#psycho-pomp

[redux-iterum]

Hoooookay, so, “defanging Clan culture”. This is something I’ve noticed pervasive in a lot of people’s propositions for “a better Clan culture” (and by extension, other societies like the Tribe and the Sisters). They see the unfairness either consciously or unconsciously built into the societies and go, “That’s bad,” and reactionarily erase it from their own work. The Clans forbid medicine cats from having families for stupid reasons, so these medicine cats can have families. Adoption is treated weirdly by canon, so these Clans have Correct™ ways of viewing adoption. I could go on.

 However, the end result is an unrealistically utopic society. The code is designed to be free from abuse; not a single bad thought enters the head of a character unless The Plot Demands So; toms, mollies, and jacks have nothing stopping them from filling any role; everyone regardless of age, gender, ability status, background, sexual orientation, mental status, etc, is happy because this society welcomes and accepts all.

I’ll take my leave before the flowers start singing.

Now, if you just want to experiment with an idealized Clan culture with zero shades of darkness, more power to you.

But I think something a lot of people are misguided on is that a well-built setting doesn’t necessarily mean a utopic one. Many stories have unfair aspects to their fictional societies, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with depicting these or having a protagonist who believes in something counter to what we do, even if said protagonist never changes their opinions on it by book or series’ end (especially in adult media, and to a lesser extent in YA).

What I think is more constructive and elevates worldbuilding is instead to work out the “why is it like this” and the “how did it come to be like this” and delve further into the “what if it was…”. Take medicine cats not having families, for instance: canon’s “why” and “how” are very similar, “a medicine cat couldn’t be a mom and a doctor and so forbade anyone else from having a family.” Most of us find that very stupid. A reactionary approach would just go, “a medicine cat can have a family,” but a reconstructive approach would integrate medicine cats’ celibacy into the culture by instead going, “medicine cats cannot build families for a religious reason; they are to be as detached from the moral realm as possible so they can remain attuned to their warrior ancestors, and this attunement is muddied by indulging in earthly things like raising a family.” Unfair? Yes, but it’s good worldbuilding.

 Before someone puts words in my mouth, what I’m not saying is, “I think the Clans need to be grimmdark,” but what I am saying is, “think about how the Clans (or Tribe or Sisters or whatever) would realistically view X or Y and how they interconnect with other aspects of their culture.” It’s okay for a society to still need growing up to do; aren’t we all like that?

Side-note before I finish: while thinking about this in relation to canon Warriors, it came to me that part of the reason why we as the readers are so miffed at why the code hasn’t been changed to alleviate inter-Clan relationships despite constant drama surrounding them (ignoring the aspect that the authors love forbidden romance), is because it keeps getting shoved in our faces so often and constantly abused for drama. Had forbidden relationships not be used so often as instigators of drama, I don’t think we would’ve spurred the Erins into addressing it in TBC and ASC.

[lyricalchrysanthemum]

20 for sinnoh trio?

20.) a nostalgic memory from your OC’s childhood?

A lot of nostalgia for this three gets clouded by childhood trauma for them unfortunately. Mostly because the three of them had to grow up real fast dealing with the horrors of the world. And as a result their childhood, even later down the line when they’ve fully come to terms with what happened when they’re adults in Paldea and are starting to make futures on their own, and came to the conclusion that they love the world, it’s all very tainted.

But I think the concept of a simple time when they aren’t trying to grasp with the horrors, even if tainted, is still something they treasure.

Dawn often thinks about her times with Barry in the playground. There’s a specific memory where she remember him scraping his knee in the playground and his parents coming to his aid. She remembers their parents coming to investigate just what happened and why their children were crying (they both were because if one kid starts crying the other most certainly will as well). But it becomes fond when she just remembers both of their parents comforting them, watching Barry’s mom take out a first aid kit and watching her cover up the injury. It was simpler. Back when the tender embrace of your mom and a first aid kit could heal all.

A nostalgic memory for Barry would be with his parents as well. His dad was never around often as far as he knew, but back when his relationship with his mom was better and there wasn’t tension they would often just . Go in their backyard and play. Barry would hang off and piggyback on Dragonite, roughhousing with Palmer’s pokemon. Back when mom and dad got along, back when his own bad thoughts never existed. Like Dawn’s, it was a simpler time back when he didn’t have to grapple with complicated feelings.

