#survivor's ballad spoilers

[exactlycleverpirate]

Trying to Make Sense of Rafayel's Timeline

This has been updated here.

Spoilers for basically everything below, except for the endings of he Myths, as I do not have those yet.

First, so notes:

See outline for three possible options for the timing of the pinky promise/rescue. 

As children, she rescued him when he was stranded on the beach and then Rafayel made a pinky promise with MC that “It's settled then. If you don't return I'll…I'll chase you to the ends of the Earth.” (Nightly Stroll and Main Story chapter 7)

Also 3 options for the slaughter of the Lemurians after Rafayel is deceived as a child.

As a boy, Rafayel sings the “Siren's Ballad” as an elegy for the slaughtered Lemurians as he sits on a coral reef alone surrounded by waves dyed red with their blood, watching ships sail away, carrying those who deceived him and slaughtered his people (Anecdote 3). (Could be that Rafayel trusted the wrong humans and revealed either the location of the Lemurians or that they were all vulnerable on Ebb Day) (Perhaps MC had an unwitting hand in this).

These two events may be back to back or occur at separate points in the timeline. Inclined to think the promise came first, then the deception, but could be that he was stranded because of the deception/slaughter, or these events occur separately.

Timeline:

On Earth, past life/lives:

First possible option for the pinky promise/rescue: Their first lives ever meeting each other, starting it all off. 

First possible option for the deception/slaughter: Immediately after their first encounter with each other.

Rafayel and MC are lovers.

MC cursed to be a Sea Witch in the Abyssal Rift and has forgotten Rafayel and being human. He gives up a scale, some of his blood, and his song in a shell to set her free. The potion she makes with these is a bitter scent reminiscent of fermented aquatic plants. She turns human and remembers him. He gets her to shore and then he turns into foam. (When she regains her memories, the voices that play are of current day Rafayel, from his date Your Fragrance. Possibly just because she is remembering this in a dream, rather than those being the actual memories she recovered at the time.) (Fragrant Dream)

Second option for pinky promise/rescue and/or deception/slaughter: Reunited in some reincarnation between the initial life and the current one.

Current life, on Earth:

2024 Rafayel born March 6th (or so he claims).

2026 MC born.

Rafayel was given a Whale Call by Lemurian adults when he was a child. He never had a chance to use it and buried it in a Lemurian city under the sea. (Was this in this life or a previous one?)

Third option for pinky promise/rescue and/or deception/slaughter: This timeline when they are children, likely before the Deepspace Tunnel and Chronorift Catastrophe in 2034

Rafayel's only living family on Earth is his Aunt Talia, also Lemurian. There are some other surviving Lemurians as well who are being hunted, tortured,  and harvested for their scales and blood. (Anecdote 3)

2034 Ruins of Lemuria were revealed near Linkon the same year that the Deepspace Tunnel appeared and the Chronorift Catastrophe occurred. MC (age 8) now has protocore shards in her heart, is adopted by Granny, and has little memory before this event (perhaps this is when she forgets Rafayel).

Rafayel is an Opera Singer in Verona going by the moniker “Mo”, hunting down and killing people, possibly as revenge for the destruction of Lemuria and slaughter of his people. He is in touch with Talia. He also recently attended a Seamoon Ceremony for another Lemurian, K, who dies and is returned to the sea (after having his scales and blood taken). It is suggested that Rafayel is trying to accomplish something to save the Lemurians, saying, “Not every Lemurian survivor can wait.” It appears the longer he takes to accomplish his goal, the more of the Lemurians die in the meanwhile. (Anecdote 3)

He is not painting. 

He is being investigated by a private detective named Louis.

Rafayel remembers the dying cries of his people.

Rafayel leaves Verona and moves to Linkon city. He has a picture of MC in his pocket. (Anecdote 3)

Rafayel uses a private investigator to find out MC is attending Linkon University. He takes a position as a special lecturer there. He sees MC again, talking to some of her classmates. He is confused that she doesn’t seem to know anything about Lemuria. (Anecdote 2)

Rafayel begins painting again.

Rafayel does not tolerate the PI getting too close to MC or taking pictures of her.

Describes his feelings for MC as akin to a spice, painful and addictive.

Indicates he is prepared to be with her for the rest of his life, but also wants to “settle the score”.

Rafayel believes she is being surrounded by dangerous entities, some of whom may possibly be trying to use her to trap him. This is part of why he doesn’t approach her at this time. He decides he can afford to take his time and make his moves carefully. 

Rafayel hires Thomas to be his agent. (Anecdote 1)

2048 MC (age 22) begins work as a Deepspace Hunter. MC and Rafayel are reunited, though MC does not remember Rafayel. Rafayel’s home is called Mo Art Studio.

Rafayel acquires a red Flamula from Lemuria the first time he reintroduces himself to MC. She gives it to him to take home.

When Rafayel attempts to abandon MC to drowning, there is a tail mark that appears above his heart, and he turns around and goes back to her. (Possibly an indication of the bond they forged when he saved her with his scale or made a vow with her).

Lemuria is described as being gone for thousands of years, yet Lemurians are still alive now. (Possibly they had gone into hiding and were revealed when Rafayel was deceived.) (Rafayel described himself as “a lost pearl that washed up on the beach” in Ebb and Flow.)

In “Nightly Stroll” date, Rafayel makes MC vow never to make him wait again, a vow that is blessed by a little blue fish, an Emissary of the Ocean.

In “Your Fragrance” date, Rafayel asks MC who gave her the catnip-like perfume (he says it smells familiar), suggesting she is working with someone, using underhanded methods to trap him. 

(This smell has a similar description to the perfume he gives her later that gives her the dream, as well as the smell of the potion that turns her human. “Bitter like fermented plants”.) 

“Are you trying to run away again? I'm not going anywhere. You're going to lock me up again. You're with them, I just know it. Don't think I'm unaware of what you're about to do. I won't fall for it again. Not this time.” 

(Order of events: Your Fragrance > Dangerously Close > Fragrant Dream)

In “Ebb and Flow” date, he reveals himself as a Lemurian to MC on Ebb Day. She promises to never hurt him.

This vulnerability suggests he has a remarkable amount of trust in MC, despite his bitterness at her forgetting him. 

Rafayel asks MC what she would do if this was all a trap he set up to kill her. This is what is happening in Rafayel’s myth story. Does Rafayel in this time period somehow know about that or is this just foreshadowing? 

In “Whalefall Lament” date, Rafayel takes MC to underwater ruins of Lemuria to dig up the Whale Call he buried there as a child. He describes his childhood as boring and closely guarded. He made many escape attempts when he was young, and was given the Whale Call as a means of protection, but he never had the opportunity to use it, as his escape attempts did not succeed again after this.

