#charitable interpretation of events

[suddencosmology]

A lorepost constructed while fighting Shadow of the Erdtree's Final Boss

I have thoughts. This started when I was born, but these particular thoughts began during my first playthrough of Elden Ring as a set of notes to keep track of events. With Shadow of the Erdtree (and me smashing my head against a brick wall), this section on the Shattering War expanded.

Repeatedly dying to the wrath of heaven gives you time to think, and now that I own the gate of calcified bodies, I must share them.

Fact

Quote

Conjecture

(Sword Monument, Altus)

The First Defense of Leyndell

A sovereign alliance rots from within

Traces yet remain of bloody conspiracy

(Direct translation) The battle of the First Defense of Leyndell

A sovereign alliance, from within collapses,

becoming a defeated army

A blood plot, these are the traces

Sword Monument refers to both Blood and Rot, suggesting involvement of Malenia and Mogh.  Who is in the alliance?  Translation suggests the attackers.

There's nothing I've found to shed more light on this idea, and so I have no extrapolation.

(Sword Monument, Altus)

The Second Defense of Leyndell

The Fell Omen stacks high the corpses of heroes

Yet the Erdtree remains unshaken

(Direct translation) The battle of Leyndell's Second Defense

The shunned ogre,

piles the champions' corpses 

The Golden Tree is unshaken

Margit the Fell appears on the battlefield.

Omen can be found in open Altus.  Given the location of the Shunning Grounds, they most likely originated there.  But did they escape, or did they follow Margit?  One group is found at a campsite not far from the Leyndell war camp.  More, alongside Misbegotten, are found at the Minor Erdtree within the outer wall, engaged in prayer.  A third group wanders the hill of abandoned treasure carriages, but near that is the Perfumer's Ruins, where lives an Omenkiller.  One must be present due to the other, but who?

Promotional art shows Radahn attacked by the Fell Omen.  Opening cutscene shows army w/ Trolls attacking Leyndell.  Beyond pulling carts,Trolls are found primarily in Limgrave, but one guards the gate of Redmane Castle, and another overlooks Sellia's gate, both in Caelid.  

Unlikely to be Carian: Carian Trolls wear helmets and tabards.

Alliance between Godrick and Radahn?

(Sword Monument, Liurnia)

This marks Malenia's southward march

The Blade of Miquella and her Cleanrot Knights

Grant her wings never to be clipped

(Direct Translation) Malenia's southward march monument

Miquella's Blade, the Noble Rot knights

The wings that are never hindered

Why did the march start here?  Leyndell and the Haligtree are both north.  Or does it mean that here her march turned south?  Were she chasing Radahn out of Altus, her first stop would've been the land of his birth.  Once certain he had not retreated there and/or recieved no aid, her path would have gone South.

(Sword Monument, Limgrave)

Godrick the Golden, humiliated

Having tasted defeat by the Blade of Miquella

Now on his knees, begging for mercy

(Direct Translation) Golden Godrick, a humiliating battle

To Miquella's Blade, a total defeat

Grovelling, begging for forgiveness

Either Malenia defeated Godrick here, or if he and Radahn sieged Leyndell, then perhaps he groveled rather than face Malenia again.

(Sword Monument, Caelid)

The Battle of Aeonia

Radahn and Malenia locked in stalemate

Then, the scarlet rot blooms

(Direct translation) Aeonia Battle

Radahn, Malenia come to a draw

The Scarlet Rot flower blooms to full glory

Here occurs the fated battle that ended the Shattering.  Malenia blooms in a bid to destroy Radahn, and whispers in his ear the following:

(Young Lion's Helm)

"Miquella awaits thee, O promised consort."

In the aftermath, Miquella heals Redmane Freya of the Scarlet Rot.

(Cleanrot Knight Finlay Spirit Ashes)

Finlay was one of the few survivors of the Battle of Aeonia, who in an unimaginable act of heroism carried the slumbering demigod Malenia all the way back to the Haligtree. She managed the feat alone, fending off all manner of foes along the way.

Malenia is "slumbering" after Aeonia.  With the presence of Miquella in Caelid, it suggests Miquella was responsible for halting the bloom of the Rot Goddess, Saint Trina sending Malenia into a deep, long slumber.  Perhaps an eternal one, until Millicent and her sisters arrive, each carrying a part of Malenia cast aside in Aeonia.  

And as each of them blooms, the Goddess begins to stir, and the Tarnished is but the unlucky fool forced to slay her.

Above is but connecting dots, but there are still questions unanswered.

Morgott calls all the demigods traitors.  Did he know of Ranni's part in the Night of Black Knives?  Or was her and Caria's inaction during the Shattering treachery enough?

If we follow the Radahn-Godrick alliance, those two are on the list for certain.

Rykard's rebellion was open and clear-cut.

Why the twins, though?  Betrayal, or like Ranni, was their disappearance/retreat to the Haligtree after Aeonia the cause?

For Radahn, why did he and Malenia clash? 

His lore paints him as glory-hunter, raised on tales of his father and Lord Godfrey proving their might in the field of battle.  A naive prince born in an era of peace, hungering for a war to prove his mettle.

