#lunar sway from the official extended zodiac quiz

[mortysmith]

ok

[yours-the-author]

Team RWBY's Extended Zodiac Signs: My Thoughts

Hey, some stuff happened today and I want to take my mind off it for a bit, so I'm gonna try something that's different than what I usually do but have kind of wanted to try out for a while. I don't know if I'll do anything else like this or if this is a one off thing, but it just seemed like a fun way to write down some thoughts on some characters through the lens of a particular medium.

For those who don't know already, the Extended Zodiac is an extension of the constellation zodiacs (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, etc) made for a video game called Hiveswap, which is a spinoff of a webcomic called Homestuck (which you may or may not have heard of). The constellation zodiacs are combined with two other elements- Lunar Sway and Aspect- to create 288 unique signs, each of which offers a more particular explanation of your personality and thought patterns. Whether you think the zodiac is a bunch of hoopla or the absolute bomb, it can be fun to take the quiz (linked here) and learn more about yourself and find your True Sign. Or do what I'm doing, and take fictional character's birthdays and personalities to figure out what categories they fall into. Or create a trollsona for them.

And the other half of this, for those who don't know: RWBY (pronounced "ruby") is an animated series following the members of the titular team RWBY: Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long, a group of young women who are preparing to become huntresses, which are heroes who protect the world from the dangerous creatures of Grimm (keep in mind, this synopsis is for the first volume/season, and the show has recently finished showing its ninth; the story has changed VERY much from volume one. You can watch the very first trailer for the show here)

Anyway, relatively recently (as in September of three years ago), the official RWBY Twitter/X account announced the official birthdays of our heroines (linked here), and given the personalities of the characters, their birthdays were very... interesting, to say the least. So I've decided to look into their Extended Zodiacs to find out more about them. It's possible this has already been done by someone else, in a way more detailed (read: better) way, but like I said: this is mostly for me, to get my mind off of some stuff right now.

So without further ado, here's my thoughts on the Extended Zodiac of Team RWBY, below the cut! (Spoilers for RWBY and Homestuck, of course!)

Ruby Rose - October 31

Scorus - Sign of the Victorious (Scorpio, Prospit, Breath)

Played for a joke, but very official: Ruby's birthday is the same day as Halloween, making her a Scorpio. This surprised me, considering that the Extended Zodiac is quick to tell you that Scorpios "are the ones to watch... they have the potential to do the most good, but also cause the worst harm."

Of course, most people are quick to jump on the "worst harm" aspect of Scorpios, given the reputations of Homestuck's Scorpio characters (...Does this make Ruby a Vriska?) So what's going on here? Was the choice of birthday simply a joke that got cemented in canon?

Not necessarily. Throughout the show, and especially more recent volumes, Ruby has always done what she believes is best for the good of her friends and the world, with incredibly varied results. Whether she intended it or not, Ruby has been at the center of some great goods and terrible harms, which fits very snuggly with her Scorpio sign. Scorpios are also "all in" types, "willing to throw themselves into work, play, and everything in between", and you can easily point to many scenes throughout the series to prove how this fits Ruby (a fan favorite, and a personal favorite, is the food fight scene from Volume 2).

Okay, so Ruby's a Scorpio, but that's not all this is. This is where things get a little fuzzy, because some people's interpretation of her character are vastly different from what I'm about to talk about. But let's start with her Lunar Sway: for Ruby, I chose Prospit.

Some people hear Prospit and think "ah, yes, the optimistic and silly one". But Prospit (and Derse for that matter) aren't nearly that simple. Prospit Dreamers are described as "reactive and intuitive... making decisions (based on) gut instinct and whatever emotions they are experiencing in the moment". They do tend to be optimistic, but the site is quick to point out that it's a FLEXIBLE optimism, meaning it can be prone to dwindling or growing stronger depending on the situation.

Ruby is creative and emotional, (and yes, optimistic). It can be argued that many of her choice were based on what emotions she was feeling at the time of the choice, ranging from her choice to defend Pyrrha Nikos from the Grimm even after her accidental involvement in Penny's first death, to choosing to lie to Ironwood about the lamp after the truths it revealed about Ozpin. Ruby cries a lot on the show (many of the characters do, and really, can you blame them?), but she's also quick to smile and laugh and offer encouragement (and in volume nine, her patience wears out and she gets angry, which leads to a lot of rash words and choices in itself).

