying monkeys. In the Wizard of Oz, the flying monkey's are the Wicked Witches minions that she sends to kidnap Dorothy, here they are a hive-minded coven hell-bent on getting revenge on Agatha for her self-defense massacre of her coven.

[goetiae]

𝓗𝓐𝓛𝓛𝓞𝓦𝓔𝓔𝓝 — arguably one of the most haunting festive celebrations in modern history. A holiday occassion of yet-unclear origins, it has its possible roots in old Harvest Celebrations of pre-Christian communities across European territories.

Today, our focus is Halloween as it was celebrated in the Victorian era and the larger scope of the 19th century Europe and America.

It is common to root modern Halloween to pre-Christian harvest festivals, celebrated by most if not all European peoples, though the ones most influential on the history of Victorian Halloween would be the Celts and other ancient communities of the British Isles. After the expanding Christian church repurposed old harvest celebrations into the widely spread Christian calendar, those became associated with various saints and celebrated as All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve.

Victorian Halloween in Europe retained a feeling of nostalgia for the old days. For example, in the year 1851, Coleraine Chronicle, a Northern Irish newspaper, published a series of Halloween poems. Orkney Herald and Weekly Advertiser, in the year 1863, published a peculiar article about the "old Halloween" that directly identified the holiday with the feeling of excitement and joy:

Halloween! In the days of my boyhood there was magic in the name. Long before the day arrived we hoarded up all the apples, turnips, and cabbage-stocks we could either steal or beg. It was impossible to sleep on the night preceding the auspicious eve…There was excitement on every face – mischief brewing in every heart.

While the middle of the 19th century saw the most of the public's attention being directed towards Halloween, it saw its decline towards the end of the Victorian period — a phenomenon seemingly regarded as disappointing by the contemporary writers.

As for the origins of Halloween, the publications of the 19th century seem to root it in the old traditions of pre-Christian Europe. A publication in London Evening Standard in 1878 attested a connection of Halloween with Athenian Anthesteria meanwhile an article in Newcastle Courant, year 1877, claimed that the holiday's origin is lost in the "mists of antiquity".

In The Book of Hallowe'en by Ruth Edna Kelley, published in 1919, the author connects the celebration of Samhain, attested to Old Irish customs. This book presents a viewpoint that connects Halloween to ancient celebrations of harvest and otherwise cyclic holidays across different nations. The author comments on various festival occasions focused around fire as a dispeller of bad omens, though to be connected with Haloween.

Introduction of Christianity to European lands did not quite exorcize Halloween as a celebration, having, instead, connected it to less pagan customs. Now, Halloween became associated with "matchmaking" and offered and opportunity for unmarried women to glimpse into their future using nuts, kale, apples, and other fruits of harvest. Newry Telegraph in 1892 published an article about a peculiar tradition of forecasting relationships: a girl would stick apple kernels to her cheeks, attaching a name to each; whichever fell first proclaimed infidelity of the one whose name it bore. In 1877, the same publication offered a more eerie tradition, claiming that eating an apple before looking in the mirror on All Hallows' Eve would let a young maiden see the face of her future husband.

Both Orkney Herald and Newcastle Courant equally point out a tradition of "ducking for apples" — a custom that, perhaps, lasted through centuries and became what we currently know as apple bobbing.

In American press, the word "Halloween" first appeared in April 1836, having been mentioned in the publication of The Lady's Book, also known as Godey's Magazine. This magazine was largely targeted towards women and published colorful fashion drawings and stories. The first one to mention Halloween in the United States was titled Clara Lawson; or the Rustic Toilet. Within this story, Halloween is said to be a "time of festivity, of fun and frolick, of cake-making and nut-cracking" though the author seems rather disappointed by the holiday's current state, lamenting the more festive air of the 1800s.

Various publications in American press afterwards depicted common Halloween superstitions such as one stating that a person could see a face of their future betrothed in the mirror at exactly midnight.