He clearly sought to be Elden Lord, but perhaps not with Miquella as his God.  Or perhaps the war was a sort of elaborate courting ritual, demanding he face the full strength of Miquella's ideals and followers.  Or crueler, the promise was meant to be an impossible request, one to goad Malenia into combat and prove to all the Red Lion deserved the title of Strongest.

Whatever the case, it seems Malenia warred as a way to force him into compliance, and when he would not yield, she Bloomed.  

This either suggests she knew of the Secret Rite scroll we find in the DLC, and that perhaps the entire war was an extension of Miquella's plan, or perhaps just a final barb, given to a man worthy of no honor or glory.

The Unalloyed's presence in Caelid would be his compassion, or his moral calculus (such that could convince him puppeting both Radahn and Mogh would be for the Greater Good), could not allow the Scarlet Rot to spread.

The other option is that, again, Radahn broke his promise to Miquella, Malenia's march was in pursuit of vengeance, Miquella arrived too late to stop them from destroying each other, and his ascension was in turn a reaction to losing his promised consort and his sister.  In this charitable perspective, his original plan was the Haligtree, watered with his blood and fully absent of gods, shelter to all.  A throne of unalloyed gold, sadly abandoned when his hopefuly ideals clashed with cold reality.

Either way, we come to Mohg.  Why Mogh?  Again we turn to the moral calculus.  Miquella needed a guardian while he slept, and without his loyal Blade, turned to the next most dangerous demigod.  And also, the more expendable.

Of the others: 

Messmer was already in the Land of Shadow.

Rykard was a heretic and possibly a snake-god at the time.

Morgott had assumed regency of Leyndell.

Ranni was either dead, missing, running Caria, and/or definitely couldn't be trusted with the plan.

Godwyn was a cancerous corpse fused to the Erdtree.

Miquella needed a body for his Lord.  The closer in relation, the better.  And it needed to be someone who wouldn't be missed.

Mohg's Dynasty was small, heretical, slightly obsessed with blood, deeply tied to an Outer God, and possibly already involved in the whole murder and kidnapping thing.

An easy choice.

Either way, little suggests Mohg somehow knew a way to reach the Land of Shadow.  The closest connection is the Formless Mother's foothold with the Bloodfiends.

More likely, Miquella had the power and knowledge to reach it himself, and his ascension was delayed until both Mohg and Radahn were properly dead.

A lord's soul delivered, and a body to host it.

And so the enchanted followers and a lone Tarnished followed him into that hidden realm.

Of the two interpretations, I ask both myself and the reader, this: which is the more tragic?

That the good-natured promises of salvation are built on lies, deceit, and manipulation.

Or that the dreams of someone good and kind and loving have corroded into cruelty.

[serpentface]

A typical example of a kulimane hunting dog, a prized animal in Imperial Wardin. They represent the most positive feelings towards dogs in this cultural sphere, an animal that otherwise has an often ambiguous or even disdained status.

Kulimane are the 'hybrid' offspring of domesticated sighthound breeds and the kuliku (colloquially called 'salt wolves'). Kuliku are not actual wolves, but rather the feral descendants of VERY ancient domesticated dogs that have been living wild for millennia in grassland, savannahs, and semi-desert, and are fully functional and efficient predators. Kuliku have slender builds, huge lungs, and long legs, and use bursts of tremendous speed to chase down prey. They mostly take small game, like rabbits, hares, birds, and hippegalga, though pairs are capable of bringing down mid-sized ungulates. They do not readily mate with fully domesticated dogs, but can be encouraged to do so in captivity, thus producing the kulimane.

The production of kulimane was introduced by the third Burri empire and has been fully adopted into contemporary Imperial Wardin. Kulimane are commonly seen as the best and most ideal of hunting dogs, combining the speed, power, and heat resistance and predatory instincts of their wild parents, and the loyalty and tameness, and other bred-in qualities of their sighthound parents. In practice, most Kulimane used in hunting will have been the product of several generations of breeding to produce an ideal animal (initial 'hybrid' generations are often still too wild). Their appearance can vary wildly, but the ideal form for a kulimane is to have a domestic-type coat (fully solid colors are preferred, but rare) and to retain the pointed ears and black tail tip of their wild ancestors.

Most kulimane are independent, intelligent animals that will form close and protective bonds with their handlers, but will be shy and wary of strangers. They usually retain strong territorial instincts from their wild ancestors, and can double as excellent guard dogs. Their disposition towards other dogs can vary- a well socialized kulimane can usually be introduced to new dogs with few issues, but some have striking tendencies to aggression towards strange dogs, and are often muzzled in public. Most are kept in same-sex sibling pairs, and away from unfamiliar or unrelated dogs. They are rarely outright cuddly, often preferring to sit at a distance than to sit on one's lap, but are appreciative of praise and affection from their owners.

Well trained kulimane make for truly excellent sighthounds. They can quickly adapt to changing situations in the field with little to no input from handlers, and quickly and instinctively dispatch most small prey. Their high prey drives Can be a problem for owners. They are frequently known to kill livestock and sacrificial stock, and have a tendency towards surplus killing. You don't want a kulimane to get in with your poultry.

Good kulimane stock is very difficult to produce and takes several generations of breeding, and the animals can be very costly to maintain and keep in good hunting conditions. As such they are VERY expensive animals, and function as status symbols. Sighthounds in of themselves have associations with wealth, and kulimane are specifically associated with royalty and the social elite. They represent the most venerated and beloved end of a very, very wide spectrum of cultural opinions towards dogs in the Imperial Wardi sphere.