Lucas grew up very lonely child and his childhood was very empty. He was loved, don’t get him wrong, he remembers the loving embrace of his parents who would support him in all he did. But he just spent time studying, it’s all he knew. So the first proper “nostalgic” memory is him catching his first pokemon. Having professor Rowan by his side, and feeling that rush seeing the new entry, as well as just the feeling of accomplishment that HE did it. It gave him a sense of rush and childlike wonder, back when learning didn’t feel so complicated.

They also have nostalgic memories together, such as arcade visits, poffin making, and Barry rushing ahead with Lucas trying to catch up, Dawn following far behind at her own pace. Again, back when things were more simple.

[jeekarru]

some telegram stickers!!!!

my tg channel - https://t.me/windy31meow :D

[bratspike]

8, 16, 21!

love that i asked you 8 too. going to do all yellowjackets

8. common fandom opinion everyone is wrong about

i disagree that lottie is a lesbian. i think as a teen she is genuinely attracted to travis and as an adult she has a castiel endverse who cares it’s all sex attitude so she does sleep with men. maybe less often. and she fucks them with the strap too don’t worry

16. you can’t understand why so many people like this thing

you’re baiting me with this but mistynat. i like conceptually get it but to me nat just has like. zero emotions about misty. and there’s just nothing that i want to sink my teeth into there. and we all know im natlottietravis girl and to be honest i think the narrative is pointing very very strongly to those three being the core of the show and therefore misty is an impediment not an essential person for nat. love and light

21. part of canon you think is overhyped

laura lee im so sorry i think she lived and died and slayed but that’s about it

[nerdierholler]

Regency vampires and Book of Death!! I would love to hear more!!

Thank you for asking!

The initial worldbuilding for the Regency Vampires is here (fixed link) there's about 15 short posts if you want to know more. WHOOPS the original link was funky and missing stuff. I fixed it.

And I've posted a few things previously for the Psychopomps here.

There's some snippets of both under the cut!

Regency Vampires

TL;DR, In this world, vampires live openly as part of, if not entirely accepted by, upper society and have done so for several centuries. They're bound by strict rules and closely monitored, but of course on the surface everyone is oh so polite. I don't have many scenes for this written but here is the vampire heroine running into a vampire friend at a ball.

“I’m only recently arrived back. A slight wound sent me home earlier than planned.” “I’m sorry to hear that, I hope it was nothing serious.” James rubbed a hand over his shoulder, his face betraying a barest hint of remembered pain. “Nothing of concern and already well on its way to being healed, although I imagine it will leave a scar behind as a reminder.” Bess did her best to hide the concern and surprise that threatened to come to the surface. Those of the kindred did not scar easily, that James mentioned it at all meant it must have been a serious injury. She nodded in unspoken acknowledgement, “I’m glad it was nothing more serious and you have returned to your family. Will you be staying in London for the season while you recover?” “Yes, the family thinks I could use some pleasant diversions after being abroad for so long. They were quite insistent in fact.” Bess understood completely, the Banelfords wanted to parade him before the ton to show the great service their family had provided, in accordance with the charter.

(Psycho)pomps and Circumstance

They really are a bit of a chaos crew. I love them dearly but could never come up with any big plot, it's all slice of life and little conversations. Maybe that's enough? I don't know. I've given up on ever having enough thoughts or ideas to put together for something long. Just not how my writing brain works.

Anywho, Thanatos is the suit wearing middle manager of the bunch with an affinity for coffee, so the coffee shop is usually where he checks on Dani.

“I didn’t think you were going to make it today,” she said. “I’ve had three pickups already this morning and another 12 after.”  They called Dani’s name and she grabbed her coffee, sipping it while Thanatos still waited. “Honestly,” he continued, “I thought about just popping in for a look and a wave but I’m going to need something to get me through the rest of these. Besides, you were already at the front of the line so I didn’t have to wait.” Dani rolled her eyes, “Glad to see where your priorities are.” “Coffee and work are always at the top of the list, you know that.” “I see how it is.” Dani dramatically put a hand to her chest, “Our friendship means nothing. Dear god, you wound me. Is this how I go? A crushed heart?” Thanatos didn’t even pretend to inspect the invisible threat of fate that Dani knew allowed him to see when her death was near. “Not today my good lady.” They called for Thanatos and he grabbed his coffee. He took a long drink and sighed, “Back to work.”