After its introduction to America, Halloween became commercialized rather fast. In 1897, The Dennison Manufacturing Company was founded. It offered various good used for decoration during the Halloween festivities and released its own catalogue with ideas for decor and gifts. Following alongside, various fashion magazines began publishing their own catalogues of dresses and costumes, majorly for women.

Publications around 1860s-1870s focused on the eerie air of Halloween, offering the readers to read Halloween poems (The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, October, 1865) or visit a ghostly home. Paintings depicting various witches, ghosts, and entities became rather common to see on the pages of magazines.

As stated by the book How to Amuse Yourself and Others: The American Girl's Handy Book by Lina Beard, released in 1895, it was apparently common for people of the 19th century to believe that Halloween was the best time to partake in magic. Though the writer denies any genuine power of said magical tricks, it is still implied that Halloween parties and games were quite frequent to encounter during the holiday, such as:

🕯 Melted Lead where one would pour melted metal through a handle of the key and into a pan of cold water, then deciphering its shapes to define the occupation of one's future husband.

🕯 Nutshell Boats that were used to decipher one's future by sending walnut shells filled with wax floating over a tub of water with tapers inserted into the middle and lit. It was believed that the owner of the shell that survives such a voyage unsunken would lead a happy life.

🕯 Roasting Nuts would predispose one's friendship: by burning two nuts, each to represent one person, one could predict if the connection was to be merry or unfortunate depending on how calmly the nuts burned.

🕯 The Magic Mirror was a common mirror that gained mysterious power during All Hallows' Eve. Holding it in the way that reflected the moon would help the person — usually a young girl — predict how many happy occassions avaited them before the next Halloween.

🕯 The Ghostly Fire would be one of the most peculiar ways to partake in 19th century Halloween. It was prepared by putting salt and alcohol, alongside a few raisins, in a dish, before it was set on fire. Then, the gathered crowd would do a circle dance around the table as the fire — described as greenish purple — burned. And right before it went out, everyone would snatch a hot raisin from the flames.

Alongside many other near-ritualistic occasions that this book entertains its reader with, those mentioned created a merry, festive, and rather mysterious air typical of the 19th century Halloween. In her Games for Hallow-e'en, published in 1897, Mary E. Blain adds on that rooms meant for Halloween games and celebrations are to be richly decorated with "apples, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins and such" that would be hollowed out and cut faces into. She recommends skull imagery, black cats, witches' hats, and various little decorations for the rooms — which are, of course, to be kept dark.

Halloween parties, both in Europe and America, would also become an occasion for costume showcases; it would only be a matter of time until Halloween costumes became a commonly beloved phenomenon. Often, people would dress up in exquisite gowns or themed outfits, such as witches or various creatures of the night.

In Ireland and Scotland, the tradition of dressing up for Halloween, known as guising, would be popular around the middle of the 19th century and into the Victorian era. In Scotland, the masks used for Halloween would be referred to as "false faces". The tradition of souling, asking for treats while going house to house, would be brought to the United States in the late 1930s with newly arriving Irish immigrants. Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly, Volume 40, published in 1895, refers to the custom of people, "disguised", going door to door with lanters made of carved out turnips and being rewarded with cakes and sweets. Unsurprisingly enough, "guising" often involved visiting wealthy homes, and the tradition grew all the more popular in 1920s and 1930s.

Though not particularly related to the 19th century, Halloween postcards are also a product of the craze that was the celebration of Halloween both in America and in the British lands. Largely popularized in the so-called "golden era" circa 1905-1915, these postcards present iconography very familiar to a modern person: witches, brooms, black cats, jack-o'-lanterns. The "magical" rituals described prior sometimes find their way into these visual depictions of the holiday, creating a symbolic tie with the past traditions: some postcards depict scrying, candle rituals, and various visuals of divination.

