#skadi: thread

[dhampiravidi]

death & dire straits

Skadi was hunting an animal on Alfheim when Heimdall spoke in her mind, telling her that Asgard was being invaded. She immediately responded & he used the Bifrost to summon her. Once she was in the realm, it wasn't hard to see the attackers; they had flown their ships directly into the palace walls, leaving smoke & rubble in their wake.

Frigga.

She sprinted down the length of the rainbow bridge, running like she was chasing her usual prey. Not long after entering the palace, Skadi was attacked by two Dark Elves. She recognized them from the murals in Alfheim, which depicted their battles with the good-natured Light Elves. Their energy-based weapons surprised her, but she managed to dispatch them with the aid of her strength & speed. She continued on, only stopping to help others when their own battles seemed grim. Unfortunately, by the time she reached the queen's chamber, Frigga had died.

At the queen's funeral, Skadi stood apart from the others. She'd given Thor her condolences & done the same with Loki. Even Odin received a kind word, despite their mutual dislike of each other. Then Skadi took a walk alone, through the palace grounds. She'd always been an outdoorsy person, since she'd spent most of her life on the move. & it was easier to cry when there was no one to make fun of her. She rarely cried. But Frigga was the mother she'd never had.

@valkxrie

[dhampiravidi]

Skadi had never heard anyone deny that Natasha was beautiful. She wouldn't, either. & it was even better to see her, given the circumstances. The huntress genuinely liked the spy, so it was nice to have a friendly associate among all the staring strangers.

"There were feasts on Asgard...I tried to limit my attendance to a select few," she grumbled. "I wouldn't mind leaving this to go & workout with you in a gym. Or we can drink more, somewhere else. I strongly dislike events where loud, drunk people ogle me." Skadi cleared her throat, realizing she hadn't asked Natasha what she thought of the event. (Either way, Skadi planned on leaving the event early, but she still wanted to be kind to her teammate.) "Do you enjoy these...things?"

Natasha tried to blend in with the crowd. But with her stunning red hair and emerald eyes, the black halter gown, earrings, her trusted bracelets and several pieces of weapons that can pass as an added addition to her accessories for the night, she wore that night still gave enough attention to make heads turn in her direction.

A charity ball. It was something she had to attend, whether for her own personal reasons or something else, she didn't bother reflecting on it much. She was there because someone insisted. Also she had to do was show up, greet some guests, and make sure that donations were made to the foundation. So there she was.

As she was greeting several people, her eyes caught the tall woman who's eyes bore onto her. Excusing herself, she headed to where Skadi was, sporting a casual smile and nod. "Fancy seeing you here, Skadi. Didn't realize you're the type to attend such an event like this." Her head tipped down before she smirked. "Or were you supposed to be leaving?"

[soulstagger]

Yes? Was someone summoning him? All he heard was the faint 'cave mermaid' utterances? A brief peek and Jordi is there, waiting in the water. Ah. ( @ Sedna )

"Holy crap it worked!" She jumped, slipped and rolled back down the slope to the other side of the cave.

She'll be fine.

[bingus35]

Mephisto somehow went from my most hated character to my 2nd favorite character after W. Maybe I’m just too fickle or emotional or not exposed to enough media with the same character archetype, but idk anymore man chapter 8 got me bawling my eyes out for this little shit.

(Its not like all the hate went poof tbh. I can’t forgive him for the crimes against humanity. The fact that even in Reunion everyone fucking hates him is a testament to his horrid personality. Part of me still wants the bear girls and probably 10k other victims to take turns smacking his smug face. But thinking about him just makes me so sad??)

He had a shit life. His family abused him, other slum kids bullied him, someone shoved a radioactive rock down his throat and gave him arknights cancer. Faust was his only friend and he would do anything to make him happy, even if he was beaten up even worse for it. Even after getting power, his first act of defiance (which is uh. killing his family by mind controlling the slum kids) was prompted by his bestie and not out of his own will. Then they got sent to the mines and almost starved to death. Then the first adult he ever trusted was possessed by some ancient evil guy and encouraged him to kill people, so he did just that. He didn’t even know it’s wrong until Faust basically killed himself. Then he wanted to die but couldn’t because Faust wouldn’t want that, so he turned himself into lugia funniest shit I’ve ever seen tried to wipe his memories to start over. But of course he failed and instead turned into an eldritch abomination that only caused more and more harm.

