#that I haven't completed his companion quest yet?

[pppt25g]

I was thinking that Jing Yuan actually does see Yanqing as something akin to a son, but most of the time treats him as his disciple and a member of the cloud-knights; he admires his tenacity and wants to protect part of his innocence, he did seem to raise him and is so similar to his younger self, but it also comes with an arrogance unbeffiting of a soldier that needs to be straightened out, something that must happen to everyone. Plus, there's something he needs Yanqing to do for him when the time comes, even if he still can't let the kid walk completely alone.

On the other hand, Yanqing doesn't necessarily see him as a father figure (most of the time), more like a mentor and benefactor who inspires respect and some affection, his feelings on the matter could be less complex, but there's always doubt and rumors around Jing Yuan (still glad the common folk can talk so freely about him). For what plot would the general need some kid prodigy who came from thin air?

[wolfsong-the-bloody-beast]

As a Rookanis lover, I've got to say that I enjoy seeing affectionate Lucanis from the external perspective on a different playthrough. It's something you can't see while romancing him with Rook, because he wouldn't tell them how much he wanted to get it right and how nervous he was about it, because he wants to look good for them.

But he totally fusses over preparing the dessert for his sweetheart. Which is adorable. And he does not like it when you later tell Neve that he got flustered over it. He wants to make a good impression.

And I can't believe people say you can't be evil in this game when you can straight up lie to him that it's a bad idea. :( That's an option for Rooks who like kicking puppies.

Also...

Assassin mode: On. 😆

An interesting difference I found here is that this is the point where Rook's romance with Lucanis locks in, and they officially become a couple. Rook recognizes what he's trying to say, likely thanks to all the previous experiences they've shared together - besides all the time spent together, getting to know each other, at this point they've almost kissed, and Lucanis also admits to having feelings for Rook during Inner Demons. The romance lock-in for him and Neve happens later, though. In my playthrough (where my Grey Warden Rook romanced Davrin but still saved Treviso), it actually happened waaay later, probably because I did Inner Demons soon after it became available, and the romance lock-in scene for them happened after Blood of Arlathan. (I haven't played enough yet to know whether it always happens this way, but I assume you can postpone or switch order for certain quests, which will affect your timeline for this.) So, with Neve, he may take significantly longer than with Rook.

And that is not meant to be any commentary on the quality of the relationships. I'm just observing the bird man for science. Especially because I've seen some people say that he doesn't act consistently between his romance with Rook and Neve. But... I don't think so? He still takes it slow in both cases. This is one of the examples. But of course, Rook and Neve are two different individuals that get involved with Lucanis under different circumstances and from different positions in the team, so it makes sense that the progression is not completely the same. Lucanis' relationship is flavoured by his partner, but they both make him happy and they're both equally valid.

I've also repeatedly seen some nonsense takes about how Rook's romance with Lucanis is supposedly inferior to Neve's, how he ignores Rook's affection, and isn't actually that much into them, which is honestly insane to me, because Lucanis expresses interest in Rook way before the scene with the dessert. Not only does he eagerly play along with Rook's flirting during their first coffee date, he initiates it. Most of the time, Rook's "flirting" takes the form of caring, expressing concern, and showing support. Lucanis is not used to that and he's also experiencing the horrors 24/7. But it is him that tells them that they always manage to cheer him up ("How do you always do that?" - "Do what?" - "Break apart my perfectly gathered clouds of doom.") and when they keep being supportive, he pins them against the wall. He straight up tells Rook that he doesn't want to lose them in Inner Demons. And I could go on. All that happens before the point when he starts courting Neve on a playthrough where they become a couple. Neve gets one cute dialogue cutscene with him and a few lines of dialogue/banter, because she's a companion. There's no reason to be jelly.

But back to the post.

From what I've gathered, it seems that the first pie didn't do the trick with Neve. I imagine they still spent nice time together, but from their actual lock-in scene later, it's clear that Lucanis didn't express his interest yet (or maybe didn't do it clearly enough, because his style is pushing a snack your way and hoping you'll get the message), or Neve wasn't ready to/didn't pick up on it. After the scene with the dessert (after Inner Demons) with Rook, Lucanis writes in his 4th logbook entry about spending time with them late at night. But with Neve, it's just this:

No mention of spending time with her yet.

When Rook and Lucanis become a couple, he makes this addition in the same logbook entry:

Which is another reason why it's clear they're just not there with Neve yet at this point. Also because Lucanis then prepares another pie later for her, and that's when they finally admit they like each other. But that's something for another post.

Also, I will tolerate no clowning towards Neve on this post. We love and respect Neve in this house. Sometimes she's my boyfriend's girlfriend, and sometimes she's also my girlfriend. I will protect. I'm writing this for fun, because I want to study the bird man from all angles. It's good extra material for my Rookanis headcanons. I also assume not everybody has done multiple playthroughs, so I thought maybe other people could appreciate it.

EDIT: I've made a follow-up post.

[meanbossart]

Ok it's possible someone has already asked this and I just haven't seen it yet

But what would it be like, if Drow was a recruited party member, and got romanced by Tav/player? How would he act? Would it impact his character arc in any way? (Is it even possible?)

Oh man I got FAR into the weeds of his hypothetical romance here. Light mechanics, how to get on his good side, and some themes.

The TLDR is that his arc is all about managing his penchant for co-dependency with allusions to Dominant/submissive dynamics. His quest has basically three outcomes:

-In one, you get a sweet, caring man who is a little shut-off and otherwise deeply flawed as most people are. He respects you, looks after you, but ultimately sees you as an equal.

-In the "accepts bhaal" route, you get an egomaniac who sees the both of you as if bound in flesh. He's overwhelmingly intense in everything he does, including his love for you, which he requires be expressed and taken loudly and violently. It's essentially what he wished he had with Orin.

-In the "lost to Orin" route you get a sad little puppy-dog who follows you around and does whatever you want, including take his own life. He's entirely dependent on you as the only person who can keep his urge somewhat in check, insecure, scared, and needy.

(dialogue from this post)

I REALLY liked Larian's decision to make the "bad" outcomes of some of the romances to be kind of... Fetishistic in a self-aware way? You want to relive your high-school years by dating that witchy-goth girl who kept you a secret from her parents until your relationship collapses because, despite appearances, she'll never be hardcore enough to stand up for herself? DJ shadowheart. You want to live out your immortal vampire lord wife fantasy until you become a dusty old fling that he keeps in his closet as eternity and power wear his zest for life and love completely down to nothing? Ascended Astarion. You want to finally Fix Him? God of ambition Gale (a joke. Kind of).

So, I wanted to keep that trend going. DU drow "bad" outcomes are definitely more of a fun fantasy, meanwhile his refused-Bhaal route is almost boring by comparison.

You would be able to affect his path both as a romanced Tav or just as a friend, BUT the only way to survive the end of the game if he's accepted Bhaal would be to be in a relationship with him. You also get to encourage him to follow either the accept or refuse path throughout the game - I'm not really sure how the "lost to Orin" outcome could occur with him as a companion though, mechanics-wise. I'll figure something out eventually.

[in-your-heart-shall-burn]

Veilguard Character Appreciation: Lucanis Dellamorte

As mentioned on my Emmrich, Taash, & Davrin posts, this is a very self indulgent post for me to ramble about things that I appreciated about the companion characters in Veilguard. I'm planning to post one per character, loosely following the order of the Veilguard Appreciation Week prompts! Please feel free to reply or reblog with your own thoughts if you are so inclined c:

So, with complete honesty, I was convinced I was going to dislike Lucanis. I hadn't read Tevinter Nights and all I really knew about him was that he was called the mage-killer and I was so worried he was going to be this like, extremely intense, broody dude that you'd have to convince that magic was not evil - which thinking back now, I think I was just expecting Fenris 2.0, Crow Edition, haha, and one Fenris is enough in the world. Fenris already took awhile to grow on me, and I've never been hugely a Crow fan, so the combination just didn't seem like my cup of tea.

What we got was absolutely not that. And I honestly was really pleased with Lucanis from the moment I saw him. Firstly, I did not actually expect him to be possessed, but I'll admit that instantly made him 100x more interesting to me. I do think his character stands on his own and would have eventually grown on me regardless, but it was still a really interesting choice.

I think he started to warm on me fully with the way he just so fully commits to taking care of everyone at the Lighthouse. The first quest with him where you walk around Treviso to buy things for everyone and it's just a perfect example of how he notices little things about everyone, it was really well done and it really showed how observant he is - obviously something that means he's good at his job, but also meaning that he manages to find his place at the Lighthouse really quickly.