Decor sources: 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃

[defectedrockstar]

You are right, we are giving Kale’s group more credit than they deserve. It’s not like they were actually expecting someone to bust in and hack the systems to find out what SPECTRA actually is. I mean, in the game, Korsica was told that it was a firmware update and hadn’t started to investigate further until Chai told her.

The idea of Kale brainwashing Robyn the same way as he did to Roxanne is intriguing because it goes to show how much of a threat Kale’s group is. Yes, Salem is a threat that shouldn’t be ignored, but it’s currently unknown to Team CRWBY-RUSH of when she’s going to strike. So instead of worrying about the inevitable future threat, they have to focus on the current threat that is here right now: Kale’s group.

And with Robyn being brainwashed could lead to the Happy Huntresses becoming involved as well. They are her teammates after all, so they’ll know something off about her once she becomes brainwashed by Kale. This could lead to them stubbornly trying to discover why (considering their dislike towards Atlas personnel) that could lead to a some outcomes.

Like CRWBY-RUSH taking notice when the two teams coming across each other during their investigations (which could lead to learning about Robyn not being apart of bad guys, but actually under control of the bad guys), or maybe the Happy Huntresses ends up being captured and brainwashed as well (and that could lead to a potential team fight to go against).

With the numbers, Cinder will certainly have to play it safe. If anyone has a chance to slip through undetected, it would be Neo. Even then, will Cinder actually risk going after Fria just so she could get the Winter Maiden powers? I mean (if I remember correctly), even Salem told her to wait in the show, and that was when Ironwood was slowly losing it to the point of declaring Martial Law. I’m not sure if she has the chance.

Alright. Let's say, best case scenario, Kale is defeated and Tyrian is captured. The aftermath of it all is that people are fearful of Vandelay since SPECTRA became public thanks to Watts, Winter is the new Winter Maiden, and Salem is about to come in at Atlas with her army of Grimm. This is best case scenario because Clover is alive, no one is betraying each other, and they freed Robyn from mind control. Now they have to deal with the panic and the Grimm threat, on top of trying to spread the word about Salem.

This means our large group would split up. I think Ironwood, the Ace Ops, Winter, and Chai's group would stick with Atlas, securing the relics and preparing for war. Team RWBY and everyone else would go to Mantle to help the civilians and get them to evacuate.

Meanwhile, let's say Cinder played it safe and bide her time to wait for Winter to get her powers. This means her and Winter will clash at the battlefield. Neo, along with Watts, would retrieve the relics.

Here are the changes of events I feel are worth discussing.

1. Oscar and Ozpin

Without Jimmy shooting a child in the story, Ozpin doesn't have to step in to help Oscar. However, I do think when Salem is at their doorstep, Ozpin would return but only keep Oscar in the know like the original.

2. They tell Ironwood EVERYTHING

Ruby would apologize for keeping secrets, but after everything she learned how much being a leader can burden someone and wants to tell Ironwood that not only can Salem not be killed, but the lamp does have a wish. This could lead to them using it but they would have to be extremely careful on what to use it for. Could be how to not kill Salem, but render her powerless. Or they don't use it.

3. Who tells the world about Salem?

I am still thinking Ruby can do it, as there are people out there in the world who know her and would vouge for her. The problem is that Mantle is really not liking Atlas, the Schnees, or Vandelay right now. Which brings me to an idea I had.

4. Chai's semblance development.

So, this is a work in concept. But, I felt that through time, Chai's semblance could grow and develop to be able to not only effect him but those around him. Hear me out. We have Ren's semblance that nullifies emotions, allowing people to be calm and their negative emotions repressed. Chai's can be the opposite. His music, playing wide and channeling his aura, with some tech help and a aura boost from Jaune, he could perform the best rallying song ever. His music reaching far and wide, giving people an emotion, a happy one. One where it brings people back to happier days, one that gives people hope, one that tells them to stand up and not let their lives be taken by those who want to silence their voice. Like a crowd, they all start to sing as Chai plays, standing defiant to the coming horde of Grimm.