Philos (estimated 30,000 years after Earth’s destruction):

Myth takes place on Philos, likely sometime between Xavier and MC meeting for the first time (Xavier’s Anecdote 3) and Xavier's myth story. The oceans have been missing for 30,000 years (possibly because Earth was destroyed and Philos was made with a fake core holding separate tectonic plates together). 

Rafayel was bound to MC when the oceans still existed by giving her one of his scales (see Fragrant Dream for when this may have occurred). 

MC's heart keeps the people of Philos immortal (See Xavier’s Myth for the connection between MC’s heart, the people’s immortality, and Philos’ core) and she was “born from the depths of the earth”. MC remembers living on the Island of Songs in a hut by herself, surrounded by the ocean. (Was this in her first life or some subsequent life on Earth?)

Could Hat Island and the Island of Songs be the same place?

MC is gifted Rafayel when they are young and sets him free. Rafayel later implies he was only caught because he wanted to be.

Rafayel and MC are reunited as adults when she is attempting to escape the palace. They meet several times and grow close, though Rafayel is plotting with Amund.

Rafayel is mentioned as the second most important person to princess MC. The first visits her often. Who is this? Xavier? The King?

There are other Lemurians on Philos with Rafayel,  including Amund. They are killing human nobles, with the belief that by doing so, it will help restore The oceans and Lemurian.

Rafayel is referred to as the God of the Sea in the myth and it is implied that his heart has been stolen by MC. Possibly not literal.

Rafayel believes revenge is meaningless. Only wants to restore the oceans and Lemuria.

MC can use a Lemurian Beacon to summon Rafayel.

Rafayel and Amund take MC to the Island of Songs (now no longer an island), and she recognizes it. Rafayel has to decide whether to believe the legends and cut out MC’s heart in an effort to restore the oceans and Lemuria. Rafayel had previously indicated that the heart must be given willingly. (Don’t have the final 2 chapters of the Myth yet to know how this plays out).

On another note, I am now just sitting here thinking about how both Xavier and Rafayel have loved her for over 30,000 years. And Xavier has been alive through that whole time, possibly watching her die over and over again. *sobs*

Please let me know your thoughts, questions, corrections, insights, what have you. I'm sure i missed stuff or made mistakes. This will likely be updated when I can finish the myths.

[trappedinafantasy37]

Gods, Agatha is such a diabolical cunt. Never did I think I'd ever love someone more than Wanda, but she's now my new favorite bitch of the MCU. Kathryn Hahn really knocked it out of the park with this one! Her line delivery is just impeccable, and she is marvelous at playing out the bloodthirsty sociopath that you can't help but sympathize with. Like, she knows what she's about and she's not ashamed of it.

I'mma talk about Agatha All Along real quick cause it's late at night and I just finished the show in a sleepy haze and I need to get all these thoughts out while I battle another insomnia episode. So SPOILERS!

I was shooketh to find out that the witches road never even existed and was never real. The original ballad was based on a song her and her son made up while traveling, and it twisted into the ballad of the Witches Road over time. But other young witches believed the ballad to be a real tale, so they came to Agatha and wanted her to guide them down the road. So, she turned the ballad into a bait to lure other witches into a trap and steal their powers. This is how Agatha became a legend as the "only known survivor of the Witches Road". Of course she's the only survivor of the road! She made it the fuck up and then murdered everyone!

Agatha was bitching to Rio about her tormenting her the entire time and making her life a living hell. I was so confused on why Agatha would say this or why Rio would be sticking so closely to Agatha this entire time since her son's death. But that's because Rio has been following Agatha for centuries down the "Witches Road" because Agatha was dropping bodies left and right. And Agatha hated this because she sees Rio as responsible for taking her son, but Rio was just doing her job. Hells, Rio even did Agatha a massive favor by allowing Nicholas to live at all and giving Agatha at least some time with her son. And the little moment Agatha and Rio have where Rio says "as long as I get my bodies" is because there has always been bodies during the "Witches Road" and it is what Rio is expecting of Agatha. Rio only gets directly involved with this one because Billy "broke the rules" and cheated death and she is here to collect him specifically.

It's of no wonder why Agatha seems so erratic and winging it during all of the trials because there has never been trials. The Witches Road has never been real. She gets so frustrated at the beginning trial and yells at the witches to blast her because that is how it has always played out, until it didn't and the road actually revealed itself. She clocked Billy really early on because she realized that he used his mother's powers, induced unnecessary suffering, and killed people to get what he wanted (even if he didn't know that was what he was doing).

The Witches Road only became real because Billy made it real using his reality bending powers. He made the same mistake Wanda did and conjured it into existence because he wanted it to be real so bad. He wanted answers and to find out how to get Tommy back. That is what he expected at the end of the road and it's what he got. And like Wanda, Agatha helped him figure out how to get Tommy and get him what he has wanted. And Billy unintentionally got 3 people killed in the process. But he also helped Jen unbind herself and get her powers back.

And also, Lady Death is now in the MCU!!!! She's literally one of the most, if not the most powerful entity in the entire Marvel creation. She cannot die, cannot be killed, and cannot be injured. And Aubrey Plaza is just *chef's kiss*. She managed to leave such a massive impact by doing very little. I could not have imagined any one better and I'm actually surprised it took so long for her to make her way into the MCU. I would be severely disappointed if this was the last time we ever saw Aubrey Plaza as Lady Death. I know we're gonna see Billy, hopefully we see Tommy, but I need Rio Vidal.

I initially thought Disney was gonna pull the rug out from us and this show was just gonna be another queerbait. But the evil lesbian witches actually kissed, even if it was the kiss of death.

[theknightlywolfe]

Thoughts on fixing the last two eps of AAA to make it more sensible/flow better with the stuff they already had in the script.

Spoilers, obviously.

Ep 8, change starts when Billy finishes finding a body to put Tommy in and disappears, leaving a crack in the floor and Agatha saying "boys die". Instead of staying in the trial, it follows him to returning home, his parents worrying about him, him cleaning up, and making the realization that it was all him. Have him rush off to return to Westview, which his parents are more inclined to allow despite his disappearance because he isn't all cut up and bloody. Episode ends, no voice from behind him.

A straight 30min ep.

Ep 9

Back with Agatha in the last trial, she opens her locket and pulls out Nicholas's hair and then go to flashback to her pregnant and in the woods. Do the whole flashback through to her using the Ballad they made up to steal power from witches and her realization that Billy made the Road. Opens her eyes back in the trial, sees the dandelion seed which wasn't there before (it wasn't if you go back and rewatch the scene), tear she shed over flashback for water, plants it, it grows, she busts out. Implies that flashback is reminder that she is a survivor, or that the flashback was her unconsciously summoning the seed (dandelions are hard to kill survivors too).

