#last time i did one of these i just deleted it lol

[unironicallytes]

Thoughts on the Wrath of Sithis*, Where It Comes From, and Why Mathieu Bellamont Did Not Receive One (Now Purified!**)

*For the purpose of this discussion, "Wrath" is used to refer specifically to the actual enemy specter/wraith encountered in ESO and Oblivion.

**ifykyk, a lot of this is copy-paste from an old post we no longer speak of nor circulate because it got toxic real quick and we never actually got to discuss the topic itself.

Imo, Sithis does not send the Wrath - it is instead conjured by the Black Hand themselves.

In this idea, the Hand disguises their conjured Wrath as Sithis himself enacting unholy retribution against a Tenet-Breaker - this lends credence to their authority in a way that also absolves them of responsibility for what happens to a member. Sithis works in mysterious ways, my brother! This could also explain the following:

Lucien straight up pardons the HoK for the Purification. That is apparently within his authority to do, yet breaking the Tenets is always said to be a surefire way to invoke the Wrath. You break Tenet Five like 8 whole times within a day, but Lucien has the power to just wave it off for you and carry on business-as-usual. There is something decidedly "mortal institution of laws" about that rather than sacred retribution.

Greywyn lasted for years in hiding without getting auto-Wrathed as punishment for leading an entire coup. A mortal assassin found him and doled out a punishment, not a Wrath of Sithis. This could be because the Hand was unaware he still lived, whereas if the Wrath was Sithis-sent, that dude would've been deleted pretty quick.

No one in the Skyrim DBh is ever sent a Wrath for breaking Tenet One, perhaps because there is no Hand at this time. Cicero is the only one who attempts to punish Astrid for what I presume was breaking a Tenet (large presumption, as we are never outright told). You could argue Astrid got her karmic comeuppance, and perhaps the Wrath was her crispy death, but that can also be explained by her simple hubris. But, like I said, for the purpose of this discussion, we're referring specifically to the physical Wrath here!

(Another new, additional thought) When you finally kill Mathieu at the end of the Oblivion DBh questline, there is no Wrath to come and claim him as in the case of the Black Dragon confrontation. No specter comes to aid you (save for Mother, who's only there to go "lol. lmao even.") This is also potentially because, as in Case #3, there's no longer a Hand to even conjure the Wrath - the only ones left are you and Arquen.

(New, additional thought) The ESO DBh and its traitor, the Black Dragon. The Wrath does appear later to take her ... but notably, it only appears once you have informed your Matron - and subsequently your Hand - who the traitor is and where she is hiding. You have now given the Listener the true identity of the traitor. When they send you and Green-Venom-Tongue to take her out, perhaps they quietly summon a Wrath too - not only as a back-up, but as reaffirmation of its existence to those who witness it.

Venom also remarked the following during your vision of the First Purification: "In the old stories, the Wrath of Sithis appeared to carry away the souls of traitors. If that's true, I wonder why purification was even necessary?"

So then, if it's the Black Hand sending the Wrath, and the Black Hand does not know Mathieu's identity, they cannot send him a Wrath throughout the entire questline. This would be extremely bothersome to them, because his continued activities undermine that faith-leverage they have. If a lower ranking member of the Family finds out that there's a traitor, but that traitor hasn't been punched in the face by a Wrath yet, then that lends itself to the same question we're asking here and the same questions Green-Venom-Tongue started asking. It lends itself to a member going "wait, so an all-knowing death god isn't enforcing these Tenets? so ... as long as no one in the organization finds out, I can break them." And I think Mathieu figured out that this was exactly the case.

Now then, encouragement of participation is always implied on tumblr dot com, but I'm saying it outright due to the history lol - please feel free to add on with your own thoughts! Even if you disagree and have a different idea! The only thing required for participation is respect.

[todayisafridaynight]

journalists underestimate the magnitude of my addiction and how far i'll go for the bit

[jejesart]

[part one] [part two] you to me, me to you

[goldensunset]

sora’s new roommate looks like a really nice and normal girl i wonder what her story is

[rowanisawriter]

.

[hungharrington]

.

[tcypionate]

very funny that in my support ticket i was like "hey can u delete this sideblog? its glitched and wont show up anywhere including notes and your website is actively preventing me from deleting it myself" and 6+ months later they respond with "sorry for taking so long! can you please tell us what you thought we did wrong?" JUST DELETE THE FUCKING SIDE BLOG

[glimpsesofeuterpe]

note to future-ish self: do not drink booze without eating something as well

[arcaneyouth]

ohhh i get it now! the things that are happening to me are doing irreparable damage on my psyche!

[dandyshucks]

trying to decide if i want to show the counselor/therapist my self insert art or not djdkslsl I think it is too obvious that it's Me to ever be able to say "hey look at this cute art i did of two random characters neither of which are me or in any way connected to me :o)" but AUGHGHGH she wants to see more art of mine and most of my art recently (ALL of my art so far this year i think) has been selfship stuff,,,

[pepprs]

the mortifying ordeal of today being a potluck day.

[dadbots]

August… time to get spooky.

[todayisafridaynight]

time a flat circle why the hell am i usin the same loafers i bought for one cosplay of my fave antagonist for another fave antagonist

[keeps-ache]

'how do you even fake a minesweeper screenshot' it's easy! all you need a is 30-40 dedicated minutes, 15+ screenshots, a good amount of knowledge on medibang, and the desire to lie to your brother for no reason :3

[b0ydyke]

so deep in the maze of being unforgivable that not being able to say happy birthday feels like another left turn further in. a couple months ago on s’s birthday i was telling chris the tall dude that asked about my trip on new years, not chris my best friend, that i remember his birthday when he made a toast and sprayed me with champagne by accident and he was like woah good memory (not when it matters) and s was like “i think you wished me happy birthday at 11:58pm” and that’s true i always remember the birthday even if im too eager or too soon. and it kills me i can’t say happy birthday to the friend i can’t talk to. saying this is my own fault or this of my doing won’t get me anywhere out of this feeling but it’s true what they say about losing people we don’t talk but i still think about you on your birthday one minute you’re in the middle of something and the next it’s all a very long time ago and we have become different people the time will pass anyway i forget what it was like but i remember the feeling do you remember too how am i to deal with i have things to say but i am dead to you so i will have to sit with it and hold it in my closed fist instead

[thisismeracing]

I am so discouraged w my account these past few days