And yet at the same time he stayed so purposefully separated because of Spite, and that's super interesting to me too. I love how they managed to create yet another character who's possessed without copying any of the things they've done before. Spite and Lucanis have a unique relationship, and the way that they play off of each other reveals so much about each of them.

Like the way that Lucanis sacrifices his own well-being by not sleeping, both because he seems so deeply uncomfortable with Spite controlling him and also to protect the people around him - I mean, I know how much sleep deprivation can affect you, and it's amazing how Lucanis didn't start struggling even more than what's shown in game. But even despite that, he's so hard on himself, and so devoted to the way of the Crows even as he finds out so many things that tied him to them are falling apart.

I love how gentle he can be, with everyone but himself, what with the quiet care he shows through cooking and gifts that just show he noticed. I love how you got to go into the Fade to get to see all the things that were obvious just by looking at him but that he desperately didn't want Rook to know about, and how it turned out that Spite just wanted to free him from his guilt all along.

I also am really, really glad how much they didn't lean into the whole "mage-killer" thing, because I could've seen that going sideways so easily. He has every reason to hold a grudge against mages and blood magic and yet mostly turns his ire on the people who harmed him directly, the job he's been hired for, and well, himself. It makes him such an interesting character to me.

I haven't finished his romance yet, but he was definitely one of the characters who moved most quickly from "I am pretty sure I won't like you" to "oh wow, I need to get to know you right now", just by how damn quietly charming he is.

[queer-ragnelle]

Best of Bedivere/Bedwyr and/or Dame Ragnelle?

Hi!

Firstly here’s my Loathly Lady Master Post which covers all Ragnelle media and more!

Secondly, I’m only going to recommend media that utilizes Bedwyr/Bedivere as an independent/separate entity from Lancelot. No Bedwyr/Lancelot hybrids: I’m excluding the works of Rosemary Sutcliff, Mary Stewart, Gillian Bradshaw, and Joan Wolf.

With that in mind, here’s all the Bedi media I recommend!

Medieval

Cullhwch and Olwen

An obvious banger. Bedwyr is missing a hand, but can make three spear thrusts faster than anyone else. He is repeatedly referred to as Cai's "companion."

The History of the Kings of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth

Bedevere helps Caius & Arthur kill the giant of Mont St Michael. After Bedevere is slain in battle, Caius suffers a mortal wound while retrieving his body from the field.

The Vulgate

Bedivere is mostly present in early Vulgate & then again in Post Vulgate. Lots of scenes repeated from the previous stories like fighting the giant of Mont St Michael & war in Rome.

Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory

Bedivere present throughout the story but most iconicly, it was Malory who depicted Bedivere as Arthur's last knight & the one to throw Excalibur back into the lake.

Retellings

The Story of The Grail and The Passing of Arthur by Howard Pyle (1910)

Howard Pyle's series is near & dear to me, highly recommend. The illustrations are great, although there isn't one of Bedi throwing the sword back into the lake. Sad.

Merlin by Edwin Arlington Robinson

A small role, but Bedivere is introduced as "a man whom Arthur loved, As he had loved no man save Lancelot."

Arthur the Bear of Britain by Edward Frankland (1944)

Bedwyr is Arthur's kinsman, described as "that black hairy man with charms in his ears." He has a close friendship with Kai & is the last champion standing.

The Eagles Have Flown by Henry Treece (1954)

The Great Captains by Henry Treece (1956)

The Green Man by Henry Treece (1966)

Treece wrote the same story three different ways, with Kai & Bedwyr as Arthur's closest companions, & Medraut as the wedge between them. Each book stands on its own as a complete story. The Eagles Have Flown is an illustrated chapter book for a younger audience so it has less of the darker themes the other two contain (such as incest & torture).

The Queen’s Knight by Marvin Borowsky (1955)

Bedivere is referred to by Launcelot as his "sweet friend." He's constable of Camelot. Although Lucan is the point of view character, he doesn't seem to be the brother of Bedivere here. Bedivere is a skilled knight who wins honor at the tournament early in the novel. He's most prominent in the last quarter or so where he helps battle against Mordred, preceding Arthur is death.

The Pendragon by Catherine Christian (1979)

Let me preface this by saying that I haven't read the book yet. But it is the story of Arthur's life from the perspective of Bedivere, & right from the first page of the frame story with old man Bedivere, he says he resides near Arthur's burial place "to die like an old dog, close by my master's grave." Sick & twisted concept, Catherine!

The Legend of King Arthur novelization by Andrew Davies (1979)

Novel based on the amazing show & written by the same person. As with the show, Bedivere comes in clutch at the end to rescue Guinevere from Mordred, then throw Arthur's sword back to the Lady of the Lake. There's an illustration of him at the top of the chapter!

The Quest for Olwen by Gwyn Thomas, Kevin Crossley-Holland, & Margaret Jones (1988)

Illustrated picture book of Culhwch & Olwen, two page spread of Cai & Bedwyr riding the giant salmon to rescue Mabon.

The Night Dance by Suzanne Weyn (2005)

Bedivere is the main love interest of this book. It opens with his final touching farewell to Arthur.

For Camelot's Honor by Sarah Zettel (2005)

This is a Geraint/Enid romance. But Bedivere is prominent here, described as, "The senior among them was called Bedivere. Some adventure or accident had taken his right hand above the wrist, but he accepted the cup neatly with the one that remained to him. While his hair and beard had gone winter-grey, his brown eyes were still keen, taking in every detail of their hall. His back and shoulders were both broad and straight. He was said to be one of Arthur’s ten champions, who were his high council."

Bedivere: The King’s Right Hand by Wayne Wise (2011)

Bedivere is Arthur's childhood friend. A certified horsegirl. His father was Bedwyr, the last man to see Uther Pendragon alive. Bedivere is very much in love with Arthur & follows him around like a puppy. Lucan is his elder brother who is trained by Ector for more administrative tasks. Kay is older than Arthur & Bedivere, & takes full advantage of that, but it generally a good dude. Didn't care for the Arthur/Morgan romance but all the other young characters were great. They included Lancelot, Guinevere, Gawain, Agravaine, Owain, & Tristan.

The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman (2024) [review]

Bedivere is one of the main point of view characters. Born without his hand, he has always felt less-than & incomplete. He accompanies his family to the joust in the big city where Arthur pulls the sword from the stone. Thus begins Bedivere's life long devotion to him & unrequited love story. Overall I really enjoyed the character but the end of the book & resolution to Bedivere's character arc sucked.

Movies

Knights of the Round Table (1953)

Bedivere's role here is minor, but he's the first knight shown traveling with Arthur & Merlin. He wears white/red floral tabard it's cute. He pops in & out of the story throughout & remains loyal to Arthur to the end, although it's Lancelot who throws Excalibur into the sea.

Sword of Lancelot (1963)

Bedivere is among the knights of the Round Table right from the opening scene, alongside Kay, Lancelot, Gawain, Dagonet, Mordred, Lamorak, Tor, Merlin, & Arthur. He is Arthur's advisor, & stays home during the war with Arthur. He is the first to tend to Gareth after he's stabbed by Lancelot on his way out of the castle, & shown calming Gawain during his outbursts after in the resulting war.

Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)

Bedivere is introduced as he presides over a witch trial, which is really just a girl with a carrot strapped to her face.

Culhwch ac Olwen (1990)

Bedivere is chosen by Arthur, along with Kai, to accompany Culhwch on his quest. The animation style is almost like paper puppets, very cool. It's entirely in Welsh without English subtitles.

Morte d'Arthur (1984)

Bedivere fulfills his exact role as it happens in Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory.

King Arthur: Excalibur Rising (2017)

Bedivere is shown throughout the introduction battling at Camlann alongside Arthur, Merlin, & Kay. He then throws Excalibur back to the lake. 20 years later, Arthur's bastard son Owain has grown up. Bedivere is shown caring for an ailing Kay. Bedivere runs into some bandits on the street & is captured, where he eventually runs into Owain, likewise captured. He explains to him he is Arthur's son & heir. This movie is not good. But BediKay is in it. That's the review.

Arthur & Merlin: Knights of Camelot (2020)

Bedivere & Lucan are introduced in Camelot at table with Mordred, who has usurped the throne whilst Arthur is away in Rome. Bedivere is openly opposed to Mordred's rule, but manages to keep away from his ire long enough to escape with Lucan & contact Arthur. They meet Arthur & his men, including Tristan & Lancelot, at the border with fresh horses. Bedivere is present for the final battle that challenges Mordred's men & reclaims the throne for Arthur. He's last seen chanting "Hail! Hail King Arthur!"

