#sb; are you the baron

[fireemblems24]

Azure Gleam Ch 8

Spoilers for AG below. 😭😭😭😭😭😭 Last chapter was 😭😭😭😭😭😭

STORY

Cornelia just needs to go awayyyyy. It's ok, more beating up on Cornelia is good.

Poor Annette, her uncle turned against Dimitri 😭😭😭 Poor baby has to fight her uncle.

Oh, more Faerghus history. It got split into 3 at one point, which explains why House Dominic might fight against Dimitri. They think her uncle is sort of forced into the uprising.

I'm so glad they want to convince her uncle to change sides. Steal their leader too.

God, I love this route.

Duscur chief throwing their full support behind Dimitri. I love this so much 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

I'm so happy to see Dimitri getting some love. Can Dedue talk to this guy too, though? At least Dedue was there.

Dimitri giving Dedue and Rodrigue credit. And Dedue giving Dimitri credit. Ofc these two.

Dedue getting to talk about Duscur 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Dimitri switched from "my" to "our" duty. Boy is growing up and LISTENING to Felix. Good 😭😭😭. And Felix, like, not being abusive but helpful. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

CAMP/SIDE BATTLES

Man, I love seeing so many people from Duscur in the camp now. More than there used to be.

Wait, did Hapi just call Dimitri "Didi?" That's really cute.

Ah, people commenting that it seems like Felix and Rodrigue are now getting along 😊😊😊😊😊😊

Flayn is too precious for this world. Saying she's noticed that Dimitri looks more at peace and credits that to his friends and says she wants more friends herself.

Oh, oh, it sounds like from Catherine we're getting Shamir on this route soon!

Ingrid is just casually talking with someone from Duscur about training with the spear. Bless this game for giving us these details. Ingrid. Deserves. Character. Development. (and to live, fuck Scarlet Blaze).

Dimitri's boyfriends are talking and he's like handing out at the bottom of the stairs where he can hear but not see them. II bet he's listening in, lol.

Oh, they're talking about Duscur soldiers. Felix only cares that they're good fighters. Of course he does. Felix is so sour. I love him.

Dimitri spent the night getting scolded by Felix. 😌 I hope they had fun. 👌 On a serious note, apparently Felix and Dimitri used to talk together all night and this was like old times. This group, I swear. Dedue came in and argued with Felix. Three-way. 😌

Edelgard is attacking us. Shocking.

Dimitri's torn between needing to attack the West and defending himself from Edelgard.

Rodrigue wants to focus on the West. So does Dimitri.

Seteth tells Dimiri to send Serios to defend Faerghus.

Looks like Annette's uncle is finding out the truth about Duscur. Seems like he'll side with Dimitri now.

Baron Dominic sympathizes with them (as Lambert favored the Eastern lords, or so they claim, who knows), but has some interesting dialogue.

"I understand the situation you found yourself in, but I fail to see the righteousness or necessity in the measures you chose." And even better. "Yet one can never predict what may lie on the other side of a violent, radical revolution." "Surely a dialogue is a more preferable to cold-blooded murder." Safe to say he'd never side with Edelgard.

Annette, your uncle is based.

Cornelia is back. Man, she's by far the most fun villain.

INGRID & RODRIGUE C SUPPORT

Super happy they let these two support. But if they start talking about Glenn, I'm going to cry.

They're talking strategy together.

Ingrid's like "I command Galatea, I can't retreat." 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 (she just died in SB for anyone wondering)

Rodrigue is helping her figure it all out. He's such a Team Dad in this game, and I LOVE it. This is exactly what I thought his supports would be like.

Oh, Ingrid's brother used to serve as Rodrigue's squire. He was the one who came up with the strategy.

Glad I get to hear more about Ingrid's brothers. I think they got mentioned like once and I always find it cool that she's the heir over her brothers despite men always getting favored over women.

Rodrigue also wants to make sure Ingrid takes care of herself. He's such a Dad.

SHEZ & DIMITRI B SUPPORT

Dimitri got knocked out while training and is beating himself up over it. Shez blames his exhaustion. Let's be real. She's right.

"Dedue and Felix in particular didn't know what to do with themselves." Man, this game ships Dimilix and Dimidue so hard.

Shez ran things while Dimitri was out. Setting up camp.

"Everyone, and I mean everyone, thinks you need to take more breaks." I love this side of Dimitri so much.

Ah, Shez, Ingrid, Sylvain, Ashe, Annette, Rodrigue, Mercedes, Felix, and Dedue all getting mentioned doing various things. I love how much these supports mention other Blue Lions.

Dimitri's insisting he's doing better, but he's doing too much. I love how he mentioned that this is what he wants to do too.

Shez accuses Dimitri of not trusting them, but Dimitri says it's not about that.

Shez told everyone about the C support stuff with Dimitri burying the villagers who died in the war.

Man, I love these two as friends. Someone lighthearted like Shez just plays off someone somber like Dimitri so well.

DIMITRI & DEDUE B SUPPORT

It's happening 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Oh, god, it's the same. Someone telling Dimitri to fucking sleep.

Dedue isn't taking his shit. Good.

Dimitri relents because he knows Dedue will get his way and asks Dedue to help wrap things up.

Dimitri wrote in Duscurian. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 You have NO idea how elated I am this got confirmed as cannon (that Dimitri learned Duscur's language).

He's writing Duscur for help, working with them on the investigation into the tragedy.

Dedue's like, go to sleep, this can wait. And Dimitri's like, what if I die? This can't wait. Dimitri's so fucking dramatic.

Dedue ain't taking shit. Keeps insisting Dimitri just sleep, lamo.

Dedue asked if Dimitri still has nightmares about it. :( Dimitri's surprised that Dedue remembered them. As if he wouldn't.

Guys, I can't with this. OMG. 😭 It's cannon.

When they were younger, Dimitri would ask for Dedue when he was having nightmares, pretending he thought Dedue needed protection, and then they'd fall asleep together.

Like, this shit is straight out of fanfic. Whoever wrote AG deserves a raise and is a shipper.

Dedue liked that Dimitri did that.

Lamo, Dimitri told DEDUE to rest. Like, tone-deaf hypocrite.

Guys, this who support was really sweet and tender, which is peak their interactions romantic or not.

SHEZ & ANNETTE B SUPPORT

Oh boy, this is still about Annette's songs.

Her attempt to change the lyrics didn't work. And people are reading way too deep into her lyrics. 🤣

Ahh, Annette wanted to add Duscur mythology into her song. It's cannon that Dedue taught Annette Duscur stories. My heart.

OH MY GOD. This game just got meta. Saying that once the lyrics are out there, it's out of the author's hands and up to whoever is listening to interpret it. 🤣🤣🤣

Guys, we're getting called out for reading way too much into a fantasy JRPG about killing dragons with wide hips and pale mole men.

Shez encouraged Annette by saying the songs inspired people.

DOROTHEA & FLAYN C SUPPORT

Now THIS is an interesting match up, esp since I seriously, seriously doubt Dorothea can get this support in her native route.

Flayn's asking about Dorothea's days as a diva.

Flayn's voice sounds pitcher different than in Houses.

Flayn wants to learn new songs. And Dorothea wants to start with the most complicated ones lol.

Funny that this is also about the power of songs lol.

They both want to investigate a legend of a song that ended a war.

ASHE & SYLVAIN B SUPPORT

Sylvain offers to help Ashe investigate something, but Ashe is just trying to learn.

Sylvain and Ashe are both wishing they could've just been normal students getting to learn things and have fun. :(

Sylvain helps Ashe read deeper into everything and starts seeing the bigger picture of wars with Sreng.

Ashe begs Sylvain to keep teaching him.

Pretty cute and more examples of Sylvain being smart and the team older brother and Ashe being a book nerd.

