#Game of Thrones Character Rankings

[hunybody]

remembering how tormund flirted soooo hard with brienne because she's super super hot and also because it pissed off jaime (most annoying man in the world, in love with brienne) and jon (faggotron 3000 but refused to admit it, did the brokeback mountain thing with tormund for several seasons, so obnoxious about acknowledging it). i miss tormund so bad he was everything to me

[billyrussoapologist]

So Ranker came out with their list of top most hated TV characters, that apparently 200k+ people voted on:

And I’m just losing my mind that Ramsay Bolton and Skylar White are so close together on this list. Look at the villains wiki list of each of their crimes:

People were really like, “hmm, I guess skinning people alive is a smidge worse than Skylar sleeping with Ted. I guess Ramsay feeding an infant to his dogs is like a little worse than fraud.” How are they even comparable you guys 😭😭😭

[riddlesrizzler]

Sigma Nu's Sweetheart

summary: A diamond in a house full of snakes. characters: frat boy! mattheo. frat sweetheart! reader. frat boy! slytherins warnings: mentions of alcohol and making pledges do things (not hazing) word count: 2.3k

They called it the Snake House, though its real name-Sigma Nu-was etched in fading silver above the wrought iron gates that led to the manor. Hidden behind ivy-draped columns and shrouded by ancient oaks, the fraternity estate stood on the edge of campus like a secret too dangerous to be kept in daylight. No one quite remembered when Sigma Nu had been founded-some whispered it was pre-dating the university itself, rooted in ancient rites and blood oaths sworn beneath crescent moons. But in the present, it was feared, admired, and envied in equal measure.

The president of Sigma Nu was Mattheo Riddle, a name spoken with the kind of reverence reserved for legends and tyrants. Sharp of tongue and sharper of mind, Mattheo ruled the fraternity not with brutish dominance, but with a silken charisma that wrapped itself around you like a noose. He was all marble and firelight: smooth, cold, untouchable on the outside, yet flickering with something volatile beneath the surface.

His second-in-command, Theodore Nott, was the shadow behind the throne. Where Mattheo set the tone, Theo enforced it. He was quieter, more calculated, with a gaze like cut glass and a voice you only heard when he needed to remind someone of their place. The brothers called him ���The Watcher”-not because he hovered, but because he saw everything.

The rest of the inner circle rotated like planets in their orbit.

Lorenzo Berkshire, with his floppy brown hair and wicked grin, handled social affairs-if such a title could be applied to the lavish masquerades and forbidden midnight galas he orchestrated. Enzo was charm incarnate, hiding razor-sharp instincts behind a glass of wine and a well-tailored coat. People underestimated him. That was their first mistake.

Draco Malfoy, heir to a crumbling aristocracy, served as treasurer. But that role was a formality. Draco was the gatekeeper to the legacy. His family had once poured obscene amounts of money into Sigma Nu, and though the vaults ran thinner now, his word still carried the weight of dynasties. Cold and calculating, Draco rarely spoke unless it was to remind others they weren’t worth speaking to.

Then there was Blaise Zabini, the strategist. He didn’t run the meetings or throw the parties. He played the long game-the one that was always three moves ahead. A cigarette always rested between his fingers, and secrets curled around him like smoke. Blaise’s role wasn’t official. It didn’t have to be. In Sigma Nu, knowledge was currency, and he was the quiet king of the underground economy.

Together, they formed the serpent’s head.

The house itself was a relic from another time. Stained-glass windows filtered the sunlight into eerie patterns on mahogany floors. The walls were lined with portraits of brothers past-men with hollow eyes and stories that had been scrubbed from official records. A grand staircase, rumored to creak only when someone lied in its presence, split the mansion in two. The basement was off-limits, except for the highest-ranking members. What happened down there was never spoken of, but the muffled echoes that sometimes rose through the vents kept the rumors alive.

Rituals were everything in Sigma Nu. Pledging wasn't just about endurance-it was a test of will, of loyalty, of how far you were willing to crawl for power. And once you were in, you were in. There was no leaving. Not really. Former brothers found themselves mysteriously blacklisted, their futures erased with quiet efficiency. No one crossed the Snake House without bleeding for it.

Yet every year, the line to rush snaked down the cobblestone path, filled with students desperate to touch even the hem of that forbidden tapestry. Power, after all, is seductive. And Mattheo Riddle’s Sigma Nu had power in spades.

But inside those ivy-covered walls, something was shifting. There were murmurs of a fracture in the hierarchy. An outsider watching too closely. A secret the founders had buried that might be clawing its way back to the surface.

And at the center of it all: Mattheo, with a hand on the throne and another on the throttle.

But between the echoes of old secrets and the weight of a legacy stitched in silence, she was the unexpected constant-soft in a world that was anything but. While Mattheo navigated the shifting loyalties and unspoken rules of the house, she remained untouched by the storm, yet always in its eye. She didn’t need a title to hold power; she had something rarer. Influence, without force. Presence, without demand. And though the throne was his to claim, she was the one they all moved around-the one they’d protect without question, even as the walls whispered of betrayal and the past threatened to rise. Because to the outside world, she was just the Diamond of Alpha Delta Pi. But to them… she was the heart of Sigma Nu.

The Snake House had never known softness before she arrived. But now, the scent of vanilla and cinnamon wafted through the halls before chapter meetings, and there were always cookies cooling on the kitchen counter beside the whiskey bottles. Her laugh echoed down the staircase, light and melodic, blending strangely well with the heavy bass of party nights and the creak of ancient floorboards.

She wasn't just a sweetheart by title-she was the heartbeat of the fraternity.

Every Friday, three pledges showed up at her off-campus cottage, armed with mops and laundry detergent, ready to clean top to bottom without question. It had become a tradition-Sigma Nu took care of her. Always. It was Theo’s rule. But it was Mattheo’s order.

The pledges were already working by the time the rest of the world stirred. One was sweeping under the island. Another was wiping down cabinets. A third was sorting her laundry into color-coded piles on the dining room table.

“Don’t forget the lavender dryer sheets,” she reminded one of them sweetly, not looking up from her dough.

“Yes, ma’am,” the pledge muttered, blushing.

“You didn’t have to come clean.” She looked over her shoulder at him, a smudge of flour on her cheek.

“I wanted to.” Mattheo walked in, groggy but sharp-eyed, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

“You send pledges to clean my own house every week. My landlord thinks I have a personal cleaning service." She giggled.

“You basically do,” he said, flicking his lighter closed. “You bake banana bread and let Theo cry on your couch. You’ve earned it.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“I’m right,” he replied, and stepped forward, gently swiping the flour from her cheek with his thumb. “You spoil us. Let us return the favor.”

She looked at him for a long moment, eyes searching.

“You don’t have to keep proving things to me, Mattheo.”

He met her gaze, unwavering. “I’m not. I’m proving it to everyone else.”

At parties, she didn’t need to lift a finger. A pledge carried her drink. Another held her coat. If she looked even slightly tired, someone found her a seat. When she danced, people made room.

The party pulsed like a living thing-booming bass, laughter slurred into inside jokes, the thick haze of too much beer and too little inhibition. Lights blinked across the walls, casting silvers and greens on the sweaty crowd packed into the house’s main room.

Then she walked in.

The chatter didn’t stop-but it shifted. Heads turned. A few of the brothers straightened up. Pledges scrambled to make space near the drinks table. And at the edge of the chaos, Mattheo Riddle watched her with a smirk wrapped around the mouth of his beer bottle.

Diamond House perfection. The only sweetheart Sigma Nu would ever need.

She made her way toward the kitchen, exchanging soft smiles and cheek kisses, until one of the guys shouted, “Sweetheart’s here!”

Cheers erupted like a spell had been cast.

Mattheo didn’t move. Just leaned back against the doorway, letting his eyes follow her every step. When a freshman tried handing her a half-full drink, Mattheo’s voice cut sharp and smooth across the room.

“She only drinks vodka cran, dumbass.” He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t have to.

The pledge blinked, nodded quickly, and disappeared.

She found Mattheo seconds later, a lazy smile tugging at her lips. “You’re going to scare off all the new members.”

“Good.” He looked down at her. “They were getting too bold.”

“You’re acting like I’m made of glass.”

He tilted his head, that smirk deepening. “Nah. Diamonds are tougher than glass.”

She arched a brow. “So I’m tough?”

“You’re dangerous.” His voice dipped, low and dry. “I’ve seen more than a few guys fall stupid over you in five seconds flat.”

“And you?” she asked sweetly. “Still standing?”

Mattheo took a slow sip of his drink, his eyes never leaving hers. “Barely.”

When she walked into a tailgate wrapped in an oversized Sigma Nu hoodie-Draco’s once, Blaise’s the next, Enzo’s after that-everyone knew it was only borrowed until Mattheo noticed she was cold and quietly handed her his.

He always did.

The wind whipped around the tailgate like it had something to prove. She stood on her tiptoes, scanning the crowd, the hem of her Sigma Nu hoodie fluttering. Not hers, technically-Mattheo’s. Still smelled like smoke and spice and something she couldn’t name.

He appeared behind her like a shadow.

“Cold again?”

“You have a sixth sense for it.”

“No.” He leaned close, lips brushing her ear. “I just know you.”