Her whole fight thing with Rio, Billy shows up, gives her power, she hands him over to Rio, blah blah. Now we know what is between them before the fight and the "you love me, why don't you want me" lines hit properly because we just watched what caused their split and it shows that Rio doesn't understand the rift between them, which has been hinted at in prior eps.

They kiss, she falls, becomes mushrooms and flower food, Rio says Billy can go. Billy goes down to basement, sky above clears as Rio leaves. Agatha's ghost appears, do the "I killed them!", "well, technically" discussion there. Agatha drops the whole "you wanna be a witch get used to this feeling (of guilt from killing)" and that is what prompts Billy to start trying to banish her, the "I can't face him" line makes more sense plot wise because she just did the whole flashback. Also it points up that Billy is trying to banish her because he doesn't want to face the deaths either and we and they didn't waste time on getting to and from Eastview and it's all more immediate for the characters and clear to us. Billy accepts her ghost and what he caused, closes the door to the Road with the in memoriam.

The whole "let's go find Tommy" bit and then have him walk out amongst the townspeople (who can't see Agatha's ghost at his side) in his costume they probably vaguely recognize, but have him own it instead of ashamed of it, they get in his car and drive off. Show Agatha's ghost in the passenger seat, mirroring how they started the whole thing when they went looking for others to be in the coven and bringing it full circle.

End with Jen clawing out of the ground and using her power to fly off. Or use it as an end credit since we didn't get one. A full 1hr ep.

With the reorganization of the scenes like this, you don't get lines and acting in one episode that you then need to get ten minutes into the next episode to get the emotional impact of. And, the whole flashback to Nicholas thing makes a lot more sense rather than just being dumped on us abruptly. Also, we don't waste time between action and emotion beats being in Eastview and returning to Westview.

[picnic-at-dreaming-rock]

tw for theories focusing on hallucination/unreality and brief mention of potential suicide and spoiler warning for tbosas novel and movie

------

okay, so apologies for my disjointed writing but I just finished the tbosas movie and my theory for Lucy Gray's fate is that I think she survived and booked it after leaving the scarf/snake trap. In fact, I don't think Snow actually shot her at all.

The snake Lucy Gray hid under the scarf seems to be a milk snake (which is native to the eastern U.S. where District 12 is) which is a non-venomous snake which indicates that she didn't intend to kill him, just to create a diversion to buy herself more time to escape and we know, particularly from the book, that she has very strong self-preservation instincts and the movie very clearly shows that she was very anxious to get as far away from Snow as possible. Therefore, it wouldn't make much sense for her to hang around to stick around like she seems to have done to taunt him with a song when she could have just bolted*.

It was also clear that at this point, Snow was clearly Losing It and he was already in a paranoid/anxious state which might have been made worse by the snake bite as he didn't know if it was venomous or not, he was also making some irrational/impulsive decisions (such as wasting all of his bullets on birds rather than saving them to 'finish off the job') that indicate that perhaps he isn't in a particularly productive headspace. I think this plus the fact that anxiety/stress CAN cause hallucinations indicates that we shouldn't entirely trust Snow's perception at that moment.

When we 'see' Lucy Gray running through the trees, it's brief and only for a moment until she's shot and then her body disappears, just like in the poem, which Snow had heard only a few days prior. There isn't really any indication of how she could have escaped provided that she was shot apart from some kind of fantastical/supernatural intervention which wouldn't track as THG is more or less an exaggeration of our own society and doesn't seem to have any other 'mystical' elements in it.

Ultimately, I think Snow hallucinated about shooting Lucy Gray/her disappearing footprints/her singing The Hanging Tree. I believe Lucy Gray did survive him, but I don't think she would have returned to 12 (at least not immediately nor permanently as she wouldn't have risked the life of the Covey like that) or elsewhere in Panem (including 13). I think it's also likely that she could have wandered until she a) found another society, whether it be fixed or another traveling group similar to the Covey (the optimist in me hopes she finds Covey survivors she was unaware of), b) died from the elements or c) took her own life.

--

*Someone else on here mentioned that Lucy Gray singing as the snakes climbed on her in the arena was her doing what she loved most in what she believed was her last moment, which could also apply here provided she was actually shot and believed she couldn't run away in her condition and wanted to sing one last time/also make one last stand against someone that wronged her, like the Ballad of Lucy Gray Baird in her interview with Lucky. I really like this idea so I wanted to include it here.

[parallel-2-anywhere]

What I think is going on in the Jace Plot (SPOILERS FOR MTG THUNDER JUNCTION PLOT)

SO THE OUTLAWS OF THUNDER JUNCTION STORY SURE DID HAPPEN!??!?!?!

This is very heavily spoilered for the end of Outlaws of Thunder Junction's plot, and also the epilogue fics that are now dropping. I don't know how many more of these will be coming, but this is my theory and I want to get it out there before the fics confirm or de-confirm anything

Despite the fact that I have adopted Kellan unashamedly. I know that he is not everyone's favorite boy but I love him so much and his arc has been so good for me? But that is another post. Let's talk about the end of Thunder Junction and what I think is happening... ish

So Wizards has confirmed the vault on Thunder Junction is from the Fomori. Which are a species from old Magic lore, that could travel the multiverse without the need of a planeswalker spark. Many smarter people have shown the Fomori's presence in Lost Caverns of Ixalan and other places.

But then in Outlaws of Thunder Junction, there is what's clearly meant to be a Fomori child in the vault

(Lifted from Akemi Dawn Bowman's The Ballad of Thieves and Thunderslingers)

SO. My thoughts about the Fomori child, the obvious feeling is that the Fomori has something that at least Jace and Vraska believe can help fix the sparks of the desparked planeswalkers, or giving the desparked a way to travel with their sparks damaged.

I don't think Jace is doing this maliciously, but he is leaning on the feeling that made him want to ignite the sylex back on New Phyrexia. The feeling of the needs of the many. If the child is a last of the Fomori species, Jace could see that as a needed sacrifice, if the child even has to die for this process to work, to help the survivors of the war.

If I had to guess from there it's a "misguided but good hearted" attempt to make things better that has some unforseen consequence. Jace wouldn't be made a bad guy, but an antagonist, and we can see him using more aliases to try and get more things he needs for this process.

Admittedly I don't have a lot of things for this since it is such a new plotline, but that is what I am thinking could happen.