INGRID & MERCEDES B SUPPORT

They're cleaning up together. Ingrid is concerned that Mercedes is pushing herself too much. Mercedes feels bad that she wasn't strong enough to do a lot of the work.

Ok, so some info about Ingrid's brothers. She has 2, they're both much older than her so they're not close. One is an advisor in Galatea, and another is serving another house as a knight.

Ingrid's brother was strict with her. She thinks it was over her crest, but Mercedes insists they probably just loved her.

Mercedes says older siblings are just like that.

She also then ruffles Ingrid's hair lol.

I'm glad this one has an A support.

DIMITRI & RODRIGUE B SUPPORT

Finally!

Oh, God, this is going to be about all of them as kids 😭😭😭

Matthias returned Lambert's sword to Rodrigue like 30 years after borrowing it lol.

While at the Officer's Academy, Rodrigue charged too far ahead and the other two got into a fistfight while debating how/if to save Rodrigue. 🤣🤣🤣

Matthais wanted to wait. Lambert wanted to go ahead. Rodrigue doesn't know who won.

So Lambert and Rodrigue also liked to charge ahead.

😭😭😭😭😭😭 Rodrigue doesn't think Matthais accepted Lambert's death until Dimitri took the throne.

Dimitri thinks he started the war and that Lambert would disapprove of him. 😭😭😭😭😭😭

Rodrigue says he doesn't think so.

Dimitri begs Rodrigue to stop him if he ever does anything that Lambert would hate. Rodrigue says he'd die to do so. Fuck that. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 He can't fucking die again. Rodrigue gets to live this time. I refuse anything else.

MAIN BATTLE/STORY

Time to kick Cornelia's ass for the nth time! Never gets old.

Dimitri is sending Annette and Gilbert to recruit Baron Dominic. Felix is cautious and thinks killing him now is safest, but Dimitri insists on trying to recruit him.

Rodrigue says that they'd just promote his son if Baron Dominic died, so it's better to try and recruit rather than kill and kill.

Their army is spread thin because most are defending from the Empire.

Shez is like "you've all grown up, Dimitri." She's happy to see Dimitri at ease.

Arval called Shez and the others friends. 😭😭😭😭😭😭 Trying to get Shez to fight Byleth lamo. Arval is obsessed. Arval is suspicious af, not going to lie. Baiting Shez into doing what he/she? wants by going on about getting stronger that way.

Shez wants her purpose to be fighting for Dimitri and doesn't need to fight Byleth anymore.

OMG Duscur generals came and helped us out 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 You have no idea how happy it makes me to see Duscur get more involved.

Cornelia talked trash about Duscur, saying she should've wiped them all out.

Man, Cornelia went down fast. Two special hits from Sylvain and Ingrid took her out. #deserved

I hope she dies for real this time.

Wait, what, did Edelgard kill Patricia? That . . . doesn't make sense?

Bitch is dead! Or it seemed like it? Not gonna lie, she's a fun as hell villain because she's just so awful. Yep, she dead. Finally.

Dimitri doesn't fully believe Cornelia, but does think Edelgard knows more than he does about what happened. And believes the Empire was involved in the tragedy.

Oh, good! Everyone learns that Edelgard is Dimitri's step-sister in this storyline too. I always liked how Dimitri opened up to everyone. It seemed Very Blue Lions, esp compared to the other two who never come clean.

Rodrigue offers to explain what happened. It's mostly stuff we all know already, like Cornelia's backstory.

Real Cornelia sounded so awesome. It's awful her name gets destroyed. I'm glad here the truth will get exposed. The real woman deserves it.

So it seems like Cornelia asked Faerghus to rescue Patricia, so TWSITD planted Patricia from the start and manipulated the whole situation with Lambert. Patricia was likely faking the whole time.

Ashe isn't sure they can have a chat about things. But this is Dimitri, he always wants to invite people to talk rather than just war.

Dimitri put reconstruction of the Western Faerghus in charge of Gustave and Baron Dominic.

Glad to see Dimitri is still focused only on defense of the Silver Maiden and not land grabbing. I was worried because they have Claude go for it, which is entertaining as hell, but I'm a bit more protective of Dimitri lol.

XXXX

[fantasyinvader]

The whole genocide discourse feels like it forgets one crucial piece. It's not just that Edelgard and the Agarthans target the Nabateans, it's more than that.

Three routes of the game, SS/SF/AM (I'm using SF for Safflower now, since Safflower reflects the creators' intent more than the watered down CF), tell us that Edelgard and the Agarthans are working together to achieve their individual goals, but then VW comes along and says that it wasn't just a matter of Edelgard deciding to work with them. VW makes it out that Edelgard and the Empire were manipulated and used by them, turned into pawns by the guys who turn unknowing people into monsters (which, in hindsight, should have been a major red flag). And VW is the route that actually goes into the Agarthan/Nabatean conflict, so it's take on the situation feels more weighty especially since the Agarthans also tried to feed Claude info.

Edelgard is acting based on the version of history her father told her, but in SF Hubert says that Ionius was really a puppet of the Agarthans in addition to experimenting on Edelgard and killing her siblings. Edelgard says it was because Arundel and the nobility wanted to create a strong Emperor to rule over Fodlan, which doesn't make sense considering the Insurrection happened to prevent the Emperor from consolidating power, but Thales tells her to her face the real reason.

Thales: You are our greatest creation. We used the defiled beast's blood as the fuel to your flame, that you may burn even the gods. Now is the time to cleanse Fódlan with that power, and bring forth our salvation.

So, it's supporting the idea that Edelgard was manipulated by them, but it goes a little further than just providing her with an Agarthan narrative of history. Not when you consider who the Agarthans consider themselves the “children of man” and who they consider “beasts.” It's not just the dragons, they view non-Agarthans as non-humans. They view other humans as “animals,” trying to appease the goddess by “performing tricks”.

Edelgard wants to destroy the belief system of Fodlan in order to replace it with her own ideals. She will continue to fight even when she captures Rhea (AM/VW/SS) or, in the case of Scarlet Blaze, even after Rhea's death so that she may conquer Fodlan to do so. She has an issue with what the Church preaches, believing it a means to control humans. But then we go into Azure Moon, where she talks about how belief keeps people weak and reliant on others, reliant on the Church, so she's going to take that away so that people will be forced to become strong or die trying. Edelgard says in SB that Baron Dominic sacrificing himself is a sign of how “twisted” the world has become, and hates the idea of being burdened with responsibilities just because of her birth.

The Church provides a safety net. We see it in game, with them looking after Remire survivors or taking people who can't cut it in Fodlan and providing them a home via the Abyss. It also tells the nobility to use their powers responsibly, with “protecting your people” being the original basis for it according to the Japanese script in the Hanneman/Dorothea support while Wilhelm started the War of Heroes to put an end to nobles abusing their power.

Edelgard believes these teachings make humanity “weak” and wants to get rid of the Church for it as well as remove it's influence. She believes that Nemesis, the guy her ancestors fought, was the actual hero of humanity and that her family was “tricked” into helping the beasts. Nemesis, the guy who is said to have been a tyrant who persecuted his people and that the people should have risen up against him rather than following his example to murder and steal to increase their own power. The same guy whose genocide people try to defend.

Tell me, what color was the walls of the red canyon painted again? I ask because, well, we see what color Nabateans bleed and it sure isn't red. What was Nemesis persecuting his people for? Why is the guy who was supposedly a hero for humanity used by the Agarthans who views even non-Agarthans humans as animals?

What species bleeds red?