She turned with a grin, poking his chest. “So, what’s the plan, President? Going to assign a pledge to hold my hand all day too?”

“Don’t tempt me.” His eyes flickered over her, playful. “I’d make it a rotating shift.”

She laughed, full and bright.

“I could carry my own books, you know.”

“And ruin our entire pledging system?” he asked, mock serious. “What would the freshmen do without you assigning them smoothie runs and study session alarms?”

“You love it.”

Mattheo didn’t deny it.

Instead, he stepped back and tossed her his scarf. “Put that on.”

“Possessive much?”

“Practical,” he said with a wink. “And if anyone asks-tell them it’s house policy.”

Mattheo Riddle didn’t smile easily. But he watched her like she hung the stars. Protective wasn’t the right word-it was something fiercer, deeper. He knew the sound of her footsteps before she even knocked. He knew how she took her tea, what time her classes ended, what books were stacked in her bag on any given day.

And when he wasn’t sitting at the head of the chapter table, you could find him leaning against the counter while she stirred brownie batter, sleeves pushed up, hoodie half-swallowed by her frame. She was always cooking for them-baking too-and she stayed through every meeting, sitting on the arm of Mattheo’s chair like she belonged there.

Because she did.

Theo might’ve been vice president, but she was Mattheo’s right hand. She helped organize formals, charity auctions, service hours, and pledge retreats. The boys listened when she spoke-not because they were told to, but because they wanted to.

She had that kind of presence. Gentle, golden. The kind of energy that softened even the sharpest of them.

Draco, for all his cold poise, once spent an hour carving roses out of apples because she needed garnishes for a spring brunch. Enzo stopped calling other girls “gorgeous” in her presence out of some misplaced loyalty. Blaise-usually detached and unreadable-offered up his rare, real smiles only when she sat beside him, asking how his day had been like she meant it.

She wasn’t just a name on the sweetheart paddle or a girl in the stands. She was the heartbeat of the house-the reason the boys cleaned up before chapter meetings, the reason pledges learned to bake banana bread from scratch, the reason the Snake House didn’t feel like just a frat, but like something closer to home.

She made it feel like something worth protecting.

The brothers would say it, loud and proud, beers raised and sloshing at tailgates- “She’s ours.”

She showed up early to help decorate before parties. She stayed late to clean. She knew all their birthdays, their favorite meals, their secret fears. When Enzo got sick, she made him soup from scratch and handwrote the recipe card so he could brag about it. When Theo failed a midterm, she sat up with him until 3 a.m., mapping out a study plan like his future depended on it.

Draco, who rarely showed softness, once told her, “If I ever get married, it’s because you raised the bar so high I finally found someone who reminded me of you.”

Blaise swore she brought peace into every room she walked into. Lorenzo called her their “lucky charm.” The pledges called her ma’am-but with awe, not obligation.

She wasn’t perfect. But she was real. She laughed too hard. She danced barefoot in the house like she didn’t care who saw. She left behind hair ties, lip balm, and the scent of vanilla in every room. And when the world got too loud, she leaned into chaos with a smile like she’d tamed fire.

And Mattheo?

Mattheo watched it all from the edge. Quiet. Unshakable. Unclaimed but not untouched.

She wore his hoodies, and he never asked for them back. He let her take the best seat at every party, made the boys swap their plans if she needed help, silenced a room with just a glance if anyone dared say her name wrong.

He never said it-not out loud. Never told her that she made the world easier to stand in. Never admitted that he memorized her favorite flowers or that he checked if her porch light was on after every party.

She might’ve worn Diamond blue, but she was etched into Sigma Nu like a secret kept under lock and key.

And Mattheo Riddle didn’t share secrets.

[merrinla]

Description of the main crow characters from the game files

CATERINA DELLAMORTE Character Description: The Godmother of the Antivan Crows. Sassy, ruthless older woman of power, who will do anything for the success and protection of her family/house. Accent: Italian/Spanish Race: Human Appearance: Older Korean-Spanish or Korean-Italian woman (from the same region as Lucanis). Can easily play the part of both sweet grandmother and mafia boss.

ILLARIO DELLAMORTE Character Description: Antivan pretty boy. Mid 30's. Illario is a power hungry assassin who cares only for himself. On the surface, he is a fun-loving, upperclass Antivan with a weakness for wine, duels, and gambling. But beneath that shallow facade is a calculating, ambitious man with grand plans for the Crows. Speech Pattern: Charming but with a hint smarminess. Accent: Italian Race: Human

TEIA CANTORI Character Description: Passionate, showy, hot-blooded, flirtatious, and arrogantly confident. Teia believes she's a celebrity athlete who will die gloriously before she gets old and live forever in song. She has no guilt about being an assassin, and thinks anyone who judges her for it just doesn't understand how things work in Antiva, or indeed anywhere in the world where powerful men play games. Abandoned as a child, she has a soft spot for the downtrodden. Speech Pattern: Warm. Down to earth, not formal. Accent: Italian/Spanish Race: Elf Appearance: Elven female, mid to late twenties. Black dueling leathers or a beautiful (but still practical) dress with a killer neckline.

VIAGO DE RIVA Character Description: Calm, ambitious, and ruthless, Viago is the bastard son of the late King of Antiva. As a high-ranking member of the Crows, Viago has just as much influence as the Monarchy, but he still resents the fact that he is not a legitimate heir and feels his birthright was stolen from him. Beneath his cool exterior is a lot of anger and frustration. He will not be satisfied until he sits upon a throne. Speech Pattern: Formal, hint of snobbiness Accent: Italian/Spanish Race: Human (Brazilian) Appearance: Human male, early thirties. Slender and well-dressed. Handsome, but not physically imposing.

[throne-of-blood-and-roses-if]

Welcome to the Official Dev Blog for:

★ Throne of Blood and Roses ★

Link:TBA

“You weren’t meant to be here…but now I can’t imagine any of this without you.”

Wassup yall! I wanted to introduce myself and say thank you for checking out my little pet project. I’m a new interactive fiction writer, and this blog is where I’ll be sharing the process of writing my first IF game: Throne of Blood and Roses. It took a lot of courage for me to do this and show the world something I created. So if you love complicated royals, class tension, slow-burn romance, reality TV drama, and a bit of blood I welcome you home.

★Summery ★

You are a nobody.

A commoner with no fame, no title, barely enough money to your name, and no place among the elite.

So when the royal heir of Eden refused their arranged match to Cain/Delilah/judas Vale a powerful noble born in Eden to rule beside them the kingdom’s fragile court began to crumble.

In a desperate attempt to restore order, King Aldric invoked an ancient law:

“When the heir’s heart falters, the will of Eden shall decide, the Selection Trials shall now commence!”

The Selection Trials is for nobles of other families, celebrities, and high ranking military personnel just those who bleed 24k gold.

Ten elite contestants were invited to compete for the heir’s hand in marriage a televised spectacle of romance, performance, and a little bit of blood.

Then, against all expectation, they chose you. A name no one knew. In a place no one believed you belonged.

No one knows why you was called.

The nobles hate you for it.

The rival wants you erased.

And the heir?

They can’t take their eyes off you.

★ Features ★

• Play as male, female, or nonbinary

• Shape your MC’s identity, appearance, and then do the same for the royal heir whose heart you might win…or break.

• Romance the customizable royal heir or one of four other contestants!

• Survive elimination challenges, scandals, and sabotage

• Choose between love or power

• There’s a Yandere option for a much darker path for this dark love struck heir. (Psst….hey buddy you didn’t hear this from me but you can turn it on at the beginning of the story but you didn’t hear that from me)

• Multiple endings based on trust, ambition, and how far you’ll go

★meet the characters ★

You — The Nobody

“I’m no one. But if I make it to the end, they’ll never forget me.”

Age: 23 | Identity & Appearance: Fully Customizable

Status: Commoner

You’re not powerful, not royal, not wealthy. You’ve worked too many late shifts and been ignored too many times to believe in fairy tales. But now you’re a contender in a deadly game of beauty and blood. You’re the commoner in a den of lions can you survive?

⸻

The Heir of Eden — The Crowned Flame

“They dressed me in gold and told me to smile. But I only feel real when I’m with you.”

Age: 23 | Gender & Appearance: Customizable

Status: Royalty

ROMANCEABLE? Yes (Main RO)

The kingdom watches their every step. Perfect posture. Perfect smile. A perfect lie. The Heir rejected a noble match and set the Trials into motion. In private, their guard slips. And when their eyes linger on you, it’s not for politics.

⸻

Yandere Mode (Optional)

“You don’t understand, I’d burn this entire kingdom for you.”

When enabled, the Heir’s love becomes dangerous. They watch you too closely. Need you too deeply. And if the world tries to take you away—they’ll tear it apart, piece by piece. Their obsession is quiet. Until it isn’t.

⸻

Cain (male)/ Delilah (female)/ Judas (nonbinary) Vale — The Obsessed Rival

“You flickered into their world like a spark. Beautiful. Brief. But I’ll be the one to snuff you out.”