The status of dogs in the cultural schema mostly depends on their perceived role. Working dogs tend to have positive cultural connotations- guard dogs and especially hunting dogs are seen as noble animals and symbols of loyalty, and herding and livestock guardian dogs are of great practical value in the rural sphere. Keeping dogs for pure companionship is fairly uncommon, though there are a few established companion breeds in the region. The practice of raising livestock dog breeds has decreased or become obsolete in parts of the region, largely due to Burri influence (which regards the meat of predators and scavengers as wholly unsuitable for consumption), but meat specific breeds like the salutachin are still valued in the city-state of Wardin as providers of an excellent, delicacy meat. The commonality between all valued dogs in Imperial Wardin is their utility, well-established roles, and sharp distinction from feral dogs.

Feral dogs are a fact of life around most settlements. Imperial Wardi cultural outlooks on them tend to be highly negative, characterizing these as uniquely greedy, cowardly, lowly pest animals at best and depraved corpse eaters at worst. Exact attitudes vary throughout the Imperial Wardi cultural sphere, but one near-ubiquitous element is regarding the excrement of feral dogs (and corpses of feral dogs) as potent sources of spiritual pollution that should never be touched with bare skin, and should ideally be removed and buried in barren ground (or their polluting influence should at least be mitigated with a blessing of the tainted location). Superstition holds that stepping in the feces of feral dogs can inflict curses, and the word for 'dogshit' is one of the most insulting terms available in the language.

Hatred of feral dogs is particularly acute in the city-state of Godsmouth. The core city experienced a collective cultural trauma as a result of a siege during the formation of the Wardi empire, in which civilians starved en-masse and descriptions of bodies being eaten in the streets by feral dogs (which were, in turn, eaten by starving civilians) dominate historical records of the event. Feral dogs are by and large hated in this part of the region and seen as outright vile animals and acute sources of spiritual pollution via their very presence. They are actively culled on a routine basis. The outskirts of the city of Godsmouth and some of the city-state's towns have unique practices of allowing semi-tame hyenas free movement through settlements, where they fulfill the dogs' function as refuse cleaners and keep dog populations in check.

While the keeping of feral dogs is generally frowned upon throughout the region, individuals caring for their local feral populations or adopting feral puppies is not unknown, and the distinction between feral and kept dogs (and stigma towards the former) is MUCH less pronounced in many rural communities, where semi-feral dogs may be valued as likable or useful village animals.

No dog breeds are standardized (or even technically 'breeds' in any modern sense), but there is usually great effort to keep working, livestock, and companion dog stocks wholly separate from feral dogs. The word that roughly means ‘mutt’ in this language does not refer to mixed dog breeds as a whole (or even crosses between different types of working dog), but specifically crosses between kept breeds and feral dogs, which is generally regarded as unfavorable (though not uncommon, both due to inevitability in a world without spaying, and practicality- these crosses may produce perfectly good working or companion dogs, and introduction of feral stock reduces inbreeding).

The dog is one of the constellations in the Wardi zodiac, found at the heel of the Hunter constellation and variously interpreted as either being a noble hunting dog trailing its master, or a lowly scavenger looking for scraps. The latter characterization tends to win out in terms of the characterization of its associated birthsign. Being born under the sign of the dog is mostly regarded as inauspicious, and a potential indication of a cowardly, stupid, lustful, and greedy character (though some positive qualities are ascribed, chiefly loyalty).

‘Chinops’ (literally ‘dog-born’) refers neutrally to the dog birth sign, while ‘chinmachen’ (‘dog-faced’) is an epithet given to those considered to have the associated personality traits, which is rarely anything BUT an insult. (These also spawn the purely derogatory phrases of ‘chisnops’, ‘chismachen’, and ‘chismache’, which have functional meanings closest to ‘son of a bitch’ ‘bitch/slut’ and ‘cunt’ respectively)

[cigarettesuga]

꒰ 貧しい ꒱ ̇ 𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝗋𝖼𝗁𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗌 𓂃𝜗𝜚

and suddenlyִ, i'm see through whenever I see you, it's true ──── ( 玻璃 ） . . .

𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝 . a compilation of my imagination and delusions , minors this isn't your playground .

( look through ) about me && taglist && asks && disclaimers

���� 𝜗ৎ ꒰ 第一章 ꒱ : : DRABBLES & SHORT PIECES

⊂ knj ⊃

O1. | the only one who knows. ⠀⠀➜⠀⠀idol!namjoon x f!reader / slice of life, soft angst, domestic intimacy, based on 'look after you' by the fray.

O2. | text me when you get lonely. ⠀⠀➜⠀⠀non-celeb!ex!namjoon x f!ex!reader / angst, exes-to-lovers, slight romance, slow burn, smut.

⊂ ksj ⊃

O1. | mind if i stay?⠀⠀➜⠀⠀ ͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏ ͏͏ roommate!seokjin × f!reader / college au, roommates to lovers, smut, fluff, comfort, tiny bit of angst (barely).

⊂ myg ⊃

O1. | the way he loves her.⠀⠀➜⠀⠀idol!yoongi x non-celebrity!fem!reader / fluff drabble, domestic softness, unspoken love.