This isn't a war to wipe out a race. It's a war to wipe out beliefs, beliefs Edelgard has been led to believe put a collar on mankind. It's not just a matter of “we're just killing dragons, no biggie.” It can also be wiping out a faith, which is what Edelgard and Hopes!Claude (Claude mentions his beliefs were that you needed to rely on yourself in support of Byleth, while Hopes has him talking about how wrong it is that nobles have responsibilities, something he only learned when he came to Fodlan according to the Japanese script of Houses, which leads him to wanting to destroy a faith...so that Fodlan will be accepting of other faiths once he opens it's doors...and this is in spite of him realizing in Houses that Rhea was accepting of foreigners and that the Church doesn't preach isolationism) want to do.

Then when you consider Edelgard and Thales talk about the Empire ruling the world at the end of SF, which has exclusive endings talking about the Empire engaging in military expeditions against other countries... yeah, this isn't just about wiping out the faith. This is about ruling the world like any self-respecting villain, and even if Edelgard wipes the Agarthans out, they still accomplished their goals and got a world shaped by them. I mean, FFS Edelgard sees herself as weak-willed going by her projection onto Byleth, a mere servant to the ideals she was installed with to manipulate her into starting this war.

[randomnameless]

Which story do you like more, Scarlet Blaze's or Golden Wildfire's?

It's SB!

I mean, have you seen that ending?

Slap a kickass song on it, and you have a sentai ending where the hero "disappears" taking down the "evil bad guy" in an explosion! Forget SS, SB's ending is really the ending where Rhea goes down like the champ she is, to save the world.

(wait someone told me Rhea isn't the protagonist of that route?)

Much like CF, I like SB not because of what the playable protagonist cast does, but because I like the antagonists (and it's the only route where you can get rid of Clout!).

Granted, it's a Supreme Leader route, so that also helps : the cast isn't forced to swallow cobras to justify her uwu conquest since we're playing as her and her Court - in a way it's more bearable than the uwu sobfest AG gives us about "wah wah we're participating in this war we BaD" and the "we are invading Adrestia the people here must hate us :'( even if we are fighting to get rid of the people who are playing bowling with adrestian citizens used their heads as a ball :'("

It's also the route where, despite what Supreme Leader and her Court parrot, we see how the so-called "nefarious values" of the Kingdom like chivalry, self-sacrifice and loyalty/devotion are rooted in love, aka affection for people those so called knights have to protect (iirc that's what happens when House Dominic takes the fight!) - and it shows how far Adrestia has fallen (Adrestian Nobles would never do something like Baron Dominic did!), ditto with Rhea knowing "secret routes" in Enbarr's palace, unknown to the current Emperor and her long list of predecessors : a person who was there 1100 years ago knows more about the City than people currently living in it.

In a nutshell, much like Tru Piss, Supreme Bullshit is a route where, if you squint a bit, you can see things that are completely opposite to what your playable cast is telling you (remember Ferdie and the crested Kingdom nobles?), informing the player that the protagonists are, just like in Tru Piss, full of nonsense.

What is shown contradicts what is told!

But I confess I'm biased, because Supreme Bullshit at least gives some spotlight to Nabateans, especially Rhea, who doesn't reappear in the plot only to die - and what kind of spotlight ! She literally steals the show at the end, defeating the Mole People while Supreme Leader is watching the spectacle, eating popcorn and giving a high five to her pal Barney.

There's also the Shamir'n'Catherine scene - that obviously ceases to be interesting the moment when Shamir becomes a part of Supreme Leader's court - where, again, we can see another instance of a knight (even if Shamir would deny it! She is a tru merc, not a knight!) sacrificing themselves to save a loved one.

SB>>>GW.

[faroreswinds]

In games where we have unreliable narration, it's normally the characters who are the unreliable narrators while the game's events and lore tell the truth (or at least get close to it). In the case with Ladlestans though, they seem to think the game's lore/events are an unreliable narrator and the character, or well one character is telling the truth which is the complete opposite of what unreliable narration is.

I don't really blame any fans for this though. The games don't do a good job expressly showing how characters are wrong with their ideas or assumptions.

Like... ok, take in Hopes, when Edelgard says how the world is hurting after she attacks the finally hold for the Western Lords. Baron Dominic was the appointed leader of the final lords, and Edelgard claims how his position was part of the problem. She says that the reason why Baron Dominic was chosen as their leader was because of his bloodline to a Hero.

But see, here is the thing. The game never bothers to outright correct her. She never has a moment to learn that she made an assumption and was wrong about it. In fact, Shez is all like "Oh man, I see what we are doing now! We are saving these people from such awful obligations!" or something dumb like that.

It never occurs to any of the characters, nor does the game take the time to show the players, that 1) there is never such a scene where Dominic was explicitly chosen as leader for his connection to the Heroes or 2) maybe he was chosen because he is the highest ranked lord in the area. Or maybe he was chosen because he is a good leader?!

None of these ever occur to the characters! It's just straight to "bloodlines, that's why him specifically".

Baron Dominic was clearly loved and held in a high regard by his peers. They trusted him. And for good reason, the Baron is generally a good lord. He had probably earned that trust and respect over years with good will and good politics.

But again, nope, SB would have you believe he only was chosen as leader of the Western Lords stronghold because he was descended from a Hero.

:/

We actually do see the Baron get asked to be the leader in a previous scene and that's not how it went down. But the characters never have this revelation. Ever.

So it's easy to see how players would be so easily swayed by the characters words. Be told enough that the sky is purple, you may come to believe the sky is purple.

[duckapus]

(While searching for Frenzy and the Code ball, Shantae and Sora are confronted by a familiar foe...)

Squid Baron: Not so fast, Shantae! If you and your friend want the Source Code, you'll have to get through me!

Shantae: Squid Baron!? Why are you working with the Union?

SB: Ever since you met those other Avatars, I haven't been getting any focus in your adventures! It was this or coming up with an Arc of my own!

SB: Plus, the pay's good.

Shantae: You're getting PAID for this!?

Shantae: ...How good?

Sora: Shantae...

Shantae: What, I'm just asking!

[vermanaward]

6.5 msq

for the most part there were exactly zero (punny) surprises on how things played out

dungeon was. honestly it felt like a solo duty that got out of hand. also the baron theme in a minor key got annoying after a while. plague horror being a mob rather than a boss... eh. the ff4 style doesn't always translate well to 3d and the antlion is peak example of this. durante's boss form was cool though.

trial normal mode was fun. not a fan of the music though tbh. it's not as bad as rubicante's but its. not great

not a fan of zero's new look. like i get it she was a pld main back in the day idc it's cringe

golbez turning sides here at least made decidedly more sense than 4's 'welp guess i'm not mind controlled any more'. it also occured to me belatedly that zero's half voidsent nonsense is probably supposed to be a reference to golbez and cecil being half lunarian.

it makes sense that she's staying in the void but damn. gonna miss autistic rpr wife. especially since she ditched one of the best melees for the worst tank.

i hate hate hate hate that we couldn't take her to see cylva and unu. that all we saw of gaia was 30 seconds right at the very end. like. bruh. ikik side content but like just say that ryne solo'd that shit if the wol couldn't be bothered. idc.

eulmore section was dumb. it was basically an engineered plot segment to make us go catch up with the chais that otherwise made no sense. good to see that uh. the strip club is still going strong while people are living in tents. priorities.

why can't we ever take letters or gifts across from raha or thancred or shtola to the people they miss there. why can't we take replies back from lyna and runar and ryne. why can't we so much as check in with our beautiful branch.

not the worst the story has ever been (looking at you sb) but kinda stupid in parts and unsatisifying and embarassed to admit shb even exists never mind that it was everything ew wants desperately to have been but. i would have been a fool to expect anything else

am i really the only person who wants to know what happened to zero's domain and all the voidsent who were living there. did it stop existing when we took her to the source. did someone else move in. did she even forget she had it or???