Age: 23 | Gender: player's choice

Appearance: Pale skin, sleek onyx hair, frozen blue eyes, perfectly controlled posture

Status: Noble

ROMANCEABLE? No

They were supposed to be the one. Groomed since birth to stand beside the Heir, Cain/Delilah’s rejection shattered their image—and their pride. They smile like royalty and speak like venom. Your presence is an insult they won’t forget.

⸻

Elias / Elara Kane — The Stoic Blade

“I was taught to protect power. You make me want to protect something else.”

Age: 26 | Gender: Selectable

Appearance: Deep brown skin, strong frame, close-cropped or braided hair, unreadable eyes

Status: Noble Guard

ROMANCEABLE? Yes

A soldier at heart, Elias/Elara didn’t come to win a crown. They came because they were ordered to. Quiet, loyal, and focused—until you break their routine. Then the stillness becomes something far more dangerous: care.

⸻

Phoenix “Nix” Vega — The Wild Spark

“You’re trouble. The kind I like to keep around.”

Age: 25 | Pronouns: They/Them

Appearance: Sun-bronzed skin, bright green eyes, wild red-black curls, piercings and a sharp grin

Status: Celebrity

ROMANCEABLE? Yes

They live for the spotlight—and the chaos just behind it. Nix walks into every room like they own it, flirt with danger, and laugh like they’ve never been hurt. They came for attention. But something about you holds it.

⸻

Vivian / Vincent Sinclair — The Mastermind

“I don’t gamble. But I’d be willing to bet on you.”

Age: 24 | Gender: Selectable

Appearance: Pale, platinum-blond hair, silver-gray eyes, tailored style and colder smiles

Status: Political Elite

ROMANCEABLE? Yes

Sinclair always plays the long game. Everything they do has purpose—especially when they let you in. They don’t fall easily. But once you have their attention, they won’t let go.

⸻

Alexis — The Heir’s Constant

“They need someone who won’t lie to them. If that’s not you, walk away now.”

Age: 24 | Gender: Same as the Heir

Appearance: Olive-toned skin, soft dark eyes, pulled-back waves or curls, simple but elegant fashion

Status: Noble | Royal Confidant

ROMANCEABLE? No

Alexis has known the Heir longer than anyone. Loyal but not blind, affectionate but guarded—they care deeply. All they want is what’s best for the person behind the crown. If you’re that person, they’ll protect you too. If you’re not? They’ll make sure you don’t stay.

⸻

Queen Lysandra Castellan — The Velvet Flame

“The Trials is just a stage. Let’s see what you look like when the light hits you.”

Age: Early 40s

Appearance: Same skin tone as the Heir, hazel eyes, chestnut-brown hair pinned in golden filigree

Status: Queen

ROMANCEABLE? No

Elegant, sharp, and politically lethal. Lysandra rules with silk and steel. She knows her child’s heart better than most—but she also knows the court won’t spare it. She watches you closely. She may see more in you than you expect.

⸻

King Aldric Castellan — The Iron Crown

“Eden was not built on kindness. It will not be saved by it either.”

Age: Mid-40s

Appearance: Dark brown skin, steel-gray eyes, silver-streaked black hair, posture that never wavers

Status: King

ROMANCEABLE? No

A man forged in war and ruled by legacy. The Trials are his creation—a move to hold the kingdom together, not unite lovers. He speaks little, but when he does, people listen. If you earn his respect, you’ll change history. If you don’t… you’ll be forgotten.

⸻

Selene — The Quiet Strength

“If the palace changes you, make sure you’re still someone I can be proud of.”

Age: Late 40s

Appearance: Same skin tone as MC, thick silver-streaked curls, tired hands and a steady gaze

Status: Commoner

ROMANCEABLE? No

Selene has never asked for much—just that her children survive. She’s seen how the world devours people who dare to hope. Her love is firm, her words plain, and her worry never hidden.

⸻

Mira — The Firebrand Sister

“If they hurt you, I swear I’ll burn the castle down myself.”

Age: 16

Appearance: Same skin tone as MC, dark expressive eyes, long hair in a messy bun, combat boots and rebellion

Status: Commoner

ROMANCEABLE? No

Too young for the Trials. Too smart to trust them. Mira is your shadow and your spark—loud, loyal, and always ready to fight for you. Even when you’re the one making it hardest.

[melrosing]

ok so over the years I have had a LOT of asks about whether I really believe that Jaime's story is a redemption arc and I don't humour them as much as I used to bc apart from having made most of the pertinent points many times over, I do think it's just self-evident in the text, and indeed in GRRM's own statements in interview.

plus, it is an extensive and detailed arc - it's like being asked over and over again to explain why I think Arya's arc is about identity. there are any number of answers you can give, but just how long is an exhaustive answer, who has the time, and isn't it obvious anyway???

and the thing is that when ppl come to u asking you to contradict an 'anti-redemption' take, what they're generally asking u to argue with is like. a carefully curated twt thread of quotes that, sure, compiled like that can look like an argument.... but honestly, you can make any argument you like in that way. and such 'arguments' are exhausting to disagree with because you'd have to carefully re-contextualise each and every quote, which ofc, have been deliberately de-contextualised, and frame your argument around each. and I think that just brings me to the plainer point that these people are not writing real analysis of the text. they're running through a book with a highlighter pen, which is really only the prep for an actual analysis.

you cannot make a point about a character's arc by isolating lines to say 'quotes that show X being Y, therefore foreshadowing Z', or, for example, 'quotes that show Jaime thinking about Cersei, therefore foreshadowing that he will romantically return to her' or whatever. this doesn't work because what this style of 'analysis' completely fails to do is account for the structure of the story they're reckoning with.

I think a lot of ppl like to pretend with ASOIAF that structure does not work the same way here as it does in another narrative, because GRRM likes twists. and I disagree. for example, something people like to say about ASOIAF is that you can never consider your faves truly safe, but I think that's been vastly overstated. we know Arya isn't dying before she returns North, because fundamentally we know how stories work. we know Arya's story points back to Winterfell - that her story is about the long journey home. we know she's not dying in Braavos because: we just do. there's a reason that if you poll people on who is surviving this story, Arya will rank pretty highly, along with Sansa and Bran. people sense the structure behind the Stark kids' stories - they somehow know, without being told, that the story is not building to their deaths.

because all of us have grown up with stories, we have an innate sense of their rhythm, and how they're supposed to go. they can surprise us, but if we've learnt anything from Game of Thrones, I hope it's that the twist cannot come from nowhere. ASOIAF succeeds because GRRM pays close attention to these rhythms. even as he's making it up on the fly, he is clear about what beats go where. they may last longer than in a different story - in another book, Arya would probably be home by now - but we still understand what each beat plays in a broader arc.

and an arc is SUPPOSED to broadcast itself. sometimes it's subtle, other times it's not, but generally it is not something that you can only recognise has taken place at its very end point. even though Arya has not yet fully reclaimed her name, we know she will. likewise for Sansa. even though Bran has not come into his powers, we know he will. we DO actually understand that.

so when people say that Jaime is not redeemed yet and his prevarications in the Riverlands means he never will be, they're either 1) consciously or subconsciously denying the arc they can sense GRRM is writing, or 2) they're just not that media literate. it's there, it's obvious, it's broadcast clear as day. Jaime starts bad. we get to know him. he proves himself capable of better. he decides to pursue better. he is constrained in his pursuit of betterment. he breaks free of that constraint to pursue betterment properly. and yes, this probably is a tragedy where Jaime's best efforts will still cost him dearly, and there's a strong chance he does die! but your baby trebuchet quote collection is not accounting for the clear narrative beats of a redemption arc, which the baby trebuchet actually feeds into if u were paying attention! this arc has not been painstakingly set up for a rug pull. Arya is not being set up to go 'fuck it actually I'm no one and I'm staying in Braavos'. that is not satisfying. that is not what stories are for. that is not what GRRM is doing.

so when GRRM tells you that this is a story about redemption: believe him! he knows what he is writing! the struggles of some twt user who hates Jaime should not be concerning you! and as we've said 100 times: it IS up to you whether you forgive Jaime, same as it's up to you if you forgive Sandor, or Theon, or Zuko your spiritual king! that choice is yours! but your feelings do not change what trajectory this story is taking! so yes MY GOD it is a redemption arc now let me die

[dalishious]

Teia & Viago Character Notes

(Found in the game files using the Frosty Editor!)

Teia

Age: 28

Speech Pattern: Warm

Race: Elf

Description: Passionate, showy, hot-blooded, flirtatious, and arrogantly confident. Teia believes she's a celebrity athlete who will die gloriously before she gets old and live forever in song. She has no guilt about being an assassin, and thinks anyone who judges her for it just doesn't understand how things work in Antiva, or indeed anywhere in the world where powerful men play games. Abandoned as a child, she has a soft spot for the downtrodden.

Viago

Age: 32

Speech Pattern: Formal, hint of snobbiness

Race: Human (Brazilian)

Description: Calm, ambitious, and ruthless, Viago is the bastard son of the late King of Antiva. As a high-ranking member of the Crows, Viago has just as much influence as the Monarchy, but he still resents the fact that he is not a legitimate heir and feels his birthright was stolen from him. Beneath his cool exterior is a lot of anger and frustration. He will not be satisfied until he sits upon a throne.

