#tales to be told vol 1

[delaneytalks-tostatues]

Sometimes you just need to sing One-Eyed Jacks in your best Texan accent

[fruitisthenewvegitable]

GPTvsTMK is giving me feelings

TS my beloved <3

[flamet-draws]

Mechtober 2024 Day 9: Folklore

Pellinore and the Beast

[mechs-track-tournament]

Round 1.1.2

[daily-mechs-songs]

Prometheus

[asongoficeandfiresource]

Meta: A Tale of Three Daenerys’

An element of authenticity George R. R. Martin adds to the ASOIAF universe is the repetition of names. The same names appear repeatedly within specific cultures and the spread and popularity of certain names is used to illustrate how one culture has influenced another. Just look at the wide popularity of Targaryen names throughout Westeros, especially Alysanne.

With Daenerys Targaryen, GRRM has created two other characters with her name, so far: Daenerys, daughter of Aegon IV and Naerys, and Daenerys, daughter of Alysanne and Jaehaerys I. Both of these characters seem to be used to lay the groundwork for elements of the canon era Daenerys’ story and character arc.

Daenerys, the Retconned Princess

In The World of Ice and Fire, Jaehaerys I and Alysanne do not have a daughter named Daenerys. In fact, in the main series, Daenerys of Dorne is referred to as the first. But with the release of Fire and Blood Vol 1, Martin restructured the birth order of Jaehaerys and Alysanne’s children, which included not just reshuffling, but also removing and adding children. One of those additions was Princess Daenerys, who took the place of Alyssa as the second born child and oldest daughter of the family.

So the question is, why did Martin retcon TWOIAF just to add a new Daenerys? Part of the reason is likely to flesh out the reign of Jaehaerys and Alysanne with more information and loss. But why name her Daenerys and not Rhaenys after their grandmother or any other name? There is a wealth of Targaryen names Martin could have given this new child, but he chose Daenerys, the name of one of his main five characters in the core series. He likely made that choice to give additional foreshadowing for the canon era character.

At first glance, the two Daenerys’ don’t have much in common with Jaehaerys and Alysanne’s daughter being born into a stable family and kingdom as their oldest living child who grew into a confident girl but died young, while our Dany was born an orphan and an exile, and grew up constantly afraid, gaining confidence and strength in her teens. In that way, they are narrative foils. But where the foreshadowing comes in is with how Alysanne views her daughter.

Based on a combination of moments in Fire and Blood, there is a possibility that Alysanne had the gift of foresight, like other Targaryens in the series. For some unexplained reason, Alysanne is very insistent on Daenerys becoming queen after her father. This is strange because equal primogeniture is not the norm in their culture. Visenya did not become queen regnant, her younger brother Aegon became king. Rhaena did not become queen regnant, her two younger brothers and uncle became kings, though Aegon the Uncrowned was only a claimant. What’s more, Alysanne never pushes for Rhaena’s rights over Jaehaerys’. But she does push for Daenerys’ rights over her son’s. Why? Because she knows Daenerys will be a great queen:

[Princess Daenerys] so enchanted Alysanne that for a time Her Grace even began to eschew council sessions, preferring to spend her days playing with her daughter and reading her the stories that her own mother had once read to her. “She is so clever, she will be reading to me before long,” she told the king. “She is going to be a great queen, I know it.” – Fire and Blood

This is a rare issue where Alysanne is certain about something, but turns out to be wrong, since her daughter dies before having the opportunity to become queen regnant. It is very possible that Alysanne’s certainty over her daughter’s future and Martin’s purpose for retconning this child into existence was to foreshadow Dany’s eventual position as Queen of Westeros. Often with prophetic visions, they can be misunderstood by the person experiencing them as seen with Daeron the Drunken and Daemon II Blackfyre in the Dunk and Egg novellas. While both of their dreams came true, they happened very differently than what they initially believed. So the great queen named Daenerys who Alysanne might have seen wasn’t her daughter but her distant descendant.

Daenerys of Dorne

The Princess Daenerys who married Maron Martell was initially mentioned in passing in a Dunk and Egg novella, The Sworn Sword, but wasn’t named in the text until A Dance With Dragons where her connection to both the series era Dany and Martell family was emphasized. She is cited by Davos as the person Dany was named after and is the source of the Targaryen blood that gives Quentyn the belief that he can tame one of the dragons. She is also the reason the Water Gardens were built and through that palace was able to impact every generation of Dornish children after her.