[dimiclaudeblaigan]

@umbralstars replied:

I sometimes think of making a post to point this out but it's criminal that AG doesn't name or give non-generic portraits to the western lords. It makes them complete non-characters when they take up a significant portion of the plot. Like having the Begnion Senate be nothing but generic portraits and names. They seriously made One new villain for AG, kill him immediately, and then a good chunk of the game fighting is generics or rehashing AM but not as well (imo)

Tbh this is a problem with FE in general. They give either generic portraits or reuse portraits. I'd say in this case though it's more glaring because the western lords are meant to be actual villains in the story who not only work for TWS unwittingly, but genuinely have bad intentions while claiming they have good intentions.

Something I noticed when fighting them in the chapter you convince Baron Dominic to fight for your side is that... I never actually realized where the western lord enemies were on the battlefield. Like, when I'm fighting them, I'm just fighting the section of enemies in that area. They don't stand out enough for me to recognize them as the boss. While that's fine for generic war map battles and paralogues (I'm even iffy on Leif having a generic reused portrait though), for characters who have as much weight on the story as the western lords, it makes them feel less like a threat and less important to the story.

I think it's because they're effectively an extension of TWS as far as the plot goes, but it's still... not something I really like. Like you said, the Begnion Senate exists and we barely even see Hetzel in either game, but he still got a personalized portrait, name, and map sprite for battle.

I think AG did better with handling TWS then AM did as far as not leaving the Duscur plot hanging and allowing you to actually fight Thales as Thales (and all the people who suffered because of the Tragedy get a line about it, versus fighting not!Arundel in chapter 19 where only Dimitri gets a personalized dialogue with him).

Also though, I don't think it's quite rehashing because AM was much more focused on Edelgard and Dimitri's former bond with her, so TWS got waysided immensely. AG successfully stuck in Dimitri's relationship to Edelgard and handled TWS, and I can give them a pass for pushing Edelgard to the side more in this case because we've already seen that storyline in AM, so we don't need it again in AG (versus say, SB, where it's basically the same plot But Different. AG and GW get vastly different plots than Houses, even if worse in GW's case lol).

That said, yeah, the western lords were much more prominent in AG than in AM, and I wish they were made more actual characters. Baron Dominic is the closest we have and he'd make a solid character, but in both games he got a generic portrait (and it wasn't even the same one between games lmao). Hell, even Simon got a totally generic portrait. They're supposed to be related to Gustave and Annette, but we don't have any physical indication of that.

I wish I had it in me to write more fics about that stuff so I could make these characters more of characters, but alas, I don't have the energy to commit to that lmao. They'll just have to potentially be possible characters in some future dmcl fic since that's most of what I write.

[hemonut-blog]

ppl stop suspecting blake as the baron bc the baron had an official costume change (thanks to @herolightning) and isnt wearing a dress, and blake is just known to wear only dresses, so that debunks THAT theory

[bubblewonderabyss]

Howdy Bubbles

For the SB qs:

⚔️ Weapon of choice?

📚 Your favourite codex?

🌑 Which biome makes you want to run through it screaming?

Hello Druid!

⚔️ Weapon of choice?

Starbound probably has my favorite weapon system of any game, I love all different types of weapons (except grenade launchers, fuck those,) but the flamethrower carried me through my first playthrough and has a special place in my heart

📚 Your favourite codex?

I am a Certified Lore Whore so all of them, but the one I find most amusing would have to be Dear Baron

🌑 Which biome makes you want to run through it screaming?

Moon, for obvious reasons. Other than that none of them really inspire that feeling. Hive biome? Yay, I love bugs! Flesh biome? Yay, I love body horror! Volcanic biome? I have too many bandages to be concerned lol

[officialleehadan]

Stone Shadows Invading

Many of you know about my books, Return Again and Leap Back, and Jump Forward (books 1, 2, and 3 of the Sunborn series) and have wondered what happened before Riah came to the magical world. This is Zan's story.

Return Again (Book 1, Sunborn)

Leap Back (Book 2, Sunborn)

Jump Forward (Book 3, Sunborn)

Slide Between(Book 4, Sunborn)

+++

Getting inside the fortress was the easy part.

Zan was used to worse climbing than clean stone that wasn’t cursed at all. It held him easily, even without his climbing line to help. The fortress walls had taken heavy damage years ago, back when the Dark Master laid siege to it with magic and steel. The wall was still sound, but it bore the scars of that war, and stone was difficult to repair without ripping down the entire wall.

Gren was heavier than him, but a little taller, and just as used to climbing around Darkhame. He followed Zan’s lead with the ease of practice, and it wasn’t long before they were at the top of the wall. Zan freed one hand to sign to Gren.

“You first” he signed slowly. Gren wasn’t used to elf-sign yet, but Zan had been teaching him, both the spoken and the signed forms of his mother’s language. Gren nodded, rather than reply, and vanished completely. A few falling pebbles marked his path up on top of the wall, but to the rest of Zan’s senses, he might as well not exist at all.

Zan steadied himself against the stone, glad for the mottled greys of his clothes. Black was comfortable, but grey was better when he needed to vanish against clean stone. He had been dubious at first, back when they began training, but after a few hard lessons, ones that cost both blood and pain, he learned better.

His mother, thankfully, was a fine seamstress. When she learned of his alliance with Gren, she sent another hood like Zan’s for him. Now, they were barely shadows, and faded into any stone they stilled against.

There was a soft, wet sound of impact, and then the distinctive noise of a body hitting the ground. Moments later, the same sound came again, further down the wall. Sentries handled, Gren whistled softly, and Zan scrambled up to the top of the wall. His arms burned from waiting, but a wait was better than risking the wall guards’ attention. As soon as he was up, Zan looped his climbing line over the parapet and dropped it down to the rest of their waiting team.

“Guards are down,” Gren reported, appearing out of nowhere. Zan didn’t jump. After months working together, he was used to the way Gren stepped out of nowhere, carried by his unique invisibility. Zan nodded and helped Tever, who had also risked the climb without a line, Soon, the rest of the assassins were arrayed on the stone, and Zan coiled his line back onto his belt. “Everyone know the plan?”

“We’re ready,” Tever said before Donma could say something snide. He was still mad that Zan was tapped as their leader, but Tever, who didn’t lead well, was pleased about it. “Maidre, Fehaz, stay with Ailo and I. We part ways at the water supplies.”

Zan didn’t wait for them to figure themselves out. They all knew their jobs, and he and Gren had the hardest of them.

“Kill everything that breathes,” he said shortly, without a hint of the reluctance he himself felt at the brutal orders. Nothing left alive, Fashi had told them. Down to the animals, and then with poisoned water left behind to kill whoever discovered the murdered fortress. “Don’t get seen. There will be no rescue.”

That part was his own decision, and it was a half-truth. If Gren or Tever were captured, he would try to save them. The rest could burn for all he cared. He still owed Donma some pain for the still-sore place between his ribs.

From the looks of his fellow assassins, they were starting to realize how serious this mission really was. Good. It might keep some of them alive.

Although if he got a chance, there would be fewer of his enemies returning than came with him on this particular venture. Gren knew about that part of the plan, but Tever didn’t. Not that he would be surprised. He might even take his own chance to clear the field a little.

“Come on,” Zan murmured after a glance at Tever, who gave him a half-shrug. He knew what he was doing. They all did. For better or worse, enmity aside they were the best of the Master’s assassins. His Dark Agents. Trained to be the counter to the demons who haunted the mountains, and to kill the Warriors of the Sun.

If they couldn’t handle a single keep, they didn’t deserve to serve the Master.

Rather than worry about the stairs, Zan slipped down over the inside wall with Gren on his heels. Together, they moved from shadow to shadow, and left a trail of bodies in their wake.

Their orders were clear. By the time the sun rose, there was to be nothing left alive within the walls.