Kaamelott First Installment (2021)

Bedivere is introduced at Bors & Lionel's impromptu Round Table meeting at Gaunes. He is the elder brother of Lucan & his cousin Griflet, who are both children also seated at the table with him. Their presence is brief but I hope they are more prominent in the sequel!

TV Shows

The Adventures of Sir Galahad (1949)

Bedivere pops in for several episodes as one of Arthur's support knights, along with Gawain.

BBC The Legend of King Arthur (1979)

Bedivere is a young knight introduced near the end of the series with his cousin, Girflet. They act as secret messengers between Guinevere & Arthur after Mordred has usurped the throne & holds Guinevere hostage. At the end, Bedivere throws Excalibur back to the Lady of the Lake, & helps Arthur into the barge to ride for Avalon.

[pixiebombblog]

Dev Diary #1 (Oct 27, 2024) - It All Starts Here!

Hi! I'm Pixie, and I am currently in active development on a new large-scale, fully voice-acted & immersive Skyrim follower mod named Seraph!

I've decided to start up a regular Developer Diary (You Are Here) to share progress & roadmap the release as she gets further along! Also if you haven't already, join the Discord (link after the jump) to stay updated & involved or just to say hi 🩷

Here's some early development highlights so far:

✨️ For Seraph's custom follower framework, I've built a new & improved core framework that is much more effective, elegant, & efficient than the framework most follower mod authors start with, & one of the benefits of this is that it's much harder for external problematic mods like AFT to break her brain!

✨️ Seraph's character and story has been deeply developed already, & her personal quests will be expansive! Her main personal questline is currently planned to play out in four acts/chapters, with an optional fifth chapter for...

✨️ Romance 💖 Seraph will be romanceable (& marriageable) for certain types of player characters! Without saying anything spoiler-y, Seraph's romance is not frivolous, exploitative, or lazy (as is often the case with romance options in many mods out there), it is an important narrative aspect of her character, and adds to a story that plays out over the course of your adventures together. Romance is not the main focus of the mod, & is completely optional, though just as much time & care is being put into it as any other part of the mod.

✨️ Seraph has a complex Approval system that feels much like the companion approval in Baldur's Gate 3, which has already been built & implemented. Your choices will matter, what you say and do will affect your relationship & things can turn out very differently based on dialogue chosen, playstyle choices, and more.

✨️ Seraph is feature-rich, and full of customizable toggles, options, and mechanics that range from functional and helpful to ones that just make her feel alive and fully fleshed out as a character. She can spar with you, have discussions on books and lore topics, bail you out of prison (with potential Approval ramifications!), won't call you the Dragonborn if you don't want her to, and a lot more. She also has all of the customary bells & whistles like follow distance controls, lore-friendly summon ability, relax/sandbox behavior options, etc. Many of these features are already built & implemented, or in various stages of that process.

✨️ I've also been working closely with my fantastic 3D artist @legendaryfirewizard (the artist who created Redcap's custom helmet model & several of Xelzaz's custom models) on a visual centerpiece that I don't want to spoil just yet, but that is central to Seraph's story & makes her very unique from any other follower mod.

There's so much more I'm excited to share, but without spoiling too many of the character & backstory details juuuust yet, I hope this first Dev Diary can give a small idea of what I'm hoping to achieve with this follower.

I've learned so much over the past few years of creating mods, and I've grown so much as a creator and a person in that time. Seraph is my love letter to creating, to character writing, to fantasy and RPG's, and to The Elder Scrolls which starting with Morrowind inspired me to imagine characters and stories within the world of Tamriel and beyond.

If you've read this far, I hope you'll give Seraph a download when the eventual release happens. In the meantime, feel free to join the Discord - to keep up to date with the project as it progresses!

- Pixie 💖

(Mod author, Voice Actress)

[apostatively]

About BioWare's Beef with "Fetch Quests" vs. Embrace of "Faction Quests"

[[Some minor spoilers in this post re: a few side quests in DA2 and DAI, and various routine faction quest events and requirements to get the "best" possible ending you're allowed to have in DATV.]]

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I think one of the things BioWare is missing about the transition to "no fetch quests ;DDD don't worry!" in Veilguard is that the vast majority of "faction quests" have mechanics that are far more mind-numbing to me than the majority of totally optional side quests in DAI/prev. games.

I am so tired of almost every Veil Jumpers quest being "look for missing people" > "oh no they're all dead" > "figure out how they died" > "return and tell the quest giver they're all dead".

It's so unimaginative. I'm so goddamn exhausted.

"Bob and Jill haven't come back from scouting these ruins! They should have been back by now-" They're dead. They are ALWAYS DEAD. I can save us all a lot of time and repetition by just telling you now. Something has killed them because the Magic-Is-Science Woods are full of ancient evils that are constantly killing everyone who goes in there, and yet we keep doing it, in large and eager groups. And expecting me, personally, to care about the lives of this faction who clearly don't have a bare-minimum thought for their own continued existence.

(Also: is it just me, or did the quest where everyone dies except for their pet nug, who you later learn VERBALLY SCREAMS if parted from its dead owner's belongings, feel weirdly offensive, like we weren't supposed to care about the people because rescuing the nug was the secret/real quest objective? Were we supposed to feel gratified that everyone died, but "at least" an animal was saved? They immediately snatch away that potential feeling of vindication too, in the resulting missive! Not a drop of dopamine to be had in that quest outcome, and there's no skipping it unless you want your companions to pay a hugely disproportionate price later.)

Even the shorter quests feel completely unnecessary, like when you first recruit Emmrich, an otherwise interesting and well-acted character who is doomed, like so many of the companions, to have his personal quest mechanics revolve around walking back and forth to fixed points within an area. I like the general idea of cute little wisps, but every time I have to double back to the entrance of an area, that I have already traveled through, just to grab a wisp and run all the way back, KILLS ME. I HATE it. There is no POINT to running through the area twice. "I have to get through this part because it's required to recruit this character" is in no way a fulfilling emotional hook.

In DA2, you were perfectly free not to interact with the random local magistrate who wants you to quietly recover his son. But the very pitch of the quest that he gives you is shady from the beginning, and if you decide to pursue it, you get the emotional payoff (depending on your choices) of removing a dangerous serial killer who is preying on marginalized children. This outcome makes the player feel good - like their time has been well-spent, that they are playing as a heroic figure in a fantasy adventure game. (And if they choose routes that are harmful, they potentially also have fun playing an "evil" character, as some folks find really amusing! There is still gratification involved, and it feels as though your actions in the game had a purpose.)

In DAI, you don't have to spend forever in the Hinterlands. Despite the prevalence of memes about this area of the game, you truly are not forced to stay there, you just have to do barely enough quests to accumulate a certain number of points denoting your influence in the area, so that you now have enough "power"/influence/reputation to proceed to the next step of the game where you speak with high-ranking individuals (valid story-relevant reasons). But here's the thing: often even the most simple of "fetch quests" in the Hinterlands has some degree of emotional payoff for the player. Like a lot of folks, I have a select few NPCs I want to interact with every single playthrough, because they have enough emotional depth to make an impression on me: I always get the Fantasy Asthma Medication from the estranged son of the woman with breathing trouble, and always feel sympathy for this family because of the son's reaction that he genuinely didn't know his mother was struggling while he's been away. I always place flowers on the grave of a woman at the behest of her widower, and track down the templars who murdered a woman's husband to retrieve his stolen wedding band, because that's just the kind of stuff that resonates with me. It feels like your character is doing good: you're starting to construct a persona for them of a local hero, if you so choose. There are emotional hooks to lots of side quests - but as above, for those who find them boring, you don't have to spend more than a bare minimum of time in this area. It's not a requirement, the way DATV's "faction quests" effectively are.

Long story long, you don't have to complete every single Hinterlands quest for your companions not to die at the end of the game. (In DATV, even as a completionist who is normally excited to find every easter egg a game has to offer, I found myself deeply resenting being basically forced to complete all the quests so that my companions don't die horribly...and then feeling cheated that you still can't save absolutely everyone, that a true "happy ever after" is impossible in DATV, even if you comply with the devs and finish their scores of side quests, knowing they have a gun to your favorite companions' heads.

It felt as though BioWare expected new players to the series to be able to resonate with this game immediately while also expecting the inclusion of B-list DA characters from their "neutral" world state in books and comics not everyone has read to be emotionally resonant enough for players to want to complete boring side quests just to please these NPCs (who you are allowed to interact very little with in the game). Unfortunately, the "new" players or returning ones who don't read or didn't care for the books and comics have zero reason to do this, and are far more likely to be punished by the game for not having an appropriate amount of "commitment" that simply is not inspired by the game itself.