Unlike the previous Daenerys, there are quite a few parallels between Daenerys of Dorne and the canon era Dany. They were both the products of extremely unhappy and abusive marriages. They each had significant age gaps between them and their siblings, with their older brother having reached adulthood and had a child or children of his own by the time of their birth. Their brothers married them to men outside of their culture. While Dany was exchanged for the promise of an army to take back Westeros, Princess Daenerys’s marriage was part of a treaty that united Dorne with the rest of Westeros. Both women marry for duty despite loving other men. Each of them are particularly protective and caring toward children. They also look beyond the social status of individuals and see that everyone is equally worthy of protection and a quality life.

While Dany pushes for freedom and justice in Slaver’s Bay, Princess Daenerys used her position in Dorne to benefit children regardless of class:

“Beautiful and peaceful,” the prince said. “Cool breezes, sparkling water, and the laughter of children. The Water Gardens are my favorite place in this world, ser. One of my ancestors had them built to please his Targaryen bride and free her from the dust and heat of Sunspear. Daenerys was her name. She was sister to King Daeron the Good, and it was her marriage that made Dorne part of the Seven Kingdoms. The whole realm knew that the girl loved Daeron’s bastard brother Daemon Blackfyre, and was loved by him in turn, but the king was wise enough to see that the good of thousands must come before the desires of two, even if those two were dear to him. It was Daenerys who filled the gardens with laughing children. Her own children at the start, but later the sons and daughters of lords and landed knights were brought in to be companions to the boys and girls of princely blood. And one summer’s day when it was scorching hot, she took pity on the children of her grooms and cooks and serving men and invited them to use the pools and fountains too, a tradition that has endured till this day."

——

"I told the story to Ser Balon, but not all of it. As the children splashed in the pools, Daenerys watched from amongst the orange trees, and a realization came to her. She could not tell the highborn from the low. Naked, they were only children. All innocent, all vulnerable, all deserving of long life, love, protection. ‘There is your realm,’ she told her son and heir, 'remember them, in everything you do.’ My own mother said those same words to me when I was old enough to leave the pools. It is an easy thing for a prince to call the spears, but in the end the children pay the price. For their sake, the wise prince will wage no war without good cause, nor any war he cannot hope to win.– ADWD

It might seem like a simple thing to allow a large amount of commoner children to partake in privileges alongside highborn and royal children, but this is hugely significant since it allows children of higher stations to form positive relationships with children of lower classes. The rest of Westeros does this at a far smaller degree, but usually at the convenience of the highborn. This act essentially put all of the children who stay at the Water Gardens on equal footing, even temporarily so they can all see that at their core, they are all made the same. This allows the royalty and nobility to empathize with commoners which will impact the choices that will impact everyone. Princess Daenerys’ impact on the ruling family kept Dorne mostly out of the War of the Five Kings, meaning that while the common people of nearly every region have been slaughtered and abused in the conflict, only one Dornishman has died so far, Oberyn Martell, a prince in full control of his actions rather than thousands of commoners ordered onto the battlefield.

Even though Dany is still a queen at war in the series, there are similarities between her motivation and choices. As noted above, both Daenerys’ have a weakness for children. Princess Daenerys fills the Water Gardens with “laughing children”. Dany wishes to do the same:

I want to make my kingdom beautiful, to fill it with fat men and pretty maids and laughing children. – ACOK

But more than that dream, when it comes to children Dany shows she is willing to take direct action to protect and avenge them. When the slavers of Meereen murder slave children and taunt Dany by mounting their bodies on milepost, Dany made sure to see them herself: "I will see every one, and count them, and look upon their faces. And I will remember.” (ASOS) Then she avenged them by killing the exact number of slavers in the same way the children were killed. Even when she doubts whether she did the right thing, she insists it was done for the children. Then, when Drogon kills a child, Hazzea, Dany tries to chain all of her dragons so that never happens again, though she only manages to capture two of the three. Despite the fact that she considers the dragons to be her own children, it only takes the death of one child to push her to imprison them, showing just how much she prioritizes the lives of these people. Even when it comes to the children of the slavers, Dany refuses to harm them regardless of what crimes the adult slaver commit:

Dany had grown fond of her young charges. Some were shy and some were bold, some sweet and some sullen, but all were innocent. – ADWD

Where the strongest parallel comes into play is with the way both Daenerys’ realize that there is no fundamental difference between people of different social classes since they are the same when brought down to their bare essentials:

On another island two lovers kissed in the shade of tall green trees, with no more shame than Dothraki at a wedding. Without clothing, [Dany] could not tell if they were slave or free. – ASOS

--

As the children splashed in the pools, Daenerys watched from amongst the orange trees, and a realization came to her. She could not tell the highborn from the low. Naked, they were only children. All innocent, all vulnerable, all deserving of long life, love, protection. – ADWD

The only thing that separates the highborn from the low or the free and the enslaved are societal restrictions. Since there are no natural physical differences between people of different ranks in society, that means they are all deserving of freedom and good lives. While Princess Daenerys acted upon this realization to effect change through the inclusion of all children from different walks of life into the Water Gardens, Dany fights for the freedom of slaves and allows freedmen places of power in her government and gives them a voice at court alongside people who were born free. Here are just a few of the many examples of Dany attempting to establish equality for the freedmen:

Reznak would have summoned another tokar next, but Dany insisted that he call upon a freedman. Thereafter she alternated between the former masters and the former slaves. – ADWD

--

Rylona Rhee had played the harp as sweetly as the Maiden. When she had been a slave in Yunkai, she had played for every highborn family in the city. In Meereen she had become a leader amongst the Yunkish freedmen, their voice in Dany’s councils. – ADWD

--

“The freedmen work too cheaply, Magnificence,” Reznak said. “Some call themselves journeymen, or even masters, titles that belong by rights only to the craftsmen of the guilds. The masons and the bricklayers do respectfully petition Your Worship to uphold their ancient rights and customs.”

“The freedmen work cheaply because they are hungry,” Dany pointed out. “If I forbid them to carve stone or lay bricks, the chandlers, the weavers, and the goldsmiths will soon be at my gates asking that they be excluded from those trades as well.” She considered a moment. “Let it be written that henceforth only guild members shall be permitted to name themselves journeymen or masters … provided the guilds open their rolls to any freedman who can demonstrate the requisite skills.” – ADWD

Princess Daenerys also helped to cement a permanent peace between House Targaryen and House Martell with her marriage uniting Westeros. That combined with the tradition of creating a closer bond between people of different classes and the continued caution on thinking of the people while making decisions that will affect them, she continues her legacy of peace. Our Dany also keeps the people who choose to follow her at the forefront of her thoughts with every decision she makes. She too wishes for peace and takes action to achieve that, even at her own detriment.

“Peace is my desire. You say that you can help me end the nightly slaughter in my streets. I say do it. Put an end to this shadow war, my lord. That is your quest. Give me ninety days and ninety nights without a murder, and I will know that you are worthy of a throne. Can you do that?” - Daenerys IV ADWD

--

She thought of Doreah, of Quaro, of Eroeh … of a little girl she had never met, whose name had been Hazzea. Better a few should die in the pit than thousands at the gates. This is the price of peace, I pay it willingly. If I look back, I am lost. - Daenerys VIII ADWD

--

Like all good queens she put her people first—else she would never have wed Hizdahr zo Loraq—but the girl in her still yearned for poetry, passion, and laughter. – ADWD

Conclusion

While the three Daenerys’ don’t have anything close to similar lives, each of the Daenerys’ of the past seem to intentionally have call backs or call forwards to the series era Dany. Both of them seem to foreshadow Dany’s current and future storylines with pushes for social progress and her future as the reigning Queen of Westeros. So far, Martin has included only three characters with this name, but with the positive change Dany is bringing to Essos and will bring to Westeros when she helps save the world from the Others, it would only be natural for the name to grow in popularity.

[bread-bird-writes]

If you had told Spencer that one day, he’d sell himself, body and soul, to a higher power, he would have assumed you meant the government.

He would not, however, expect to literally hand his free will over to the first actual god that offered him safety, housing, and a decent meal.

(Pre-canon fic about what happened with Spencer and Kieffer in the two years prior to Vol. 1. Title from "Eight" by Sleeping at Last).

[karasukarei]

Wind Breaker Drama CD vol. 2 - Oedo-style Fuurin Tale (Part 4 - final)

Translation masterpost here!

Part 1 here! Part 2 here! Part 3 here!

Special thanks to @orewing !

Scene 12 – 21:53~24:40

Choji: That’s great, that’s great! Ume-chan is really strong!

Umemiya: *panting* (t/n: this is really hot) You too Tomiyama! 

Sakura: Come at me again with all your strength!