[thatoneconfusedcitrus]

hey I wanna get into ppt2, should I watch the first season or is it fine to skip to the second?

oh!! to be honest, i watched the second season first with june. the first season isn't exactly too important unless you want like. a little bit extra context and some personal character lore that's a little hinted at for the characters from the first season? UM if you watch the first season just be aware that it was made by yellow when he was a little kid. soooooo. don't expect high quality anything HBJIDAESNJIAESHIA BUT YEAH you're good to watch the second season straight up

[kitkat-4772]

Can we come back to this masterpiece now?

I for one, would like to think Apollo listens to Danny rant about all these people keep calling him the wrong title because humans just can’t get his name right even if he spouts it to the world. Apollo odds treating this like his own personal soap opera and eating popcorn the whole time. Then he goes back to the meeting with Zeus and the others hear about and now they’re watching the chaos.

And somewhere in Fawcett City, Billy is wondering why the gods are giggling at some guy named “Danny”.

Ghosts Tell Me

~

Ghosts gather near the place where something bad is going to happen,

Danny with his ghost sense tends to notice before anyone else and tends to react outwardly before the danger even happens, gaining a reputation of seeing the future,

Ghosts also tell Danny things, causing Danny to know more about situations and the people around him, it comes of as suspicious.

~

Danny pulling away a snack from his coworker: "Careful your allergic to these ingredients!"

Coworker: "How the hell...I've never mentioned that to anyone."

~

Danny on a phone call with his friends while doing his nightly walks in Gotham: "Yeah so apparently the second Robin who is now Red Hood has very personal beef with the clown here cuz he got killed by him after being sold out by his bio mom, which really sucks for the poor guy."

Oracle who has been keeping an Eye on Danny cuz he's very suspicious from an outsiders pov: "Hey B, I think we have a problem."

~

Danny notices that the ghost in Gotham tends to gather where something bad is going to happen, the more they are the worse the situation will be: *glowing smoke leaves from his mouth* "Yikes! Very bad vibes here, nope!"

Gothamites who at this point recognize him and know the drill and quickly pack up their things to leave:

~

Just an Idea

[tofusquisha]

the pomp, the psycho;

psychopomp!

(music and character from the game (named psychopomp (extremely good check it out)))

[lilyisda1]

Pomp and Psycho-stance idk

[veltroxx]

Did the man know the video would be broadcast to the world? Did he realize that his interaction in front of the drone’s lens would be seen by an entire nation? Absolutely not. Certainly not. Without a doubt, no.

When the protagonist of Thorns and Carnations threw his weapon at the invincible aircraft, it wasn’t to be admired or to set an example. Bloodied and standing to his last breath, he was challenging his enemy with honor, not seeking to create a heroic image. He wasn’t bound by the fear of defeat or driven to make his final act one of indomitable bravery.

He was simply a true leader, confronting his enemy with nothing but courage. All he wanted was to deny his foe the satisfaction of a victory where brute force triumphs over the sword in the final act. His only goal was to leave his enemy — and his enemy alone — with a look of defiance that would echo in their memory forever.

In that moment, the man didn’t see us. He didn’t care to be seen by us. He saw only his enemy, focused solely on challenging them with his final breath.

But fate had other plans. Fate turned his final stand into an immortal memory, witnessed by the world — a testament to his bravery, heroism, and sacrifice, and to his enemy’s arrogance and incompetence. Free palestine and fuck Israel.

@beekily @dorisdank @white-truesdale @z0mborb

@z0mborb @dwarvendiaries @coppola-cat @splend-42

@redspringthorn @arrogantwerpen @master7mindd @ztohovey

@opencommunion @st4rshiptr00per @commonstarguy @smitethestate

@bobby-the-wallflower @dericbindel @whoisthisboy @inayatheitabby @unclebaldfragrantbeauty

@mixingmetaphorsoup @styanax @quantumized-insanity @gallifreyanwriter @haroldandmod

@hotvampireadjacent @dramaticband-freaks @septemberlikestea @casualbaloth

@jacobtheloofah @eldritch-bee @gaelic-galpal @hedging-my-bets @voxvalentine

@azierm @isaac-dressen @thestarofdoom @thepageofhopes

@frotwithdanger @thydungeongal @irononi @tim-official @splend-42

@rainystarlightgardener @sidrakkon @undeadhorse @the-quasar-hero @osmanthusoolong