O2. | too good at pretending.⠀⠀➜⠀⠀idol!fwb!yoongi x producer!fem!reader / smut, slow-burn tension, hidden feelings, late-night studio rendezvous, slice of chaotic intimacy, mutual pining masked as indifference.

O3. | charitable causes. ⠀⠀➜⠀⠀idol!yoongi x actress!f! reader / strangers to lovers, slow burn, social event tension, emotional isolation, suggestive/flirty atmosphere

⊂ jhs ⊃

O1. | i think im gonna marry you. ⠀⠀➜⠀⠀ jung hoseok x f!reader / soft fluff, introspective love, slice of life

⊂ pjm ⊃

coming soon.

⊂ kth ⊃

O1. | dating apps and recklessness.⠀⠀➜⠀⠀non idol!taehyung x f!reader / modern romance, smut, hookup-to-something-more, online dating, strangers-to-lovers (or something like it), late-night intimacy, kinktinted realism, emotional undercurrents beneath lust.

⊂ jjk ⊃

O1. | somewhere, quietly. ⠀⠀➜⠀⠀idol!jungkook x non-celebrity!fem!reader / drabble, fluff, slice of life, soft romance, domestic yearning

O2. | new territory.⠀⠀➜⠀⠀idol!jungkook × f!girlfriend / smut, fluff, experimental firsts, soft filth, boyfriend!jungkook supremacy

𓂃 𝜗ৎ ( 第二章 ) : : REACTIONS & SCENARIOS

O1. | falling asleep on their chest while they're rambling about something⠀⠀ ➜⠀⠀all members / fluff, comfort, established relationship, soft domesticity, quiet intimacy

O2. | riding their thigh and they watch you come undone⠀⠀ ➜⠀⠀all members / nsfw, tension relief, body worship, desperation, established relationship or fwb (up to interpretation). minors do not interact !!!

O3. | they kiss you to shut you up mid-argument⠀⠀ ➜⠀⠀all members ⠀/⠀angst, established relationship, heated tension, emotional intimacy, nsfw-leaning suggestion

𓂃 𝜗ৎ ( 第三章 ) : : SERIES

⊂ pjm ⊃

O1. | opposites don't attract, they destroy. ⠀⠀➜⠀⠀fuckboy!jimin x proud, stubborn!reader / jimin flirts like it’s his full-time job. (y/n) acts like she’s immune. but after one reckless night, their enemies-to-something tension explodes into a secret, no-strings hookup. the problem? feelings get messy fast—and while she’s trying to move on with someone steady and safe, jimin can’t stop pulling her back into the fire. / smut, angst, college au, enemies to something

[featherspiral]

Hi again! Fan of Chara here!

Do you think Chara still cared about Asriel and his family despite theIR love for efficiency and maximizing everything?

They did say in the newsletter that once they became invincible, "nothing can hurt anyone anymore."

Just love to hear your thoughts if it's no trouble at all.

oou interesting question!! thank you very much I looove when ppl ask me about characters teehee

I actually draw chara a bit more charitable than I actually see them, tbh..

the way I interpret it is that chara DID care for the family, certainly. someone who doesn't care doesn't make a pink "mr dad guy" sweater, assuming that was made by them lawl, but also... I don't think chara was the nicest individual tbh. I always thought the small bits of characterization we get of them before death is very indicative of someone who probably wasn't treated very well, and thus has warped perceptions of what a loving environment should be and how to reciprocate these things

specifically, in the true lab, even though we don't know directly what they say, the tapes very much imply that they probably belittled asriel for things like crying, showing weakness (which certainly did NOT help his mindset down the line) and that they seem to bring his faith in them into question as a way to goad him on when he showed hesitation ->

not that I'm on the "chara popped out a villainous monster" train ofc, I very much think these things are even more evidence they didn't have the best life ever on the surface. and that's pretty much confirmed with asriels dialogue from the pacifist ending where he says chara "hated humanity" and climbed the mountain for an "unhappy reason"

and speaking of that dialogue, I think it very strongly implies that the reason chara made asriel pick up their body and bring it to the surface was because they knew he didn't want to do this, and wanted to force him into a self defense situation. I know that sounds like an unfairly cruel analysis, but there isn't really any other reason we would've been given that information in the way we were, just like.. narratively speaking. I believe that they either DID want to actually free monsterkind, or, less charitably, destroy the humans they held a grudge against (i could accept this either way because i dont think the core reasoning is actually integrally important to how the events ended up playing out, and its fun to keep things flexible here). in any case, I believe they definetly prioritized the plan over asriels safety, which isn't all that surprising considering they prioritized it over their own life.

overall I think their drive for efficiency and getting stronger is a product of the more than likely poor environment they came from, and maybe they want that strength to ensure some kind of safety for themself or the ones they love (nothing can hurt you anymore, nothing can hurt anyone anymore etc etc...). I think that whole attribute is a sort of vessel through which they show how they care, but it gets twisted into something more heartless through the genocide run. anyway this is long as hell. my god