TL;DR - replacing an abundance of optional "fetch quests", many of which are well-written with strong emotional hooks, but ultimately don't force players to complete them, with "faction quests" that lack emotional resonance and interesting mechanics but ARE required to be 100% completed to get a "good ending" to the game, is a huge step backwards for playability. It's troubling that the game writers/devs don't seem to understand that, or BioWare wouldn't be crowing about the "improvement" in removing "fetch quests" when they've simply rebranded them and made them less interesting and unskippable.

[star-bear-art]

[That love is like a star

It's gone, we just see it shining

It's travelled very far]

I have sat in rendering hell on this piece for like. A MONTH!! So worth it. Consider this a manifestation for my love of Wyll Ravenguard (and I haven't even completed a romance route with him yet!)

(Below is going to be me ranting about the state of his route/content in the game. If you don't want to read that, feel free to just stare at the pretty colours and move on :])

But WOOF. So many frustrations with how his route plays (as of patch 4, the last run I completed!) I've seen people comparing the lack of his development Act 3 with Karlach, and I honestly don't think they're comparable at all. Yes, it's obvious there was more planned (I can't even remember how much extra infernal iron we have at the end of act 3), but she at least has a cohesive narrative emotionally. She resonates! Wyll (by no fault of Theo, whose voice acting is stellar).. did not, for us. At the end of everyone else's personal quest, we were practically crying, but by his? We were mostly confused - due almost entirely to the very convoluted and buggy implementation of his story beats. Let alone that the whole wyrmway sequence becomes way more about the Emporer than him, or that his final speech triggered three seperate times for us consecutively, or the mess with Mizora, the Grand Duke, and Florrick after we defied her to save his father. He's given no agency as a character over his own choices compared to the other companions (at some of his most pivotal moments, as tav you choose his future for him without even a roll!) It was so, so disappointing. I love Wyll, especially Act 1 - but you can seriously feel the lack of polish or finish for his character in the game right now. And regardless of the team's intentions, he's the only Black origin character. That shit has an impact (doubly so when you consider how bg3 imports dnd/forgotten realm's well-discussed racism pretty much wholesale). He deserves as much agency and autonomy over his own story as every other origin character, and I seriously hope he gets it, soon. 'Til then, that's the majesty of fandom, right?

[menaceoffandoms]

LMK analysis rant: What happened to the great companions?

Since the release of season 5 and discovering the nature of the cycles, I've head cannoned that the knowledge we as viewers have of the Journey to the West from the novel was what happened in a previous cycle of the shows world. This makes sense to me since several things we see in the show, whilst being inspired or referenced from the original novel, are very different from the source material.

Whilst each cycle is different, they all have to be somewhat similar, given how Nuwa insists that "they will all live again". Or at least that's how I take it. I started really thinking about this because I wanted to know what happened to the great companions -- other than Sun Wukong -- since everyone has been reincarnated more or less.

It seemed weird to me seeing as one of the rewards from completing the Journey is enlightenment and true immortality. If all the companions became immortal, then how did they die and get reincarnated? How did that work and why is Wukong the only one left?

Now, all my knowledge of the jttw comes from Overly Sarcastic Productions videos, which I highly recommend you watch if you haven't, but since the novel is so long their summary isn't finished yet. So, I decided to look up how the story ends. What I found was rather interesting...

The main set up for the great companions is pretty simple. Tang Sanzang is the monkest monk in the east who the Goddess Guanyin picks for the quest, Sha Wujing was a disgraced Celestial General looking for redemption after breaking something in a fit of rage and getting banished for it, Zhu Bajie was also a disgraced Celestial General who got Drunk and hit on Chang'e too much which got him banished (which isn't that hilarious when compared to Pigsy in the show), Ao Lie was sentenced to death by the Jade Emperor for accidently burning his Dads palace but Guanyin got his changes dropped and Sun Wukong was Sun Wukong. So basically, 4 out of 5 of the group are looking for redemption and Tang Sanzang is their baby sitter. They keep him alive and he shows them the Buddest way. The Journey it the important part of the story, hence the novels name, but every tale has it's end.

So, what happens at the end of the Journey to the West?

Welp with the scriptures delivered the gang is rewarded by gaining places in Heaven. Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong ascend to Buddhahood, Shu Wujing and Ao Lie become Arhats (a few steps down from Buddhahood) and Zhu Bajie, who is unable to let go of his base desires, becomes an alter cleaner. They all get immortality basically, even tho Zhu Bajie doesn't reach enlightenment like the others, so none of them should be able to die.

Obviously, I've already said that the events of the novel are from a different cycle -- things are different in LMK -- but now I'm even more curious as to what happened to the other great companions. Sun Wuknog in the show doesn't seem have reached Buddahood -- that wouldn't be interesting for plot reasons cause then he'd be all powerful and all knowing -- and all his friends are dead! What the fuck.

The likely explanation is probably something lame, like the reward they all got for completing the journey was a lot less grand or the friendship they forged was the real reward or their places in heaven didn't come with immortality attached. There are multiple kinds of immortality -- agelessness, super hard to kill and completely unkillable -- so the other companions could have all been killed at some point even if they did get immortality technically, which would be really interesting for Wukong honestly!

Shu Wujing and Zhu Bajie are characterised as demons in LMK (which isn't accurate to the novel but they are seen as monstrous so fair) so the two of them having the ageless/hard to kill kind of Demon immortality I imagine DBK and Red Son have makes sense. I've heard some theories that Sandy is Shu Wujing -- as in the same one who went on the journey and not a reincarnation -- but I think the show has a lot of evidence against that.

Dragons are super important in Chinese myth and are defiantly immortal in the show, seeing as we've met the Great Dragon of the East, but whether or not they can be killed is very up in the air. There aren't any myths where a dragon dies and they can apparently "shed their mortal bodies" which could mean Ao Lie's spirit is still lingering around and has maybe attached itself to Mei, but then that begs the question of why he would leave his body behind in the first place. Just like with the theory about Shu Wujing, I have seen some theories that Ao Lie is still alive -- given that Mei isn't his reincarnation as I've covered in a different rant -- but if he was still alive I think introducing him to us in the scroll in s4 wouldn't mean as much.

Tang Sanzang is completely mortal so if enlightenment doesn't equal immortality then his death makes perfect sense. He is also the reincarnation of Golden Cicada -- one of the Buddha's original disciples who was punished for not listening to him, forcing him to live out 10 mortal lives in the east before being given a chance to re-enter "paradise" as Tang Sanzang -- which is interesting but doesn't really help us figure this stuff out. It just reinforces the reincarnation thing honestly.

Sun Wukong is obviously still alive in LMK and his entire motivation at the start of the novel -- even more so in the show I'd argue -- was to become immortal and never die, which he succeeds at before the journey even starts. Him being unable to die is the whole reason he's sent on the journey at all, seeing as the Jade Emperor can't execute him for his crimes and I don't think anyone expected that mountain to hold him down forever.

So... What killed the great companions?

Something dramatic I'm hoping. I can defiantly see the five of them risking their lives to protect the world, all of them dying except Sun Wukong for obvious reasons, or maybe just 4 of them did the sacrifice whilst Wukong kicked ass. There's a lot of angst potential here to be unpacked that I would love to see someone take advantage of, especially if in someway their deaths were Wukong's fault. It would give reason to why he stayed in isolation after sealing away DBK or even for why the Heavenly host doesn't seem to like him at all despite his redemption.

I did a lot of research for this but I'm no expert, just an enthusiast, so I'm sure I've messed somethings up. I've tried to source where I got my information from but I'm also dyslexic and probably have some undiagnosed neurodivergence effecting my attention span so research is kind hard for me, but I've tried my best.

I'm very interested to hear what other people have to say about this. I doubt it'll be covered in the show, but then again I didn't think self sacrifice would be a major plot point so who knows! I think covering the deaths of all of Wukong's friends would be a bit too dark but anything can happen! I just hope it's interesting.