Togame: Igoatama (t/n: literally “the guy behind”; this is Togame’s nickname for Sakura here instead of othello)... You’re stronger than I expected…

Hiiragi: Umemiya! Sakura!

Choji: Eh? Your friends are here?

Togame: There should’ve been a lot of our guys downstairs too…

Enomoto: If it’s those guys you’rrrrrrre talking about, we’ve cleaned them up!

Hiiragi: Yeah. Surrender now.

Togame: Ehhh? As expected of Fuurin-gumi. You guys are as strong as the rumours say.

*sheathes / drops sword*

Umemiya: We didn’t come to fight with your for the sake of it. I don’t know what your motive is, but stop your evil act of taking haori from samurai right aw-

Choji: Ah! That’s fine!

Umemiya: Eh?

Choji: We’re not taking haori anymore. We were looking for a legendary haori, but we don’t need it anymore.

Everybody: Huh?

Togame: Huuuuuuuuuuh? (t/n: it’s a suuuuper long and slow “huuuuuuuh”. Like a tortoise) Wait, why? You were saying you wanted it so badly just now, right? That’s why we’ve been working so ha-

Choji: I had a suuuper fun time fighting with Ume-chan today! But if I get the haori and become stronger than anyone else, I won’t be able to have fun duels with Ume-chan anymore, right? I thought that’ll be really boring!

Togame: Ehhhhh…?

Umemiya: I don’t really get it, but does that mean you’ll stop coming to wreck the town?

Choji: Yup, I’ll return all the haori we took too!

Umemiya: Oh, is that so? Then as for this incident, let’s just drop it here?

Hiiragi: *with his stomach in anguish* If you guys are fine with it that’s alright.

Kiryuu: Eh? Eh? So we’re really just going to end it like this?

Suo: Looks like it.

Sakura: Anyway, what’s with this “legendary haori”?

Choji: Hmm, recently when I was in town, I heard a rumour! A legendary haori that raises your strength, and makes you stronger than anyone else when you wear it!

Tsuge: What’s that!? Sounds real great!

Choji: Right, right?!

Togame: When I went to ask around, it seems that the samurai who was wearing that haori was in the next town over, and Choji came to look for him.

Kiryuu: So that’s why you were taking the haori of samurai..

Nirei: But in the end, you never found it right? I heard rumours that you’ll recognise it right away, cos it’s a flashy pattern that you rarely see in Edo.

Suo: Ah! Could that haori be…?

Scene 13 – 24:40~end

Umemiya: Alright! Wait there a little till the camera is ready!

Nirei: Understood!

Hiiragi: Even then, who would’ve thought that the legendary haori Tomiyama was after was Nirei’s haori?

Nirei: Ah, ahahah… hahaha…

Tsuge: But in the end, that’s just a regular, flashy haori right? Why did so many rumours spring from it?

Nirei: Uh, that’s… Before I joined Fuurin-gumi, I wanted to at least look like I was a strong person, so I wore that haori. And when I wore it i really looked like I was stronger and I was really happy, and when I was speaking to the people in town, I told them that I was overflowing with power, that I felt strong just from wearing it, and things started to get mixed up.

Kiryuu: So while you were telling many people about this, the story got twisted more and more…

Suo: And it turned into the rumour of the haori that makes you stronger than anyone else when you wear it, right?

Sugi (?): How foolish…

Nirei: I’m really sorry for the trouble I caused!

Umemiya: But we managed to have a meaningful exchange with Shishi-no-Kashira when we previously had no interaction with them at all, it’s all thanks to Nirei’s haori!

Nirei: Umemiya-san!!! *one the verge of tears*

Umemiya: When we spoke they seemed like really interesting fellows too, next time let’s go visit them!

Sakura: But we can’t interfere with my settlement with Togame.

Hiiragi: Looks like we’re getting more troublesome things now.

Enomoto: Since we’rrrrrre taking photos today, arrrrrren’t you wearrrrring that haorrrrrri?

Nirei: Yes! I’m still weak and can only be on lookouts now, but from now on I’m going to work hard so that I can properly protect this town!

Hiiragi: That’s a good ambition.

Nirei: Yes!

Suo: Bye the way, hasn’t Sakura been wandering around here for a while now?

Tsuge: It’s his first time in a photo studio.

Sakural: This isn’t a place I’d just go to like that!

Kiryuu: Is the photo today to commemorate the end of the Shishi-no-kashira incident?