-----

EDIT: Folks I too think the ages don't add up, as I said originally in the tags lol. I'm willing to believe the ages are from Eight Little Talons, meaning they'd be older in DATV. Like, it explicitly states in ELT that Teia is 28 at that time, so...

[questionablecuttlefish]

One of the most popular topics that people likes to bring up in shipwars “against” lightcannon is that we mischaracterize (did I write it correctly?) Lux to fit in our delusions. For example: she didn't kill Sylas and she despises killers and her ideals and morality is the most important thing to her, oh, also that she's good

So you as a Lightcannon writer and someone who is very familiar with her lore and character, could you give me your perspective about this?

Ah yes, that one.

Here's my answer in pictures:

But more seriously. 😆

I think that's a gross oversimplification of Lux's character, and it's generally an argument made by people who don't know who Lux is beyond the most superficial impression.

It's a product of a mindset that can't separate modern ideals of 'morality' - what would be moral to you and me, from our culture and our moment - from a character raised in a very, very different culture and a very different world.

A good example is the opening scenes of A Game of Thrones, we witness the horrible slaughter of a group of Night's Watch by the Others. The lone, desperate survivor escapes, and in the very next scene, we see that he's been captured by the Lord of a castle, who is about to execute him for the crime of desertion by beheading with a sword. This man makes his sons watch as he decapitates this poor, innocent bastard who, to us, has done no wrong and just survived a terrifying experience. He makes sure his seven year old, Bran, witnesses him cut a man's head off with a sword.

Meet Eddard Stark, probably the most forthright, honorable, and morally upstanding character in the series.

Look, Lux is a 'good' character. She's smart, compassionate, forthright, and principled. She almost always takes the diplomatic option first and uses violence primarily in self-defense.

On the other hand, she's a Crownguard. She is the daughter of the highest ranking noble household next to the King himself. Her Aunt is the High Marshall of the entire Demacian military. Her Uncle is(was,heh) the head of the Mageseekers, so the mage hunting secret police. Her brother is the Might of Demacia, Sword Captain of the Dauntless Vanguard.

What I'm saying here is that Lux is a military brat. She has been born and raised into the values of a highly militaristic, feudal warrior culture at the very highest level of that society. She's been trained in warrior arts - riding, swordfighting, archery, and military tactics and strategy - since she could walk and form words.

In her old lore? She was literally a traumatized, brainwashed child soldier taken from her family and trained to fight for Demacia.

In her new/current lore? She's still a trained spy who has succeeded at several covert missions within Noxus.

We've seen her fight monsters and Mageseekers in the M.S game, she didn't hesitate to shoot Sylas with a crossbow and stab him with a dagger until his mages dragged her off him in the comic, as above.

She also witnessed her brother behead a man in the For Demacia story; she was trying to intervene because she had sussed that there was something else going on, and therefore his death would have been unnecessary and unjust, not necessarily out of protest at the death penalty itself.

It's worth noting - as the Mageseeker confirms - that Lux stayed out of the mage rebellion not out of 'naive pacifism' as she's sometimes accused of, but because: 1. She couldn't forgive Sylas for his betrayal.

2. A desire to protect the noncombatant refugees in her care.

3. She's still loyal to Demacia and her family and refused to fight her own kin.

4. because she knew if she stayed neutral, she could leverage her Crownguard privilege and name with King Jarvan to negotiate protection for mages after the conflict.

Which, y'know, she did.

All of these are products of who she is a character, a Demacian, a Crownguard, and a canny political operator. None of these are blind pacifism, this is the kind of soft power "Fox" move Mel Medarda would recognize and approve of.

So no, Luxanna Crownguard isn't going to be put off by Jinx's violence.

Violence is inherently part of her world, too. Demacia is a 'medieval' feudal regime that is almost perpetually at war with its neighbours and, in some ways a harsher, more brutal place than Piltover and Zaun, particularly its notions of 'justice'.

Piltover is only about 50% likely to have public executions as entertainment/morality lesson, Demacia absolutely 100% does and we've seen two of them in canon, is what I'm saying.

I think Lux would understand that Jinx committed terrible deeds, yes, as part of a civil conflict that Lux herself would be coming at with only an outsider's understanding.

Lux knows exactly how it feels to have best intentions blow up in your face, to be backed into a corner and forced to take some pretty extreme actions to survive.

I don't think, after her actions and choices triggered the Mage Uprising and cost untold lives across Demacia, Lux would consider her own hands clean enough to judge someone like Jinx. Sure, Lux didn't mean to give Sylas her power to commit second hand mass murder, but Powder didn't mean to kill her family either.

And it's also worth noting the part of Sylas' actions that Lux doesn't forgive - especially in the Mageseeker dialogue - is specifically the personal betrayal of her trust, outing her as a mage, and ruining her life.

She understands his cause. She won't join it, because that would mean siding with someone who wants to kill her family, but again, Lux's reasons for choosing not to fight are much more complex and personal than 'she hates violence'.

She's able to compromise enough to accept Sylas' help when her city comes under siege, because while Lux is a 'good guy', she's also a pragmatist first.

I think Lux would see a lot of Sylas in Jinx. I think she would see a lot of herself, as well, particularly once she learned about Jinx's past, about Silco (basically Jinx's Sylas figure, no?) and about everything she's been through.

I don't think Lux would judge her for that.

I feel that Lux would try to be the voice of reason, the hand holding hers to ground her, maybe even the olive branch to help her try to repair some of her burned bridges (this is certainly what she tries to do in Ill-Omen's) and that could cause interesting conflict in their developing relationship.

But I think Lux would understand. Jinx may be more volatile and spiteful and personal in her use of violence, but she's shaped by experiences not far from Lux's own.

And by Season Two? Yeah, no, Season Two Jinx is well and truly on her hero arc. Post-Season Two Jinx? Especially if she's trying to put violence aside and heal?

Post season two Jinx, who's grieving losing her father, her sister, her child? That Jinx would absolutely attract Lux's compassion even more than before.

I've written so many words to answer it, but to me, it's such a non-argument to begin with. You have to not even look at Lux past "blonde nice girl" to think it.

[gothyanki]

Thinking about gender roles or lack thereof in Rauatai again (with a side of thinking about gender roles or lack thereof in the Deadfire). Rambling and headcanons behind the readmore:

It only comes up a handful of times in Deadfire, but I’m so fascinated by the idea of Rauatai as a matriarchal-leaning society where “hard” power (military might, sailing ships, guns) is gendered feminine. The Biha quest in the Gullet hints at this - if you’re playing a female character, she thinks Sedūzo will take you more seriously. She also points out that pretty much all the highest-ranking Rauataian military officials are women, which seems to be borne out by the game. (Karū, Sedūzo, and the hazanui from Tekēhu’s story are the only people of that rank we see or hear mentioned, and they’re all women.) Atsura also has an incredible turn of phrase where he refers to something as “like a child picking up her mother’s pistol” [might be paraphrasing a bit].

So if “hard” military power is seen as feminine in Rauatai, does that mean “soft” political power is seen as masculine? Maybe! There’s the divide between Karū and Atsura as the most obvious example; she’s the head of the operation who gets to be very blunt and straightforward about her intentions, while Atsura is the power behind the throne influencing events much more subtly. The ranga nui himself is a man, though I don’t think the gender of a ruler holds much weight without knowing the genders of previous rulers. It’s 100% headcanon, but I’m imagining that high-ranking politicians skew male the same way high-ranking military officers skew female.

It’s worth noting that I don’t think Rauatai has strong gender roles; absolutely nothing about their society or the characters we meet suggests that. There are plenty of men in military careers (including among the higher-ups) and they don’t seem too concerned with gender as a whole. If this divide exists, it’s more like mild background radiation that influences the way people view themselves and each other. I do feel like it adds something to both Maia and Kana’s characters if this is yet another pressure they had to deal with growing up. Some of Maia’s bluntness and in-your-face approach to life is just personality, but another part is her trying to be a Proper Rauataian Lady! Kana has to be skilled at playing politics whether he likes it or not! He talks about his mother pushing his sisters hard to succeed aaaand all three of them ended up in a military/sailing career. There’s a lot going on there!

This led me to thinking about gender in Huana culture(s), because I’m also endlessly fascinated by the similarities and differences between them and Rauatai. Gender doesn’t seem to matter to the Huana at all, not even in a very minor sense; caste is the main determiner of your role in the community. Tekēhu refers to Ukaizo as the “land of [his] mothers”, which is a friendly little reminder that There Is No Patriarchy Here (no legal marriage, no nuclear family, no tracing the bloodlines of children or differentiating between “biological” vs “adopted” kids in a household, children aren’t seen as “belonging” to their parents…) but aside from that, very little is gendered. We do see more women in leadership than men (Ruānu is the only male ranga I can think of, and he’s quite easily displaced by Nairi), but the sample size is small enough that that’s probably a coincidence. I feel like this is what enables Ahimi to shrug off Durance’s misogyny - it does bother me that the Watcher can’t answer back, but in her case, I don’t think she even sees it as worth acknowledging. She’s never had to deal with any kind of shame around or restrictions based on gender/sexuality, so he’s just saying words. (This is a point of friction between her and Pallegina, whose experience of godlike-ness is inextricable from painful gender expectations.)