After everything I can’t even feel mad anymore, just… hopeless. The environment fucked him up so bad he sees no value in anyone’s life except Faust and Talulah. Then he fucked up so bad that everyone he knows is either dead or wants him dead, and who can blame them. At the end the only thing left is one broken kid with no self-worth, no dreams, no will to live, only the blood of thousands on his hands.

I know trauma isn’t an excuse to commit war crimes and other characters also have fucked up backstories but didn’t turn out like him. But I feel like most of them at least had some kind of guidance (through family or education) at some point of their lives. Mephisto’s guidance is terrorism. No surprise his moral compass is so fucked.

Tldr arknights got me depressed over the smug war criminal I’m deleting this fucking game >:’(

[hoyotunes]

Harmonies of the Heart from With You Zoe, non_ay, Frex, JODODO, UUU, HOYO-MiX

[dhampiravidi]

As they walked, Skadi kept an eye out for any snipers or sudden invaders. Cities were always targets when aliens (or some villain) came to conquer the Earth. Every now & then, someone would be on their phone, not watching where they were going & Skadi would growl deep in her throat, the way all Jotnar learned to as infants. It was a good way to get people's attention.

"Yes," she said, in response to his repeating the name of her birthplace, "The Norsemen of old called it the land of giants & frost. They were correct that Jotnar tend to be a few feet taller than your people & that the land is cold, barren for the most part. I lived there until...until I had to leave." Skadi had never liked to talk about how her father died, so she avoided the subject unless there was a reason not to. He'd been her best friend growing up.

"Spatially, no. Jotunheim is closer to Asgard, but still far for a Midgardian ship to travel. That is why we use the Bifrost, the iridescent bridge that harnesses energy to help us travel intergalactically," Skadi explained. She knew it was more confusing the less one had traveled through space. Still, Shota Aizawa had already proven to be as intelligent as he was patient; she had a feeling he'd catch on if she really tried to explain the Nine Realms & the various portals in the universe.

"I was asked to hunt a yokai, but I have finished." Skadi smiled. "I thought I would climb some of the mountains, see the snow monkeys & visit a Shinto temple. Is it true that people here do not mind if an outsider wears their clothes & leaves offerings for their gods?"

[dhampiravidi]

of monsters & men

Initially, Skadi was extremely apprehensive about the whole situation, which displayed itself as frustration exhibited in her every action. She did not like that Frigga had schemed to send her out with the younger prince, nor did she like that Loki was dragging her out to some ruin just to learn about seidr. The huntress moved with little complaint, as befitting her nature, but she wore a frown. And then they reached the ruins of Meginbygð, the old home of Vé, Odin’s deceased brother, who had been the god of Sense and Sanctuary prior to his death. Skadi had managed to read about the place, which was said to host both ghosts and great magical power. So she was as intrigued as she was afraid. Her skills could only be used on physical beings, after all.

“Are you confident that the spirits will receive us kindly, my prince? If it becomes violent, they have the advantage,” she muttered, looking around. She wore some soft robes provided by the Queen, but she also had her hunting boots, weapons, and pack with her.

@vivalavillain

[sewn-with-lilies-fair]

As a holiday gift, I commissioned Aoife O'Dea to sing Luthien's Lullaby from the Lay of Leithian musical.

There couldn't be a more perfect fit- Aoife, who played Arwen in Watermill Theatre's Lord of the Rings musical last year, and Luthien, Arwen's elven ancestor, using the magic of song to send us off to sleep.

Dreams, on the wings of music hover...

Voice and harp- Aoife O'Dea Original music and lyrics- Skadi English lyrics- @nereb-and-dungalef, @quixoticanarchy, and @sewn-with-lilies-fair

Lyrics under the cut.

Day fades to night, Sunset hides its light ‘til dawn’s unveiling. Stars out of sight Shine over those whose strength is close to failing.