[hemlockalope]

ok ok im curious. sunday wanderer comparison?? that sounds cool. free pass to talk abt it if you want :O

Hi hi yes!! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk about them!! Also spoilers for 2.2 Penacony quest and Genshin's Wanderer quest

Also under cut because it ended up a little long-

To start i want to say that while im comparing them their stories definitely aren’t one to one, i just love thinking about Wanderer’s story in every occasion since i’ve obsessed over him for too long(and sunday is quickly joining him in my obsessions) But basically the main thing is how they both tried sacrificing themselves to godhood for completely different reasons and both failed, falling (Sunday was caught, Scaramouche was not)

Yes, both were sacrifices Sundays is a obvious one as Robin was supposed to be the sacrifice but Sunday did it instead of her, not letting his sister get hurt on beliefs she doesn’t even believe in(The Dreammaster always knew he would be the one to be sacrificed anyways) His sacrifice was selfless, he would go through eternal loneliness if it means everybody else could be happy

Meanwhile Scaramouche was sacrificing himself for selfish reasons He wants to achieve godhood because he isn’t human, and while it isn’t explicitly said(i think?) i very much believe he was trying to one up Raiden Ei in becoming a god(If you play as Ei and die in his boss fight he mocks her) But it’s still a sacrifice of his body, as they explained in the quest that if the sages completed their quest in getting the wisdom capsules into Scaramouche’s god form he would no longer be able to move for himself, he would fully become a puppet god for the grand sage

I just couldn’t stop thinking about how both of them tried ascending to godhood for completely different reasons yet both failed and yknow, both almost did it if it wasn’t for a factor they didn’t account for (Nahida’s Samsara abilities and Acheron and Black Swan waking trailblazer up plus Robin waking herself up)

Also!!! comparing Gopher Wood to Dottore Dottore obvs was not a father to Scara AT ALL but he was indeed extremely manipulative (Before Sumeru came out i questioned if Scaramouche ever saw Dottore as a father figure or not, and with Wanderer we know now that he hates him and even when he was Scaramouche he never liked him but working with him was a necessity) But also did Sunday even ever see Gopher Wood as a father figure? we know he took Sunday and Robin in, but the two never calls Gopher “father” or anything from what i remember Also the fact Sunday’s second suspect for Robin’s murderer to be Gopher Wood??? how fucked up is that???

The main thing i think a lot about is the selfish vs selfless sacrificed they did, also the fact that people think Sunday will get a redesign before he releases and he's gonna be released a lot later then when he first showed up plus going from a villain to companion is all things Wanderer went through After realizing all that I jokingly thought why not just let him change his name too, and while it started as a crack theory i kinda just kept thinking about it I saw someone say that Sunday isn't his actual name? I haven't seen any in game evidence though, but maybe Sunday is the name he chose for the family, or maybe he didn't even choose it maybe Gopher Wood did, and after everything that happened in the final he doesn't want to continue going by that name, nor does he want to go back to his old name, so he chooses to use a new one and I can't stop thinking of how Robin probably doesn't like the name Sunday, the family being the one giving it to him, so instead she just called him brother because she knows he doesn't go by his old name anymore either and after Sunday's fall, she talks to him about it. Asking if he's still okay with the name, and when he doesn't respond she hugs him and reassures him he'll always be her brother no matter what

The last bit just ended up me talking about a crack theory/ headcanon lol sorry this just ended up me rambling! Hopefully i covered everythign i wanted? I've been thinking about this for the past few days without writing anything down and I also have awful memory, and with that I'm sorry if I forgot something or remembered a scene wrong!!

[acheittilyoumakeit]

BOOKS!

Okay so. I haven't decided if I'll follow through any reading challenge this year, yet. I know it's almost april, idc. BUT. I miss reviewing the books I read, so here they are!

Now that I think about it, I guess you could also name this section as:

Fantasy Books That Resulted In So Much Obsession I Had To Rewatch Their Movies Both Of The Times

The Spiderwick Chronicles (Spiderwick: Le Cronache), by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black. ☆☆☆ Started: January 9, 2025 Finished: January 16, 2025

Ah yes, this one has been the perfect reading to start the year and to keep my reading streak active during my stressful exams session. Y'all don't know how much I've been obsessed with the Spiderwick movie when I was a kid. I've watched the DVD so many times, and at some point I had the xbox videogame too. Needless to say that there was a time when I was so obsessive about it that I had to finish the main story and every side-quest. I think I know the layout of the Grace's house as if it was my own. About the book, I found it in a thrift store on a completely random day when I was with my mom, so I had to buy it. And I started reading it out loud in the car as she drove me back to my apartment. The artworks are so pretty and it was so nice to dive back into the story once again, and as the movie scenes unfolded in my mind, the book filled up holes and added riddles and dialogues and thoughts to the characters' actions. Yes, of course I rewatched the movie when I was done with this book. Yes, I would've wanted to play the videogame again, since I remembered some scenes from the videogame that resembled the book, but weren't shown in the movie (the Knocker!) (I watched some clips on youtube, who do you think I am). Btw I know there's a tv show too, but I'm quite skeptical, I haven't watched it yet. Should I?

The Fellowship of the Ring (La Compagnia dell'Anello), by J.R.R. Tolkien. ☆☆☆☆ Started: January 17, 2025 Finished: March 17, 2025

This book, I can't stop thinking about it. It surprised me enough, even if I had to push myself through some parts. I kept on reading because I could sense the heart behind every word, every poem, every song, every detail, every description, every single piece of the world Tolkien built. Picture me, at times, just laying in my bed, holding the map of Middle-earth right above my head, studying the places and connecting them to their history, as they were mentioned thoughout the story. Yeah, merely connecting the easiest dots. I don't even know what got me so much into this book, since the characters are well crafted, but not that much in depth yet. Okay, maybe that's why I want to keep on reading the next book so much: I want to know more and more about everything and everyone. The established dynamics between each population and the history that bought the world to its current era is sooo complicated, but very real. The relationships between each component of the fellowship are so heartwarming to me, too. I loved how Gimli and Legolas slowly became besties. The way Sam cares about Frodo makes my heart cry every time. The loyalty of the fellowship towards each other is so wonderful to read. I loved reading what every companion brought to the group, I cried when Gandalf sacrificed himself (and after too - yes, to name one, think about the songs about him in Lothlórien), and it felt undoubtedly right for Aragorn to take his place as the head of the fellowship. God, I loved everything about Aragorn, he's been such a binding force for the group, the embodiment of reason and logic and care and truthful loyalty. I fell in love with some places I've only been in with my imagination, one above all was Lothlórien - do I even have to say it? Every description of places felt so real and poetic at the same time. Then I rewatched the movie, and I enjoyed understanding more and more; I was liteally jumping on the chair every time I could grasp a quote or when a piece of history was made clearer or addressed both in the movie and in the book. Note to self: this book reminded me why I love reading so much. I love taking time to appreciate how the pieces are put together, I love that it fucking takes time, like a lot of time, to do stuff like going from a place to another, and every decision is followed by a lot of preparation, thinking, discussing, especially when Frodo's journey will affect everyone inMiddle-earth. I love how every action and dialogue equals more insight on the characters, I love how every poem means knowing more about myths and history and context: these are just some of the things that unfortunately get lost in the movies. So yeah, I just love taking time to appreciate everything, slowly, step by step, just that. [No wonder it took me two months to finish this book. Oh well. Idc.] Oh and by the way, Boromir is alive and well at the end of the book. Let's keep it that way! For a bit, please. I remember only a few things from The Two Towers' movie. I will pretend I know nothing at all. Shhhh. I could go on talking about this book, but let's call it a day for now.

[amaliche-candeloro]

hsr rambles (mostly negative fhshdjdjf)

oh... my god...

I'm so sorry to say that any interest I had in amphoreus is just completely gone.

the quest was nonstop text of the purplest prose ever. I completely lost track of the lore and world building. all the titans, gods, and every single proper noun—they all blurred together. there are only so many things I can be emotionally invested in.

because they all have names like dome of recollection garden of the heirs tree of wisdom golden thread of fate hand of trickery marble statue of the blessed third king to the throne fated demigod battlefield of blood council of elders reaper of death etc etc. girl. I am not remembering that.

but I tried! I tried to read things thoroughly during the first amphoreus quest! and I loved greek and roman mythology when I was younger, so I thought having that background would make things easier to remember.

it did not.

and I'm sorry to say that because I found most of the dialogue obtuse and winding... that I just couldn't get emotionally invested in any of the characters. and as much as I was a fan of greco/roman myth, I'm not really a fan of the aesthetic. none of the enemies really stand out to me, or the music.

the baths were the only place I found visually interesting. everything else is just vortex of genesis tree of rebirth blah blah blah.

and to top it all off. these quests are LONG. I didn't time it, but even with nonstop dialogue skipping and using feixiao's technique to run between segments (which had so many damn puzzles and prompts for 10 lines of dialogue), these quests take HOURS.

some of this shit needs to be sectioned off into companion quests and other side missions because lord I don't have the time or energy.