…this headcanon also makes a minor in-game sequence infinitely funnier to me. There’s a moment where Onekaza and the Watcher can get into this little political back-and-forth which Karū clearly has no patience for; she’ll eyeroll at them and be all “If we’re done comparing cocks…” I like to think Rauataians use this phrase when people are diplomatically faffing around, being overly subtle, or arguing verbally without accomplishing anything. Stop using your words and punch her in the nose like a WOMAN!

[cherryite]

overthrown - brief plot overview/world info

author's note. so, while taking a brain break, i concocted this, surprise!! i was talking about doing an invincible fantasy au and i'm officially committing! this is loosely based on many fantasy realms and worlds, but is pretty heavily influenced on game of thrones (eek!). i'm not going super regal with the language or anything, just some titles (like hand of the king) and such will be used throughout! this is just a teaser, when i'm done with my other fic i plan to start this series (double eek!!) i'm still working out the kinks but this is what i have planned for now hehehe feel free to ask me any clarifying questions in my ask box! i would love to chat about this <3 basic character bios part 1

world lore. the realm has fallen into chaos. high king nolan of the viltrum empire is presumed dead after an uprising within their own ranks, spelling bloodshed for the realm as dark magic makes a horrifying return. his wife, high queen regent debbie has taken over the empire in his stead, her son, crown prince mark aids her in this time of need. with the fall of the grand dutchy of durna (coming under the rule of the opposition) and the recent fall of kaltia, it seems there's nothing that can be done to stop the forces of evil magic that plagues the world. until, an oracle speaks of a prophecy that could save them all.

the prophecy.

" when shadows stretch across the skies, and darkness wakes with heavy sighs, five souls shall rise from distant lands, to hold the fate within their hands.

through trials deep and hearts undone, their unity will see the sun. if they should fail, the world will fall, but if they stand, they’ll conquer all.

the dawn shall break, the dark shall cease, and light return, bringing peace."

magic system. viltrumites are said to be descended from gods, their magic prowess passed down throughout generations. they are objectively the strongest magic users in the realm. its said a long, long time ago, the gods saw mortal's struggling and descended from the sky, intermingling with the humans of the realm, passing a piece of their powers to them; effectively sacrificing themselves for their subjects. because of this magic is kinda like super powers in this universe, it's something you get the ability for when your born. the other states nobility also often have magic abilities, but it's not a given.

god lore. the realm didn't always have magic, as legend tells it, there was once 9 gods who looked after the realm. they had unimaginable power, until they realized the people of the realm were struggling. crops didn't grow as well, fishing and farming where useless. faced with the end of humanity, the gods went down to the mortal realm. they dispersed their power throughout the lands, leading to them ceasing to exist in their entirety. as legend tells it, the goddess thala, goddess of hope, and the god nalo, god of war, were the last to give up their powers. and as thala spread the rest of her power amongst her people, she expected the god of war to do so as well. he did not, and in the goddess's last moments, he smiled, as his plan had worked. the god of war became the god of darkness, the god of sorrow. in the absence of the other gods, he retreated to the dark, resting to regrow his power, regrow his army to take over the realm for his own. but that's just a legend.

world map.

[the-kingshound]

Okay. I must say... I'm a bit confused. Why didn't the other Houses tell the Venegard family Arthur's point-of-view? As I read the rewritten demo, I can't help but think if this is a way that the other Houses trying to disregard the Venegard House's military force since they're considered the highest in Ireland. And, can i ask if Arthur currently rule both Camelot and Ireland? Also, what's the family rank? I can only imagine at least Duke or Archduke. Also, can we know what happened to Emyr when he married to his current House? Did his wife have a lover or is menacing to him from the start just like Osia? Speaking of Osia, what is she so mean towards the rest of her family except Adrei? I can't help but wonder if she's raised differently, because... from what I've seen so far, she's... I don't know the right word, but... Pure evil. Something just tell me pure evil.

Ohh so many interesting questions.

1) They did not because they, themselves, aren't aware of Arthur's position about mages. The closer to Camelot (the capital) might know Arthur has never once persecuted mages in their years on the throne, and that they are generally a kind/peaceful ruler, but Arthur really never did a declaration about mages (because reasons that will be explored in game).

2) In the rewrite, Arthur rules over Camelot, which as a kingdom includes Ireland + Wales.

3) I really haven't assigned the titles yet, but House Venegard would be at the level of Archduke, politically and on the military side.

4) Emyr simply is a very reserved person who struggles to adapt to new environments and to get along with the majority of people (he is likely neurodivergent) and not only he feels very uncomfortable in his wife's House, but his wife is also someone with little regard to his comfort. She thinks he should just get it over with, while Emyr closes up on himself further and further, even refusing to leave his own rooms for weeks at a time.

She's not a bad person, but she is a bad wife, and the marriage as a whole is very bad for Emyr.

5) Osia's character has been shaped by her upbringing for sure, but she is also like that by nature. She sees things in a rigid way, and always finds faults in others when things leave her frustrated, angry or disappointed. She is bound by dury, like her siblings, but she sees it in her own warped way, and by that, most of her siblings fail their House. She thinks Adrei and her are the only ones to truly work for their House, and she resents the rest of her siblings for not doing their part properly or at all.

(Plus, she clearly lacks empathy)

[talk-danmei-to-me]

Letting Tumblr rank my faves: the results

10) Chang Jingxing (Riverbay Men’s Dormitory)

Hot photographer that can’t catch a break. Bisexual icon. Guaranteed to bottom in volume 2. That’s not me manifesting that’s my bl wizardry coming through.

Zhao Chao (To Rule in a Turbulent World)

Family disappointment, in love with the boy he was held hostage with. Can’t catch a break. Probably not that good at military strategy.

In all seriousness though… everyone needs to stop sleeping on my man Fei Tian Ye Xiang.

9) Xing Ming (Lip and Sword)

Whiny little bitch boy that probably deserves his spot. Will fuck his boss so as not to get fired, maybe also because he’s into it. But he’s definitely straight okay? Watches cause him emotional damage.

8) He Yu (Case File Compendium)

He deserved to be higher! Repressed theatre kid madly in love with his doctor and convinced he is good at sex. Will give head when threatened by ex wives. Would’ve been a well rounded individual if not for his mother. He’s basically Freud’s wet dream and I love him!

7) Chang Geng (Stars of Chaos)

Yifu fucker with a messy family background.

6) Li Jinglong (Legend of Exorcism)

The best boy. He tries so, so hard. Is definitely in love with Hongjun. Cursed by the universe to only have bad days. Also to be surrounded by people who want to go to brothels when he is a monogamous romantic. He’s definitely going to be kinky as shit though.

5) Mo Xi (Remnants of Filth)

The ultimate Danmei Sad Boy and the most considerate gong you will ever meet. My man used lube on a self lubricating arsehole. Looks pretty when he cries. Which is fortunate because he cries a lot (although mostly on the inside). Also as subtle as a brick to the face.

4) Qi Rong (Heaven Official’s Blessing)

Literally the reason I got into danmei. Shout out to the funniest bitch, best dad and worst cousin. Guaranteed to win the roast.

3) Jin Guangyao (Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation)

Game of Thrones speed runner. Fucked his sister, murdered his father, stabbed his lover. Main character energy. Stole vol 5. Eunuch level shenanigans. Deserved a hornier coffin scene.

Shen Wei (Guardian)

The man who invented yearning. Blueballed a man so hard his only option was to come out to his mother. Flustered by a kiss but also has a blood kink. Easily seduced.

2) Shen Zechuan (Ballad of Sword and Wine)

Literally the prettiest boy you will ever meet but can skin a man alive. Currently speed running every kink with his lover. Will probably take over the world whilst being fucked against the war table. Son of a whore with a princes education. Likes fans.

1) Mo Ran (The Husky and his White Cat Shizun)

The correct answer! The funniest bitch with the saddest backstory. The cringiest flirt who did nothing wrong in his whole life ever. Is apparently very good at sex. His dick could probably be categorised as a weapon.

[monokuromuheaven]

Vancouver actor Carlos Diehz’s big break comes in Ralph Fiennes film

(...)

“He (Edward Berger) wanted to hear from me what I had in mind for the character,” said Diehz, adding he explained to Berger that he saw Benitez as “a very pious man.”

“If he was a missionary, then an archbishop, then a cardinal, he has what it takes to lead a group. To be at the front,” said Diehz. “I discussed these ideas with Edward, and he liked them.”

Eventually, Diehz made the final callback and was brought to Rome to meet with casting director Nina Gold (The Crown, Slow Horses, Star Wars and Game of Thrones).

“She’s a big deal worldwide,” said Diehz about Gold. “So, no pressure, right?”

(...)

While he was onset, Diehz said he noticed Fiennes was watching him. Finally, Fiennes approached and said: “Now I know why they chose you. You are Benitez,” Diehz recalls the English actor saying to him. “He saw in me the personality of the character.”

Diehz was raised Catholic and understood the basics of the conclave process, but admitted the weight of the subject matter really hit home when he donned the heavy cardinal costume.

“When you look at yourself in the mirror dressed up like that, like someone that grand within the church, it is like an extra boost emotionally to perform,” said Diehz.