[multi-royalty]

putting a read more as her info will include spoilers from the ballad of songbirds and snakes

MUSE INFO (to be added to carrd later)

Lucy Gray Baird is an eighteen year old girl with a fine love for music, she was picked purposefully during the tenth annual hunger games during the reaping as revenge by the mayors daughter. Lucy was not only a fan favourite, underdog and what the capitol described as 'the runt girl', Lucy Gray was the winner of the tenth hunger games and is known for being district twelves first victor. She'd won over the crowds with her songs and confident stage presence. She grew up a traveller girl and member of the Covey, a small group that moved around often, however during the time of reaping they were settled in district twelve.

BASIC INFO:

Full Name: Lucy Gray Baird Age: 18 Gender and Pronouns: Female / she / her Face Claim: Rachel Zegler (might change but for now) Occupation: singer Appearance: Long brown wavy hair and brown eyes Height: 5'2 Species: Human (verse dependable)

VERSES: ( more to be announced)

the ballad of songbirds and snakes (canon verse)

-follows along with the movie / book, Lucy is a tribute to the tenth annual hunger games, having to fight for her life in the arena.

the ballad of songbirds and snakes (main verse: post canon)

- Lucy Gray left Coriolanus at the cabin, something she had already pre-discussed with the covey. Upon learning of his kills (at the time, two) she knew that was not something or someone she wanted to be around. Despite caring for him Lucy Gray knew that she was not one of his people and needed to get away. - the verse is post canon, Lucy Gray is not longer a district twelve resident. Though her victory is known throughout panem and she is recognised where ever she goes. I am open to her and Coriolanus reuniting in later years.

The vampire diaries (witch verse: alternate universe)

- Lucy Gray inherent connection to nature really comes into play during this verse. She's known since she was small that she was different from her classmates when small things start to happen. By the time Lucy is 18 her powers are fully developed and she is among the mess of causing havoc around mystic falls.

The 100 (space girl saviour: alternate universe)

TBA

American horror story (Langdon's survivor: alternate universe)

TBA

[legion1227]

The Last of Us: TV show Review. (Mild spoilers).

This has to be up there as one of the best video game-to-live-action adaptations, correct? 

When the first few episodes dropped, some critics and journalists praised it as the first ever good video game adaptation. However, in the last few years alone, animated shows like Cuphead, Arcane, and Castlevania already broke the "video game curse," as some might describe it. The Last of Us cements itself as a show up there as one of the greats and on par with the equally superb game. 

Years after a zombie outbreak, Joel and Ellie trek across America and endure hardship after hardship that the undead and fellow survivors throw their way. 

As far as an adaptation goes, The Last of Us tv show follows the game closely but also has its own identity. There's a blend and demonstration of respect as the creative team, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, who also crafted the beloved game, follow the blueprint the game left, yet also add different and new elements that don't take away from the game, adding depth to the story instead. 

The third episode of the Last of Us focuses on Joel and Ellie shortly before shifting hard to tell the love ballad between characters Frank (Murray Bartlett) and Bill (Nick Offerman) for the majority of the hour. Bill's contribution to the story in the game is vastly different as Frank is already dead, and we get a glimpse into his depressing lifestyle without his partner that's coincided with a boss fight in a school against a bloater. As much as I would have loved to see a throwdown between Joel, Ellie, Bill, and a jacked zombie, the beautiful love story told instead was acceptable. It's one of the first instances the show displays that I always wanted to see with a game adaptation to film or tv. 

When adapting a book, game, or otherwise to a small or large screen, I believe you need to find a sense of balance. You have the original material before you, plenty to adapt with your vision, but also implementing original ideas that fit the story adds to the medium and makes it a more unique experience as opposed to the original material. 

The Last of Us show is what I want from an adaptation. The game is already near-perfect, and the show follows the game close enough while interjecting new ideas that differentiate it from the game while also putting it on par in terms of quality. 

Bill and Frank's love story is not the only story and dynamic that works. Episode 8, titled Left Behind, adapts the DLC from the game where you play as Ellie. A significant portion of the DLC tells another love story between Ellie and her best friend, Riley (Storm Reid), as they explore a mall. The bond these two children share comes off as authentic as they marvel at the sights before them with genuine delight. If there's something the show succeeds at, it's portraying duo dynamics. 

Bill and Frank and Ellie and Riley are two relationships fueled by love and end with tragedies, resulting in breaking the viewer's heart. Episode 5 is the same as Joel and Ellie come across two brothers, Henry (Lamar Johnson) and Sam (Keivonn Woodard). Of all the stories, how theirs ends broke my heart the most, even though I knew how it would end since I played the game before. I suppose I forgot how depressing the story of Last of Us could be. And if the show is going to continue following the route of the games, then when season 2 drops and follows the events of the second game, everyone is going to shit themselves with grief. 

Among the multiple duos and different dynamics, Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie is the driving force. Pascal and Ramsey deliver performances that put the two on par with the game's voice actors Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson. ( Sidenote: I love how they got the voice of Ellie to play her mother in the show. A genius choice. However, having Baker play 2nd fiddle to a cannibal as opposed to his counterpart in Johnson was odd and comedic in juxtaposition, but he made the role work.) Pascal's portrayal of Joel has him put up a much stronger stoic front that Ramsey's Ellie slowly breaks down as the two forms a bond by the last episode. Joel may have lost a daughter in the first episode, but he found a new one in the end. 

There are not many complaints I have about the show. It's well-acted and smartly written, the action scenes are shot well, and the story feels grounded for a zombie apocalypse tale. It's literally just as good as the game. 

I do find two gripes. One, I think the show could've used one more episode to help with the pacing. The whole section with Joel and Ellie with Bill in the school was omitted in place of Bill and Frank's love story. While I respect the choice, it would've been nice to find a way to incorporate Joel and Ellie having to traverse a school and watch out for the undead. Ideally, you could have the duo strengthen their bond more in an episode like this while also avoiding and/or murdering more zombies. (which brings us to my second point.) Two, there weren't enough zombies. The huge concern in the apocalypse for survivors appears to be other survivors. Realistically, zombies, clickers, and undead in any form should be just as worrying as other groups of survivors. But across several episodes, the lack of presence of zombies is felt. I hope season 2 rectifies the issue by displaying more zombies as a terrifying threat. 

As amazing as this show was, it was equally depressing. 4.5/5. I am simultaneously looking forward to and dreading the events to follow in the next season. 

[tcplnyteens]

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay is the final book in the Hunger Games series. While a sad truth, Suzanne Collins is currently working on prequel books. The first prequel book is 'Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' which follows the tenth hunger games and the first District Twelve victor Lucy Gray Baird. The other is 'Sunrise on the Reaping', set to come out in 2025 with a movie in 2026, which will follow the second District Twelve victor Haymitch Abernathy.