It was harder to climb up the walls to the top of the keep. These walls were whole, and fitted well, leaving few places to get a handhold. Together, they went from turret to gargoyle, to window ledge, with Zan’s climbing line to help when the handholds failed them. It was dangerous climbing, and the risk of a bad fall grew the higher up they went, but finally, they reached the tallest tower. The quarters of the baron who ruled this fortress in King Gerian’s name.

The window was open, an unexpected blessing, but hardly surprising. They were coming into summer now, and who would expect anyone to make the harrowing climb up the walls, this deep into the fortress?

Well, maybe more people would, when word spread of their deeds this night. Zan shared a look with Gren. His eyes were hard and determined behind his mask. They were ready.

Together, they slipped through the window, and started killing.

+++ SB - By Way of the Wolf Star

The name of Wraith the Assassin is known throughout the land. Where he goes, only ghosts remain. If you see him at all, you may assume he has not come for you, for if he had, you would know he was there only when his blade found your throat.

But he was not always Wraith the Assassin, and Zandithas has a long way to go before he becomes the living nightmare of the known world.

Flags and Black Stone Walls

Attic Oath (Free on Patreon!)

Scrape and Steel (Free on Patreon!)

First Knife (Subscriber Only!)

Over the Walls (Subscriber Only!)

+++

More Stories!

+++

[onepiececool]

Everything that Tips Do I Need For Starting, Looking through, Or Watching A particular Piece?

one piece

When I earliest started One Product, I began while using the manga. Oda’s cases are on stage and I enjoy that SBS Question Spot as well as the Cover Reports, which supplemental reports told through the cover up pages of pick chapters. They often look into side characters or even antagonists that the Hay Hat Pirates experienced. With that being said, sometimes this fight scenes is usually hard to follow within the manga format, consequently I’ve been looking at those in the cartoons. I’ve been shared with that overall, your plot moves coupled much more smoothly inside the manga because the cartoons tends to have a great number of flashbacks. However , a anime allows everyone to enjoy the character’s voices as well as observe everything looks within color.

one piece

So what’s my final total? I’d say begin with the manga initial. You can be crazy such as me and accomplish both the manga in addition to anime at the same time, or simply you can wait soon you get through one create and move on to the next. Either way, they’re both a wonderful practical experience!

There are several One Element movies that aren’t canon, but still movie star the Straw Loath Pirates. A few of these involve Clockwork Island Voyage, Strong World, along with Baron Omatsuri and also the Secret Island. Additionally , there’s going to certainly be a live-action One Bit, which will premiere at Netflix in the near future. Consequently if you’re accomplished watching One Item, you can still carry on and find more information to satisfy any preferences you have!

[lananiscorner]

No worries about taking forever. Good things come to those who wait and your analyses are always entertaining!

"At least CF was entertaining. SB is a giant snoozefest where I have to kill all my favorites."--OOF, yeah, it does sure sound like it is. RIP Gustave and Annette.

I'm starting to get the feeling that the "blaze" in the route name stands for how you have to brazenly rush past any sense of morality to enjoy this route.

Mercedes used Moment Of Clarity. It was not very effective.

I mean... I'd be surprised if Dimitri was NOT considered the Kingdom's best warrior.

"People always talk about how it's wrong/bad for Dimitri to try and spare Edelgard at the end of AM because what kind of life would she live? But always praise Edelgard for trying to spare Rhea towards the end of CF but no one - not a single soul - asks what kind of life would Rhea live? I gotta make my own post about that."--I'll be eagerly awaiting that post, because yeah, it's kind of wtf.

Shez & Manuela A sounds like a hoot.

"The Imperial Army is a bunch of children who don't want to eat their veggies."--I will have you know that I nearly choked on my drink when I first read this.

"Veggies are legitimately delicious though. I don't know what the Imperial Army's problem is."--Probably the kind of people who simply boil their veggies, no spices, no nothing. Somebody please introduce these people to the wonders of oil and garlic.

Full disclosure, Monica & Edel A is one of the few supports I've watched of this game and those are minutes of my life that I will never get back. I feel regret.

Petra and Constance... two noble ladies who could not be much more different from each other if they tried.

RIP Gustave ;_;

RIP Annette :____;

RIP Baron Dominic ;_____________; (Seriously, he was one of my favorite NPCs in Houses)

Scarlet Blaze Ch 11

Sorry this is taking forever, but here's ch 11.

MAIN STORY

Oh, shit, do we have to fight Gilbert next? AND ANNETTE? This suuukkkkks. It especially sucks since you know they didn't have a choice but to risk their lives just defending themselves.

Annette is so precious. Fuck. I don't want to fight her.

Gilbert being a good daddy though 😭😭😭😭

At least CF was entertaining. SB is a giant snoozefest where I have to kill all my favorites.

Man, they all sound like psychopaths. They're all super excited to go kill people who are just defending themselves. Even Dorothea's only worried about marriage.

MAP/SIDE STUFF

Shez just said that everyone who gets killed in the war "is standing in our way." Imagine comparing self-defense to "getting in our way." Yikes for that characterization compared to how concerned GW!Shez is about Claude's aggressive decisions.

Lamo, Mercedes is like wtf am I doing here fighting the Kingdom and Annie? 

Aww, Marianne (and Dorothea) are like the only two who realize they're fighting other people and not just being all murder happy like the rest. 

Dimitri just got put on par with Holst and Caspars dad by Balthis, kind of, unofficially best Kingdom warrior? 

We're addressing the Ferdinand and Hubert subplot again. Which is good. It's by far the most interesting part of SB. Though, it's just a repeat of what we've seen from it before.

Ok, they're adding some different stuff which is interesting. Bringing up that even if Fredie's dad tried to retire and stay out of Edelgard's way, that he would still have to die because of what he symbolizes. Hubert and Ferdinand disagree on whether people like Mr. Aegir can get a second chance (as in, can you when you've become a symbol).

This is especially interesting to me in regards to what happens to Rhea, Dimitri, and Claude if they surrender to Edelgard and become her puppets. Basically, Hubert is saying that, no matter what, they'd have to die because anyone who would rebel would use (fill in here) as a symbol of their resistance. Claude may be the sole exception here because he can scoot off to Almyra, but it's very obvious that Rhea and Dimitri (and their staunch allies) are fighting for their lives, because even if we're generous and say Edelgard would spare them and give them life worth living (i.e. not locked up), Hubert would most certainly have them assassinated.

Which also brings up another point. People always talk about how it's wrong/bad for Dimitri to try and spare Edelgard at the end of AM because what kind of life would she live? But always praise Edelgard for trying to spare Rhea towards the end of CF but no one - not a single soul - asks what kind of life would Rhea live? I gotta make my own post about that.

SB is really gonna be - kill yo dad, the route. Ironic since I played this the day after Father's Day.

I have to fight Sylvain 😭

SHEZ & MANUELA A SUPPORT

Manuela is flirting with Shez lol. He said he liked her voice and she pushed him with like "is that all" until he talked about her looks lamo

Aww, Shez actually likes her hungover side. Saying he likes warrior her, singer her, healer her, and drunk her. That's kinda cute, actually

Shez said that he can't keep his eyes off her. Laying it on a bit thick. And said she's more attractive now than she was younger haha.

Yeah, Shez, I have no idea how she was supposed to see that in any other way lol.

HUBERT & LYSITHEA B SUPPORT

Hubert finds Lysithea studying at night and teases her about ghosts. She runs away.

The Imperial Army is a bunch of children who don't want to eat their veggies. This is 100% cannon. Hubert orders guards to sneak them into soups for the soldiers actually get their veggies. I cannot. (though, imagine the privilege, Faerghus could never)

Lysithea freaks out because she ate veggies.

Veggies are legitimately delicious though. I don't know what the Imperial Army's problem is.

EDELGARD & MONICA A SUPPORT

Guys, I'm so excited. A Monica support. I wonder what she'll talk about.

Monica counts how many times Edelgard worried about her and invited her to tea. I just . . . no.