The biggest Bardic Inspiration ever.

[cells-n-stuff]

More elden ring lore!

Thoughts on Vyke, Shabriri, and finger-maidens

So! I've been playing elden ring and going for the frenzied flame ending. Since it is a soulsborne game, I've also been watching hours of lore vids. They've got me back in my basement with my tin-foil hat on, thinking about different interpretations.

So, Vyke! Imo he couldn't have become the lord of frenzied flame.

For us to become the LoFF, we still sacrifice a finger maiden, which is Hyetta. Vyke's maiden was probably already dead when he returned from the shunning grounds. There is also the chance that he wouldn't have sacrificed her anyway.

Since we don't know how he ends up in the evergaol, my theory is that Shabriri tricked him (again) and imprisoned him there. Since he can no longer become the LoFF. Also, he's tarnished and may come back if killed, so trapping him is the safer option.

NEXT, Shabriri. Who/what is he?

Well, I have another post explaining why I think that Shabriri might be a title granted to the "chosen champion" of the frenzied flame/three fingers. And the similarities to the abrahamic Satan. So check that out if you want.

But another theory I've seen getting kicked around that I want to add to is that he was a part of the great caravan.

The most accepted theory about who he is, is that he was a man who slandered the great caravan, which led to them being imprisoned under shunning ground. Which is fine, I guess, but it lacks the old razzle-dazzle for me.

What if the 'slander' bit was a lie. What we know in-game about Shabriri comes from the Golden order. So if it is just propaganda against those who were already judged to be heretics, that adds a little spice imo.

Circling back to the great caravan, I believe that while they originally didn't worship the three-fingers/frenzied flame, they did not worship the golden order. What if Shabriri was the leader of the caravan, and the golden order wanted to make an example of these 'heretics', lied that he slandered something and blinded him, he and the great caravan were then imprisoned. Through suffering and loss, he became mad and was blessed with the frenzied flame.

Now, I'm dabbling in cut content, but Kale was going to have a quest surrounding the great caravan. One of his lines is, "They think that we worshiped the three-fingers?! That we brought the maddening sickness upon them?! Well, if that's what they expect from us, then that's what they shall get from us!"

So what if Shabriri was falsely accused ,that he was originally never a liar/slander.

"What about Shabriri tricking and lying to Vyke and us?!" I hear you cry from the rafters! Well, he is a liar now. He became what the world expected him to be.

We know with relative certainty that he lied to Vyke about saving his finger-maiden. He most likely did the same to us. But I think he lied to us in a tricky way.

Finger-maidens.

So, Shabriri tells us that it's not fair and that shouldn't we save a maiden rather than to sacrifice her. When he talks to us, we assume he's talking about Melina. But, from my understanding, she is not a true finger-maiden. She is only acting the part. Our true maiden (in the FF ending) is Hyetta. So, while Shabriri does lie and trick us, we end up burning a maiden anyway.

I suppose that you don't have to finish Hyetta's quest to get the frenzied flame ending, but imo it makes more sense to do them together. It makes sense to me (in a lore perspective, not gameplay), that to become LoFF, you have to truly understand what loss is. What better way do to that than having the player kill their own maiden. (This is why I think Vyke couldn't have become LoFF. His maiden was killed by someone/something else. Not him.) The other endings, Melina sacrifices herself with the giants flame.

But Hyetta is killed by YOU and YOUR flame.

Note: All of this is for fun, and honestly, I don't think that Miyazaki or G.R.R.M knows what the lore is anymore. And I've learned that I have way to much time on my hands....

*me stuck in another soulsborne lore loop

[evesfallen]

Maiden Mother Crone

an agatha all along twine fan game.

summary: your days as agatha harkness’s apprentice seemed like faded memories. at least they did until she showed up at your door. journey down the road alongside agatha’s new ‘coven’ in this interactive choose your own adventure fan game!

word count : 26,647

play the available chapters below!