I think the only joy I got was choosing all the weirdo dialogue, talking to mem and dan heng, and when phainon points out how weird mydei and anaxa are.

oh, speaking of anaxa. I was originally excited for him because I thought he looked cool and was voiced by stephen fu. and then I realized he's kind of the other al haitham of star rail aka dr ratio again but less funny. and I only let ratio slide somewhat because he's funny... but I just hate characters with that kind of personality.

like "oh, you don't like when I insult your lack of intelligence? well why don't you become more intelligent" type shit. "they're kind and caring deep down" well I don't want to be treated rudely upfront. the dynamic he has with aglaea is funny though, it's giving bitterly divorced exes.

anyways enough of me bitching about jpegs. I play mostly in jp anyway so stephen fu being his va matters less.

so idk who to pull for. I have 100 wishes no guarantee. I honestly might just wait for screwllum at this point, in the 30 years it'll take for him to be released. I'd also consider going for phainon if his kit seems cool, he's like the only amphoreus character I kinda liked.

if not, then I might also go for feixiao's light cone (potentially eidolons?). she's hard carrying me in AS and DU so I want to make sure she stays competitive. or big herta light cone. I'd honestly even consider jade, I'm not immune to purple snake. overall, haven't decided yet.

I just need screwllum to be herta's best erudition partner who plays well with sparkle and then I'll be happy

[bubbblesss000]

ANTIMONY

SERIES MASTERLIST // BLOG MASTERLIST

Antimony represents the wild and animalistic parts of human nature~

an Edward Elric x reader fanfiction.

~02~

Edward, Alphonse, and Y/N were gathered in Roy Mustang's office, completely engrossed in unravelling the mystery surrounding Father Cornello's chimera. The flickering candlelight created a mesmerising play of shadows on the walls, intensifying the aura of suspense in the room. With unwavering resolve shining in his golden eyes, Edward leaned in, his automail hand tightly clenched. Alphonse, the younger sibling, sat close by, his armour reflecting the light. Y/N, their steadfast companion, observed them with fascination.

"How could Father Cornello create a chimera without a real Philosopher's Stone or being an alchemist himself?" Edward pondered aloud, his mind racing with possibilities. "There must be some other way he achieved it. Something we're missing."

Alphonse nodded thoughtfully, his voice echoing softly from within his armour. "Maybe there's a different source of power we haven't considered yet. Something beyond our current knowledge."

Y/N, ever the optimist, spoke up, her voice filled with hope. "Perhaps this could be the key to getting your bodies back without relying on the Philosopher's Stone."

Roy suddenly spoke up from his desk, "I know someone who specialises in making chimeras, he might be able to help."

The group leaned in, eager to hear more as Roy revealed information about Shou Tucker, the Sewing Life Alchemist. They knew they had to explore the idea of seeking his assistance.

As Roy's car pulled up to Shou Tucker's residence, Ed, Al, and you stepped out, feeling a mix of anticipation and unease. The house loomed before you, its windows dark and its facade silent. Roy led the way to the front door, his expression unreadable as he knocked firmly. After a few moments, the door creaked open, revealing Shou Tucker standing in the doorway, a smile on his face. He led them inside and they all sat around his kitchen table and the three teens ask how he got his certification. Tucker's eyes sparkled with excitement as he recounted the rigorous exams and challenges he had faced to obtain his state alchemist certification. His passion for alchemy was palpable as he described the intricate transmutation circles he had mastered and the innovative experiments he had conducted. He tells them about the first chimera he made that could speak. He left them shocked. But the only thing the creature said was “i want to die” but that chimera was enough to earn him his certification.

Shou Tucker listened intently as the Elric brothers explained their desperate quest to restore their bodies. Edward recounted the tragic day they attempted human transmutation, resulting in the loss of his arm and leg, and Alphonse's entire body. The guilt and determination in their voices were palpable as they shared their journey to find the Philosopher's Stone, the key to their restoration.

As Edward spoke, his golden eyes reflected the pain of their past mistakes and the hope for a brighter future. Alphonse's armour clanked softly as he nodded in agreement, his voice resonating from within the hollow shell. Shou Tucker could sense the sincerity and desperation in the brothers' words.

Touched by their story, Shou Tucker offered his assistance, he explained how he did not know how to help them but gave the three full access to his research library in his home. The group were suddenly interrupted by a small girl, who was identified as nina Shou Tucker's daughter. (Y/N) innocently asks where her mother, Mrs Tucker is. Shou sadly explains that his wife left the two of them two years prior to go live with her mother.

Tucker walks the teens down to his research library and tells them they have all day to go through it, no rush.

As Ed, Al, and Y/N delved deeper into the chimera research, their focus was unwavering. The hours slipped by unnoticed as they pored over notes and diagrams, each lost in their own thoughts. Suddenly, the sound of small footsteps and the jingle of a dog's collar broke the silence. Nina and her faithful dog, Alexander, had arrived, their presence unexpected but not unwelcome.

Nina's bright eyes sparkled with curiosity as she peered over their shoulders, taking in the intricate details of the research spread out before them. Alexander wagged his tail happily, his tongue lolling out in a canine grin. Ed, Al, and Y/N exchanged surprised glances, not expecting her to come and visit them.

"Hello, Nina," Ed greeted her warmly, a hint of concern in his voice. "What brings you here?" Nina's response was a simple smile, her gaze lingering on the papers scattered across the table. It was clear that she was drawn to the teens and wanted to play. They obliged with her request and joined her outside. 

The three found themselves caught up in a game of fetch with Nina and her energetic dog in her lush garden. Laughter filled the air as the dog bounded back and forth, tail wagging with excitement. Nina's eyes sparkled with joy as she watched her beloved pet frolic with her new friends. The simple pleasure of the moment was a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

After that (Y/N) helped Nina make a flower crown from the wild flowers that covered the lush grass as the boys kept playing with Alexander, not long after Nina was using alphonse as a slide wearing her new flower crown. After playing with her for a while they returned to their research, soon the day flew by and it was sundown. They asked Tucker if they could come back the next day to carry on going through the research, Shou agreed and they left. 

As they stepped out of Jean Havoc's car, the air was heavy with the promise of rain. Y/N pulled their jacket tighter around them, feeling a shiver run down their spine. Edward adjusted his automail arm, a thoughtful expression on his face, while Alphonse scanned the horizon. The trio made their way towards Tucker's home. The sound of their footsteps echoed on the path, the only other noise being the distant rumble of thunder. 

As they reached the door, the first raindrops started to fall, pattering softly on the pavement. Edward glanced up at the darkening sky, as Al knocked on the door but it was already open ajar. 

Edward, Alphonse, and (Y/N) exchanged worried glances as they made their way through the silent house. The absence of any response to their calls only added to the sense of unease that hung heavy in the air. The once warm and welcoming home now felt cold and foreboding, as if holding its breath in anticipation of some unknown event.

As they moved from room to room, their footsteps echoing in the empty corridors, a feeling of dread settled in the pit of their stomachs. Shou and Nina were nowhere to be found, and the mystery of their sudden disappearance only deepened as they searched every nook and cranny of the house. The familiar surroundings now seemed unfamiliar, casting long shadows that danced menacingly on the walls.

Just as they were about to give up hope, a faint sound caught their attention. It was a soft whimper, almost imperceptible, coming from the direction of the basement. Without hesitation, they rushed towards the source of the sound, their hearts pounding in their chests. As they descended the creaky stairs leading to the basement, a sense of urgency gripped them, driving them forward into the unknown depths below.

Ed, Al, and Y/N followed Shou Tucker into the dimly lit basement, their curiosity piqued by his eagerness. As they entered, a strange mix of anticipation and unease settled over them. In the centre of the room stood a large cage covered by a thick cloth. Tucker's eyes gleamed with excitement as he pulled back the fabric to reveal his creation.

Before them stood a creature unlike anything they had ever seen. It was a fusion of different animals, stitched together in a grotesque display of alchemy. The chimera's eyes held a haunting intelligence, and its movements were both graceful and unnatural. Ed and Al exchanged a worried glance, sensing the dark implications of Tucker's experiment. Shou beamed with pride as his new chimera successfully uttered the name "Edward" at his command. The three teens, mesmerised by the creature's abilities, couldn't help but marvel at the spectacle before them. However, their fascination quickly turned to unease as the chimera unexpectedly spoke once more, this time uttering the words "big brother...big brother ed."