This support was pure cringe.

I love how "Kingdom bad" because they're willing to die to defend their homes, family, friends, and everything and anything else they've loved from invaders, but Monica is to be admired because she's oh so loyal to Edelgard that even in when Edelgard leaves her for dead, it's a happy moment for Monica because it helps Edelgard's cause. Like . . . double standard much?

PETRA & CONSTANCE C SUPPORT

Constance is something else. She confronts Petra because Petra's dad invaded and it led to the demise of Constance's everything.

I enjoy supports that address conflict, but girl, that was not Petra's fault. Don't take it out on her.

Oh, good, she's not. She recognizes that Petra's people suffered, and that neither of them were involved, so there's no bad blood.

Then she hahahas and leaves. Lamo, this made me love Constance.

Petra doesn't get a chance to say she agrees and seeks out Constance, but finds her in the sunlight, and needlessly to say, is very confused.

MAIN BATTLE

Hubert and Edelgard just said submit or die.

Wow, Linhardt is like I wish the nobles would think about all the people who they're forcing to fight. The lack of self-awareness is astounding.

Ferdinand can join the "lack of self-awareness club" for acting like it's the Kingdom causing the violence.

Baron Dominic opened the gate, risking his defenses to rescue soldiers. Hubert judged him. But we're supposedly the good guys. I swear the writing goes out of it's way to make the Kingdom look good.

Fuck. I have to fight Gustave :( He dead :( Poor Annette.

FUCK. Now I have to fight Annette.

Fuck this route. Ingrid, Rodrigue, Gustave, and now Annette - all dead.

Even Baron Dominic's death is making me sad. None of the Empire generals get this kind of humanization when they die lol.

Edelgard and Hubert sound insane. Edelgard's acting like their deaths were inevitable because of their lineage (when they would've been just fine if not for her actions), and Hubert's like he's happy to die so it doesn't matter. What a bunch of looney tunes.

Edelgard just said whoever wins gets to decide what's right. I mean, victors do write the history but yikes at the implications.

So deep - "we're up against the world itself." Sounds like a teenage edge-lord wrote this lamo.

We got crusher. Joy. Did they pry it out of Annette's dead hands?

Oh, joy, more backtracking. Revolts in the Empire. I thought we were out of the backtracking era and into kill every Blue Lion era.

xxxx

[for-gold-and-glory]

[Crystal] Menphian Madness Blitzball Tournament

Welcome back Blitzball Fans! https://tinyurl.com/ff14-blitzball

Menphina Madness is a double-elimination Blitzball Tournament held each spring with competition including teams from all across Hydaelyn.Welcome new and returning Blitzball players! Menphina Madness is an annaul international sporting competition fielding the bet and brightest each nation has to offer. Team spanning from the Three Great Continents compete for the honor of their respective natoins, but only eight teams make the final run through Menphina Madness. Eight teams have made the playoffs this season:

Ul’dah Gil Turtles ♦ Gridania Sea Chocobos ♦ Limsa Lominsa Sanguine Sirens Ala Mhigo Royal Griffon ♦ Ishgard Heavensguard  ♦ Kugane Koban Crushers  Garlemald Salt Barons ♦ Ivalice High Seraphs  ♦ The Thavnair Immortal Lions

This year we will be traveling around Hydaelyn hosting games in ARR, HB, and SB zones! If you would like to play, please join our discord: https://discord.gg/UBtkrttaaQ The schedule is below this cut! --- 

March 19th @ 8:00pm EST - The Opening Ceremony - Coral Banquet, Ruby Sea Game 1 + 2 March 21st Game 3 + 4 March 27th Game 5 + 6 April 5th Game 7 + 8 April 7th Game 9 +10 April 18th Game 11+ 12 May 2nd Game 13 May 16th Game 14 May 29th

[faroreswinds]

Azure Gleam - Chapter 8

Notes of chapter 8! I just want to point out in the book section, House Nuvelle had flourished due to trade with Dagda, Albinea, Brigid, and other territories. And yet, GW insisted Rhea prevented such things? HMMMM

Story

Dorothea hasn’t been too bad yet. She’s actually happy that the Kingdom has the Silver Maiden since the Empire would have taken over easily with all the internal in-fighting0.

A Duscan NPC says Dimitri personally apologized to her about her brother’s death six years ago. But all she cares about is the truth behind the incident. 

And NPC thinks that Felix taking over as head has helped him understand his father a bit more (a while back, he had considered cutting ties with his house before this).

Hapi is happy that “Didi” will take down Cornelia. 

According to Rodrigue, Felix had muttered about it being preferrable to rescuing them over “having nightmares about abandoning them” (What a tsundere)

Bernie, why are you HERE?

Flayn noticed a change in Dimitri. Not that he is cheerful, but more at ease. Yay for friends!

Shamir will be returning, yay! Catherine is excited. 

I don’t know who Viscount Brennius is, but he has energy, and I like him. 

Ingrid is talking to a Duscur General. Ingrid agrees to teach her how to use a spear. (Character growth, yay!)

Dimitri says that Felix “scolded him all night”… firmly (O-oh my). Then Dedue came in and started arguing with Felix.  

It just occurred to me that Dimitri learned some lesson MUCH sooner than Claude did. 

Lots of Duscur NPCs about, it’s cool to see. 

An NPC says that people are just unequal at birth, with things like pedigree, crests, intelligence, etc (And he is right, as much as it sucks) 

Seteth def suspects more out of Cornelia than he is letting on. 

Some NPCs are sad to fight friends and family. I do not blame them. One NPC came in place of her husband as a result. 

And people say that the Kingdom is misogynistic. :/ There are so many strong and powerful women here. 

Felix, when speaking to Dedue: “B-baka” (I mean, basically. He was complimenting Duscan soldiers and didn’t care where they came from. Dedue says Dimitri must be happy to have Felix by his side, and Felix gets a bit flustered in his mean ol’ way)

Oh look, more western lords in the side maps that don’t have crests. 

Ok, so Edelgard is personally attacking Arundel territory and the Silver Maiden. Unlike in GW, we aren’t suddenly changing objectives. We are still going after the Western lords, and instead, Miklan and the Knights of Seiros are going to the front lines to hold the siege instead. 

Starting to get some Slither enemies in the side missions. 

Interestingly, a commoner I saved in a side map joined us afterwards. Just like in GW. I don’t recall this happening in SB maps but maybe it did and I don’t recall. 

Viscount Mateus, Viscount Elidure, and Viscount Gideon can fucking go to hell. All hail Baron Dominic. Why does this man have a fucking generic model?! Dude is calling these bastards for the cowards they are. 

Fuck off Cornelia, my man was giving them a dressing down. 

Apparently Gustave is a great cook, according to my outing with Annette.

 Main battle time!

Oooohhh, Gustave and Annette will play a role this chapter

Arval pushing Shez towards killing Byleth again. And Shez is all “well, do we have to? Dimitri is more important to me”

So, need the Baron because if he dies, the Western Lords might rally around his son because he has a crest, makes sense.

Whoa, a Titanus? We have never seen this in the other routes, this is entirely new!

Also, Cornelia is here again. >:3

Brooo, Duscur soldiers have come to help! Based, they can get revenge too. 

They call Dimitri the “Warrior King” that’s dope af

And Ingrid is like “I will not let you lay a hand on them!” talking about the Duscur soldiers. Character growth!

Count Rowe tried to recruit Ashe. >:( Ashe told him what’s up though

Have we finally captured Cornelia this time? 

Patricia is dead. Cornelia claims that Edelgard killed her mother. 

Whoa, Cornelia died? “This body has reached its end” I guess slither bodies are studier. 

Oh yeah, no one knew that Edelgard was his stepsister

Oh look at that, Dimitri isn’t keeping secrets from his allies, unlike a certain someone in GW. 