I sing before the lord of darkness, Minstrel in the halls that echo starless. Dreams on the wings of music hover- Sleep, bow your head to peaceful slumber. Sleep…

On gentle wings Mist turns the mountains sapphire as the ocean. Like waves I sing, And from the strands of fate my verse is woven.

Over the night the moon is sailing Onward, to the shores where sleep is waiting. Dreams on the wings of music hover- Wait, bow your head to peaceful slumber. Wait…

Fine threads of rain Upon your window weave a satin curtain. Lay down your pain, And let oblivion relieve your burden.

Hear how the restless wind is sighing- Quiet, for the storm has ceased its crying. Dreams on the wings of music hover- Hush, bow your head to peaceful slumber. Hush…

[autumnmobile12]

Felt like sharing some speculation today:

All right, so we know My Hero Academia has the something of the same premise as X-Men in the sense that select a group of humans were suddenly born with powers, the whole 'evolution leaps forward’ deal.

We see in My Hero how the First Generation of people with Quirks, especially the ones who appeared non-human or semi non-human, were originally ostracized like the mutants of X-Men are, but then more people were born with powers and then more people had powers until it became a widespread phenomenon and ‘normal’ people became the minority and society had to restructure itself to accommodate the new normal.

But have you read The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black?

The plot is a 19th century doctor who theorizes that mythical creatures like the minotaur, harpies, sirens, and the like all existed millions of years ago but slowly interbred with humanity and eventually died out altogether.  So he believed that when someone was born with extra fingers, limbs, a tail or otherwise didn’t have the typical human shape, it wasn’t so much a mistake in genetic coding as it was the extremely recessive genetics of those ancient creatures trying to reoccur in the modern day.

...

Definitely an interesting premise, so now I’m wondering if the My Hero world has a cult, conspiracy theorists, or even some scientists/historians that have similar views regarding mythology.

If this whole Quirk thing happened back in the Stone Age where no one had the benefit of science or awareness of DNA, anyone born with an otherworldly power would have been worshipped as a deity. Or the ones born with a non-human appearance would have been reviled as monsters.

So following the idea of The Resurrectionist, maybe the sudden appearance of superpowers did lead people to take a closer look at the old myths and consider the stories of the gods/goddesses of old were originally stories of people with 'Quirks' who rose to power.  Humans with meta-powers ruled the world for a few centuries, then those powers inexplicably died off. For a variety of reasons or maybe unknown reasons, humanity lost that history but remembered the old stories and chalked them up to just myth until the powers that made it possible began to reappear full force several millennia later.

Some myths began as historical events but in being handed down hundreds of generations, the multiple tellings and retellings exaggerated them into the realm of impossibility.

Lightning/electricity powers:  Zeus, Thor, Hinon

Fire powers:  Hephaistos, Surtr, Hestia, the phoenix

Foresight:  Any seer, prophet, or oracle that appears in any myth ever

Ice powers:  Yuki-onna, Skadi, Morana

Water powers:  Poseidon, Chalchiuhtlicue, Anuket, Tlaloc

Plant-related Quirks:  Demeter

Gigantification Quirks: Giants, titans, nephilim

Ryukyu:  Is a dragon.  ‘nuff said.

All Might:  Herakles

Tokoyami having a bird head but otherwise appearing human is pretty reminiscent of the old Egyptian gods.

Hawks:  Any winged creature; take your pick.  Personally, the one that comes to mind for me is Hermes.  He only had wings on his sandals, sure, but the trickster archetype resonates.

Tsuyu: Naiads, nymphs, rusalki, any kind of water fae

Momo: Sedna (created sea life from her finger bones), Ukemochi no Kami (produces food from her own body)

Best Jeanist: This one's a bit of a reach, but the fabric thread thing coupled with the long, spider-like limbs kinda brings to mind the story of Arachne the weaver.

We do get a nod to Ancient Greek mythology with the prison Tartarus.  What better place to lock away beings with god-like powers than the prison of the Titans itself?

Obviously an incomplete list, but you see my point.