The atmosphere shifted in an instant, a sense of foreboding settling over the group. Shou's expression changed from one of excitement to one of confusion and concern. The teens exchanged wary glances, unsure of what to make of the chimera's cryptic words. Was it merely a coincidence, or was there something more sinister at play?

As the chimera continued to repeat the phrase, its voice taking on a haunting quality, a chill ran down the teens' spines. The once-impressive display now felt like a harbinger of something dark and ominous. Shou, realising the gravity of the situation, attempted to regain control over his creation, but the chimera seemed to have a will of its own, its gaze fixed on a point beyond their sight. They stood in shock as they realised the horrifying truth of what Shou had done to Nina and what he did to his wife. The air was heavy with tension as Edward's eyes bore into Shou, demanding answers. "Where are Nina and Alexander?" Edward's voice was firm, his fists clenched at his sides. Shou remained silent, his gaze shifting uneasily from one person to the other. Ed stepped forward, "You need to tell us what you've done, Shou.." His voice was calm but carried a sense of urgency. Y/N crouched beside the chimera, her heart heavy with dread at the thought of what might have happened to the innocent young girl and her pet. Ed's anger flared up, Alphonse quickly intervened, placing himself between his brother and Shou Tucker. Alphonse's calm voice broke through the tension, reminding Ed of the consequences of losing control. Meanwhile, (Y/N) knelt beside the chimera, offering gentle words and a comforting touch to ease its distress. The chimera's sad noises slowly subsided as it leaned into your warmth, finding solace in her presence.Seeing the impact of his outburst on the innocent creature, Ed's anger began to dissipate. He swallowed his pride and approached Nina and the chimera, his expression heavy with guilt. With a heavy heart, he apologised to Nina, explaining that despite their alchemical skills, there was no way to reverse the irreversible fusion that had taken place. The creature looked up at Ed with tear-filled eyes, understanding the weight of his words.

The tension inside Havoc's car was palpable as they watched the military officers confiscating Shou Tucker's research. Edward's hands clenched into fists, his jaw set in determination. Alphonse sat silently beside him, his metal body reflecting the dim light of the evening. And you, (Y/N), couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of your stomach. As the military officers loaded boxes of documents into their vehicles, Havoc turned the car on and drove off wordlessly. Edward, Alphonse, and (Y/N) arrive back at HQ and are sat in Roy's office, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air. The flickering flames in the office's fireplace cast dancing shadows on the walls, adding an eerie ambiance to the serious conversation at hand. Roy's expression is grave as he continues to address the three of you, his subordinates who are now faced with the harsh realities of being state alchemists. He speaks of the darkness that lurks in the corners of the world, the kind of evil that can only be combated with equal measures of strength and sacrifice. The mention of potentially being ordered to commit atrocities sends a chill down your spine, the implications sinking in with a heavy finality. Edward's jaw tightens, his golden eyes reflecting a mixture of determination and unease, while Alphonse listens attentively, his armour-clad form a stoic presence in the room. Ed exclaims that even with all his abilities, he couldn't save a single little girl. He storms out, with Alphonse trailing behind, leaving (y/n) sitting alone with her father. The room was quiet for a while before Roy says “You know this is why your mother was against this.” (Y/N) replies looking at her feet “Yeah I know.” the room was quiet once again, (Y/N) got up and walked towards the door “I'm going home, see you later”. After (Y/N) left Roy Mustang's office, the phone rang, and Roy picked it up. It was Maes Hughes on the line, his voice tense and urgent. Maes informed Roy that Shou Tucker, the Sewing Life Alchemist, and his daughter had been found dead. The news sent a chill down Roy's spine. The serial killer targeting state alchemists, Scar, had struck again, leaving a trail of death and destruction in his wake.

[lords-of-fortune]

10, 17 and 24 please!!!!

Does Rook have any friends or family that the protagonist gets to meet? Tell us about them!

Going with Gio for this batch since he's my main Rook. He absolutely does! He has a sibling who he supports back in Rivain with his work for the Lords so I imagine he'd be happy to introduce them to Tasso especially since they're a bit of a homebody and Gio likes making them make friends akdkf. Gio also has several children, one of whom lives with Tasso so definitely the protagonist would be able to meet him as well! I could see his companion quest being something to do with meeting all 3 of his kids and dealing with his Emotions about that. But this question is actually centered on the friends/family themselves so I will try to do a quick lil thing about at least Tasso and the kids. Tasso is older than Gio by 7 years and has raised Gio since Gio was 9 and they were 16. They are generally quiet and introverted, a complete contrast to Gio himself lmao. They stay at home while Gio works with the Lords and they do some fiber crafts on the side as a means of making a little extra money. They also now are helping raise Gio's oldest son Rafi alongside Gio's ex Zahra (not to be confused with Zara Renata. Different lady) it's kind of a complicated situation bc Tasso is in fact now dating Gio's ex and yeah it's messy akdk.

Rafi is 4 and is a curious lil guy. Eventually when he's older he is going to be a warrior because somehow despite both parents being mages he didn't inherit the magic gene apparently sjdkp

The second oldest is Lorenz who lives with his mother Elisse in Nevarra. He is a pretty quiet kid, doesn't like being picked up. He is in fact the future mage of the three kids.

Briar is the youngest and the only girl she lives with her parent Thyme but I haven't decided where exactly they're located yet bc Thyme I imagine is kind of an itinerant rogue. Not associated with any of the big factions but an independent like Nadia from the podcast. Briar is a sweetie but maybe a little spoiled (as much as a career criminal can spoil their child) She will be taking after her parent and become a rogue. Yes, together the three would make a complete party lmao

Write a banter for Rook and [companion of your choice]:

Harding: sooo… three kids, huh?

Gio: look, every man on this team is a dad, you can't judge just me

Harding: every man?

Gio: I'd accept the argument that Lucanis is Spite's babysitter rather than his father but you can't tell me that Manfred and Assan aren't Emmrich's and Davrin's sons respectively.

Harding: those are slightly different situations, don't you think?

Gio: I suppose.

Harding: plus you've got *three*

Gio: believe me, I'm just as stunned as you are.

Gio: but that's all the more reason to keep fighting. Can't let a fake god or three get in the way of unplanned fatherhood

What sorts of actions raise Rook's approval?

He approves of a protagonist with a commitment to the bit. The world is ending, might as well be funny about it. He also approves of niceness towards elves, mages, and children (every kid he encounters reminds him that he's a dad now) and greatly approves acknowledgement of the fact that he is Not Dalish and has never been Dalish should the topic ever come up

Sorry this took 2000 years, I'm soooo bad at banter ajdkfl

[i-had-bucky]

Okay, my actual unfiltered veilguard thoughts! Keep in mind this is pretty much overwhelmingly positive. I adore this game; it is pretty much my IDEAL dragon age game.

So, the only complaints I have, I'll get out of the way right off: I wish we could take unlocked transmogs into new playthroughs, and I wish we could customize the inquisitor's prosthetic.

Other than that, though? This is my favorite game. It just edged out Jedi: Survivor. Of note: I played a crow and romanced Lucanis. I have seen the other romances, though I haven't played them yet. Lucanis's romance is my favorite. It's soft and sweet and full of yearning. I think being a Crow makes it better. You have to save Treviso to be able to romance him, which makes complete sense to me because Treviso is DEVASTATED if you choose Minrathous. So I haven't really understood the people saying it feels like a bug. Treviso is far worse than Minrathous if left to the blight and Lucanis is the effective head of the Crows; he's too busy for romance and doesn't trust that you'll come through for him. Also, I heard you don't get the imprisoned-in-his-mind scene if you save minrathous, which explains A LOT of the complaints I've seen about him as a character. To me, that's necessary to understand what he's going through, which is a lot, but if you put the work in, his romance is sooo worth it. It has joined Shakarian in my favorite video game romance.

The story is fantastic. The twist Got Me. Much like Rook, I ignored all the signs that are obvious in a subsequent playthrough because I didn't want to believe it! So it punched me in the gut and made me cry! But the reveal is a beautiful part of the story and definitely one of my favorites. Also, yes, I did sit there going surely the god of lies and trickery isn't lying and tricking me THIS TIME every time. It was great 10/10 no notes; love solas. Yes i did call him a lying flea bag and threaten to stab him. Still gave him his happy ending tho.

Also! The way all the sidequests are important to the main quest!! I love it! I love that decisions you make early in the game have an effect later! I love the reactivity. I love the choices; i love that there are sometimes huge consequences. This has always been one of my main complaints about video games, and dav gives it to me beautifully. Everything felt meaningful, from the side quests to building relationships with the factions, and with the companions.