“Now I see Benitez the way he is in this situation. Benitez is a missionary who mostly dresses like any other civilian in his daily life, but here he has to dress the part. He has to look like the rank he has been given. So, being able to look at myself like that is kind of a strange situation. But very empowering.”

What was also empowering was the wealth of talent and experience he was surrounded with for his very first feature film role. His castmates were open to discussions and offered him excellent advice.

Fiennes, for instance, spoke to him about the importance of truly being heard.

“He said, ‘OK, every word you say is precious. And you have to deliver it as such. You have to put the time in, the correct enunciations, so the audience understands and is not wondering what you said … Treat every word as precious. So, I did that,” said Diehz. “The next day, when we were shooting the scene, every break we had I was rehearsing my enunciation, and I heard Ralph from another part of the area, he just said, ‘Bravo, you nailed it.'”

Later in shooting, Diehz faced a crisis of confidence as he prepared for a pivotal scene in which Benitez makes a speech in front of the 100-plus cardinals. This time, it was Lithgow who offered guidance.

“He asked me what are the main issues I wanted to talk about? And I said stage fright,” said Diehz. “He said stage fright really never goes away. You just learn how to manage stage fright. One of the things is when you feel it, it is a sign that you care about the scene. And that’s good.

“But what must guide you, drive you, is to know that when you speak there is no reason to hurry your lines. There’s no reason to feel rushed in any way because you control the scene. No one is cutting you off. Nobody is going to rush you. When they call ‘action,’ until you finish your lines, you own the scene. You set the pace and the tone. So that was very empowering, very powerful stuff.”

But despite Lithgow’s words of encouragement, Diehz said his nerves were still front and centre when it was time to shoot the speech.

“Edward Berger approached me and said, ‘You doing OK? I said, ‘Yeah, yeah I’m fine.’ And he said, ‘I can hear your heartbeat on the microphone,’ ” said Diehz. “So I was, ‘OK, big breath, calm down, calm down, calm down.’ And little by little, I did.”

While filming scenes caused his blood pressure to rise, Diehz says the evenings were made up of many wonderfully relaxing dinners of fabulous traditional Italian food alongside his very famous castmates.

And no, Tucci didn’t cook.

“You know what, that is a common question,” said Diehz when asked about his foodie co-star. “Being at a table with Ralph, Stanley, John, Isabella and talking about wine, cheeses, bread, it was wonderful. You could make a documentary of each of those dinners we had together,” said Diehz, who explained it was Rossellini who offered much of the insight into the nuances of Italian food.

(...)

“I remember Stanley asked me, ‘Are you really, after all this, going back to your daily job?’ Well, yeah, that’s what I have,” said Diehz, who continues to work for a Vancouver architectural firm. “But I’m not quitting acting. I’m going for more.”

Source

[e-to-the-v]

Character Profiles! 

These character profiles are written as if they were taken from the game manual for Cherry Mountain Love!! (the game from  Reincarnated into My Wife’s Dating Sim; Why Is the Prince Obsessed With Me!), so the characters are a little different than how they appear in our story.

Protagonist

Name: Gem Tay 

Age: 16

Magic Type: Water

Appearance: Long Orange Curly Hair, Green Eyes

Roommate: Stress Mons

Class Ranking: 2nd

Family: Father 

Adoptive Family: Baron Tay, Baroness Tay, Oliver Tay

Description: Was born as the daughter to a commoner blacksmith but on her 15th birthday she began to be able to use water magic. She was taken in by the Baron Tay family and later enrolled at the Cherry Mountain Academy. She longs for love and hopes not to get turned around in this new world!

Love Interests

Name: Etho 

Age: 16

Magic Type: Air

Appearance: Short White Hair, Gray (Right) and Red (Left) Eyes, Scar Across His Left Eye

Roommate: Scar

Class Ranking: 1st

Family: Queen Cleo, First Prince Cub, Third Prince Scar

Description: 2nd Prince of Ipomoea and Crown Prince, shy silent type. His fiancé, Pearl Moon, is obsessed with him but also angry she was ignored by him for many years. He doesn't want to marry if not for love but has a sense of duty to the country. 

Trauma: Is smart and talented but believes that his eldest brother, Cub, who abdicated the throne is more fit to be king. He dislikes high society and wishes not to be king. 

His Route: Getting him to open up and acknowledge his accomplishments. His fiance bullies Gem, but Etho steps in and in the final event condemns her. If successful, Gem and Etho get married and rule the kingdom peacefully.

Bad Ending: Etho and Pearl get married, Etho not being confident doesn’t rule well, leading to the kingdom's ruin.

Secret Hobbies: Redstone, Gardening

Name: Ren Dog

Age: 16

Magic Type: Fire

Appearance: Long Brown Hair (Usually Pulled Into A Ponytail), Blue Eyes

Roommate: Grian Moon

Class Ranking: 11th

Family: King and Queen of Dogwarts

Description: Foreign Prince of Dogwarts, Princely bubbly type, he was sent to the academy as a political tool as his fiancé, Martyn Woods, is the son of a duke from this kingdom. His kingdom is not as violent as people believe it is.

Trauma: Because of his country’s perceived power and prestige as a military country people are very scared of getting on his bad side and so treat him like he’s made of glass and avoid him. 

His Route: His Fiancé Martyn is very obsessed with him, almost more like an underling than a lover, treating him like a normal person will gain affection. His fiancé gets jealous and attacks you, no fear for Prince Ren will save you. 

Bad ending: Ren and Martyn get married, but because of Martyn's worship it gets strained, leading to the crumbling of the alliance.

Secret hobbies: Baking and Music

Name: Grian Moon

Age: 16

Magic Type: Water

Appearance: Medium Length Golden Brown Hair, Black Eyes

Roommate: Ren Dog

Class Ranking: 12th

Family: Prime Minister Xisuma Moon, Archduke Keralis Moon, Pearl Moon, Jimmy Moon

Description: Eldest son of the Archduke Moon’s family, his father is the prime minister. Is a ‘womanizer’ (but not for women). Has a fiancé, Mumbo, but is also leading on the 3rd Prince, Scar. 

Trauma: Got lots of attention as a kid because he was a protégete, but once his sister got engaged to Prince Etho she became the star of the family, in his jealousy he seeks for attention wanting people to love him.

His Route: Separate him from his two lovers to become his main love, convince him you love him and he has worth

Bad Ending: Marries either Mumbo or Scar depending on who you have more progress separating.

Secret Hobbies: Fishing, Trouble 

Name: Joel Beans  

Age: 15-16 (turns 16 during an event)

Magic Type: Earth

Appearance: Medium Length Brown Hair with a Single Green Streak, Brown Eyes

Roommate: Martyn Woods

Class Ranking: 4th

Family: Countess Fava

Description: Only Son of the Count Beans, is intensely sad and often found alone. He is engaged to Jimmy Moon

Trauma: His mother died when he was young and his father was murdered years later, he is very scared about people abandoning him.

His Route: is about trying to convince Joel that he either doesn’t need Jimmy or convince Jimmy not to leave him. 

Bad Ending: Joel and Jimmy end up together. 

Secret Hobbies: Gardening, Sword fighting

Antagonists

Name: Pearl Moon

Age: 16

Magic Type: Water

Appearance: Long Brown Hair, Blue Eyes

Roommate: False Symmetry 

Class Ranking: 3rd

Family: Prime Minister Xisuma Moon, Archduke Keralis Moon, Grian Moon, Jimmy Moon

Description: Sister to Grian and Jimmy, Etho’s fiancé. Fell in love with Etho when they met for their engagement meeting, when he doesn’t visit or care for her she feels abandoned but when they interact he’s sweet enough that she can delude herself that he cares. After being engaged, she gains pressure as crown prince's fiancé and is shunned by her siblings. In her years of isolation she is ‘comforted’ with the thought that Etho loves her. Her hatred for Gem starts when Gem ranks higher than her on the entrance exam. When Etho starts falling for Gem, she goes mad attacking and harassing her for stealing her Etho.

Good ending: Pearl gets exiled for an attempt to end Gem’s life. She snaps and in her revenge she [redacted] which leads to her death at the hands of Prince Etho

Bad ending: She marries Etho but is still driven mad and drives the kingdom to the ground

Name: Martyn Woods

Age: 16

Magic Type: Air

Appearance: Medium Length Blond Hair (Usually Pulled Back), Blue Eyes

Roommate: Joel Beans

Class Ranking: 103rd

Family: Duke and Duchess Woods

Description: Son of a Duke, Ren’s Fiancé. Meets Ren for the first time when Ren joins the Academy, but is obsessed with the military prowess of the walled country of Dogwarts. Believes Ren to be a great military man, and does not try to get to know him. When Gem pursues Ren, Ren starts embracing some of his hobbies (ie music) but Martyn thinks Gem is corrupting him with non important non violent things. Martyn gets violent with Gem.

Good ending: Martyn gets exiled from both Ipomoea and Dogwarts

Bad ending: Martyn marries Ren

Name: Scar

Age: 16

Magic Type: Air

Appearance: Short Brown Hair, Green Eyes, Lightly Scarred Skin

Roommate: Etho

Class Ranking: 13th

Family: Queen Cleo, First Prince Cub, Crown Prince Etho

Description: Is the 3rd prince of the kingdom of Ipomoea. Fell in love with Grian at first sight during his brother’s engagement meeting, but Grian was already engaged and his brother was engaged to Grian’s sister. Still he pursues Grian anyways, trying to end his engagement. When Gem begins to pursue Grian, he makes attempts to get her away from him although they are never violent attempts. Gem can persuade him to leave Grian alone romantically and follow his passion for either magic or animals. 