There can also be some argument for symbolic representation, too; namely that Ruby's silver eyes can flash a light that scatters the Grimm (to ashes). Prospit being the "light" moon, pressed right against the bright glow of Skaia, is a pretty fitting choice for someone who holds the powers of the God of Light. Fun stuff!

Now that leaves the last part of the Extended Zodiac, and easily the most debatable part, mostly because there are twelve different choices based on personality, which again, can be interpreted differently from person to person. For Ruby, I ended up with Breath, though my other choices were Hope, Blood, and Life, for varying reasons.

The typical personality traits for a Breath player are: motivated, adaptable, forward thinking (positive), and volatile, gullible, and avoidant (negative). Being the leader of Team RWBY, Ruby has had to learn to motivate herself and others towards their common goals, be able to adapt to changes both on the battle field and in her relationships, and has spent most volumes looking forward (a very famous line by the creator of the show, Monty Oum) to what can be done next; how to next achieve her goals. But she can also be gullible, either for something innocent like a snide comment from Weiss (typically in the earlier volumes) or something much more dangerous, like Cinder's (in my opinion) not so secret infiltration of Beacon Academy. Then in the most recent volume, when Ruby loses her cool, the other characters would probably call her outburst "volatile", here meaning "a rapid and unexpected change, typically for the worse" (though really, we all knew it was a long time coming).

There's also that little hidden bit of lore about the aspects: Breath and Blood players tend to be considered leaders, for one reason or another (this doesn't mean that all "leader" characters are either Blood or Breath, necessarily, but it's a fairly consistent pattern in Homestuck, with John and Karkat being the unofficial/official leaders of their friends). Breath players in particular "will routinely be surprised that others look up to... them". This can be seen with Ruby's surprise at being chosen as the leader of Team RWBY by Ozpin in Volume 1, and later on by characters like Blake and Jaune, with Blake in particular holding great respect for Ruby as a leader.

And technically, there's one more thing; a fourth part to choosing someone's true sign: their "Word". I don't think this is officially a major part of the Extended Zodiac, but each sign is given their own word that represents them, a sort of "title" in its own right, and as you saw at the top, the "Word" for a Scorpio, Prospit, and Breath combination is: "The Victorious."

Victory is in a simple soul, indeed.

____________________________________

Weiss Schnee - May 15

Tauries - Sign of the Unsatisfied (Taurus, Derse, Time)

Funny story: it turns out that Weiss' birthday is very close to mine! I'm also a Taurus! I'll admit, I wasn't expecting Weiss to be a Taurus, though after comparing the details to what Weiss is like, I can see the connections.

The opening lines of the "Taurus" explanation are what really caught my eye for Weiss: they have a "warm and generous disposition, though you might not accuse them of it the first time you meet. They (can be) withdrawn and slow to open up... (they can) come off as arrogant and cold, like they think they are too good for everyone." That's basically Weiss' whole character arc in the early volumes! Weiss spends her early screen time living up to her nickname "Ice Queen", acting like a spoiled rich girl with a heart as cold as ice ("acting" might be putting it gently). But over time, she grows and learns along with her teammates and friends, showing off her warmer, gentler side in the later volumes.

Another thing to note is that Taurus' can be hedonistic, filling their homes with beautiful things if they have the means. No one's got an eye for luxurious items like the Ice Queen herself!

Next up is her Lunar Sway, which was a pretty obvious choice for me. Derse dreamers are skeptics, dissatisfied with almost everything in their lives. "Rebellion is in their blood... whether they are fighting back against a fascist dictatorship or the most recent trend in casual footwear." Again, Weiss' whole character arc! Despite being "born with all that (she) need(s), (her) comforts all guaranteed", Weiss is rebel through and through. Whether she's pinning her hair up asymmetrically, singing a rock opera rejection of her father's ways, or straight up disobeying and bending some rules to accomplish the team's goals, Weiss rebels in pretty much every way she can. Her shrewd and calculating mind doesn't hurt, either, leading to a perfectionist attitude and an aversion to unfamiliar situations that is very common for Derse Dreamers.