On the topic of Haymitch, the plan he set up throughout Catching Fire is what sets off the events in this book. After breaking many of the former victors out of the arena with help from the Capitolite rebellion (put together by head gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee) and the believed destroyed District Thirteen.

Without giving away too many spoilers, President Snow is doing his very best to destroy the Mockingjay (Katniss) and Katniss is doing her best to survive. With Peeta captured by the Capitol and seemingly fighting on their side even after they rescue him from the Capitol's hands, it seems like Snow has the upper hand. All throughout she needs to remind herself who the true enemy is. She needs to remind everyone around her. Only when that is truly acknowledged, does the war effort finally become clear. This isn't a war among Districts, not even against the Capitol, this is a war against Snow. Against the history of Panem since the Dark Days.

Even after Peeta slowly returns to who he used to be and the war comes to a close, there is no way for anyone to feel whole again. Too many lives lost, too many friends gone. Far too many years of suffering to fully trust that the world is better now.

This book really demonstrates the futility and hopelessness of war, and this series demonstrates how there are never truly 'Victors'. Only survivors. Victims of circumstance and those who thrive in it.

Rowan

[keialuma]

Welcome to Chaos

I love talking about Fallout, the brain rot is too real.

Links to Posts/Fics below the cut!

About my OCs:

Courier Six [Aiko]: Linked to a separate posts because her story has a lot of potential spoilers.

Sole Survivor [Nora]: Nora's backstory is pretty much identical to the events of Fo4. One notable exception is that she not only knows Nick Valentine, but they were close friends.

Lone Wanderer [Abigail]: Lesbian who has deeply repressed who she is due to strict biblical upbringing in Vault 101. After leaving the vault, she follows the sequence of the main game making the "good" choices (has high good karma). After the events of Fo3, she joins the railroad shuttling synths from the commonwealth and bringing them to synth-friendly settlements in DC (including Rivet City/Abolitionist colonies).

Fics:

Women of the Wastelands [Complete]

A crossover fic that answers questions nobody asked. What happens if you assume everyone shows up in Boston? How do the protagonists interact with each other?

Some Enchanted Evening [Completed One Shot]

Hancock and Courier 6 fluff - dancing during a radstorm.

Ballad of the Cowgirl Courier [WIP]

My WIP giving backstory to my courier. Basically why she's a mess/gremlin/spicy individual.

[laikamaeris]

ms. melava i care for you . 

[skulljar]

can’t escape my brain.... she’s singing the most recent verse on repeat.... like woah... yeah.... the goddess faced the Conquest..... hair gold as his gilded flesh.... what name that war invited.... she named herself Survival.... that's like... art, dude. shits beautiful

[thecinematicalgorithm]

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes - Updating the Hunger Games

Spoiler alert for those who have not read Suzanne Collins’ prequel to the Hunger Games Trilogy. You’ve been warned.

One of the noticeable differences between the 10th Hunger Games and 74th and 75th Games that we are privy to during Katniss’ era, is the outright abuse and maltreatment of the tributes before they even reach the arena. Many of the children did not survive their time in the Capitol to actually participate in the Games. These details were in stark contrast to the luxuries lavished on Katniss, Peeta and their fellow tributes before they entered the arena.

Collins’ made it clear that these Games were a forerunner that would show the origins and early stages of the sadistic show. By the time Coriolanus Snow begins his time as a mentor in the 10th annual Hunger Games, the not-so-distant war is still fresh on many citizens’ minds, and the nature of the Games is not lost on many. This is why the mentor program was developed by Dr. Gaul. It was a way to devise how to get the Capitol citizens more interested and invested in watching the horrors play out on screen.

It’s also made clear that Snow had a personal hand in suggesting updates and improvements of the Games due to his time as a mentor and, by the end of the novel, his renewed investment in the punishment of the districts. At first glance, it may seem that Snow made an effort to make life easier on the tributes before the start of the Games, but Collins’ ensures that the reader is not fooled one bit. Everything, from the tributes being lavished on to the stylists’ and mentors’ efforts to help the tributes make lasting impressions to being allowed time to train and build strength is all for the benefit of the Capitol. Let’s break it down.

From the moment the tributes are gathered and brought to the Capitol they are essentially captives. This was made clear when Snow went to the train station to greet his tribute, Lucy Gray Baird. They arrived in a cattle car, all 24 children thrown in with one another, in chains and starving. It could not be more clear. They were animals and were to be treated as such. From there they were piled into the monkey house of an old zoo, locked behind bars in which they were exposed to the view of anyone who wandered by. Peacekeepers stood guard and again they were not given food or water. They are kept here until the start of the Games in which they are meant to be dropped into the arena, in the clothes they came in, where they will then have to fight for their lives. No training, no outside help. At least until Snow and his fellow students step in to the picture.

However, during the 74th and 75th Hunger Games we see Katniss and Peeta escorted onto a high-tech train with all the latest technology, decked out in luxurious furniture with their own private rooms and all the best foods they could ask for. On arrival they are assigned to a stylist with a team of prep artists who will clean, groom and ready the tribute for presentation in a flashy costume designed to draw the attention of sponsors. They are then taken to apartments set aside for their district, again given private chambers, a fresh wardrobe and all the food they could want. Each tribute has a mentor and escort who work together along with the stylists to create a profile of sorts for their tribute as they train and ready themselves for the Games. By the time of their interviews and subsequent entrance into the arenas, they’ve been presented in the best possible light to the sponsors, scored on their abilities and overall treated well. At least until they are expected to fight to the death.

Now why would Snow in particular go to all those lengths in making sure the tributes are treated well before the arena? Is it all for entertainment purposes? The better condition of the tributes and the more training they’ve had the more interesting the Games will be? He even initiates the celebrity status of the survivors. Providing the victors new homes and riches upon their return to their districts, pouring gifts in to the districts of the winner. Why put in the efforts if he hates the tributes so much?

I think the answer to that is actually shown when Collins’ narrates that after Snow’s return to Capitol life following his return from District 12 and his courtship of and turn on Lucy Gray he makes the conscious decision to not allow himself to fall in love again. He states that he will marry someone he could never love and will never gain a hold on his heart. In that way, he will never be swayed from his quest for power and control. I think the same goes for the Games.

During his time as a mentor, he and a few of his fellow classmates were unable to deny the inhumane treatment of the tributes during their time in the Capitol. This forced them and many other Capitol citizens to question why the Games were even allowed and whether or not they should continue. In essence, the inhumane treatment forced them to recognize their own humanity and the humanity of the tributes. Some were merely uncomfortable, some determined to try and slip food to the tributes out of pity, and some even openly protested the Games. Snow might have had multiple ulterior motives for wanting to help his tribute, but there were times when he could not justify the actions of the Capitol.