Good ending: Scar agrees to be just friends with Grian and instead take interest in other things

Bad ending: Scar marries Grian

Name: Jimmy Moon

Age: 15

Magic Type: Water

Appearance: Tall, Short Blond Hair, Brown Eyes

Roommate: Mumbo Jumbo

Class Ranking: 114th

Family: Prime Minister Xisuma Moon, Archduke Keralis Moon, Grian Moon, Pearl Moon

Description: Younger Brother to Grian and Pearl, Joel’s fiancé. Falls in love with the stable hand, Tango, at the academy, and plans to run away with him. Jimmy does not have a strong relationship with Joel. Does not antagonize Gem, but has plenty of interactions with her and Joel. 

Good ending: Runs away with Tango

Bad ending: Marries Joel

Secret Love Interests

Name: Mumbo Jumbo 

Age: 16

Magic Type: Earth

Appearance: Short Black Hair, Black Eyes

Roommate: Jimmy Moon

Class Ranking: 9th

Family: Marchioness and Lord Jumbo, Beef Jumbo

Description: Son of a Marquis, is Grian’s Fiancé. Shy, awkward guy but deeply in love with Grian, refuses to let Scar end the engagement, but ultimately wants what’s best for Grian. When Gem pursues Grian, Mumbo does not try to lead Gem away, as he does not feel threatened by her. Gem can persuade him by helping him flourish his passion for redstone or traveling. 

Good ending: Mumbo leaves for the redstone tower or to travel the world

Bad ending: Mumbo marries Grian

Secret ending: If Gem persuades Mumbo to follow his passion for traveling and still gets the bad ending with Grian, she can unlock the Mumbo ending where she pursues Mumbo and ends up traveling the world with him. 

Name: Tango 

Age: 16

Magic Type: N/A

Appearance: Medium Length Spiky Blond Hair (But Depending On His Emotions, It Can Appear Orange Or Even Red), Red Eyes

Roommate: Groundskeeper Impulse

Class Ranking: N/A

Family: Groundskeeper Impulse, Skizz

Description: Tango is a Secret Love Interest. He is the stable boy at Cherry Mountain Academy. He does not have magic but his race, half Blazian, allows him to have small fire abilities, but he hides them. He is originally in love with Jimmy, but if Gem gets the bad ending on the Joel route she can unlock the Tango route. 

Trauma: Tango has never been to the country of Blaze, he didn’t know his Blazian father and his mother died when he was young. He was taken in by the school's groundskeeper, Impulse, another Blazian, at age 10.

His Route: After getting Joel’s bad ending, Gem can meet with Tango and help console him after losing his love. Gem and Tango get closer and love blossoms between them. Gem helps Tango with his identity problems and his desire to work with redstone 

Good Ending: Gem and Tango travel to blaze together and live happily.

Secret Hobbies: Horses, Games, and Redstone

back to the intro

[fenharelsregret]

teia & viago character descs from the game files

Passionate, showy, hot-blooded, flirtatious, and arrogantly confident. Teia believes she's a celebrity athlete who will die gloriously before she gets old and live forever in song. She has no guilt about being an assassin, and thinks anyone who judges her for it just doesn't understand how things work in Antiva, or indeed anywhere in the world where powerful men play games. Abandoned as a child, she has a soft spot for the downtrodden.

Calm, ambitious, and ruthless, Viago is the bastard son of the late King of Antiva. As a high-ranking member of the Crows, Viago has just as much influence as the Monarchy, but he still resents the fact that he is not a legitimate heir and feels his birthright was stolen from him. Beneath his cool exterior is a lot of anger and frustration. He will not be satisfied until he sits upon a throne.

[dexjarxenoengage]

Royal Archetype Symbolism:

This will be major spoilers for the endgame of Metaphor Refantazio from 9/24 onwards. Do not read this if you don’t want spoilers from here on or the entire game for that matter.

The Royal Archetypes are the final Archetypes to be unlocked in the game. They are some of the strongest Archetypes in the game and are exclusive to the respective party members. I.e., Royal Warrior for Strohl, Royal Knight for Hulkenburg, etc.

With the exception of The Prince (which is unlocked automatically and is their own Archetype separate from the Seeker), the Royal Archetypes are essentially Prime Personas. To give an example, Orpheus Telos from Persona 3 FES onwards is a reference to Prime Personas in Persona 2, which serve as mid tier evolutions for the Personas. Royal Warrior, among others, are the “Prime Persona” counterparts to their initial forms.

Furthermore, the Royal Archetypes requires the Max Rank 8 in the bonds of your allies.

I mainly want to talk about the requirements for each Royal Archetypes and how they take after to the Followers of the respective Followers that embodies said Archetypes:

This includes the following:

• Samurai + Warlord = Royal Warrior

• Paladin + Dark Knight + Elemental Master = Royal Knight

• Ninja + Dragoon + Tycoon = Royal Thief

• Persona Master + Trickster = Royal Masked Dancer

• Devil Summoner + Soul Hacker = Royal Summoner

• Destroyer + Martial Artist = Royal Berserker

So based on these requirements needed to unlock the Royal Archetypes not named Prince, you notice how each of the Archetypes are the final forms that are linked to many followers of the game. Warlord is Bardon, Elemental Master is Gallica, Dragoon and Tycoon are Neuras and Brigitta respectively, Trickster is Alonzo, and Martial Artist is Catherina.

Soul Hacker is an interesting case; while the Seeker Archetype is embodied by More, Will (the Protagonist) is the one who awoken to the Archetype. And even then, it makes sense once you realize that More is the deceased King Hythlodaeus V who is the father of the Prince Will. Ergo, Will inherited the Seeker Archetype from his father.

This post’s main purpose is to show how each character foils to the Followers who have the Archetypes that ties to the requirements for the Royal Archetypes. Be it their tribes, personalities, role in their stories and roles in Will’s ascension to the throne, etc.

⁃ Strohl and Bardon; the way of the Royal Warrior’s sword:

◦ Bardon’s Archetype embodiment is the Commander linage (where Warlord stems from), which focuses on strategy by hitting elemental weaknesses and bypassing resistance via Almighty attack, buffing party members and attacking advantage of the front and back rows. This fits perfectly with Strohl being the main strategist of the party. Starting with the Heismay Arc until halfway through the Altabury Arc, Strohl has been shown being the one to plan out each strategy Will and Co. have for the Tournament for the Throne.

◦ Both Strohl and Bardon deal with the burden of their respective countrymen in their own ways. Strohl’s story resolves around wishing to avenge the death of his parents and the victims of Halia (a village that was destroyed by a Human attack). Bardon is a Guardsman for the village of Martira and becomes their leader after the events of exposing the true culprit behind the kidnappings (Joanna, not Heismay).

◦ Strohl’s follower story focuses on his efforts to help the survivors of the village, an owe to his creed as a noble to help people in need. While Bardon must face his own struggles in helping the people of Martira. Later in Bardon’s Bond, we are tasked with fighting the same Human that we had to escape from the butt before Martira shares the same fate as Halia.

◦ Both Strohl and Bardon are good people, but quick to anger. When all is said and done, they bare a great burden to the people that they feel they failed to protect. Be it the victims of Halia or the people in Martira who suffered from the kidnappings Joanna caused. And by the end, they learn not to shoulder their burdens alone as they both make their deceased predecessors’ proud.

⁃ Hulkenburg and Gallica; wisdom of the Royal Knight’s shield:

◦ Hulkenburg is of the Knight Archetype, while Gallica (while she can’t fight, is still considered to be a party member) is of the Mage Archetype. Hulkenburg’s introduction in the party is when Synthesis Skills (where Archetypes grant power to another Archetype for a team attack) is unlocked. Later stages of the Mage Archetype have skills that better the usages of Synthesis Skills (Wizard’s Arcane Unity and Elemental Master’s Magic Link). Synthesis Skills are about teamwork and the bonds of friendship, as well as strategies in the Archetypes you use.

◦ Both Hulkenburg and Gallica are devoted in their mission to save the prince, and they are both unwavering in their loyalties to those they devoted their power and trust to. However, the truth behind the prince’s identity and the true culprit behind the curse alludes them. The Prince was Will all along and was cursed by Rella, not Louis. And also, both of them knew Grius/Alces longer than anyone else and are heavily impacted by his death and the fight against his undead self.

◦ Even after learning the truth among other truths, their devotion to the true prince (Will) only became stronger than it ever was before. Hulkenburg is delighted to know that Will was the Prince the whole time and that everything she did wasn’t in vain. And Gallica learns that the memory of her and Will being long time friends was just a fabrication. This doesn’t stop Gallica from being Will’s friend and would continue to devote herself to him of her own volition.