Personally, I'm leaning toward cultist ideology with this one as I find it hard to believe every civilization would have forgotten about a previous appearance of Quirks. But civilizations die off, civilizations are overrun by others and their histories are suppressed, maybe this hypothetical 'previous Quirk phenomenon' wasn't as widespread as the current one and so fewer people were affected and therefore fewer people were alive to verify the truth of facts, maybe this hypothetical time was from an age of oral history and nothing was documented properly, so not impossible just really, really improbable.

Still, I love mythology and I find it an interesting headcanon to think about.

[dhampiravidi]

Skathi let a quiet sigh escape her lips. As always, she remained aware of her surroundings, even if she wasn't looking around the pub every second--her ears were sometimes even better than her eyes, which were adapted for seeing in places with little-to-no light. So, she'd been keeping track of the conversation between the orc & the argonian. It was slowly escalating, which meant she needed to leave. It serves me right for coming into a town. She'd tried to be polite & wave someone over so she could pay. Unfortunately, the bartender was taking his own damned time, ignoring the woman who was as tall as a fully-grown human her age even as she was sitting down.

Just as Skathi's hand went for her coins (she planned on setting a decent amount on the counter, then simply leaving), there was the usual whoosh that accompanied a combat spell. She turned, knife already in her hand--only for a well-built man to stumble back into her chest. For a second, she glared in his direction, until she assessed the situation (downed orc included)...

He'd tried to protect her. She would have gotten knocked off her stool otherwise (& then both the orc & his friend would have gotten a talking-to). Most people treated her with fear or contempt, but that man had actually been kind.

She promptly set enough coins for another meal in front of him, then set some in front of her own chair as well. It wasn't like she bought much of anything anyway--she knew how to make her own clothes & leather, & when she needed some form of income, she got it as a reward for killing a monster or as payment for something she'd crafted.

"Thank you," Skathi whispered, gaze soft on a creature that wasn't an animal for once. "Do you need ice? I'm aware that I'm a little less plush than a pillow..." She held out her hand for him, palm already preparing a mild, ice-based spell.

[soulstagger]

"Cave mermaid oh cave mermaid come to me." She jests...

[laurarolla]

My recent Arknights pulls are leaving me with a dilemma: Which character to I want to spark from the shop.

I did enough pulls that the free dailies will get me to 300, which, if I get no other 6 stars, will give me 4 Wis'adels and 3 Logos from this banner. I also already have Mumu and Specter, so the three Ops I'm picking between are Texas Alter, Nearl Alter, and Skadi Alter.

Texas is easy to use and absurdly good, and Skadi is basically the only Bard anyone outside of 5-star only or Supportknights seems to use. But honestly I just really want Nearl. So, since I'm only going to 300, and I don't plan to spark again anytime soon (it took a while to save up for 300 pulls), I'm kinda unsure what to grab. I hope I get lucky and a free pull takes away one of my choices at least (I got Specter on a free pull last year). X3

I'll have some thoughts on the story when I finish it in a couple days probably. So far, this is definitely the point of the narrative where a ton of major threads come together.

[actualbird]

what is your ranking of all the main event stories we have received so far? (as in sott, enduring light, skadi etc)

OHHHH THIS IS A FUN QUESTION, THANK YOU ANON!!! let me go from my highest to lowest.

for this question, im taking "main event stories" to mean the Big 4 SSR Events where the event story involves the entire team all at once (so no xmas events or sotn, or solo or duo events). and i will be judging these events primarily on their event story (so not as much as the gameplay, though thatll also be a factor. but i wont be judging the cards)

OH DANG WHY DID I EXPLAIN IT, THE TOT WIKI DOES A MUCH BETTER JOB AT DEFINING BIG 4 SSR EVENTS, HERE, THIS IS WHAT IM JUDGING

anyhoo, here is my personal ranking!

FIRST PLACE: Mysteries of the Lost Gold

my beloved, my favorite, my perfect shining star. lost gold was the first big event i played and it has yet to be dethroned as my favorite event story of all of tot. absolute homerun of a rich story with intrigue, high stakes, a good balance of tender moments and lighthearted ones, and just SO gripping in terms of all of the story threads coming together, plus the absolutely A+ nxx team interactions. my advice to every new player who comes into my inbox is "PLAY THE LOST GOLD DLC" because i love it so much. i will never shut up about how i love it so much. it has our very first raven!luke sighting. it has marius nearly getting stabbed. it has artem with gun. it has vyn doing that THING with the bow and arrow. LIKE. THIS EVENT IS PERFECT TO ME. it'll take something really really special to dethrone it.