However, Snow comes to view this less as a humane response to cruelty and evil and more as a weakness that keeps the viewer from remembering the inferiority of the tributes. Therefore, going forward Snow makes sure that the tributes are treated well and amply prepared for the Games accomplishing two goals simultaneously. Create higher odds to amp up the entertainment factor to draw in the interest of the Capitol citizens, and keep them from questioning their own humanity. He basically provides all the justifications of why there’s nothing wrong with what they do to these children.

The children are presented with skills and talents that will help them fight and survive in the arena. Incentives are thrown in to even get some of the district children to volunteer for the Games in order to gain riches and honor. This serves to present the tributes as people who want to be in the arena and live for the fight so much so that they spend time developing and honing skills. Why would Capitol citizens question this if the tributes are raised as fighters anyways? It’s in their blood, it’s what they want. In his subtle snakelike way, Snow keeps the Capitol citizens in the mindset that however pretty and human-like the tributes look, the people in the district are still barbaric, inferior, and more animal than human because all they really want is to kill one another with an audience to cheer them on.

In this way the Capitol citizens are given freedom to enjoy the Games without questioning their own morals or ethics, not realizing that in their blindness and superiority they have sacrificed their humanity. They are the animals and they don’t even know it.

[yourfriendlytabibito]

Wanderer and the Acceptance of Past Sins

SPOILERS: This post contains spoilers from the recent Interlude quest. Please finish it before reading. Thanks!

The Tatarasuna incident remained a mystery for four hundred years until today. According to historical records, Niwa Hisahide fled along with his family from Tatarasuna while Katsuragi was slain by Miyakoshi Nagamasa, his lord. Seen among the records was the word "kabukimono", an Inazuman term referring to someone who was dressed in the nines. It also refers to someone who is an eccentric. This kabukimono then unleashed hell upon the five great swordsmith clans of Inazuma, the Raiden Gokaden, as revenge for Katsuragi's death. But little did he know, his whole life was a lie.

The Interlude quest reintroduces Scaramouche, the 6th Harbinger. After his defeat in the hands of the Traveler, the Dendro Archon Nahida asked him to investigate a matter inside Irminsul. Since he still has traces of its power during his brief stint as Sumeru's deity, Scaramouche can access the Irminsul even without a Gnosis. As a precaution, Nahida requested for us to join him to keep an eye on him.

While looking for information about the Descenders, Scaramouche told the Traveler that their sibling arrived in Khaenri'ah during their first time in Teyvat. He came by this information through Pierro who turned out to be a royal mage of Khaenri'ah before the Cataclysm. This confirmed what many Travelers have speculated: Pierro is a survivor of the Khaenri'ah Cataclysm and the one who sent Scaramouche to many trips to the Abyss. But that's not the only information that we got from the Irminsul. It also revealed through Irminsul the truth about what happened during the Tatarasuna incident.

Niwa, the second-in-command in Tatarasuna (and possibly Kazuha's distant ancestor), was seen having a conversation with Escher, a mechanic from Fontaine. He was the one who introduced innovations that improved the process of smithing in Inazuma. However, this came with a price. Over time, the workers began to take ill due to exposure to the dark source in Tatarasuna. Niwa has his suspicions about this and decided to confront Escher. It turns out that he was no mechanic at all but a Fatuus. And not just any Fatuus, but the 3rd Harbinger, Il Dottore. He killed Niwa and took out his heart. In his final moments, Niwa asked Dottore to tell the kabukimono that he will always be one of his people.

Scaramouche was outraged. He couldn't believe that Dottore was the one behind the incident in Tatarasuna. Out of revenge and possibly guilt, Scaramouche entered the Irminsul to erase his existence in order to save the people of Tatarasuna. However, his plan was a failure. Though the details of the disaster changed, many still died. The Traveler went to Inazuma to confirm what changes Scaramouche had brought after his trip to the Irminsul. The history of the Tatarasuna incident and the fall of the Raiden Gokaden hasn't changed much...except for the fact that Scaramouche and the Balladeer's existence is erased from people's memory. The kabukimono vanished from the records as well, and was replaced by a crazed lunatic who exacted revenge upon the Raiden Gokaden. Scaramouche was not able to save Niwa nor Katsuragi.

After our trip to Inazuma, we came across Scaramouche, now going by the name Wanderer, helping a store owner in the Grand Bazaar. Unlike his previous incarnation, Wanderer is gentle and kind, and a bit of a weirdo. We took him back to Nahida and discovered that she managed to keep a record of Wanderer's past incarnation. It was in the form of an allegory (and Kitty Scaramouche is so cute). Which means that any form of alterations done on Irminsul's records can still be bypassed through songs and stories. Unlike the rewritten version of history, these accounts kept by Nahida and the Traveler are not affected.

Despite the discomfort Wanderer felt as he perused his previous memories, he forged on and confronted his past. By doing so, he was able to reconcile his past and present. The gods rewarded his efforts with an Anemo vision, a sign that his ambition to unshackle himself from his past is recognized by the heavens. Wanderer did not let it define him. He accepted it as a part of him, rather than something to be discarded. In my opinion, it is a hard thing to do, especially for someone with a really bad record like Scaramouche. Regardless of what happens next, Wanderer is ready to face whatever comes his way. It was admirable of him in a way, even though he is still a bit of a prick.

I think that the key takeaway us Travelers we can get from Wanderer's story is that it is our choice to be what we want to be. Our choices should define us. Not our past. And whatever decisions we make now and in the future, we must held ourselves accountable in order to move forward.

[phoephoenix]

I stayed up until midnight to get my first look at the ballad of never after and OH MY GOD there’s just so much I want to talk about, I’ll keep adding to it as I continue reading

SPOILERS UNDER THE READ MORE

OH MY GOD EVANGELINE OPENED THE VALORY ARCH

Or at least unlocked it

I feel like the librarian is one of the valors or something related

Also the letter to herself at the beginning? Ahshiskdisjdjs “don’t be distracted by his beautiful face and gorgeous dimples and the cute nickname and-“ Eva oh my god

And also Lala trying to tell her the truth and it turns out the curse was to constantly repeat that same story????

Also lala is getting married AGAIN THE POOR BEAN????

And Chaos had the helm put on by the valors????

Also ajdhaikdkas vampire Eva is so thirsty for jacks oh my god (pun intended)

“She wanted him to rip Chaos off her chest so that he could pin her to the bed instead.”