[galedekarios]

wyll: this was a hospital? feels more like a prison. gale: a common enough interpretation. sickness has a nasty habit of making you feel trapped, if only within the confines of your body. gale: i once spent weeks convalescing in the hospice of st. laupsenn after a nasty bout of ruddy pox. for all their kindness, leaving that place behind felt like freedom to me. wyll: i've always relied on the kindness of the healers and menders of the coast. better a cleric's healing touch than a chirurgeon's scalpel.

i'm assuming this banter is supposed to trigger upon entering the house of healing, but it hasn't triggered for me. still very much interesting. not only does it offer another insight into gale's past before the events of the game, but also the hospice he found himself in for weeks is interesting itself as well:

"The Hospice of St. Laupsenn (N73) is a Sancturary of Ilmater in the North Ward of Waterdeep. In the City of Splendors, worship of The Triad has long been subsumed by the Halls of Justice, Waterdeep’s temple of Tyr. After the Time of Troubles during the early stages of the Spellplague, large swaths of the citizenry were afflicted with fiendish plagues. While most recovered with clerical attention, for some the effects of the disease continued to linger, resistant to the healing effects of magic. As few Waterdhavians would have anything to do with the fiend-afflicted sufferers, for fear of catching the plague anew, the llmatari decided to create a place for the lepers. The Order of the Golden Cup erected the Hospice of St Laupsenn, named for the priest who tended those similarly affected in the aftermath of the Weeping War, and have continued in quiet service to this day. The hospice is funded by private charitable contributions (many of which come from the personal holdings of the Lords) and tithes from the Halls of Justice and the Order itself." [source]

i was at first playing around with the idea of gale suffering from such a long illness because he might have been affected by the spellplague. then again, the spellplague usually affected magic users mentally rather than physically, so this might really just be the pox, common in big cities and beyond of course, probably during his childhood.

if larian had kept to the lore and the timeline, the effects of the spellplague should have been more central to gale's childhood and made it much more harrowing, especially since he is so intrinsically connected and linked to the weave itself.

[sapphicrnm]

Join us February 14th-16th to celebrate the women of Roswell, New Mexico!

The prompts are based on the Ancient Greek types of love, and are intended to be inspirational and open to interpretation, not prescriptive. This event is open to any fanworks exploring relationships between the women of RNM - all characters, dynamics, and content types are welcome and encouraged! Each day also has a playlist to further inspire your creations (note: the songs touch on subjects including death/grief, domestic violence, self esteem, and a range of complicated relationships).

February 14th - Platonic Relationships

Philia: affectionate love, friendship

Storge: familial love

Day 1 playlist on spotify | Day 1 playlist on youtube

February 15th - Romantic/Sexual Relationships

Eros: romantic and/or sexual love

Ludus: playful, non-committal love

Day 2 playlist on spotify | Day 2 playlist on youtube

February 16th - Free Day

Agape: unconditional, charitable, sacrificial love

Mania: obsessive love

Pragma: duty, obligation, practical love

Philautia: self-love

Day 3 playlist on spotify | Day 3 playlist on youtube

We will be tracking #rnmgalentines25, and the AO3 collection for the event is here.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any and all questions. We can’t wait to see what you create!

[yenntrash]

Who truly is Clea? (Clair Obscure theories - Endgame spoilers)

The most mysterious member of the Dessendre family is certainly Clea. During the course of the game, we only meet her once, briefly, outside of the canvas. And yet, her actions have as much impact on the story as Aline’s and Renoir’s. She’s the one who created the Nevrons, she’s the one who ordered Alicia inside the painting. Barring the Fracture resulting from Renoir’s and Aline’s war, Clea is the one who damages the Canvas the most, going as far as to create gigantic Nevrons whose sole purpose seems to be to literally eat and consume the painted world.

But who is she, really? And what truly is her goal?

This post is meant to spark discussions and to theorize. I do not see my words as definitive truth, nor do I think those are the only ways to interpret her. In fact, I hope more share their visions of her, too.

Nevertheless, I can think of two main ways of understanding her character, which can both find some manner of support in game.

1: Grieving in angerThe most popular way of seeing her is as yet another grieving member of the Dessendre family. A common theory proposes that the Dessendre all represent a stage of grief, and while it oversimplifies a complex game with complex themes and complex characters in my opinion, Clea does fit right in. In this analogy, she represents anger. While the rest of them are fighting inside Verso’s realm, she fights outside. She is at war with the “Writers”, a group we know nothing of, but who seems to be responsible for Verso’s death. Vengeance appears to be her sole focus, and the only reason she meddles with the painting is to force Aline and Renoir out, so they can help her in her endeavours. 

She does not care for the painting otherwise. She’s long forgotten her old friend François, and she mercilessly brainwashes and enslaves her painted self to turn her into a Nevron-making machine. If she ever did see the painted people as equals, she does not anymore. Or perhaps, she refuses to. She refuses to be blinded by sentimentality. She refuses to be slowed down in her quest for revenge. Her cruelty then may be a way for her to force herself to accept that the time for games is over. That empathy has no place in her new, Verso-less reality. Her focus on business may make her seem like the most level-headed Dessendre. In-universe, it may even be Renoir’s view of her, given that what seems to be the Axxon representing her quite literally carries a city on its back. but it can also be seen as her blinding herself in obsession in much the same way Aline does.

In fact, her behavior has some similarity with Renoir’s, as well. Just like him, she intends to force the rest of the family to grieve the same way she does. The way she deems correct.