Umemiya: Yeah, there’s that too, but the main reason we’re coming to take photos is to commemorate Sakura and friends joining Fuurin-gumi!

Sakura: There’s no need to take photographs just for this!

Umemiya: Ehhh? It’s fine isn’t it?

Nirei: I’m really happy about it! Sakura’s really happy about it too, right?

Sakura: Eh?! It’s not like I’m happy about it…!

Suo: You’re not really honest are you?

Sakura: Shut up!

Kaji: The camera is ready.

Umemiya: Aight! Ok everyone! Gather here! Sugishita too, don’t leave any gaps, come right here!

Sugi: Yes…

Umemiya: Right! We’re taking the photo now! Smile everyone, don’t move! Thank you!

[glasskey]

Nick & June's Mixtape Vol. 4

All hail Noirvember. Of course it’s only right that we celebrate it’s passing for the year, with a Mixtape from the first half of Season 4. It brought us a classic noir style entrance, a fight for survival and an unforgettable farewell.

I'm Trying to Keep You Alive

This is easily one of my aesthetically favourite scenes from the Handmaid’s Tale. It’s dripping with classic noir shots and character poses, and features the sniper circle that comes full circle at the end of season 4, with the handmaid’s torch beams as they enthusiastically slaughter Fred. It’s easy to forget that this is the first time June’s seen Nick in almost a year, and that the last time she saw him was when she first learnt about his role in the Sons of Jacob. The guard’s death is a clear statement; Nick is no longer the cocky boyish driver she once knew, he is now dangerous and powerful, commanding a team of snipers with a mere swipe of his fingers. “I’m not leaving you” the guard says immediately before he is cut down by a bullet, a premonition of Nick and June’s separation throughout seasons 4 and 5 as he tried to “move on”.

June lies on the ground, covered in blood, eyes darting around into the pitch dark. Nick appears, a faceless figure accompanied by a death squad, demanding the location of the Handmaids. There’s an aura of dread, and then suddenly Blaine steps into the light, kneels down and briefly brushes her shoulder with his fist. “I’m trying to keep you alive” he whispers, it’s a warning and also a secret reassurance that, as always, he’s there to hold the Gilead wolves at bay.

A tear rolls down her face, he’d lied to her or at least not told her the truth about the Sons of Jacob, can she trust him? Then as he whispers to her and their eyes meet, she understands why HE of all people is there. Here in the darkness their secret bond still exists, she slides her hand away from the gun.

As she rises to her feet and looks in his eyes, a blinding light floods them both as snipers swarm. They’re surrounded, and yet to one another they are the only two people that exist in that moment. It’s been an eternity but the man she loves is there, changed but always there.

The dark aura suggests he could have become just another part of Gilead’s killing machine, but as this confirmation of secret devotion and trademark illumination in one another’s presence tells us, his loyalties remain squarely with Osborn.

The Strength of His Might

The looming brutalist grey building Osborn is carted into here, in the back of the van tells us in no uncertain terms that yes folks, it’s torture time. The doors open, it’s a barren concrete hallway and there’s no escape. But there IS Nick, and as he steps up he tenderly removes the restraint from around her neck, caressing it, a sign that he will save her neck from the figurative noose.

He fucked up, he can tell she knows who is now, what he’s done and he’s going to have to promise, to SWEAR he’s on her side. He kneels down as a pledge of his fealty to her that mirrors the moment at the end of season 1 when she revealed her pregnancy. She remains gagged, it’s a sign that she’s resolved to keep her mouth shut and without his help, she WILL die. While Nick has paid her the courtesy here of asking her to “Please let me help you”, the reality is he’s not going to give her the choice. He’ll help her whether she likes it or not. Nick knows that while he may have a bit of pull, he only gets one vote on a board of many Commanders, and they WILL kill her if she does not give up the goods; regardless of the fact that scarcity has suddenly increased her value as a handmaid.

As Aunt Lydia appears in the background proclaiming to be Osborn’s “Guardian Angel”, Blaine unleashes one of his trademark bible quotes from the passage The Armor of God. As usual Blaine’s giving us double the value at half the price here, with a veiled message for Osborn about personal strength and faith as protection against evil forces, all the while appearing to pledge allegiance to Gilead. No sooner had he turfed June from the van into Aunt Lydia’s clutches, than he was busy twisting Lawrence’s arm to get her out of them.