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

𖤐 chapter i.

𖤐 chapter ii.

𖤐 chapter iii.

[nerendus]

Probably my most unpopularest opinion is that I don't think all of Elden Ring's cut content should be readded into the game.

For one, a lot of it was mechanics and the game already has a decent amount of mechanics. In a game that is about fighting, you don't really want to overload the player with a lot of stuff that isn't directly about fighting.

And for story elements, that's easily dismissed with not living up to the vibe the developers wanted the game to have. Kale's cut questline would have been interesting, however it honestly makes more sense for Hyetta to take his place. He's a merchant and has ties to the people trapped beneath Leyndell, and yes, it would have been heartbreaking to see him fall apart from witnessing what happened to his kin, but even without the questline we know what his reaction would be.

Hyetta plays far more into exploring the greater problems and the Frenzied Flame. She's a maiden so she essentially serves as a wellspring for every downtrodden soul to seek the comfort of madness from. Kale falls into madness from what his kin goes through, Hyetta shows exactly why all these people are falling into madness and how it has eased their suffering. From looking at the greater picture of storytelling in Elden Ring, she just fits the muse far better in explaining the world as a whole.

Asimi is...Asimi. Look, we already had plenty of NPCs and that character's whole story isn't exactly intriguing to follow through.

Some are wanting the stuff from cut content to reappear in the DLC and while I wouldn't be opposed to the idea if it shows up, I really...do not care to see it one bit.

[duhragonball]

Dragon Ball Super Manga ch.36-38

Yeah, this manga Tournament of Power kind of sucks.

The big problem I’m seeing here is that there’s so many characters in this arc, and only ten chapters to showcase them, so ultimately nobody gets a chance to really shine.  Vegeta’s a major player in this thing, but we don’t even see him doing anything until Part 4 of this story.

And the scene he gets is pretty basic.  Top and Dyspo view him as U7′s #2 guy, and Vegeta takes offense and fights them until Top has to admit that Vegeta’s at least as good as Goku.  There’s nothing wrong with that, and while I’m only showing the beginning and end of that encounter, there is a good action sequence in the middle.  Still, it feels like it needs something more.  

The anime version solved that problem by having Vegeta constantly distracted by whatever Goku was doing at the time.  So even though he claimed to be U7′s ace, he couldn’t help but notice Goku’s rise to Ultra Instinct.  And the whole thing Vegeta had with Cabba was there too.  We get a little of Vegeta and Cabba later, but not nearly as much.  And if Toyotaro doesn’t have time for Vegeta in this story, then what chance does any other character have?

Again, the action in this thing is really great.  There’s plenty of hard-hitting shots and page after page of clobbering. The art’s not the problem, but the pacing is.��

Let’s look at the manga’s version of Ribrianne.  Here, there is no magical girl transformation.  Ribrianne, Rosie, and Kankusa are just Like This from the start.  Either they don’t have base forms in this version, or they transformed at home before heading to the Null Realm.  That isn’t too big a deal. 

Nor is it a big problem that manga Ribrianne flips the script from her anime counterpart.  In the anime, Ribrianne viewed 18 as a “fellow maiden”, but expressed shock that she would be married to a ugly dork like Krillin.  But here, she thinks 18 is ugly...

... and Krillin is the hottie.  She’s so disgusted that 18 could land a hot dude like Krillin that her attacks begin to weaken, and 18 defeats all three of the maidens.  Oh, by the way...

Rosie and Kankusa have stretchy arm powers in this?  I think this is about all they do in this version, so it’s kind of weird that they’re so fundamentally different.  It exposes some things about the way Dragon Ball Super is written as a whole.  I always want to believe that Akira Toriyama is hammering away at a computer, typing up longform, detailed scripts for everything that happens.  Because that’s how I’d want to do it if it was my story and someone else was drawing and animating the whole thing.  But by all accounts that’s not how it works at all.  A lot of work went into the character designs for the Tournament of Power, and from what I’ve read, Toriyama didn’t even design all of them.  Caulifla was something Toriyama drew as a partner for Kale, who came from someone at Toei, I think.  And Belmod and Marcarita were Toyotaro designs, I think. 