So Patricia was banished from the court after getting involved in a political dispute. So either the real Cornelia or the fake one asked Lambert to shelter her. 

“I don’t know how we can just sit down with are enemies after we have killed each other” I know Ashe, I know. 

Time to go “talk” with Edelgard in Arianrhod

Claude. Well... hello there. 

So Claude did that scheme with Lorenz’s father in this route too. 

So Claude is ready to strike a deal with whoever wins. 

Paralogue

There is a single paralogue for this chapter available: with Dedue, Ingrid, and Felix

I wish Dimitri was part of this paralogue tbh, but I get why he isn’t here either. 

Basically, Duscur is divided on whether to make peace with the Kingdom or not. So the leader of the insurrection who played a key role in the Tragedy so we have to arrest him. 

Oh, Dimitri isn’t here because he might kill him out of anger, makes sense. 

So, Dedue’s hometown is near here, and this is also near where the late king died. 

Also apparently we aren’t killing? Dedue said no killing since it will complicate things. Or maybe he meant no killing the leader? Idk. 

Ingrid asked to come here to get the past behind her. 

Lol, Ingrid was my MVP 

Anyways, we caught the guy. 

The flowers are recovering after being tramped years ago. TT_TT Dedue used to come with his sister.... 

And Felix wants to protect the same things Glenn did. TT_TT Both Dimitri and the Kingdom. (And don’t tell the boar. ;) ) 

And even he admits the flowers aren’t so bad.

We don’t necessarily learn much about the Tragedy, but it was still a touching paralogue. Personally I found it more emotional than Edelgard’s with Lysithea and Hapi. 

Supports

The following supports unlocked after the last chapter: 

Dimitri and Shez B support - Imagine being the poor soul who knocks out the fucking king in training. Felix and Dedue were besides themselves. :3 And everyone pulled together to get stuff down while he “rested”. And everyone thinks he should be taking more breaks. Jesus, Dimitri really does do a shit ton. And he still keeps secrets (not Claude-like secrets, but he didn’t tell anyone that he went to bury the villagers on his own)

Dimitri and Felix B - Felix mothers over Dimitri. And then… “Do you hate me, Felix?” MY HEART, THAT LINE WAS SAID SO SADLY. Felix is still kinda being a jerk but it’s not nearly as bad in AM. He’s being a bit nicer. 

Dimitri and Sylvain B - Commoners are entering nobility. Skill is what matters in the end, like Ashe. Crest bloodline is fading everywhere (Felix is an exception with a major crest). It’s basically a discussion in how to move forward to stay strong but deal with how things are changing for long term stability. (Nuance, basically).

It’s nice to see Sylvain and Dimitri have a more serious support that is still nice. It reminds everyone they ARE close. 

Dimitri and Dedue B - (romantic music starts) 0/////0 

Dimitri can write in Duscan, which is just fucking cool. 

And Dedue is just like “just go to bed, please” 

Dimitri would babble to Dedue as a kid until he feel sleep. 0/////0

Dimitri and Ingrid B - Stuff about being delicate with Duscur forces about. Ingrid doesn’t hate them anymore. Character growth <3

Dimitri blames himself for Ingrid having hate to begin with (of course he does, he blames himself for everything), And damn, no one saw Dimitri after that. Support ends with Dimitri taking Ingrid to a inn opened by a Duscan man for dinner. Is nice. 

Dedue and Felix B - Felix is really stepping up in a leadership position, nice to see. They both agree Dimitri would throw his life away easily. Though Felix claims it’s just to protect the Kingdom and Church. And then says that he is brother in arms with Dedue, a nice change of pace to… whatever AM had to offer. 

And in true Felix fashion, he didn’t let Dedue tell Dimitri what he had really said in their conversation. 

And now, for some other supports: 

Bernie and Dimitri B - What a waste of a support for Dimitri. :/

Books

Empire Nobles II - 1179 Edition

House Gerth

House of dukes that inherited rule over the Empire’s Ministry of the Exterior. 

Diplomacy, foreign relations, and relations between various provinces and the capital fall under it

Worked hard to secure ceasefires between Brigid, Dagda, and the Empire

Though took place in the Insurrection, remains distant from associated houses

House Arundel

Formerly minor noble house of the Empire. 

Head of the house, Volkhard, his younger sister became betrothed to the Emperor Ionius IX, and this granted him the title of Lord Arundel. 

Having worked closely with House Aegir, House Arundel is seen as one of the chief instigators of the Insurrection. 

House Hrym

House of Imperial viscounts. Resisting Emperor Ionius IX’s policy of power centralization, it set out to join the Alliance and secure independence from the Empire, but was unable to overcome the Imperial army’s intervention. 

The House’s main genetic line was wiped out. It’s current head is an adoptee. 

House Nuvelle

House of Imperial viscounts with territory on the western coast of the Empire, centered around the harbor city of Nuvelle.

The house flourished thanks to commerce with Dagda, Albinea, Brigid, and other territories. 

Even still, it fell to ruin in 1175 after permitting the combined invading forces of Dagda and Brigid to make landfall. 

House Ochs

House of Imperial barons. Territory occupies the northern half of the western peninsula known as Foldan’s Fangs. 

The head of the house was lost to the Dagda and Brigid War. 

House Bartels

House of Imperial barons. Highly ambitious, it sought out and acquired several Crests for its bloodline. 

In 1176, many members, including the head, died under unexplained circumstances. 

The guilt of this tragedy was attributed to the heir, Emile. His whereabouts are unknown. Leadership fell to a distant relative. 

[ishgard]

Nero for the character meme :3

The tater tot!!!

First impression

Intrigue! I was pretty interested in him from the time we saw him post-Ifrit. Would-be enemy monitoring the hero, with an interest that seems to fuel their own motive that may or may not fit in with the rest of his allies, scheming but outwardly polite - there’s a lot of personal and very specific fav boxes he checks, honestly. Everything about him honestly was setting him up to be a favorite. 

Impression now

I mean, not much has changed except he’s only gotten better with each slice of content we get to enjoy him in. From Crystal Tower to Omega, he’s just that clever bastard you can’t help but love. Or I can’t, anyway. ICly, him and Ahru are like water and oil, but I think deep down that’s probably because they share certain similarities (...god, they do. Always being second best to a childhood friend/rival... ‘cept Ahru, well, didn’t so much rise above it as she ran away from it. Anyway I’m big digressing.) but they care about each other in their own little ways. Their relationship is one of my favorites tbh and any time they interact I just

Favorite moment

A bunch in the Crystal Tower, I mean... that was some Good Shit. I think perhaps one of my VERY favorite ‘moments’ was when he loaned us the Red Baron, that shit was just SO good to me and probably one of my favorite little bitty moments in SB as a whole ngl. Then I mean, everything in Omega, basically was gold.

Idea for a story

Him and Ahru fixing Maggie up with a few new neat gadgets and nice shiny coat of red paint.

Unpopular opinion

None in particular that come to mind. :|a

Favorite relationship

Cid for sure, but also gonna say Ahru cuz I just love them so much. (I also ship him with my character Regina but that’s much more self-indulgent and thus obviously bias... though I suppose that’s kind of the point of all this.)

Favorite headcanon

OH, that he’s been in contact with Gaius this whole time acting as his eyes in Eorzea more or less.

[sebeth]

Young Justice: Eminent Threat

Warning, Spoilers Ahead…

 S

P

O

I

L

E

R

S

 Young Justice: “Eminent Threat”

 Courtney Whitmore, Star Girl, makes her Young Justice debut, but as a television interviewer. Courtney interviews Gar (Beast Boy). Gar is dating Queen Perdita of Vlatava. The couple is known to their fans as “Gardita”.

Perdita featured in an episode from the first season of Young Justice. Wally had to deliver a heart to the other side of the country to save Perdita’s life.