To summarize, Clea may be, just like the rest of them, a simple person who weeps at the loss of a close one and does what she thinks is best, wreaking havoc in her wake not by pleasure, but because trauma blinds her to the plight of others.

She does, after all, have some understanding words for Maëlle, if she reaches the final level of her grand tower…

While this makes sense, there is another way to interpret her.

2: Grief is for the weak

The moment mentioned above, in which she gives Maëlle some encouraging words, is the only scene I can think of in which Clea shows any hint of empathy.

As mentioned previously, she may simply be stunted emotionally due to recent events. But what if it is too charitable a vision?

Clea’s lack of empathy is apparent all through the game. She made the Nevrons, wretched creatures whose only purpose is to kill, and even tasked Blanche to hunt down any who wished for more. She kidnapped, brainwashed, enslaved and imprisoned her painted self in order to keep creating Nevrons while being outside the canvas. It is unclear how much of a hand she had in Simon’s pitiful state when the party finds him, but she did at least impersonate his lover after having abducted her in order to manipulate him into killing the Paintress. Out of the canvas, she shows nothing but contempt for Maëlle. She talks down to her and does not hesitate to guilt-trip her into entering the painting (“The only reason those two are in there is because your naivety cost Verso his life”) It could be that she blames her for Verso’s death, of course, like Aline seems to do, which, while it does not excuse her words, at least offers an explanation. Or it could be that she always was that way. There are two songs in the game that are named after her. “Clea”, which plays during her boss fights and so seems to be the theme of her painted self rather than her, and “Clea! Don’t pull your sister’s hair!”, which you can find in the painted manor. 

The manor is, of course, the family house. The records you find there, in my opinion, are meant to represent the real family. It is the canvas’ link to reality. Now, anyone with siblings will tell you that fighting is common. You are not a psychopath for pulling your sister’s hair. But it is interesting that while the records of the other Dessendre are simply titled “Aline”, “Renoir” or “Alicia”, Clea gets this more descriptive title. It is interesting that, given how little we actually see her, this is the image the game wants us to have of her.

You’ll notice that she herself does not talk about revenge. She talks about “responsibilities” and “conflict”. The way she phrases it, it seems that all she wants is for her parents to go back to business. Verso’s death, while unfortunate, is just another event in this war they seem to be fighting. A war that is still ongoing while her family infights in an imaginary land.

To summarize, Clea may be a high-functioning sociopath who feels right at home in the war against the Writers, and who sees other people, her family included, as nothing but useful tools in her arsenal. “If Aline wants to numb herself in the canvas, then let her.” She tells Maëlle. Her short appearance in Verso’s ending may also work with both theories. Does she leave early because she refuses to feel anything but anger? Or does she because she sees grieving as a useless waste of time?

Once again, I’m not pretending to have any final answer. In fact, I do not have a strong opinion of which of those two interpretations is correct, if any. The truth might be somewhere in the middle, or I might be mistaken entirely. My main goal here is to spark discussion about this character, who we see just little enough to make her a perfect soil for theories and interpretation.

Thank you for reading!

[olderthannetfic]

This NaNoWriMo stuff with AI is largely unsurprising to me. I don't know how many people have gone beyond reading the viral clipped out bit about classism and ableism, but there was a follow up statement on that, in which they claim to take a very neutral stance. That their initial intent was apparently trying to curtail harassment of those who are using AI and they at least apologized for their confusing and unthoughtful wording of their original statement. Which seems legitimate enough to me. I'm sure they are sorry, considering the swift and unforgiving backlash they received. What I find kind of bizarre about this whole thing is, like, if you are running an event surrounding writing and making guidelines for what is and isn't okay in general-- then wouldn't it be a perfectly reasonable addition, to set out some level of encouraged practices for how one should or shouldn't use AI for during said event. Guidelines that are encouraged, that follow what everyone believes to be the spirit of the event (sitting down and actually writing a little every day for a month) would seem like a perfectly reasonable thing to do, to me. Like, am I off base here? With the rise in AI this seems like the natural progression. Even if only in spirit, not allowing generated works specifically seems like it would be a completely understandable guideline that keeps the event fair to those trying to do it the way it's meant to be done. And if you wanted to be neutral about it, it could be presented alongside a more lax policy around using AI to say, generate a plot bunny when experiencing writers block or create names for places/characters. People have been using tools like that for ages so there's precedent to allow "thoughtful" use of AI for these purposes. Anything at all, even if it can't be completely enforced, seems like it would have been better. The random endorsement of AI for people in certain circumstances from their follow up statement, and how it can be life changing, if one were to take their meaning in the most charitable way possible, does not feel like it's on topic here. Like, all this effort to be "neutral" on their part is not really coming across that way it's all just so damn clumsy. I try to always assume positive intent, not attributing to maliciousness (such as capital gain at the expense of creatives, which is one of the major problems with AI generated work) what can be better explained by ignorance, but even taking all that they've said in such a fashion, it largely feels like they didn't want people arguing about AI but also didn't want to have to make rules around AI that they would then have to, even if only in spirit, enforce. I can sort of understand that, considering it would be (most likely) impossible for them to differentiate between generated work and stuff that was written by a person. But again. They could have just said that it wouldn't be possible for them to police AI usage, blah blah blah, honor system (which again is already part of how NaNo works-- an honor system) but that targeted harassment campaigns of individuals for any reason would not be allowed within these spaces, up to and including suspected use of AI. Like there were so many different ways this could have been approached to accomplish what their stated goal was. Without??? Accidentally taking a very strange and not well thought out direct stance on AI that they later had to halfway walk back and apologize for. I don't think NaNoWriMo ever intended the message to be "We allow AI generated works now" (unless there's something I missed) -- That's not explicitly something they said, but rather the at large and reactionary interpretation of it. Now, I just have to wonder, what the hell happened to their September update post from last week, that was apparently addressing other issues. One thing I'll say for this whole mess, is it's at least amusing to watch the absurdity of their slow motion collapse hitting the speedrun stage toward total implosion. The org has had major internal problems for years now.