Clearly, some thought was put into Rosie and Kakusa.  They’re Ribrianne’s sidekicks, but that’s about it.  I don’t think Toriyama or anyone else wrote down “They have stretchy limbs” or “They do claws and weird ki blasts”.   It’s not a case of the anime and manga contradicting one another.  There was simply no guidance to contradict. 

And you might be wondering “What difference does it make?  It’s just Kankusa and Rosie.”  Sure, but the point is that if no one was in charge of deciding what powers they have, then no one was really minding the store for a lot of other plot elements.  Such as...

The invisible fighters from Universe 4 knock out Rosie, and Kankusa, and Ribrianne, and 18.   Then Piccolo defeats one invisible fighter and gets taken out by the other, and 17 takes out the second one.  Toei got a lot of mileage out of seven of those characters, but Toyotaro’s just zipping right through them like he’s got a plane to catch. 

As far as the invisible fighter stuff goes, that plays out almost exactly like it does in the anime, so I think that part might actually have been planned out in some detail.   Toriyama’s notes probably look like this:

“18 fights Ribrianne, and Ribrianne is very much into beauty and love.  She’s considered very beautiful in Universe 2, but in our world...?  She is upset to learn that 18 and Krillin are married”.

“Piccolo defeats the invisible fighter by sensing his ki, but when he tries to defeat the second invisible fighter, he fails and gets eliminated!  Then 17 listens carefully, and finds out that the second fighter isn’t invisible at all!  He’s just very, very small.”

“(laughs)”

And Toei and Toyotaro each got a copy of these notes, and went in totally different directions on the first one, but were able to stay fairly consistent on the second.  Toei had Goku help 17 out a little more, while Toyotaro had 17 flip his hair back over his ears, because he’s a huge fanboy who wanted to do a callback to Super 17 in GT.  Respect.

What I’m driving at here is that you end up with two different versions of the same story, and while one of them is bound to be better than the other, it seems strange to me that anyone would want it to play out like this.  For example, in the manga, Kale doesn’t discover her Super Saiyan form until we’re well into the tournament.  Frieza starts clobbering Caulifla, and Cabba realizes that Kale has been holding back out of respect for Caulifla.  She doesn’t want Caulifla to know that she’s stronger than her leader.  But as Frieza defeats Caulifla and Cabba, she loses it and flips out. 

And this is awesome!  No problem here, but what bothers me is how things go from this point forward.

Kale starts going berserk and eliminates almost everybody.  Universes 2, 3, and 10 all fall.  I think I lost track of Universe 4, so she might have gotten them too.  Dr. Paparoni and his three robots combine together into that big guy whose name I don’t want to look up, and Kale literally one-shots him.  It’s like Toyotaro was obligated to use every fighter in this arc, including this combined form, but no one said he had to let them stick around very long. 

Kale even chucks out her own teammates.  She picks up Auta Magetta, which even Vegeta couldn’t do, and when Saonel and Pilina try to reason with her, she throws them out too.  And this is also fine, because fuck Auta Magetta, but also, if you’re going to have a berserker Super Saiyan in your tournament, then let her go berserk. 

As Caulifla and Cabba decide how to handle this, they worry that Kale might self-destruct, so they have to try to stop her.  Then Caulifla drops a pair of Potara earrings,  which she stole from the Universe 6 Supreme Kai before the tournament.  Champa tells her to put one in her own ear and one in Kale’s ear.  In the anime, this was all planned out in advance, but here in the manga, it was blind luck that Caulifla happened to steal these things, and Champa called an audible. 