Rook is my favorite video game protagonist ever. I love them. I was already sold, but the hand puns in Arlathan made it BETTER. I like that they are their own character, that they're kind of silly and snarky, but more than all of that, i love that they struggle! They struggle with the leadership, with building trust among their companions, with feeling like they're good enough. The scene in the infirmary after you get back from the fade prison just. It was so good. Also!! The fact that Rook can be nonbinary and it COMES UP IN THE GAME, IN THE STORY, THAT YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT AND HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO THEM. That in itself would have sold the game for me, honestly. It meant so much to me to have that. I cried about it.

Anyway, longwinded way of me saying I love this game, I will play it forever; it means so much to me. If you're still on the fence about it, I do recommend it. I recommend it especially for anyone who liked mass effect 2 because it felt a lot like that at points.

[carriagelamp]

I don't know what to say here this month. February, eh? Hate February, the Thursday of months, I'm just clinging to sanity while I wait for spring. Here are the books that helped me through what is basically a month of overcast skies and fucking winter rain.

Candy Color Paradox v6

Candy Color Paradox is a series I’ve been reading for years now and I’ve really enjoyed how the relationship in this one has progressed over that time. It started somewhat similar to how you’d expect a yaoi manga to start — lots of tension, drama, smut, and some light antagonism between the two main characters who both work at the same weekly magazine. But it’s eased into something that’s really quite genuine. This most recent volume focused entirely on moving in together and all the little complications and insecurities that arise because of that.

Circus of Fear

A 1980s D&D choose your own adventure novel so the quality is exactly what you would expect, but at the very least it was a fun little diversion. Doing a CYOA book with a friend can honestly be a blast, they just feel so silly, and the setting of a magical, vaguely sinister circus is always an enjoyable backdrop. We managed to get a good ending on the second try! So yay! I'd honestly like to read it again and try some of the other routes that also sounding intriguing.

Dungeon Meshi // Delicious in Dungeon v1

Me and my girlfriend started watching Dungeon Meshi because we’d seen so much about it on tumblr lately and wow. Just wow. It really is doing something special and we’re completely enamoured. Since we’re waiting for new episodes, I picked up the first book so we could compare it and the show — it’s really impressive how closely they align! And the art is really lovely, it stands out and not just for it's food glamour shots.

For those who haven't been seduced into watching the anime yet: Dungeon Meshi / Delicious in Dungeon is a DND-style parody in which the adventuring party needs to enter the monster-filled dungeon to save one of their companions who got eaten by a red dragon. They need to get to her and revive her before she entirely digested. However, to hasten their quest (and indulge one of their member’s strange obsessions) they begin to hunt and eat the monsters that fill the dungeon instead of trying to bring food in from the outside. This is 80% a cooking anime and 20% a comedic adventure anime. Book or show, doesn’t matter which, you should give it a try if you haven’t.

Down Among the Sticks and Bones

I really enjoyed the first book of the series, Every Heart A Doorway, and was excited when I found out there was a prequel about Jack and Jill and the world they visited. This can either be read as a prequel or it works fairly well as a stand-alone novella; the story is about twin sisters who have always been forced to fill very precise societal roles by their parents. One afternoon, they stumble across a magical door in the bottom of a chest and venture down into the sinister world of the moors where one sister is taken in by a vampire lord and the other by a mad scientist. The story looks at how the sisters grow and change when apart from each other and their controlling parents. Excellent story, the language is just so enticing.

Midnight Sun

My brother has been watching all the Twilight movies with a couple of his friends. Listening to him bitch about Jacob like it was 2007 reawakened something in me, so after laughing myself sick I had to go and relisten to Midnight Sun. Still genuinely and unironically love this book, it’s pure trash but by god it's my trash. I’m a simple soul.

Odder

I’ve been hearing great things about this book, and it’s hard to go wrong with Katherine Applegate so I was excited to finally read it. This is a book written entirely in free verse poetry about an orphaned otter and her experiences being rescued by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It’s inspired by a true story (several true stories, actually!) and it's very worth picking up even if you don't usually go for poetry. It's charming and reads very easily.

Old-Fashioned Cupcake

A middle-aged salaryman is feeling worn down by the humdrum nature of his life, which is filled mostly with work these days. This manga kicks off with his coworker suggests that if he wants to deal with the feelings of boredom and aging, then he needs to do something to shake up his life: so he suggests that they “act like a pair of teenage girls” and go to a fancy new pancake shop just because it seems fun, never mind that it’s not something grown men are supposed to do. This manga ended up being pretty darn cute -- it was slow and compassionate and loving -- and it managed to convince me to buy its sequel.

Professor Calculus: Science’s Forgotten Genius

A ridiculous little book I bought on impulse that was nevertheless a lot of fun to read. It’s a tribute to Cuthbert Calculus, celebrating the 80th anniversary of his first appearance in Tintin. It dives into some of the inspirations that went into the character, and also lovingly and cheekily explores some "facts" we know about Calculus as a person… and wildly extrapolates more from there. It was a cute little read for anyone who’s a fan of the series and wants something a little extra.

Return to Oz

I recently rewatched this movie and maintain that I like it more than the original film, sorry. It made me decide to grab the novelization because I’m always a sucker for a novelization <3 This one was pretty solid too, it actually included details that were left out of the film and improve the stories overall cohesion which is always the marker of a good novelization.

Return to Oz takes place several months after the original film, when Aunty Em and Uncle Henry are trying to build a new house and get the farm back in order before winter. Concerned by Dorothy’s continued belief in Oz and her increased insomnia, Aunty Em decides to take her to a doctor who offers healing through electroshock therapy. Yeah, it’s exactly as fucking creepy as it sounds… You get a scary aslyum, a sinister head nurse, being strapped to a hospital gurney, and new baddies that scared the bejeezus out of me as a kid. Anyway, before she can be electrocuted, Dorothy manages to escape back to Oz where she discovers her friends are in dire need of help. It’s like Alice: Madness Returns but from Disney. Go watch this movie.

She Drives Me Crazy

I had very mixed feelings about this book. It’s about high school basketball player, Scottie, who has suffered a bad breakup with her girlfriend who moved schools to play on the opposing basketball team. Things go from bad to worse when she gets into a car accident with her arch-nemesis, the cheerleader Irene. One things lead to another and bada bing bada boom we have a fake dating scheme so that Scottie can get back at her ex.

This book had some genuinely fun moments (I’m always a sucker for a fake dating scheme, and the characters were reasonably fun) but it’s biggest failing is one that I’ve seen more than I like in current queer lit. It just tries so. fucking. hard. to be unproblematic. Like yeah, it’s great to see healthy relationships but it was SO explicit about it. So much therapy speak, way more than feels natural for a conversation or internal monolgue, especially when they’re in high emotions. The “banter” was very scripted. It was a book that felt like it had a laugh track. And while the ending was satisfying enough, it was also… I don’t know. Anticlimactic. We just spent so long tying everything up in a perfectly neat little bow that it really just strolled to an ending that was obvious from a mile away. 

Like look, I get it, we want this to be squeaky clean and beyond reproach, but I have NEVER entered a fake dating story hoping that everyone was going to be really sensible and respectful and level-headed. Fake dating is the slapstick of the romance world, I want some Shakespearean level bullshit, please don’t try to gussy it up for me. Gonna go and rewatch 10 Things I Hate About You or something just to feel things again. Or maybe pop over to AO3, your average fic writer at least understands that when I say fake dating I mean I want something absolutely fucking unhinged and filled to the gill with mutual pining.

So yeah, if you want a sports-based high school sapphic romance: it’s not a bad book. It went down easy, I liked listening to it in the mornings when I needed something light before work. Some bits I even quite enjoyed. But it’s not going to rock your world.

Shuna’s Journey

Well, if nothing else you can really, definitely tell this was done by Hayoa Miyazaki. I’m honestly not really sure how I felt about it. The art was beautiful, and the story was pure undiluted Miyazaki through and through. The narrative was very nice. The story and message was poignant. It was a nice book. I can’t say it’s stuck very heavily in my mind, but I enjoyed reading it. It felt like a precursor to Princess Monoke / Nausicaa, perhaps?

The Witches

The story of one child and his grandmother needing to contend with witches. Not fairytale witches. Real witches. And all their horrible, child-hating ways. One thing I will always love about Dahl is that when he wants to write about something Horrible, nothing will stop him. His villains are truly villainous and the witches are a prime example of that! I loved the description of the witches and their horrible, sinister deeds, especially in the first half of the book. This sure is Child Murder: The Novel! The ending was absolutely not what I was expecting, and I appreciate that. Such a bizarre book.