◦ Beyond that, they both have self deprecation issues as far as their roles are concerned. Gallica has been shown very early into the game that she wishes to help Will as much as possible and feels regret when he’s in danger. And Hulkenburg doubts her role as a knight for not being able to save the prince. Will seems to be an emotional button for them as well. Hulkenburg turns into a grieving mess when the original prince is found dead during the events of 9/24. And when Will dies by crushing his vessel to prevent his second Human transformation at Louis’s hand, poor Gallica is left crying over his fresh corpse.

◦ Overall, in their own ways, both Gallica and Hulkenburg have Will as their emotional guide because the two of them are devoted to him in their own ways.

⁃ Heismay, Neuras and Brigitta; the Royal Thief’s walk of atonement:

◦ Heismay, Neuras and Brigitta are interesting combination of characters to talk about considering that all of their Archetypes play wildly different roles. A Thief, a Gunner and a Merchant. How exactly do all of these Archetypes work to fit with the requirements for the Royal Thief archetype?

◦ It’s not necessarily the gameplay that tied them together. It’s their respective roles in who they are as people. What do I mean by this? It’s simple, Heismay, Neuras and Brigitta are all adult followers. And as adults, they have their own personal burdens that ends with them resolving to ensure that the younger generation doesn’t pay the price for the old ones’ mistakes.

◦ Both Heismay and Brigitta are both cynical about the world around them as a result of their backstories: Heismay lost his child to a Paripus riot, while Brigitta was a street urchin who became cynical of the ways of the world. It’s thanks to Will’s actions that both of them begin to find hope and walk out of their respective dark paths.

◦ Heismay and Neuras are both the only known characters in the team that actually drink. Neuras has been drunk a few times, while Heismay is very careful with how much alcohol he consumes. He only became drunk when he ate the Dragon’s Tear (not that he could have known its properties until was too late).

◦ On a more serious note, while both of their sidequests and stories resolve around certain items (Heismay’s son’s remains and the Relics), both of their Bond stories end with a resolution regarding them. Heismay decides to turn his son’s urn into a necklace with Eupha’s help, while Neuras destroys the relics after realizing their world destroying properties. So in a way, both Heismay and Neuras learn from the past so that the future won’t be affected by it later on.

◦ To me, Heismay serves as the adult figure of the group that Grius initially served. Some may say that Grius’s death unintentionally undermines that message of equality between the races as the team loses their only Rhoag representative. While I can understand the sentiment, Grius’s spirit remains with the cast through other characters like Maria. Heismay and Neuras serves as the adult figures for the team twice over, and Brigitta, while not a party member, is a fellow Rhoag that knew Grius.

◦ Heismay finds similar themes with Neuras and Brigitta through the fact that they are the adult figures that fills the void Grius left behind. His spirit is with us through various ways, and it shows here.

⁃ Junah and Alonzo: the Royal Masked Dancer’s hidden depths:

◦ Junah and Alonzo both are of the Nidia tribe, often deem by other tribes as deceiving, lying scum. And it’s not hard to see why they get the reputation. Both Junah and Alonzo both use deception in their own way, but they both do it for greater good.

◦ Junah is acting as an undercover agent on Louis’ side, working to find a way to break the prince’s curse. While Alonzo uses his deception to help Will, acting as the future King’s intelligence advisor. Both also have adoptive family members of different races that ultimately die in their stories (For Junah, Rella who is an Ishika, and Alonzo’s mother who was a Paripus). And Junah and Alonzo’s actions going forward are in their memories.

◦ Their respective Archetypes in Masked Dancer and Faker both have final forms that serve as a reference to the Persona games: Persona Master takes after mainly Persona 3 and 4, while Trickster mainly takes after 5. Persona Master’s main Synthesis Skill is shown to be reference to both 3 and 4 via the Tarot Cards, the Invokers that SEES uses (which are guns) and cut ins. While Trickster is based on what P5’s Joker is often called in the story: “A Trickster.”

◦ Junah and Alonzo both aspire to be beacons of hope to those around them in their own ways and are good people at the end of the day. Junah’s singing is what gives her hope, and she wishes to spread that hope to others. While Alonzo uses his lies to help the people around him, even if they deem him a “parasite.”

⁃ Eupha and Will (son of More): the Royal Summoner’s journey through life:

◦ I have already made a post on how the Seeker linage being the prerequisite to evolve the Summoner Archetype is fitting with Eupha’s growing love for Will throughout their bond: https://www.tumblr.com/jaredxenoengage/765352399442526208/i-love-that-euphas-archetype-summoner-requires but let’s see if there is more to it than that.

◦ The Seeker Archetype, as we know, is the Archetype that is cultivated by More/King Hythlodaeus V, who is Will’s father. Will awakens to the Seeker Archetype linage first, and not the Prince. So while More isn’t a party member, Will is. So technically speaking, out of all of the Royal Archetype requirements, this makes Eupha the only one that needs a linage that was awaken by a fellow Party Member.

◦ Will (knowing that he is the Prince) and Eupha had both lost their parents, obviously. And both of them have ties with the greater lore of the entire game as a whole, which depicts stories of the old world that was once humankind (which is what Eldas are). Eupha has a sworn duty to fight alongside the Dragon God: Eht, Dragons are made of pure Magla. With the revelation that Will is the Archetype of the Prince given a human form, he too is a being a pure Magla. Which is why Eupha was able to speak through his mind during her introduction. Just as Eupha is meant to fight alongside the beloved god, Eupha also finds herself fighting alongside another being made of Magla. This plot point compliments itself further with the Dragon Trial’s (which were made for the protagonist) in mind.

◦ As for More, it’s the same thing as Will, he is the Archetype form of King Hythlodaeus V who was killed by Louis at the start of the story. How do Eupha and More foil each other? The main difference between them is that Hythlodaeus lost hope because of the death of his wife and the lost of his son. He sought his own death and used the Royal Magic in hopes that he could make someone into a better king than he was. While Eupha was convinced her whole life that her life was meant to be sacrificed for the sake of her village. Eupha eventually breaks free from this mindset and awakens to her Archetype. Eupha did what More could not in her lifetime, find hope and a reason to live.

◦ The Elite forms of the Summoner and Seeker Archetypes are both named after the Atlus related games: Devil Summoner and Soul Hacker respectively.

◦ And it’s just Eupha herself says in game, she, like Will has the power to journey into the unknown world. An unknown future. Will had the power to awaken this resolve in her, and with it, blossom potential love between the two.

⁃ Basilio and Catherina; the Paripus’ Royal Berserker soul:

◦ Basilio and Catherina are both Paripus with rough dispositions on the surface, but both prove to be earnest people. They both initially had reasons to oppose the protagonist at first; Basilio was working with Louis, the one who killed the king. While Catherina, who is a fellow candidate. has no hard feelings towards Will, but she wants to become Queen to help the future of the Paripus. Both eventually see the folly of what they were doing and eventually turn coat (Basilio joins the team after his brother’s death, while Catherina drops out of the race because her folks were crossing a line she wouldn’t have).

◦ The Berserker and Brawler Archetypes both revolve around physical strike attacks and dishing out as much damage as possible. Notice how Berserker doesn’t use HP like Brawler does. Basilio may be of the Berserker Archetype, but when he is calm, Basilio is a lot more insight than it would seem. As he is the first person to truly question if what Louis is doing is truly right for him and his brother, and the future of those that can’t fend for themselves. Catherina is much more reckless in comparison. And it takes seeing how her race to become Queen becomes a risk for Paripus to go the extreme to get ahead to see that what she is doing might bring more harm than good.

◦ Even their Follower Stories are mainly different with some similarities being that it’s about Basilio and Catherina stopping their fellow tribesmen from crossing further lines. At least Catherina was able to convince followers to walk down a better path eventually, but Basilio isn’t as fortunate. As he was forced to put Vinca down.

⁃ Will; the prince’s path to be king:

◦ 9/24 reveals that Will is a living breathing Archetype created from the Prince’s wish to travel the world and lead the kingdom to peace. The Seeker Archetype was the first Archetype to awaken in Will. It embodies the very essence of this game’s themes to explore the unknown without fear.

◦ As Will journey continues, and he eventually learns who he really is, the Prince Archetype embodies the Ruler Archetype from Carl Jung’s 12 Archetypes (which is what the aforementioned powers are based on). And based on Carl Jung’s take on the Ruler Archetype, it also falls in line with the themes of what makes a good king.

◦ In contrast to his father; as the previous king, gave up on his hope that he had for the Kingdom. As such, by leaving most of the circumstances in Forden’s hands, Louis lost all faith in him and decides to kill him. Will becomes king and defeats Louis by staying true to his ideals.

◦ Although the Prince Archetype is its own Archetype, it takes after the Seeker Archetype in many ways. It has the same One Handed Sword usage, the same Hero Passive in Cooperative Chase, and has the most Synthesis access in the game. However, Seeker doesn’t have Synthesis Synergy with the Summoner Archetype (ironic given that Will and Eupha are the most romantic coded relationship in the game). Eupha’s Arc contains the most truth about the old world in all of Euchronia. We get the full truth about the old world after Will awakens to his true Archetype, which can perform Synthesis Skills and grant them between all Archetypes. This is when Will and Eupha’s bond is at its strongest.

The fact that so much intention to detail that comes with the Archetypes and the Followers is the type of writing talent that I have come to expect from Atlus.