He’s not to be denied either, Lawrence owes him a favor and it’s time to cough up. There’s some subtle back and forth over firelight and whiskey here but the long and short of it is that Lawrence’s position is still precarious and Blaine won’t hesitate to rip out the rug if he doesn’t comply. Lawrence recognizes this desperate longing in the young commander, he loved and lost Eleanor, and he’s acutely aware of just how bad June can be for the health of the men in her life. But as we all know, Nick doesn’t give a fuck about his own neck and sure enough Lawrence does as he’s bid.

While Nick may have gotten what he wanted, he’s also revealed to Lawrence that Osborn is his ultimate Achilles Heel. There is nothing he won’t do, no arm he won’t twist and as we later learn, no commander he won’t kill for her. Lawrence is constantly making mental notes for his future 3D chess games and while Nick may have won the day, he definitely lost the war. Lawrence proceeds to spend the next 2 seasons using Nick to his advantage with Osborn as his lure.

She Loves You. I Love You.

At the end of Episode 3 June is transported from the brutalist realm of Gilead torture central to a picturesque pastoral setting. Sure, she’s unceremoniously shoved from the van by The Eyes but never mind, because guess who’s stopped by? Nick is waiting in the middle of a large ageing wooden bridge, its arched beams are reminiscent of the interior of an ancient church. June walks in slow steps like a bride down an aisle as Nick stands like a groom waiting for her.

Notably in this scene Nick is standing almost to the other side of the bridge, metaphorically he still hasn’t quite switched sides yet but he’s well on his way. For a moment the darkness of Gilead is gone, the menacing sound of barking dogs has been replaced with the sound of birds and a gentle stream, an aura of eternal romanticism permeating the air. It’s a gorgeous illustration of the escapism and solace these two find in one another.

Ah if only life for Nick and June were that simple, unfortunately the reality is that June’s hands are still bound, her “wedding dress” is a Handmaids uniform and Nick is still dressed in his dapper commander garb…..these two aren’t getting married, once again they’re saying goodbye. As Nick assures her that both himself and her daughter, love her, she spies the red handmaid van inching stealthily down the drive behind his back. It’s a reminder that every moment of comfort these two have ever known, has been invaded by the spectre of Gilead.

There’s a sense of true desperation in the way they touch foreheads here, their minds clinging to one another, perhaps for the last time. As she rips herself away, June suddenly has her “fuck it” moment. If this is the last time they see one another, and it well might be, she’ll let him go on her own terms. Aunt Lydia can wait in the van and cattle prod be damned.

As the music swells and the camera spins we get a glimpse into the dizzying heights of their romance. It’s intentionally intoxicating and indulgent and true to nature, heartbreakingly fleeting.

I’ll be back with more Hitlists, Playlists and Mixtapes soon. Until then you can find the others on my page.

[harpie-raven]

Wanted to do a ⚡️Lightning Round⚡️!

I took the winners of all the other “which is the best [mechs] song?” Polls I did, and I bring you…

[blood-orange-juice]

4.5 preload datamine has a book with a Khaenri'ah lorebomb

Text on Project Amber

Excerpts and thoughts under the cut

vol.1:

"In those days, a crimson moon shone down upon the subterranean realm, and not the dark sun of latter days."

Something something Eclypse dynasty.

Due to the Kingdom's unique position, things from outside this world were always leaking into it. The Kingdom's weapons would wipe out the calamities slipping in, but what of all the other objects? Such as, say, a child who may have come from some destroyed world?

What the hell what the hell what the hell

"Oh high lord of the nobles, a child once told me a tale of another world: Once upon a time, there were sea people who believed that the gods came from the sea. Each time they discovered a shipwrecked person, they would treat them with the utmost honor, for they believed that the gods would take the form of the shipwrecked to investigate the mortal realm."

I can't connect it with anything but I feel it's important. Parsifal's and Skipper's story mention a shipwreck. Two, actually. In some sense the twins are shipwrecked and Paimon was fished out of the sea.

The ocean and the sea were often used as a metaphor for the space projected by the stars.

Why sea and Abyss get conflated with it sometimes: Khaenri'ans were more familiar with the Abyssal stars than the sea.

In anticipation of the arrival at their Kingdom of gods from beyond the so-called ocean — or rather, the arrival of beings who could transcend the gods — they founded an organization, an orphanage to take care of such children. In latter days, the orphans of the Kingdom and those who wandered in from outside were accepted as well.