Now for her aspect. I kind of wanted her to be a Heart player, since it would fit with her theme of "Who am I, I'm the loneliest of all", but it didn't fit quite right, so I ended up with something more straightforward: Time.

Practically going hand in hand with Derse, "those bound to the aspect of time are fighters, full stop." They hate sitting still and looking pretty, and would much rather do anything and everything they can to fix a problem. Sound familiar? Weiss' personality fits pretty well here: she can be very empathetic to her friends and will relentlessly do her best to solve a problem (in particular, that brief scene from Volume 2 where she stubbornly tries to get a flower in a vase to stand up straight comes to mind). But of course, speaking of the earlier volumes, we get some of her worse traits: she can be ruthless to those she deems unworthy, gets very defensive of herself and her family name, even though she's aware of some of the less-than-stellar things her father's done, and can get impulsive when she's angry (Volume 1 is a big part of this).

Then of course, there's her Word: the Unsatisfied. That basically describe Weiss' whole arc: dissatisfied with the comforts and seeming perfection of her family, aware of the misdeeds done by her father, and aiming to do better, be better, Weiss fights to turn wrongs into rights, and won't be satisfied until everything's just so.

__________________________________

Blake Belladonna - January 19

Caprittarius - Sign of the Rift (Capricorn, Derse, Void)

In a world where some consider her only half a person, Blake is actually the highest ranking character on the hemospectrum (and ironically, Ice Queen Weiss is the lowest). I wasn't sure what I thought Blake would be, but it wasn't a Capricorn. But then I did a deeper dive, and things make a little more sense!

Capricorns are workaholics, stubborn and determined to reach their goal, their way. It can be difficult to change their minds, whether it's a political choice or a preference in restaurants. All of the characters in RWBY work hard, but you could argue that Blake's been working hard for the longest. Her younger life is marked with a stubborn need to bring equality and peace to the Faunus, and she continues to show that stubborn loyalty to who she is in later volumes, too (think of the scene in Volume 9 when the tree smoke's illusion suggests she could choose to be either a cat OR a human). One of the biggest things about Blake's zodiac, though, is her dedication to her goals and her relationships: "utterly, and without hesitation". (Her promise to Yang in particular comes to mind).

Next is her moon, which is fairly easy to pick: Derse. Yes, there's her rebellious streak, joining a revolution to fight for rights, even if not everything they did was legal, but it's more about Blake's thought process for me. Derse Dreamers are "great problem solvers, facing conflicts head-on with shrewd, calculating minds". Knowledge and problem solving is a big thing for Blake, be it from the books she reads or applying what she knows to strange situations (such as making the connection between the Ever After in Volume 9 to Alyx's story).

Now her aspect... I really wanted her to be a Light player, mostly because it would be a perfect foil to her color scheme, but as fitting as the aspect would have been... the Word didn't fit right. A Capripia (Capricorn, Derse, Light) is referred to as "the Brusque", a word that means "abrupt or offhand in speech or manner". Blake isn't afraid to say what she thinks, but something didn't sit right with me there. Blake typically puts a lot of thought into her words (I imagine she has to, being a member of a revolutionary organization and all). She's straightforward, not "abrupt". So, as fitting as Light was for her, I decided to look elsewhere. (Mind was a close second, but again, the word didn't fit).

Finally, I ended up with Void. Sure, haha, the character with the black color scheme gets the Aspect of darkness, but it's much more than that. A void player values potential, seeing possibilities where others see nothing. "A blank page, an empty canvas, that's what the Void-bound live for". More importantly, though, a Void player tends to cast doubt on things that are considered fact. What's a better fit for a revolutionary than that? Especially during the earlier volumes, Blake casted a lot of doubt on the status quo of several characters, namely Weiss and Ruby. For Weiss, casting doubt on Weiss' certainty that all Faunus are evil, and for Ruby, casting doubt on Ruby's ideal dream of becoming a hero like in fairytales.