@wagahai-da @rocket-candy-heart @canwriteitbetterthanueverfeltit @randomworld22 @thepiratedragon

@a-boros-named-seamus @postcardsfromliminalplaces @2spirit-0spoons @fhucc @boy-and-girl-crazy123456

@hemera-kai-nyx @complimentaryculler @plant-cell-park @simping-4-venti @psycho-pomp

@heavymetalvi @molsno @sappholover1007 @ringneckedpheasant @daysten444

@hotvampireadjacent @jamie-55 @meckamecha @xix-the-all @the-cynicall-insurgent

@lesbian-bar-delicious @the-eldritch-it-gay @forceofinfinitediscovery @melodramatic-kitten @wilsons-hotlittleprettyboymouth

@baphomets-hairy-bonkhonagahoogs @bite-my-grimy-fleshy-ass @carefulmisbehaving @derealized-biscuis @mishwellbelle

@itseasytoremember @voxvalentine @dumpster-of-amontillado @ihavearandom @watermelonh3adache

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@ldfgamer @ooh-sluggie @wick-24 @arkromes @kinged

@rampagingpoet @diffidentdilligaf @blackwing-the-raven @screamingrubbergeese @hellforcertain

@scarlet-rosepetals @anarchistmemecollective @watermelonh3adache @fwipfwoparoni

@probablyasocialecologist @partyhardymcfarty @pregnantseinfeld @glitterbread @vampireopossum

@unburdenedhooks @slapshot1977 @neafotia @sigilofthevoid @shrimpcache

@capricool @hellavictor @panmennoby @amarkymarkus @dapper-dwarf

@gae-bolg-alternative-dot-exe @the-funtime-autocrat @niconiconwo @viewtifulgio @simplygnawful

@pregnantseinfeld @frog-squad @geeseareassholes @synthetic-syn @blackwing-the-raven

@lazydragon0316 @lovedlovingly @unadulteratedragon @lavishcabbage @itseasytoremember

@amandamarshallvevo @lesbianchemicalplant @cosm1c-fauna @amesbobanes @sayruq

[outrageousmenshair]

… DFS SCS MFI MRI ECG DAT CAT DOG HOG PIG BIG BPM BMP PNG DOC XLS XXL XXX BMX XPS DFS… and around we go again. Nah, but seriously, he’s one mean lookin’ mutha with killer class in this impeccable retro rockabilly flattop pomp teddy boy quiff.

He’d look awesome with a horseshoe flat if he ever decided to ditch a coupla inches.

[fadingclub]

What text font did you use for psycho pomp?

It's a custom font I made called dbStylez. I initially made it for DashBored 2, but I ended up also using it in DreamWild and Psychopomp.

[thisbelongsto-nohbodys]

The Disney Universal has unlimited potential! Finding out there's families of dragons protecting regular people from magical threats. Lilo and her Ohana??? Monsters in the closet?

Realizing your toys came to life without one around.

Anne gonna be getting shock after shock after ascending, isn't she?

[During Goddess orientation]

D3: and that’s roughly everything. If you have any questions, you can refer to either an avatar, psycho pomp or the celestial guidebook.

Anne: …how did all of this happen under all of our noses?

D3: You’d be surprised at how self-centered most “intelligent” species are.

[beehiveofblorbos]

I reflected on what actual death flags Venti has and I couldn’t remember any just that I strongly believed at one point (and some of it lingers) that he was likely to die. Didn’t know abt the leaked voicelines either lmfao that’s pretty comforting. Anyway

What are Venti death flags if y’all think he has any?

Hi.

"Death flags" aren't real. Hope this helps. There is no such thing. Stop fearmongering.

Venti can not die. He is literally born from the branches of time, is connected to istaroth, God of time, can see the future and has leaked voicelines about when traveler becomes allies with Tsaritsa. That fucker is here to stay, AT LEAST until the end of Snezhnaya arc.

