#thrawn ascendancy greater good

[jewishcissiekj]

In honor of Twitter dying again, here are some Chiss tweets I made a while ago

I need to make more tbh

[oenimo]

It’s funny reading my Thrawn ascendancy hard copies because I bought them like, very new, I think they’re all first editions, so I keep finding typos

And hilariously, they are most often in words Zahn himself made up

[heirtotheempire]

Well folks I'm returning to this post and adding more commentary since I finally finished Lesser Evil (yippee!)

Most of this still stands in my eyes. The Syndicure is a xenophobic government, they fear any change, they're so paranoid and up their own asses that they cannot fathom another species being as smart and aware as they think they are.

But, the same goes for the Expansionary Defense Fleet. Most of them have to be convinced to work with Thrawn, and it tends to be under the notion that if they don't help, the whole Ascendancy would fall. Less of a 'Hey, helping people is cool!' and more just duty fulfillment, unorthodox as it is at times.

Roscu was absolutely amazing btw. Adore her, love her, one of my faves. And I think she gives a very good perspective, being a family-oriented Chiss who doesn't automatically support Thrawn. IMO she represents the average Chiss naval officer. She's committed to the 'attack only when provoked' policy, listens to her superiors, but also is aware enough to recognize what benefits what she cares about- even if that does end up with her disobeying orders. She's not loudly xenophobic, I'd argue most Chiss aren't, but the way she acts makes it clear she only ever deals with aliens when her duties call for it. Any other interaction would be way out of her comfort zone, and most likely something she'd actively avoid (that's speculation, but hey it's my post!)

It is easy to look at the Nikardun, Agbui, and Grysks and think "Well they're all baddies, so of course they want to take down the Chiss. They want power!" But, it is important to look beyond that and ask what could motivate people to take stand against the Chiss.

Could it be that the Chiss, in isolating themselves and showing aggression to those who do not follow their strict way of life, are a threat? Are THEY the baddies in the eyes of these groups?

Of course, this is once again speculative. And it doesn't mean Jixtus and his goons are good guys either. But I doubt these groups just randomly started hating the Chiss out of the blue (lol). I'd love to see insight into the perspectives of other species who are aware of the Chiss, to see why their fear or hatred emerged. Who knows, maybe the Ascendancy is covering up far more than just the Starflash incident and true population count.

As I read through the Ascendency trilogy, it is becoming more and more clear that the Chiss Ascendency is as hateful as the Empire. And it's odd how few people call that out. I think it is because Zahn does a fantastic job at hiding it through Chiss POV, but even then, the Chiss are still incredibly xenophobic and controlling. Yes, this includes Thrawn, he isn't the saint that so many people like to paint him as and frankly could be argued as worse.

I keep thinking about Ar'alani admitting she never saw non-Chiss as people. She is brilliant and kind, but only to other Chiss. We view her in a purely positive light because the POVs in these books are primarily Chiss, who agree with her. Of course her mindset is normal amongst Chiss, of course it isn't questioned, of course Ar'alani herself never questions it despite her experience off-world. It takes a direct and pretty personal interaction for her to think twice, and even then it is difficult for her to accept the humanity of a non-Chiss. They are lesser in her eyes. They are lesser in the eyes of most, if not all, of the Chiss.

It is fascinating, it really is. It's an interesting look into a xenophobic society without the initial hate from the reader. Because xenophobia is born out of misunderstanding and perpetuated systems of ignorance. If a similar situation was told but through the eyes of Imperial officers, fewer people would be willing to see the nuances. Because Empire=Bad and anyone associating with it is also Bad, right?

But, propaganda and cycles of ignorance are also to blame. Not every Imperial Officer was born hating aliens. Hell, even TARKIN started out incredibly sympathetic to alien species according to the canon novel by James Luceno. But his family taught him otherwise, just as the Chiss Ascendency teaches its own children see other species as lesser.

This mentality from the Ascendency is also seen in Thrawn: Treason with how Eli Vanto is treated simply for being human. The majority of officers hate his existence, insist he must prove himself (despite being at a lower rank than he was at when with the Empire), and are distrustful of him. Very similar to how Ronan treats Thrawn in the same novel.

This isn't, like, a call to love Chiss characters any less, but it's a bit odd to imply that Thrawn, or any other Chiss, would be against the Empire for the same reasons the Rebellion is. The Ascendency doesn't like the Empire because it could encroach on their rule, their space- not because it's xenophobic and oppresses too many people to count. The two systems are remarkably similar, which may be part of why Thrawn was inclined to help the Empire. It is familiar, and a system Thrawn himself has never opposed, even without taking Legends into account.