Gar and Perdita met at Wally West’s funeral.

Gar continues his campaign against meta-human trafficking.

It seems the creators are feeling very confident over the possibilities of future seasons. We wouldn’t get these side moments with Gar or the cute ending credit scenes if the creators weren’t positive of future seasons. Otherwise, every moment of screen time would be too valuable to waste on cute moments like Gar’s romantic life and Artemis’s dog sleeping with a Wally plushie.

July 31:

We switch to Markovia where Brian is encased in the activation goo.

Artemis has Halo stay with stay with Sphere as she and Jeff leave to rescue Conner.

Halo mutters “Kill” after the duo leaves.

Dick enters the hospital and stills a lab coat.

After getting past the outer layer of the hospital, Dick takes off the lab coat to reveal his covert outfit and gear.

The spy bug Dick sent in last episode and pranks him. Pretty sure Oracle is running the bug.

 Dick sneaks into the room holding Conner and Brion: “They have SB unconscious and in a pod”.

Artemis: “He is not going to like that.”

The pod will bring back unpleasant memories of Conner’s Cadmus days – and he’s already on edge from seeing the pods.

Count Vertigo arrives back at the lab: “I have just spoken with his Highness and he gave nor orders for the parting and tarring of a Prince of the Realm!”

Does this mean Gregor’s involved? Or is the Baron referring to himself as “Highness”?  

Ecks turns on Jace but she defends her actions: “I had to! His so-called ‘Highness’ is out of control. The things he has made us to. But now, we have someone with the power to stop him. To stop Bedlam.”

It’s not Gregor as he has been a genuine “Highness” since his birth.

Count Vertigo attacks Doctor Jace.

Baron Bedlam arrives and it’s the Queen’s brother.  If Bedlam is a normal human, does this mean he has no connections to Apokolips? Or did an agent of Apokolips kill the real Baron and replace him?

Dick: “How did I not notice Delamb is an anagram for Bedlam?”

I didn’t catch it either, Dick.

I’m assuming the Queen’s maiden last name was Delamb so that would seem to rule out my “Apokolips Bedlam killed and replaced the Baron” theory.

Plasmus attacks Artemis and Jeff. The duo is saved by Halo and Sphere. Halo proclaims “No kill” and throws up an energy shield.

Sphere is referred to as “Super-Cycle” which was its name in the Kon/Bart/Tim Young Justice comic book.

The cycle attacks the henchmen. Dick saves Jace. She frees Brion from the metamorphosis pod. We didn’t see any goo in Conner’s pod but it would be an easy way to develop his tactile telekinesis.

Dick frees Conner from the pod. Jace offers to destroy the activation tar.

The group is unable to rescue the kids as the pods are boom-tubed away. The group does destroy the facility.

The Baron returns to the pre-coronation ceremony and frames Brion as the one behind the metahuman trafficking ring.

Jefferson is not happy with the night’s events because of the lost kids. Dick attempts to soothe him with their limited success.

A panicked Brion regains consciousness. And rapidly loses control of his powers.

Conner, of all people, intervenes: “The more panic, the less control you’ll have. Focus on your breathing. Just focus on controlling your breath.”

Conner is the Young Justice member most familiar with forced scientific experimentation and waking up in a pod.

Oracle urges Dick to turn on the television – Baron declares Brion the culprit behind the metahuman trafficking ring and the assassination of the royal couple.

Brion declares “Lies” and runs away – losing control of his powers in the process.

Conner: “Following him with infrared. He’s headed toward the palace. I’ll try to cut him off.”

Count Vertigo and henchmen Boom Tube onto the beach.

Dick orders Conner to retrieve Brion while the rest deal with Count Vertigo, Plasmus, and company.

Vertigo has the same reaction I did to Dick’s plan: “Sending your heavy hitter away?”

Dr. Ecks multiplies himself – similar to Madrox and Triplicate Girl.

Brion arrives at the ceremony in a molten lava form. He’s not happy.

He attacks DeLamb who is not only immune to the lava but punches Brion across the yard.

I’d say the Apokalips agent theory is back in play.

DeLamb rips off his skin to reveal a stone form underneath.

Gregor is very confused.

Conner arrives: “Prince Brion, we gotta go. There’s a better way to handle this. And we can help you find it.”

Bedlam attempts to reclaim the narrative – accusing Brion of being in league with meta-human assassins.

Gregor points out the obvious: “You’re a metahuman.”

Bedlam defends: “I had to become one, to defend us against them.”

Brion and Bedlam battles.

We return to the beach battle – it’s not going well. Artemis neutralizes Vertigo but Plasmus viciously murders Halo.

Halo’s death triggers Jeff’s ability to use the full extent of his powers and he attacks Plasmus.

Halo shocks Artemis and Jace when she revives: “No kill. No dead. Not dead. Me!” She says this as half her face is burnt off. Literally burnt off – no skin, no eyeball, visible skull.

Halo uses a purple light to heal herself.

Superboy saves civilians while Baron and Brion battle.

Baron orders the soldiers to fire upon Brion.

Gregor countermands the order: “Disregard that order. Arrest Baron DeLamb.”

Gregor’s no fool and knows bullshit when he sees it.

Bedlam hurls himself at Gregor but is prevented from reaching his target by Superboy. Bedlam is taken down by Conner.

The ambassador urges Gregor to banish Brion from the country. I may be overly suspicious but the ambassador has the slender build of the modern Bedlam appearances.  Hmmm.

Brion is devastated by his banishment. Gregor asks Conner to “Take care of him. Please.”

The Markov brothers are breaking my heart.

Conner leaves with Brion.

Jeff and Plasmus continue their battle. Jeff spots the control disk on Otto’s back and destroys it. Otto has a flashback to his transformation. Otto has regained control of himself and destroys an Ecks clone.

Dick knocks out the main Ecks causing the clones to disappear.

Count Vertigo and his weapons henchman Boom Tube off the beach.

A nearby farmer shoots and kills Plasmus: “I killed the monster.”

Jeff angrily informs the farmer: “You killed a kid. When you realize that, you’ll regret it. Trust me.”

Halo attempts to heal Plasmus but cannot: “No life. Cannot heal.”

Conner and Brion arrive at the beach. Artemis asks Dick: “What do we do now?”

The end scene is a house and a car. The dirt road may be an indication it is the Kent farm.

The “What now?” question is intriguing.

Based on the first three episodes, it looks like we will have two teams of Justice League and Young Justice. Possibly three teams of Young Justice – mainstream and rogue versions.

We have the “rogue” Justice League – Batman, Green Arrow, Katana, Plastic Man, Hardware.

We have Dick’s rogue team – Dick, Artemis, Conner, Jeff, Brion, and Halo.

Conner won’t be able to go to back to the mainstream Young Justice team. Bystanders were filming the brawl at the pre-coronation ceremony. Vertigo recognized Superboy. The Light and United Nations Secretary General Lex Luthor will smear Conner in the public. Possibly making Conner a fugitive from justice.

We also have the second rogue “Young Justice” team: Tim, Stephanie, and Cissie.

Gar has proclaimed himself a “metahuman civilian” and is focusing on his acting career.

We have two characters in the promotional materials that haven’t debuted yet: Arsenal and Metamorpho.

We know Metamorpho allies with Batman’s team. I assume he will show up the next time we see Batman’s team.

Arsenal is the true wild card. I have two guesses. Roy either 1) allies with Tim’s group or 2) has formed the Outlaws with a revived Jason Todd. We’d have a fourth Rogue hero team!

Tim’s group will clearly work with Bruce and company.  Does Dick’s team join the alliance or run their own plan?

An alliance would make the most sense as the various rogue teams have the same end goal. However, Dick and Bruce are known for their disagreements and “I’ll do things my own way” approach.

Three new episodes next week!