[thefallenangelsgang]

The Avantris Fam Discord got this a few days early, but, in a burst of academic energy I haven't felt in weeks, I wrote a 2k word Literary Analysis on Marius from Edge of Midnight in 4 hours (complete with citations and sources)

What you are about to read is the culmination of an 18 day hyper fixation (I averaged more than a session* a day) (*each session being about 3 hours in length). It has only been slightly edited for better Tumblr consumption. It is legitimately almost 2k words. It starts VERY academic (as I get to flex my knowledge on an obscure Arthurian legend I love) and then immediately drops off in quality as I traverse some "dubious psycho-analysis" (my own words) and try to wrap up a half finished thoughts that should be thousands of words longer.

If you want to see my active descent into madness or the original google doc this was written in, join the discord (linked above!). I've got massive Legends of Avantris Brain Rot and will for a very long time I fear.

TW for Sexual Assault Themes (please tell me if my tw tags are not extensive enough)

CW for my insufferable academic attitude, literary analysis where no one wanted it, "dubious psycho-analysis", half finished thoughts, DnD, vampires, and my sailors mouth

Marius: An Analysis on Chivalry and Chastity

Break to save your dash

To get the literary shit out of the way, Marius’s seduction is a parallel of the Arthurian Legend “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” intentionally or not. I have a sneaking suspicion perhaps The Duchess scene is also based on the “Tale of Sir Galahad” bit in Monty Python and the Holy Grail BUT that bit draws inspiration from Gawain’s story. So no matter which way you cut it, Marius is connected to Gawain to SOME degree.

Attempting to be brief, I’ll sum up Gawain as briefly as I, someone who loves this tale a ridiculous amount, can.

Gawain is King Arthur’s nephew, a knight of the round table, young, chivalrous, pious, but itching to prove himself. He loves the aging Arthur and Arthur loves him like a son but he feels restless in his station because he has not gone on a great quest like many of the other knights. 

Serendipitously, during the New Years celebrations a strange man enters Arthur’s great hall. He is green and carries a great axe in one hand and a bough of holly in his other. He challenges anyone in the room to hit him with the axe and he will return the blow in a year and a day. No one takes the man up on the challenge. Arthur is about to do it when Gawain takes his chance to prove himself. Thinking he can outsmart the Green Knight, Gawain cleaves the man’s head from his shoulders. Unexpectedly the Green Knight picks up his detached head, leaves the axe for Gawain as a trophy, and strides out of there with the reminder that he will return the blow in a year and a day. Gawain has effectively doomed himself.

Attempting to put off his fate, Gawain waits to seek the Green Knight until All Saints Day (November 1st). He is sent forth with all of the pomp and circumstance a Knight of the Round Table and favorite of King Arthur can get. He spends nearly two months seeking someone who knows of the Green Chapel where the Green Knight resides and is fruitless. Winter sets in and he begins to suffer exposure when he is greeted by a beautiful castle that seemingly appears out of nowhere. He meets the Lord of the Castle and the Lord's beautiful wife. In the spirit of Christmas the Lord challenges Gawain to a game. The Lord will be hunting the next three days, anything he catches is to be Gawain’s. In return Gawain is to give the Lord anything he receives during his stay.

Well what Gawain receives is a lot of unwanted attention from the Lord’s wife. She attempts to seduce the ever pious Knight. Gawain, minding his promise and his tenets, only allows her six kisses over the course of the three days. All of which he returns to the Lord. But seeing as she can’t sway him with the sins of the flesh, she tempts Gawain with magic. The same day she convinces Gawain to receive three kisses she offers him an enchanted sash that will keep him from harm. Gawain accepts this knowing it will save his life in the coming days. He breaks his promise to the Lord and does not divulge this gift.

Gawain keeps his appointment with the Green Knight who admonishes Gawain when he flinches at the first swing, holds back on his second, and finally drives home the third, only wounding Gawain slightly. Gawain now must confess his temptation to the Green Knight who tells him that it is not Gawain’s fault. This has all been a plan by Morgan le Fay to attempt to ruin Arthur. Gawain only fell to part of her plan and so it has been thwarted. He should learn from this stumble on his path. And learn he does.