--

Honestly, I think the reaction is at least as much about longstanding issues with the organization as about people's fears of AI. Poorly thought out corporate idiocy feels in-character.

[proudfreakmetarusonikku]

Friendly reminder that Dream repeatedly made sexual jokes about actual teenagers, including a thirteen year old, sometimes after being asked to stop (keep in mind he was 21/22, five years older than Tommy and eight years older than Lani) up to and including coercing Tommy into saying he loved him in private DMs or he’d destroy Tubbo's villagers (then getting shocked that Tommy could find it weird) there’s been evidence of him pushing extremely important boundaries on safeguarding as some sort of fucked up joke for YEARS. Even in the most charitable possible interpretation he thought acting like a creep in private to a teenager was something extremely funny to tell an audience that skews very young (if you’ve been to any events for these guys, they’re primarily children too young to use social media, I’m not talking about teenagers I'm talking single digit age children) and that’s something I think makes me extremely fucking skeptical he was some angel when he WASN'T in front of the cameras. If he thought that was an acceptable boundary to push while being watched, I have zero doubts he'd act like people owed him their success in private.

[esther-dot]

Isn't it more Aery's fault than Rhaegar's that Elia and her kids were murdered? Because they were being kept in King's Landing instead of Dragonstone where they belonged? Not necessarily defending Rhaeger but we don't know the whole story yet.

You know, even with the contributing factors, the agency of other characters, Rhaegar is at the bottom of it:

They wouldn't have been slaughtered without the war

We wouldn’t have had the war of it weren’t for Aerys demanding Robert and Ned’s head after murdering his father and brother (+others!)

Aerys wouldn't have done that if Brandon didn't show up screaming for Rhaegar

Brandon wouldn’t have gone to KL if he didn’t believe he had to save his sister from Rhaegar.

Rhaegar's choice to crown and then kidnap/run away with Lyanna is what started the mess which eventually resulted in the death of his wife and children.

So, yes, I do blame Rhaegar.

Rhaegar’s calculation that everything depended on the prophecy baby, the disaster that befalls procuring it not withstanding, was wrong, and no matter how much anyone romanticizes the man, we all know, Martin is criticizing that kind of blind acceptance/obedience to prophecy which means, even in the most charitable of readings, it's ultimately a Rhaegar critical story.

I’ve mentioned before that you can have a sympathetic view of what prophecies do to a person (the girl in grey prophecy messing with Jon in TWOW seems pertinent), and Martin is likely going for a more nuanced take with Rhaegar than I care for considering his position of power and privilege, but all the same, Rhaegar's choices started the mess. And bear in mind, those choices came after he knew how fallible he was, switching from believing the prophecy was about himself to thinking it was his son ie he was willing to risk everything even knowing he'd already fucked up the interpretation of the prophecy .

Furthermore, we can't argue that he trusted his father and was shocked by the man's inability to handle the situation when we have quotes that tell us, their relationship had deteriorated which is prolly something we don't incorporate into readings of pre canon events enough:

Meanwhile, King Aerys was becoming ever more estranged from his own son and heir. Early in the year 279 AC, Rhaegar Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone, was formally betrothed to Princess Elia Martell, the delicate young sister of Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne. They were wed the following year, in a lavish ceremony at the Great Sept of Baelor in King's Landing, but Aerys II did not attend. He told the small council that he feared an attempt upon his life if he left the confines of the Red Keep, even with his Kingsguard to protect him. Nor would he allow his younger son, Viserys, to attend his brother's wedding. When Prince Rhaegar and his new wife chose to take up residence on Dragonstone instead of the Red Keep, rumors flew thick and fast across the Seven Kingdoms. Some claimed that the crown prince was planning to depose his father and seize the Iron Throne for himself, whilst others said that King Aerys meant to disinherit Rhaegar and name Viserys heir in his place. Nor did the birth of King Aerys's first grandchild, a girl named Rhaenys, born on Dragonstone in 280 AC, do aught to reconcile father and son. When Prince Rhaegar returned to the Red Keep to present his daughter to his own mother and father, Queen Rhaella embraced the babe warmly, but King Aerys refused to touch or hold the child and complained that she "smells Dornish." (The World of Ice and Fire - The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II)

and

The Red Keep had its secrets too. Even Rhaegar. The Prince of Dragonstone had never trusted him as he had trusted Arthur Dayne. Harrenhal was proof of that. The year of the false spring. The memory was still bitter. Old Lord Whent had announced the tourney shortly after a visit from his brother, Ser Oswell Whent of the Kingsguard. With Varys whispering in his ear, King Aerys became convinced that his son was conspiring to depose him, that Whent's tourney was but a ploy to give Rhaegar a pretext for meeting with as many great lords as could be brought together. Aerys had not set foot outside the Red Keep since Duskendale, yet suddenly he announced that he would accompany Prince Rhaegar to Harrenhal, and everything had gone awry from there. If I had been a better knight … if I had unhorsed the prince in that last tilt, as I unhorsed so many others, it would have been for me to choose the queen of love and beauty … (ADWD, The Kingbreaker)