Obsessed about the way chaos is like. Trying to help her not become a vampire thinking it would be an issue w just the blood thing and instead the main problem is that she just wants to run to jacks no matter what like. Ma mans really said I just wanna help u not become a vampire I’m not your relationship councillor and it did fcking nothing no one even heard him

Oh my GOD JACKS IS ONE OF THE MERRYWOOD 3??? I can’t decide whether I want him to be the original archer or one of the valors who escaped beheading

The og archer would be absolutely incredible because of Eva but one of the Valors could also tie with his title “the prince of hearts” being a reference to the queen of hearts and the whole off with your head thing

But again, him being one of the merrywoods would mean he found his demise through a broken heart and I cannot imagine a more fitting backstory for the prince of hearts

Istg LaLa’s engagement party is basically an endless cycle of Eva and Jacks making each other jealous it’s so funny

Yeah okay, I just read a little more and like. They might bone after this party. I’m like 60-70% sure that’s going to happen, they’re both so thirsty for each other

Jacks really did leave a whole engagement dinner to commit first degree murder bc it was boring

Oh they’re definitely gonna bone

They boned and didn’t even wait for the party to end I cannot believe I was right

SHE’S BEING INTERVIEWED AS SOON AS THE LEFT THE TUNNEL THIS IS FAR TOO FUNNY AJSKDHWODMWLAHSHEIWKZKNDH

“We’re here with Evangeline Fox who just fucked the prince of hearts, please tell us Evangeline, how was your experience and would you recommend it?”

I absolutely love how Evangeline had absolutely no worry, reserves or hesitation to grave robbing and instead just jumped at without even CONSIDERING something else like she straight up shoved her hand on some dead lady’s ashes with no remorse this whole thing is SENDING ME

Okay so I read the rest so fast I didn’t even pause to continue liveblogging it here

I have Several feelings

First of all Apollo is one huge son of a bitch and I literally felt so bad for Eva, it might be unrelated but I kinda saw my own experience as an abuse survivor on that last scene, with him reaching inside her mind and taking away everything she loved and huge parts of who she is like that’s a great metaphor

Jacks, I have so many feelings about Jacks I literally can’t articulate them here

Castor Valor is also a big point here like. Was he the very first vampire? Was vampirism an invention of his mother as a desperate attempt to save him?

I’m very excited to see the Valors as characters they’re going to be absolutely fascinating (and most likely yeet Luc out of his position as heir WHICH CHAOS KNEW HE HAD BC THEY’RE RELATIVES WHY IS THAT SO FUNNY TO ME)

And also LaLa being a Merrywood, my heart absolutely breaks for her, I really felt it when she explained why she’s the unwed bride, I can’t wait for her reunion with her beloved and I’m also curious about her backstory

Actually I’m very curious about ALL their backstories. How did they all become fates? Was it because of the Valors? Of the Fallen Star? It intrigues me in particular because they were all mortals at the same time. Was the ascension something that could happen at an specific time due to some magical happening and ceased to be possible after? Was it an opportunity just for them specifically? Was it because the Fallen Star found them together? What happened? How did it happen? I’m not sure if it was mentioned before how the process happens but I feel like it’s going to be a really incredible story when we get to hear it

And also. I literally cannot wait for the next book. I’m literally dying for more

[goldnkuro]

⌇ kingdom (episode 2).

a/n: read the tweets from bottom to top! and there is spoilers about each episode on kingdom, so if you haven’t watched it fully, then go watch it asap!

when soo-young got a sudden text from the btob group chat she created (named ‘soo-young and the four idiots’) that eunkwang sent, asking for them to go to his apartment, she knew the results were to be announced today, so she hurried to the location

soo-young was the first one to arrive in eunkwang’s apartment to save him from the awkwardness of being surrounded by cameras all by himself, she got there earlier than planned, but she took the opportunity to help him organize the room a bit better

once the other three arrived, they quickly sat around the coffee table to see the results on the laptop, and every single one of them was genuinely surprised and happy to get third place

they didn’t waste time to start discussing how their next performance should be and what song should they use

the discussion didn’t take long as they liked the idea minhyuk suggested

the d-day finally arrived and soo-young was more than ready to be amazed by spectacular performances she knew she would see

and she was right, both tbz and ikon delivered the least she expected from them, greatness

soo-young rapped alongside peniel and harmonized with eunkwang, she was the only one with a white outfit, while the other 4 had darker outfits, which made some of the other groups question it

in the break, the camera turned to show soo-young and minhyuk, both taking their swords out of the scabbard while the image turned black and white. she did the sword dance with minhyuk, their characters showing that they have nothing to fear from their enemies

however, when minhyuk killed the last enemy, he didn’t notice that there was one last survivor that was planning to kill him while he was distracted, but before he could do so, his sword ended up slashing soo-young’s back, she sacrificed herself so minhyuk wouldn’t get the fatal wound

minhyuk quickly took care of the last enemy before holding soo-young as she fell to the ground, the camera panned down once she gave minhyuk her trinity knot necklace

the camera changed with peniel, changsub, and eunkwang surrounding a grave with a written ‘in the memories of a caring sister’, now the image is back on full color

minhyuk joined them to carefully place a single yellow lily on top of the gravestone, and soon after, soo-young appeared and held the flower, she stood in front of her own grave

the four men turned so their backs were facing the gravestone, the camera began surrounding them as all of the five started to harmonize together, and it was shown that each male member also had a trinity knot necklace, but minhyuk had two necklaces

and for the final climax, the high note harmonization with eunkwang, but what surprised the other groups was soo-young’s high note with her chest voice, which she has never done before

for the final scene, the five of them walked to the trees, as the four men faced the camera, soo-young sang the last line before turning to the side and staring at the flower on her hand with a wistful expression

❍⌇  interview segment;;

“i’ll be honest, even before kingdom started, i was full of… certain insecurities, i actually still am, so i was nervous the whole time, i had to do two things i never did before: the sword dance and the high note with my chest voice. we all worked really hard to deliver a performance that people would enjoy.”

“i wanted the people to see that btob is more than a group that sings ballads, i wanted them to think ‘ah, so this is what btob can do’.”

“and after our performance, i was so overwhelmed with a mixed feeling of having a burden lift off my shoulder and at the same time, proud of us for doing well, that i couldn’t help but start crying right there. i’m really thankful to the members for allowing me to experience this, i love you guys!”

❍⌇ noir’s 1st round outfit;;

a/n: blurring the artist’s faces is in no way meant as a form of disrespect, the sole purpose is to put the focus on the hairstyle and there is absolutely no ill intent. thank you for understanding!!