SECOND PLACE: Enduring Light

this isnt recency bias speaking but my real honest thoughts: this story delighted me to no end. i was kept on the edge my seat for every single phase, and the sheer novelty of the story's setup and the gameplay was such a nice change of pace after the previous event formats started to get repetetive. i especially loved that this time, we had to suspect the nxx boys as well because that really added to my enjoyment of this event. it really felt like a mystery that had to be solved by us, and not just a mystery that will unravel by itself as long as we keep playing, if that makes sense? my point is i was immensely immersed in enduring light and i love it lots lots lots. luke looking stupendously hot in his outfit during the entire event was also a huge plus.

THIRD PLACE: a tie between Blizzardous Threads of Red & Mystery of Bakerlon

i really loved BTR and bakerlon!!! both of their murder cases were adequately thrilling for me, though towards the end i could feel the adrenaline wearing off, if that makes sense? like by the 4th phase, things were slotting together already in a way that like lowered the feeling of intrigue. also i know i said i wouldnt judge much based on gameplay, but these two deserve a shoutout for MINIGAMES I WANT TO KILL W MY BARE HANDS. bakerlon's crystal tasks were so repetetive to me, and BTR's TIMED ESCAPE ROOM THINGIES heightened my blood pressure several times HAHA

FOURTH PLACE: To My Beloved: Moonlit Eve (anniv 2)

this has a soft spot in my heart for including all of the old NPCs from main story, and that was very heartwarming. while theres no mystery that needs solving, just seeing the team hang out together and have fun together was such a treat for my soul

FIFTH PLACE: Secrets of the Tomb

sott is where i'd say the event story quality is inching towards the meh scale. the mystery here was interesting but was not particularly gripping to me. it might just be a me thing, but i enjoyed the side stories (the ones you get with the boys when you investigate the artefacts) more than the actual event story itself.

SIXTH PLACE: A Love Poem to Skadi

ahhhhh skadi. psychological and medical malpractice horrors skadi.....HJSVKHSJDFDSF. i will admit, the mystery in this story is HORRIFIC and it was enjoyable to unravel it, but here is where i break my rule again of not talking about gameplay but mAAAAAAN THE GAMEPLAY HINDERED MY ENJOYMENT OF THE MAIN PLOT LOTS. it was rather difficult for me to do all the exploration in that manor and that stalled my absorption of the story too. plus, i think the fact that the story is Over made the story have a bit of a muted quality to it. not in a bad way (i distinctly remember i wrote a semi-analysis post about how i enjoyed that the story was in the Past) but it definitely affected the mood of the gameplay, if that makes sense?

(that is the third time ive said "if that makes sense" in this response, THREE STRIKES AND YER OOOOOUT)

SEVENTH PLACE: Blissful Fete (anniv 1)

be honest with me.....do YOU remember the event story plot of blissful fete? cuz i sure dont. JVSKDHFSJDHSF. i only remember getting very very mad at luke during that fucking minigame where we guess if the card is higher or lower. that being said, if i cant even remember much of the story, then it didnt make an impact on me and couldve been improved.

so thats my ranking! thank u for the ask :D

[dhampiravidi]

Skadi saw that the man had managed to climb a tree. Well, it wasn't running away, but at least he'd done more than his captors had initially. Then, like an absolute idiot, he yelled to get her attention. Maybe he had a death wish & the other men had bored him. Or had some kind of obstruction impairing his judgement. Regardless, the creature was now unsure whether to go after the easier prey or to confront the one who posed somewhat of a challenge.

"I dislike HYDRA & its associates! You had best leave before what I am hunting hunts you," she yelled, hoping the man could hear her from such a distance. Skadi growled again & that time, her foe roared in response. She understood that & its subsequent charge to mean that their next fight would be to the death. Good. This has lasted long enough. As a huntress, endurance was one of her most important skills. But something about the creature made her angry. Perhaps it was the way in which it'd left all those bodies behind...she'd seen pictures. She needed to stop the beast from hurting anyone else.