And, of course, there's her personality traits: wise, intuitive, and vibrant at her best. Bookishness aside, Blake's done a lot for someone her age, and has some experience to back up her knowledge, even if some of it was skewed at one point or another. Despite her more withdrawn nature, she can be a pretty vibrant and happy person, too (waving a flag for the team in Volume 1, getting excited and a bit silly over tuna), and her experience gives her a good bit of intuition to utilize, too. Then the less positive traits: Blake was pretty dismissive and apathetic in the earlier volumes, as the "boring bookworm" type character. Later on, she was shown to be indecisive, leaving everyone behind without an explanation after the fall of Beacon (I interpret her departure as an inability to decide to face her past with her friends, especially in the wake of Yang losing her arm, though I'd understand if people made differing arguments).

Finally, the main reason I chose Blake's True Sign, her Word: "the Rift". Blake is very much known for the rifts she has a tendency to leave in groups she's been a part of. She created a rift between herself and her parents by sticking with the White Fang, even when they started being less peaceful. Then she created a rift between her and her past, hoping to escape the people and things she was a part of. Later, she brings a rift between Ruby and Yang, by leaving when Yang was at her lowest, which in turn lead to Yang not joining Ruby for her Volume 4 journey with the remnants of JNPR. Later again, Blake created a rift between Adam and the White Fang (though really, that was Adam's fault). It's practically Blake's bread and butter.

________________________________________

Yang Xiao Long - July 28

Lecer - Sign of the Loyalist (Leo, Prospit, Blood)

Hotter than the sun in the middle of July, Yang is a Leo! I figured someone like Yang would be a summer child, so Leo was a choice I was prepared for. It's a little easier to find connections when you were already expecting a certain option.

Leos are described as agreeable, lucky, generous, and a little bossy, which is already a fitting start for Yang (at least, in the earlier volumes). Yang is quick with affirmation and affection for people she cares about, while still being a domineering girlboss when she's on the hunt for important information (her trailer is easily a prime example of this.) Admittedly, her luck runs out pretty quickly in Volume 3, and while a typical Leo would ride out a rough patch fairly quickly, it takes at least a few months for Yang to get back up, armed and ready. But she does get back up, and that's more than some people can say after a traumatic experience like losing your arm! Especially for someone as fist oriented (or should I say, handy) as Yang!

Leos can also be known to hold a grudge, which is another factor of Yang's long recovery time. Not only had she lost her arm, she lost her partner and friend Blake without so much as a goodbye, and it took until the end of Volume 5 at MINIMUM (I say closer to the end of Volume 6) to forgive her and reach an understanding.

Surprisingly, picking Yang's Lunar Sway was the most difficult one for Team RWBY. Yes, Prospit is the obvious choice, being the golden moon and all, but for most of the earlier volumes, Yang was stuck in the past due to her mother disappearing, and Derse Dreamers are very much about analyzing the past. Eventually, though, Prospit won out, because Yang finally decided to stop looking for answers from her mom in Volume 5, instead living in the present with the family she chose with her sister and her friends. Yang's slightly more capricious attitude (a word meaning "sudden changes in moods or behavior"; think of how quick she can fly into a rage when her hair gets pulled in the earlier volumes!) is also fitting for a Prospit Dreamer. So there you go.

Technically, I think Time is a better fit for Yang than anything, but I kind of wanted to give each character their own aspect (which isn't realistic, of course, though we've never once seen an official Homestuck session with multiples of the same Aspect). After hunting around for a while (Rage was a very tempting choice), I ended up deciding on Blood for Yang. There are lots of good points here! Blood players "draw their strength from bonds, from the trust and camaraderie that blooms among a group of people who share a single vision". With Team RWBY in particular making special attack combinations out of the unique relationships between each member (such as Freezer Burn for Yang and Weiss, or Bumblebee for Yang and Blake), I think I can safely say that all of these characters draw strength from their relationships. Yang in particular, though, noticeably has a private moment alone with each of her team members. For Blake, it was in Volume 2, when Yang explained her journey to find her mom in order to convince Blake to rest. For Weiss, in Volume 5, Yang opened up to her in private about her feelings on Blake's apparent abandonment. Yang and Ruby likely had many moments like this, being sisters and all, though my mind in particular goes to volume 8, when the two talked about the Grimm Beast with silver eyes and their own separate failures and successes on their individual missions (The RWBPN and ORYJ arcs, though I'm sure there's a better name for them than that).