(SIDE NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT BRING UP SPOILERS FOR GREATER GOOD OR LESSER EVIL ON THIS POST. I AM STILL READING THOSE BOOKS AND WOULD LIKE TO ENJOY THEM SPOILER-FREE)

[jetcorax]

he'll burn himself down

gotta love a good fall from grace

magali villeneuve, greater good cover

lesser evil by timothy zahn

greater good by timothy zahn

lesser evil by timothy zahn

luke ross and nolan woodward, thrawn (2018)

thrawn: alliances by timothy zahn

pat olliffe, andrea di vito, and rachelle rosenberg, thrawn: alliances (2024)

star wars: rebels, "family reunion - and farewell"

thrawn: treason by timothy zahn

chaos rising by timothy zahn

star wars: rebels, "family reunion - and farewell"

[jorrmund]

Some random doodle of grumpy Captain Samakro🥰😁

[mintelsa]

did i … fully render something ? who am i

based on my last sketch !

[autismmydearwatson]

My review of Thrawn Ascendancy

[amandamadeathing]

Made this meme. If I knew what he looked like, Supreme General Ba'kif would be holding the rein right in the middle.

I'm always going to render Admiral Ar'alani in "dazzling white" from head to toe.

[klazje]

bringing the essentials to college (both thrawn trilogies)

[anastasiiaosypova]

Sposia

[ascendancyzine]

Hi everyone!

Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and excitement! It is because of this that I am looking for some mods to help me get this thing going!

If you are interested in serving as a mod for this zine, please fill out this form.

This zine is, first and foremost, for fun! And, due to the inclusion of romantic and platonic ships and entire cast of characters, it is necessary that anyone interested in being a mod maintains an open mind. This is a celebration of our favorite characters and everyone is welcome!

[jewishcissiekj]

Thrawn is Che'ri's dad and Thalias is her older sister TO YOU.

To me Thalias is Che'ri's mom and Thrawn is the cool uncle maybe and Samakro is her dad/brother. We're not the same.

[heirofazure]

Thrawn's Musings: 1

Homesickness

To attain the rank of Grand Admiral, it is necessary to have confronted a plethora of conflicts and, regardless of the outcome, articulate the circumstances that led to it. At times, failure may bring great shame, but also significant intelligence that can be used later. Victory, on the other hand, cements one's authority in a sector, yet leaves a leader vulnerable to complacency and repetition. That is unacceptable, and can lead to disastrous results in the theater of war. I have had to learn to walk the thin line of both outcomes. The consequences to my career have been dealt with accordingly, but those around me have suffered.

Such as Eli Vanto, my confidant and friend.

Now, he is gone, serving the Ascendancy with his innumerable talents. Talents that peeked through as he taught me the ways of the Empire, the stories of his people. As difficult as it is to admit, sending him away was an obligation rooted in my devotion to the Chiss, but how I wish it could have been me on that shuttle.

My people, the epitome of culture and light, clouded by a lack of understanding toward my purpose: to defend our way of life by any means necessary. I have exhausted all attempts to understand the decision of the Aristocra over the years, but I acquiesced gracefully to the exile. I suffered during my time of isolation in the unfamiliar territory where I was deposited, not because of the conditions, but because of who I missed.

Who I longed to see. Who I loved, and still love.

I can still feel the warmth of a metal spoon against my lips as they part to sip on the warm, spiced broth I ordered on that cold day, Thrass chuckling as he retells the story of a syndic who had committed a serious blunder during a hearing. Even with the cold surrounding us, the frost clinging to drooping foliage at the entrance of the Bistro we frequented so often, Thrass is...was sunlight incarnate. No matter what was occurring in either of our professional lives, my brother always made me feel as if my differences were nothing out of the ordinary. I was just Thrawn. He was everything I was not, and his wellbeing consumed my thoughts as I made perilous decisions to protect my people. To protect my lost sister, wherever she may be. To protect him.

Now, he is gone. A subject no longer to the Aristocra, but to the stars that surround us all.

I shouldn't dwell on these things. On the people I miss. On the screams Che'ri would belt out as nightmares flooded her mind during slumber; the giggles as she discovered the liberty of flying among the stars. On Ar'alani, her eyebrows arched in incredulity until understanding illuminated her eyes, and a conspiratorial smirk graced her lips, ready to take on the next threat. On Thalias, with her ability to persevere against all odds, even if she was terrified. On so many others who crowded the assembly chamber as the decision was announced, as my life was irrevocably changed. On those I have lost, and those I have given up willingly for the greater good.

I miss them. I miss home. But a warrior never loses his focus on the mission at hand, or accepts defeat, even as a melancholic blade is twisted into the depths of his being by his very own mind.

Therefore, I will serve my purpose until the stars call me home.

Until my brother calls me home.

Thank you to @vibratingskull for inspiring me to try my hand at writing about my favorite Star Wars character.

[loveoaths]

the thrawn books are wild because sometimes they’re about duty and sometimes they’re about timothy zahn’s raging hardon for thrawn being the coolest nerd ever and SOMETIMES they’re about a sad old lady wanting to kill herself and thrawn saying “hurry up and do it already we’ve got places to be” then not understanding why everyone is booing him

literally thrawn.

[is-that-sand-in-my-waffles]

Thurfian wakes up every day and consciously chooses to be a hater and honestly? Good for him.

[jorrmund]

Mid Captain Samakro after his shift...🫡