Skadi charged the thing, but sidestepped & made a beeline for the Red Man's tree. She would've picked a different one, had there been another in the clearing that could hold her weight. For her plan to work, Skadi needed height. She took out a hunting snare & tied it into a big loop, then grabbed her spear. She'd jump down onto the creature, secure her hold with the snare (which she wouldn't have much time to do) & then jab with her spear. Either she'd hit something vital or it'd strangle itself trying to kill her.

She turned to the Red Man. "If you are any good with your guns, you will shoot that thing in the face once I am on its back. Do not worry if you hit me--I am resilient."

[mkcannothelpyou]

ars sanguinea (Abyssal Hunters)

AK/Kinktober 2023, Day 3: “Lingerie”

"There will not be damages."

Crouched down, Laurentina traces a nail down through a fold in her Captain's slip. This is her finger, one of five digits of flesh and bone of a hand betrothed to the arts, and where Laurentina's finger goes, her sculptor's mind follows.

"Why not? I think it would look so flattering in shreds. Picture it, well and truly tattered. Its internal weave hanging off in ways it was never meant to. It's rare, you know, for something so complicated to be destroyed, and still work. I think that really speaks to a sense of permanence."

If she were to describe it at a gallery, anyway. Her finger twirls, stirring a wave in the sea.

Unconsciously, she murmurs—"…It's a pretty lttle thing. Jet-black as the surface under a starless sky." Gazing up, she peers at Gladiia's countenance with an open, teethy smile. "I really don't remember you owning this, Captain—where did you find something with such taste?"

"The tailors of dry land can improvise adaptations to Ægir forms with��� acceptable competence."

Laurentina throws her gaze sideways, dissects. "Acceptable? That's a cold, cold term for a work this passionate. Won't you throw its maker the tiniest bone? I've seen landwalkers react in the funniest ways when complimented."

The hollow of Gladiia's hand takes Laurentina's chin. That's her version of a warning. "Shark. The process of my acquiring this garment was unpleasant, inefficient and insulting of basic intelligence. I will not entertain your suggestion of sentimentality."

"Well, I think you just described the essence of any tailor there," Laurentina grins. She gets a slap across the face for that, an act in their lingua corporea that is less than paying a price. Only a ceremonial gesture, an invitation for circulating blood, a flavour of ritual to set the tenor of tonight. This violence is hunter on hunter. Her inner cheek buzzes with raw flesh.

Her Captain's stony stare is a verbal enough response - if a word could mean "discipline" five times over, Gladiia is effortlessly wielding it.

"That's not fair, I didn't even rip a thread yet. Am I sensing some impatience, perhaps? Careful, Captain, set me straight too quickly and your nightgown will be hard-pressed to catch up," Laurentina chuckles. She nestles her head against one leg, closing her eyes and gently rubbing the spurned cheek against it. It's a fine piece. Anything satin enough to spill past you like water has to be worth something.

Oh, there's something else too. "Shark, you are advised to recognise—"

"This is all you're wearing, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Oh, Orca would love this."

One last nuzzle, thinking of how lovely little Skadi would assume to work through the fabric and bite and tear to get to the stony Swordfish beneath, then Laurentina rocks back upright on her feet.

"If you wanted any accidental damages to punish, I'm afraid you chose just the wrong slaughterer—I carve with a level of precision my eyes strain to even see."

"I will not object if this gown survives to the point of reuse," is Gladiia's plain response.

"How utilitarian."

[dhampiravidi]

some say in fire, others in ice

She proceeded with caution, staying on the outside of the wreck with her bow & arrow ready. Skathi would rather leave the thing be, but if it had been carrying some violent creatures, it was best that she be the 1 to confront it before they hurt anyone else. She spotted red amongst the hunk of metal & paused, unsure if the color came from blood, material, or skin.

“Show yourself,” she huffed, prepared to shoot whatever crawled out into the open.

@avernusfuries