My beef here is that fusing Caulifla and Kale into Kefla this way doesn’t solve Kale’s long-term problem.  It solves Universe 6′s problem, because now instead of Kale going nuts, you have Kefla, who’s even stronger and retains her senses.  But there’s no scene where Kale learns how to control herself, and no scene where the two of them agree to use the Potara.  A lot of pages are devoted to Caulifla and Kale, but there’s not much character development to any of it.  It’s mostly just Kale going nuts and then Kefla wiping out the last of the small fry in this tournament. 

So you might be wondering: Well what about Goku and Jiren?  Well, the theme of this arc is that Goku’s been going straight after Jiren this whole time, but stuff like the invisible fighter and Kale’s rampage keep interrupting them.  We don’t get to see them fight in this part of the story, but the implication is that they’ve been fighting off-panel.  Then Kefla tries to attack them both, until...

... Gohan steps in and challenges Kefla so that Goku can focus on Jiren.  On paper, that doesn’t sound like a bad idea, but it really doesn’t work because we’re supposed to believe that Goku vs. Jiren is important but they won’t show any of it. 

Everything is sort of... implied with this adaptation. I can’t put my finger on it, but I get the sense that Toyotaro just sort of took it for granted that his readers already know these characters from the anime, so there was no pressing need to showcase them in the manga.  Anyway, here’s Winger with “Headed for a Heartbreak.” 

Wow, Winger sucks so much ass...

[fantomette22]

*Knock knock*

FANTOMETTTTEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Since your Elden Ring adventure's nearing an end (I think?? idk) Tell me about your favourite characters!

And have some cookies too cos you deserve them!: 🍪

*OPEN DOOR* BIMBOM !!

My first adventure in the lands between is indeed toward its end (I'm 135h in I think) ! (I forgot to answered you last time sorry too XD) I just need to finished some catacombs and stuff at the mountain tops, the fire giant, Farum Azula, Mohg & Malenia (+ I reach the frenzied flame too! so I might do that too but I need to be sure to have the needle) and I think I did almost everything else ? I think ?? maybe I forgot 1-2 catacombs or a few optional bosses (oh yeah I need to do the bell bearing hunters...) but I think I might have done almost everything else ?? (don't don't ask me for all the items & papers lol XD )

I have the week in vacation so I might try to finished it this week. (Gonna try to stream my attempts at Malenia too...omg...)

So, besides it would probably take hours to talked about all the characters + I don't know everything yet but let's go with the few I liked the most I think.

Ranni my beloved ❤️ I really like her ! (wow what a surprise. But somehow I feel her quest would be more impactful + have more meaning after doing the game a first time)

I really like Iji & Blaidd too T_T

Torrent my dear companion! idk what I would have done without him XD we live quite crazy adventures !

A shame we didn't see Melina too much too... but towards the end I found the little bit of dialogue & hidden bit of lore about her super interesting ?! I know she won't take it well but Melina I just wanna help you...

Rya and Boc my beloved !!! I love them so much they need to be protected ! Miriel too :D (and Kale is cool)

Millicent !! oh dear... I was like : oh yes she's cooI ! It's sad how we first found her. But now I finished her quest and it's the first time I cried in this game ! "Come on Milli Malenia is just around the corner ! What are you even talking about ??" I feel smt is weirdly missing... I thought se wanted to see malenia... she was in the prayer room and then... (I need to post the beautiful pic I took. I wanna draw it ;-;)

I understand now why you all love her so much. I need to catch up with your fic and re read Stolen soon ! (now I will actually get all the ref and understand everything XD)

Latenna goat summon too (with Mimic, Rollo & the wolves lol) ! Can't wait to fight alongside Finlay too ! She seems to be the ultimate mvp

Oh Sellen too... maybe she's not a nice person (idk what she really done but it may be bad?) but she always was nice to me.

About the roundtable now! (I mean I like everyone except Gideon and the dung eater lmao) ! Aka Roderika (one of the best clearly! idk what I would have done without her), Rogier (he deserved better ;-;), Fia (what a really interesting character! D and his bro too), I didn't finished Hewg storyline but interesting so far...