Monty Python takes this tale and guts it for “the Tale of Sir Galahad” segment. Galahad is instead searching for the Grail when he stumbles upon a mystical castle with a grail shaped beacon. His temptress(es) are the “8 scores” of young women of Castle Anthrax. He too enters the castle sick from exposure and wounded and thwarts unwanted advances until he learns that the grail is not there. Before he can fall to his temptation Lancelot, Ector, and ironically Gawain rescue him from his “peril” judging it to be “too perilous” for him to face. (It is really important to note that the actual Sir Galahad in Arthurian Legend doesn’t have a story that even resembles this one. Galahad is supposed to be an emulation of good ol’ Jesus Christ and the perfect chivalric Knight. He literally ascends to heaven in his tale. The only reason Gawain’s Tale is used is because it is the perfect setting to test “Sir Galahad the Pure” as long as you fudge a few details.)

These are both humorous stories with happy endings. It is important that Marius’s story is not.

Marius is searching for the Grail much like Sir Galahad in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (a parallel Mikey brings up often by singing “Brave, Brave, Brave, Brave Sir Robin Marius”). 

Like both Gawain and Galahad his quest leads him on a lengthy adventure that causes him to suffer from exposure to the elements. A fate he is saved from by a mystical castle that appears out of nowhere. 

Much like Gawain and Galahad, this Castle is the home of a seductress. 

And all too much like Sir Gawain, the Lord of this Castle is away on a hunting expedition. 

But here is where Sir Gawain, Sir Galahad, and Sir Marius’s stories diverge. Because Marius’s story partially is a story of sexual assault. 

We see in the ritual that Marius’s “head is filled with exhaustion, wine, and a strange perfume that feels almost magical in its enchantment” (Nikkie’s narration, 2:32:00, Chapter 17). There’s literally no other way to say this, Marius cannot consent to the acts about to take place in The Red Duchess’s bedchamber. He is too sick, too drunk, and, on top of it, literally charmed. 

His affliction is also another facet of this assault. While his transformation is not a direct result or part of the sex act, it follows quickly on the heels of it. Nikkie even notes Marius is still naked and that the shame of what has just happened is beginning to bubble up.

(Now this is where I get into the dubious psycho-analysis)

Perhaps attempting to swallow that shame, he accepts the Faux Grail and drinks from it, not questioning the appearance of the so-called Grail of Dawn. If he can just get through this night he can bring it back to Victor and all will be righted. He can live with the shame if it saves his kingdom. 

But that isn’t the Grail of Dawn he is drinking from and the woman who has just taken something irreplaceable from him is not just a beautiful woman looking for the comforts of the flesh on a cold, lonely winter’s night. And he is going through something so much more horrible than being assaulted like he has been.

And so he ends up back in the cold, irrevocably changed through no fault of his own, and he hates himself for it.

It’s heartbreakingly common that Sexual Assault survivors blame themselves for being assaulted. Marius’s conviction that he was at fault, that if only he was stronger, smarter, less feeble, he could have found a way to say no. He could have escaped her clutches. He wouldn’t be a Dhampir. He wouldn’t be haunted by her noxious perfume. He would still have his clear connection to Lathander. 

None of it is really his fault. The Duchess took advantage of him. There was truly nothing he could have done to change his fate that night.

At this point I am trying to articulate some of the things @middycat_ @zer09851 and @purpledinosaurdnd were talking about here https://discord.com/channels/223485292449890305/892828741900849182/1182483200505815153 

I think I want to jump into my High Inquisitor thoughts because they tie so closely with the novel I wrote above. This section is admittedly a little more scatterbrained. 

The High Inquisitor is a perfect example of both Marius’s self loathing and the way abusers seemingly can sniff out who has been abused before. From the second we meet her she singles Marius out. While yes, Marius is the most “normal” out of the EoM cast, Jericho is a MUCH easier target. He is touch starved and his sin is literally Envy. Jericho would have bent immediately at the first hints of affection and then she has an actual demon under her control. But Marius, though a tougher catch, is a much tastier meal so to say. (Not in that way you freaks /j) 

By answering to the High Inquisitor’s beckoning is how we end up with Marius as the Crimson Abbot. His self hatred would make him spiral and he’d turn to his Wrath to compensate. We’ve seen it before, especially recently when he thinks Lathander has abandoned him. He gives in because it's so much easier. She wants me? Fine. Let her have me in all of my broken glory. I’m too wrong to serve Lathander. Etc etc. 

Man, I wish I could string these thoughts together better.

AHA! This was the thought I had that I felt needed more context! 

@middycat_ brought up “hoping beyond hope that it’s not lathander’s choice to leave him”

I think the severed connection between him and Lathander is both a subconscious self-sabotage and a direct result of the ritual binding him to The Red Duchess. 