❍⌇ twitter reactions;;

❍⌇ line distribution;;

Eunkwang | Minhyuk | Changsub | Peniel | Noir

난 그냥 그렇게 살아

너를 그리워하다 그리워하다

오늘도 하루를 보내 다를 게 없이

하나도 안 어색해 혼자 있는 게

너 없인 안될 것 같던 내가 이렇게 살아

근데 좀 허전해 난 여전히 거기 있나 봐

 내 마음은 여전해 아직 너를 원해

몇 년이 지나도 난 아직 널 그리워해

난 아직 기억해 우리 처음 봤을 때

네 옷차림과 머리 스타일도 다 정확하게

I pray for you every night and day

I hope that someday soon

I can see you once again Yeah

[EK/Noir] 아직도 내 마음속엔 너 Oh oh

너를 그리워하다 하루가 다 지났어

너를 그리워하다 일 년이 가버렸어

[EK/Noir] 난 그냥 (난 그냥) 그렇게 살아

너를 그리워하다 [EK/Noir] 그리워하다

잠에서 깨어 헝클어진 머리처럼

내 일상도 꽤나 엉망이

돼버렸어 책임져

아무렇지 않은 척

드리워진 표정도 내 모든 곳에

스며든 네 흔적도 다 책임져

아직도 난

[EK/CS] 잊을 수 없나 봐

[EK/CS] 다시 돌아와 줘

또다시 같은 엔딩이라 해도 너

[All] 너를 그리워하다 하루가 다 지났어

너를 그리워하다 일 년이 가버렸어

너를 잊으려 하다 하루가 지나가도 (지나가도)

너를 지우려 하다 일 년이 가버려도

난 그냥 ([EK/Noir] 난 그냥) 그렇게 살아 ([EK/Noir] 그렇게 살아)

너를 그리워하다 그리워하다

그리워하다 그리워하다

a/n: i really don't like to publish anything on mobile tumblr, but i just might have to since i can organize the tweets better, but it would be at the cost of the aesthetics, and i hate it. but i do hope that you enjoyed this!!!

[minstrxll]

&& canon lore timeline ;

spoilers regarding 2.1, as this is a timeline beginning from Scaramouche’s origins to his recruitment into the Fatui

Inazuma: A country ruled by twin gods, known as the Raiden Shogun. 500 Years Ago...

> The Cataclysm - Baal (Makoto) dies during the Fall of Khaenri’ah                 > Beezelbub (Ei) assumes the role of the Raiden Shogun ??? - Ei seeks to learn the techniques behind creating a puppet capable of housing the soul of a god. (Yae Miko perhaps lends her aid in this.)

> Birth - Ei creates a test puppet, similar in likeness to her and Makoto, but not exactly the same. This puppet is meant to be discarded.

> Sealed - Ei’s sentiment keeps her from destroying her creation. Instead, the puppet’s powers and memories are sealed.

> Discarded - Yae Miko leaves the puppet to slumber, discarded in an uninhabited place. Due to unknown error, it awakens and begins to wander the land until eventually discovered by humans. It does not know anything of its origins.

> Named - The puppet is taken in by a human village that no longer exists. Its hair is cleaned and cut, and it assumes a name.     > “Names are like wishes. It will help you find a destiny to fulfill.”     > Minori. Truth. He wishes to find it more than anything.

> Peace - Village life is kind to Minori. He is loved. He is raised. He learns things about people, learns how to be one of them. But he does not change. He does not grow old or sick. People notice.

> Attack - The village is descended upon by monsters. Minori unwittingly uses the powers he had no idea he had in order to fend them off.

> Embark - After narrowly saving the lives of the villagers, Minori feels more out of place than ever. With some encouragement from the people who he’s come to love and be loved by, he embarks on a journey to discover himself.

> Vagrant - On his journey to Inazuma City, he joins a traveling band of mercenaries that are kind enough to teach him a thing or two about fighting in exchange for lending his aid.

> Minstrel - In the city, Minori comes across a street performer, and is mesmerized by their songs. What pocket change he can spare from his earnings is tipped to them. Captivated by one another, the minstrel teaches Minori how to play.

> Naganohara - His first summer festival is spent in the city, and he works hard to earn enough money to purchase a custom firework to dazzle the minstrel whom he loves. As a favor, the firework maker gives it to Minori on the house, and writes down the recipe on a slip of paper so that it can be recreated again.

> Balladeer - Minori makes a troupe with the minstrel, together they perform and play, while also taking on side jobs as swords for hire. During this time, Minori takes a special interest in writing ballads and songs about the history of the land and the people he comes across.         > His songs become so renown that the head of a certain samurai clain requests a piece written.

> Kaedehara - As a favor for the beautiful song, Minori is taken under the wing of the Kaedehara clan and trained in their arte.

> War - Although Minori has been living the good life in earning a name for himself, his village has been suffering at the whims of a clan dispute. War breaks out in the countryside where Minori was raised. By the time he makes it back home, there is no home to return to. The village was caught in the crossfire of the feuding clans. There are no survivors.

> Kunikuzuchi - The war ends, suddenly and abruptly. There is no one who can tell the tale, for none know what truly occurred. Rumors say a fearsome god or spirit must have been enraged, and subsequently took its revenge. The Fatui hear of these rumors and know that there must always be a grain of truth buried amongst the tall tales.

> Ronin - Minori does not remember sleeping, but he does not remember waking. He is coated in blood and ashes. 

> Restart - He tries to return to the life he once lead, but it feels hollow. What is the truth he must live for now if there will be no one to greet him? He and the minstrel meet up once more- they have a Pyro vision now, and they swear to help him, for he seems so lost.

> Betrayal - After learning the truth of how the feudal dispute ended, the minstrel cannot abide by harboring a criminal, a killer of innocents. They attempt to arrange a capture with the authorities. The plan was to meet at a harbor, where Minori would then be taken and tried for his sins. Minori believed that he was going to start anew with his lover.

> Death - The harbor goes up in flames. Those in the immediate vicinity are smited by the wrath of a god itself. He knows then that he cannot return to a normal life. He buries his hopes of such a thing along with the village that he cannot name.             > That specific harbor has not been rebuilt since it was destroyed. Locals believe they must have evoked the ire of the Raiden Shogun, and that the land is cursed.

> Fatui - Mask-wearers are quick to descend upon the scene, pick up the trail left behind. Minori is found, and interest is expressed in his capabilities. The Harbinger offers him a path to greatness, knowledge, and truth. All things that Minori has ever wanted. How could he possibly refuse?

> Truth - A new title. A new mind. A new world. The pains of this transformation are nothing compared to the pain of his life before. Scaramouche joins the ranks of the Fatui Harbingers, his powers unsealed and stronger than ever. He surely must be whole now.