Goldmask is fun but poor Coryhn... Hyetta too man ;-; (girl you're blind how-)

Big Boggart really start as annoying as Patches to ended up as a true bro

Nepheli is incredible ! (+ Gostoc & Kenneth amazing storm veil squad i think they're funny together XD)

Hello I love Fortissax so much too ! (one of the best boss fight for now) I need to know more about Forti and Godwyn !!! omg I have some thoughts!!!

And omg don't get me started and Vyke & Lansseax + Vyke's maiden T_T what went wrong hm ?!?!?!

I finished Gurranq quest too! Well a bit crazy but who isn't but really interesting willing to help

Oh like Alexander too ! And his newphew ! I think he's still chilling in the lava XD (I mean the other tarnished helping us are cool) and wow Diallos... I found he was a bit dumb at first... but damned

Oh Morgott !!! i understand better why people simp on him so much XD he's really cool! and deserved better too

speaking of the demigod poor Rennala ;-; and Rykard is cool but I can't take him seriously with his dumb voice XD

Yura was nice... Thops too...

Oh and Miquella really seems to be the ultimate goat too... can't wait to learn more ;-; ( Myself having a lil bro I feel this siblings might end me)

Anyway they all deserve better!!!!

And I'm gonna stop here XD Thanks for the cookies too ! :D 🍪

[kirbymongerr]

No dragon ball fan that isn't misogynist don't read the comments on any Sparking Zero video that has Caulifla, Kale, Kefla or the Maiden Squadron in it

[annamelia-art]

So, I started this blog with at least a partial intent of posting some of my own art but I haven't yet. Because I'm a bit of a coward, ultimately. However, I have just finished drawing the starting D&D party I most recently was part of (we since picked up a wizard but I've not drawn him yet) so I figured I could share these. I don't give permission for any of them to be reposted or used elsewhere although reblogging is fine.

I actually drew these in reverse order from how they display in this post so 🤷‍♀️ idk either I'm getting worse or my judgement is impaired.

This is Inga, she's a goliath Bard of the College of Sorrows. She is a devotee of the Sisters of Iallanis, who collect stories in this world. She has been sent into the world to seek out stories and bring them home. She plays the drum, normally a smaller, more portable drum, but I felt like going fancy for the picture.

Next, we have Endarin, an Eladrin Paladin, which can be a tongue twister for sure. She's a knight of the Summer Court, which in our world has kind of a Grecian flavour, and she seeks to fill her late mother's shoes as bodyguard to the Queen of Summer, just as soon as she's done saving this little gang of miscreants from themselves.

Also from the Summerlands we have Sir Humphrey of Harenburh, a very proud Harengon Fighter. He is a chivalrous knight, whose rapier is as sharp as his wit, and whose cloak billows dramatically in the wind. He gave his heart to one of the fair maidens of Summer, and ever since has been on a quest to prove himself worthy of her regard.

From the court of Autumn we have Kale Oriandor, a Tiefling Druid, and his companion, Skunk Moon, the wolf. Kale is softly spoken and contemplative, and has very poor luck, particularly when it comes to meeting and observing wild animals. [Seriously, his player has like, the worst dice curse I've ever seen]

Finally, from the Unseelie Court of Winter, allow me to introduce you to the bane of everyone else's existence and the reason every member of the party has earned the Personal Enmity of Lolth the Spider Queen... Tingaling! She is a Pixie Sorcerer who thinks ethics and morals are things that happen to other people, and whose favourite spell is Detect Thoughts. She would happily sell her grandmother, or burn an orphanage, or steal a cookie, whatever seemed to be most convenient for her current needs. Sadly for Ting, her player had to drop out, and so she has gone to become an NPC, in Magical Witness Protection, or wherever people go who have, and I cannot stress this enough, Pissed Off Lolth So Bad She Personally Hates You