Finally, her personality traits lend themselves pretty well to being a Blood player, too: Yang is charismatic, uplifting, and magnetic, even to her enemies (again, the Yellow Trailer), and still able to crank out some one liners even when fighting dangerous enemies ("I! HOPE! YOU'RE! HUNGRY!" from Volume 1 and "I'm not done with you yet!" from Volume 9). Her lowest moments are good examples of a Blood player's less positive traits, too: especially during Volume 5 (I'm not counting Volume 4 because she was in her own house that whole volume), she can be sullen and set in her ways, having this sort of dull expression when dealing with anything less than what she deems important to her, even during the fight with the bandits in the woods. She's occasionally a bit unkind, too, getting a bit snippy and impatient when things don't go well. It works out!

And now, my final point: Yang's Word is: "the Loyalist", which is pretty darn fitting for her, I think. Yang is intensely loyal to all her friends, and while she may need a break every now and then to do her own thing (looks at Volume 8), she always returns to support her loved ones in their fight against the darkness. Something interesting to note is how a loyalist tends to be loyal to the status quo, typically in a government type situation. I guess that would make her friendships and love her status quo? It's something to think about.

_____________________________

Anyway, I've been typing for over two hours and it probably shows. I'm going to bed. Thanks for sticking around.

[doesnteatstyrofoam]

because you know i had to and all here are my results from the official extended zodiac quiz and honestly its spot on

tldr its libries

                                         SIGN OF THE EXECUTIVE

If your true sign is Libries, then you possess the unique combination of qualities held by all Teal Signs, Derse Dreamers, and Time-bound.

                                                 Sign Class: Teal

Teal Signs are natural charmers. Social and flirtatious, they are great at parties and public speaking events. Even though they aren't afraid to use their many engaging qualities in both personal and business ventures, they have a strong moral sense. Right and wrong are very obvious to a Teal Sign, and it can frustrate them that others don't see the world the same way they do. Their idealism can make them strong defenders of justice, but it can also result in them being incredibly let down. Their strict adherence to procedure can lead to errors in judgement; they can be gullible and too quick to trust. They have vibrant imaginations, and enjoy fiction and roleplaying, and often those games will resemble the lives they want to be living. Deep down, they often long for a hero, someone they can idolize and count on, with the smarts and charisma to keep up with them. Unfortunately, they have a tendency to get involved with people who are very obviously wrong for them out of a desire not to be alone. Many Teal Signs are better off being single, at least until someone really extraordinary comes along.

                                             Lunar Sway: Derse

Derse Dreamers have personalities marked by a distinct and restless skepticism. Whatever their waking circumstances, chances are they will live in a state of dissatisfaction. Rebellion is in their blood, manifesting whether they are fighting back against a fascist dictatorship, or the most recent trend in casual footwear. Derse Dreamers are cerebral and self-aware; they have a far better grasp on the landscape of their own minds than on the world around them, which they can find alienating and confusing. But as so much of their identity is built on control, they will do their utmost to hide any insecurities, often with false humility or self-deprecating humor. They may be inflexible and pessimistic, but they are also great problem solvers, facing conflicts head-on with shrewd, calculating minds. They see one true path among an infinite snarl of wrong ones. They tend to be introverted, but if you win their trust Derse Dreamers are extremely powerful allies. However, they find sincere vulnerability difficult and will often keep people at arm's length. Letting go and living in the moment is hard for a Derse Dreamer; they constantly look toward the future and analyze the past.

                                                  Aspect: Time

Those bound to the aspect of Time are fighters, full stop. Their lives are often marked by struggle, not so much because fate has it in for them, but because they are fundamentally incapable of just accepting things as they come. They value action over passive acceptance, even if that may not be the wisest or safest choice. Don't try to tell a Time-bound to sit still and look pretty. They are very goal-focused, and tend to value the destination over the journey, and you won't find them making that journey in any traditional sort of way. To quote cheesy posters found on many a guidance counselor's wall-"impossible is just a word". If you need a miracle, they are who you call. At their best, the Time-bound are empathetic and relentless problem-solvers. At their worst they are ruthless, defensive, and impulsive.