Most of the binding rituals I was pretty comfortable with. Lethica, Briggsy, Farryn, and somewhat Yorgrim were simply binding themselves to their gods/patrons. (I’m still not entirely sure what the Maiden of the Mists' whole deal is about but she seems mostly benevolent for now. Mr Crossroads didn’t really make Briggsy that way, he kinda was a bastard from the start. The zombification was a result of “fuck around and find out”). The ones I felt least comfortable with and that are reaping the most consequences are Jericho and Marius. Jericho’s character analysis is another similarly sized tome that will have to wait but he is having a harder and harder time keeping Virgil in check. Marius has bound himself to the woman that literally raped him. 

No wonder Lathander has found it hard to commune with him, The Duchess is practically breathing down his neck, whispering in his ear that he is not worthy of Lathander. He has been debased, ruined, made unloveable in the eyes of that god. And at least up until Chapter 22 he has been pushing back against that. Not any longer. He’s given in. As @middycat_ said “he’s a tired old man, a jaded old soldier who should have long since given up this fight to someone else.” 

I am afraid we are about to see the beginnings of the Crimson Abbot

And the only thing that can save Marius are his friends.

But I am also afraid they may not learn their lessons in time. Many of them tried to encourage him to fuck or made fun of him for not fucking the High Inquisitor when he was clearly triggered by something. 

Jericho will have to quash his envy. 

Briggsy and Farryn will have to admit they were wrong.

Lethica and Yorgrim will have to speak up.

Inaction hurts as much as action

And Marius needs all the help he can get.

[If you stuck this out A) you deserve awards and B) check out my other 2k word research essay on a niche topic: Why Ghouls Look Different Across the Fallout Games (Not because of Stylistic Differences) ]

This is fucking insane but here are the sources i used

Sir Gawain

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Gawain_and_the_Green_Knight https://www.yorku.ca/inpar/sggk_neilson.pdf (Translation PDF if you want to read the tale)

Sir Galahad

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galahad (for the one time i reference his actual arthurian legend)

Monty Python (I really can’t believe I cited this)

https://montycasinos.com/montypython/grailmm2.php.html (This is a script I was quoting from) https://montypython.fandom.com/wiki/Sir_Galahad (I was looking for other info on him in the movie but ended pulling the list of knights from this)

Pretty basic article on why victims blame themselves

https://www.throughthewoodstherapy.com/sexual-assault-survivors-blame/ (In case you want to do some light reading)

EoM Episodes

17 + 22 Definitely Anytime the High Inquisitor shows up

[nerves-nebula]

Really curious about the inspiration for the napkin in the new version of the boar comic. In the original where the boy bleeds alone it emphasised to me how isolated he way, how became more and more bloody but the voice didn't seem to care. But in the new version this strange and monstrous hand leans in and lends him a napkin. The boy didn't ask for it but it but the voice gave it anyway, as a small quiet act of kindness. It's strangely reassuring? To know that someone cares for this boy? Even in very small ways, ways that do not save him but offer the tiniest bit of comfort

So yeah I'm curious on that choice

THANK YOUUUUU OK SO !!! that was in response to one of my professors criticisms. he wanted there to be a reveal of/to know who the voice was, but to me that wasn't the point. the point is that this interviewer is a kind of psycho pomp, or after-life bureaucrat, but who they are and the form they take is unimportant. however i understood his critique so i wanted to give more of a hint to who this person is, and at least confirm they are a nonhuman entity.

it's also combined with a critique he had that there should generally be more stuff going on, a lot of the shots are very basic/the same, just the kid but doing slightly different things. so the napkin/hankerchief gave the kid more to do i feel.

AND it (coincidentally) corrected something you've brought up here, which is that while the kid died alone, he ISN'T alone now. I don't want it to seem like the voice talking to him is uncaring. it's alien and kind of cold in a professional way, but it isn't uncaring. it's whole job is to look after this soul, if you go with the psycho pomp interpretation, it's a shepherd and this kid is its little lamb.

in the original, when the kids starts bleeding, the voice doesn't mention it because the voice *expected* this to happen. this is a normal occurrence, not anything strange. but i never once considered that this could be read as it not caring, so yknow, the napkin fixes that too :)