Everything fun in Teyvat is made by kids in orphanages.

The young Perinheri's first memory was that of being asked by the grown-ups to crawl through a dark corridor. This passage might have been a chimney for winter fires, for it was filled with coal ash, and there was not a single crack in it through which smoke or light could pass through. As he crawled, he would sometimes stumble in the pitch-black darkness. Fortunately, the corridor appeared designed for the passage of children in the first place, so the falls were not very painful. It also lacked any annoying cobwebs. When Perinheri reached the end at last, the exit had not opened yet. He knocked, only for the grown-ups to coldly ask: "Are you dead?" Well, how was he to reply if he was dead? But the grown-ups did not like this response. They kept asking the same question, until he at least shouted, "Yes, I'm dead!" The adults then asked, "Did you see it, then?" Perhaps it was the fear brought on by the darkness combined with hunger and exhaustion, but Perinheri did indeed see an illusion. The crimson moon, hanging high in the pitch-dark night sky, suddenly turned around, revealing itself to be a titanic, horrified eye. The adults opened the door and embraced the soot-covered Perinheri: "You have traversed the fire of two worlds within the hearth, and here you are reborn."

Moons being goddesses' corpses, the fake sky, whales, the rebirth ritual in the narcissenkreuz notes. Again, I can't connect it.

Though the crimson moon set, and the dark sun descended into a yet darker dusk, that transcendental person from beyond who the Kingdom orphanage was awaiting never arrived. But unusual individuals they had aplenty, and many of those who strode forth from the gates of that orphanage became great knights of the Kingdom. Perinheri was, in his time, the leading figure amongst their ranks — that is, unless, he were forced to compete with his best friend, Hleobrant.

tl;dr: Khaenri'ah casually welcomed travelers from between worlds, visitors from dead worlds especially. or at least hoped to but didn't get many

[fruitisthenewvegitable]

I’m currently listening to Tales To Be Told vol. 1

I have no idea what’s going on but I love it

Bout to listen to GPTvsTMK for the first time, wish me luck y’all 🫡

[flamet-draws]

Mechtober 2024 Day 22: Immortality

“And we never saw him again…”

Dr Pilchard is having a bad time I think

[mechs-track-tournament]

Round 1.2.8

[daily-mechs-songs]

Pellinore and the Beast

[renegadesector]

Tales of Lost Ages Vol. 1 is Out Now!

An anthology of four short-fantasy action-adventure games!

Steam Page

Descriptions after the jump:

Tomb of the Devourer

The Treasure Hunter had traveled a long way. In the Valley of Kings, the tombs lay defiled, despoiled of all treasure. All but one. One tomb had remained impervious to looting. A tomb of a nameless king of an age lost to history. Not one would-be thief who had ever challenged its depths had returned. The Treasure Hunter was determined to be the first. When he stood before the entrance to the tomb, half buried in sand, he had expected difficulty getting inside. To his surprise, the ancient stone gate rose open under its own power like a gaping maw. An open invitation. Perhaps this would be easier than he thought…

Ruby in the Mire

Ruby is an adventurer-for-hire who does the dirty jobs no one else will take! A malignant force has corrupted the ruins of an ancient temple, half-sunken under a muddy swamp. The corruption has spread to a nearby town and poisoned their water supply. The town has pooled their money together to hire someone to venture into the temple’s depths and battle the demon which has taken root there. Ruby is the one woman for the job!

The Waystone’s Toll

The Mercenary had hoped to find rest in the town of Knights Passing. However, when he arrived, he felt the telltale tension in the air that told him all was not well in this small town. A week prior, the town’s relic known as the Waystone had been stolen, and some of the townsfolk went missing. Each night since, demons have emerged from the manor of Erstel Krestalor, a wealthy merchant who was among the missing villagers. The guards have barely managed to fight off the nightly onslaught. It looks like The Mercenary will have to earn his rest!

Hunter in the Court of Beasts

The hunter sniffed the air and knew her quarry was near. It was no surprise to her when she felt a tension in the air upon entering the village, and even less of a surprise when she heard its cause. The beasts of the woods had grown dangerous and organized. At foragers went missing. Then an entire hunting party was killed. Now the villagers fear to go out at night for beasts roam the outskirts of the village waiting for prey. The hunter listened to the villages story and knew she was in the right place. This is how it had been each time. She was certain: one of the Beast Lords had arisen here. She prepared to head north into the heart of the woods, ready to begin the hunt.