If that was all Aerys' paranoia, it should have told Rhaegar his father was in no condition to handle a crisis, and if it was true that he planned to depose his father/ act against him:

Rhaegar had put his hand on Jaime's shoulder. "When this battle's done I mean to call a council. Changes will be made. I meant to do it long ago, but . . . well, it does no good to speak of roads not taken. We shall talk when I return." (AFFC, Jaime I)

well, then there is no excuse for Rhaegar throwing everything into turmoil and abandoning his wife and kids to the care of others when his father already distrusted him, and he didn't trust his father.

And yes, Aerys insisted Elia and the children be in KL, but Rhaegar secreted Lyanna away to Dorne. It's a bit much to swallow that he took Lyanna that distance for her safety, to his wife's homeland, and took no special precautions for his wife, heir, and little girl. It's especially unforgivable when we know Aerys was not only increasingly paranoid, but was a racist, abusive POS, so there were additional reasons why it should have occurred to Rhaegar, he needed to do more regarding their safety.

Obviously, neither Rhaegar nor Aerys knew Tywin would betray them or unleash a monster on innocents, but even when I employ a very sympathetic reading of Rhaegar, I don't think it lessens his responsibility. Rhaegar knew too much, risked too much, to achieve his own ends without the necessary regard for those depending on him:

He found her hiding under her father's bed, as if she believed Rhaegar could still protect her. (ASOS, Tyrion VI)

[spicy30]

I LOVED THE MIDERN GIRL FIC

Just binged it in 5 hours, didn't even notice the word count until I started the last chapter. So excuse me as I ramble.

Truly my favourite genre and you write it so well, I love that the protagonist can be very smart and still make stupid decisions (ie she could've said that daeron saved her from the crazy lover guy, this still giving him the gallant prince title) it makes her very realistic.

I hope we get her giving aemond a stern talk and drawing boundary lines. Yes she loves him, no she won't pursue his nephew or brother(s?) or father or knight, she'll probably marry him but not until she makes a name for herself or does something that earns her a title (at least from what I interpret her character to be) and she'll probably want the family to get along better before adding herself to it.

Ser crispy is having an identity crisis and I love it. The fact that he acknowledged that Alicent worsened his character is a step in the right direction, obviously this fic doesn't have to be a happily ever after but it would be nice to see some redemption.

I really hate that there's tension between Rhae and reader, I hope everything gets resolved before the king dies. I really don't want them to become enemies, it's unfortunate that her husband causes friction with our protagonist. I wonder if there'll be a future event that brings them together, like a common enemy or if she'll help Rhae in a way that the maesters can't (visenya?)

I really hope the songs she had have the n word censored, we don't need Aegon to spread that around even if the word has no meaning in the world of HOTD.

I also wonder many things about the protagonist. I have some theories about her:

1- she's had laser hair removal and possibly some skin care cosmetic treatments (like carbon peeling) done, that's why her skin seems to grab the attention of many characters throughout the story. Laser hair removal combined with carbon laser can reduce pore size and make the skin appear porcelain smooth.

2- her earth is different than ours and she's of targaryen descent though her blood is very diluted. Blood magic could explain why she's in the HOTD world, it also explains her visions she's described to the king. Also, she can kind of understand the dragons. Though very limited she can feel their intentions and emotions.

3- she could potentially bridge the gap between dorne and westeros.

Anyways sorry for yapping so much I just loved this fic, it truly is a breath of fresh air in the isekai genre.

I'm glad you could binge read it 🙏 best kind of fics when theres already so many chapters.

I LOVE THIS GENRE! I love writing for it. All the different possibilities. I try to find books like it, but they're never as good. But thank you, I'm glad you liked my writing. I know it was tough the first few chapter 💔 I wasn't taking it seriously, it was just like a crack fic. Yeah, I always think stupid decisions are essential (I did not think of that🥀) But also I think that she is operating on survival time 95% of the time so yk if its her or someone else who has to be sacrificed for her? She gonna choose herself every single time, regardless of who it may be. I think she is a very selfish person willing to do whatever to get her way, I.e threatening to kill herself any time something doesn't go her way. Yes half the time she's not gonna do it, but they don't know that. I really try to not make her like a super good person bc if it's survival, one isn't gonna act super charitable. They're gonna act selfishly even if it puts other in danger.

Her and Aemond will have a very important talk, but not for another chapter at least. But I will say this, this convo will change everything for him. Be it for better or worse. Everything will change. And yes you would be correct. Her goal ultimate goal is to have her own name where she no longer has to pander to other and beg for her life. While that would be easier with marriage, ambition is a huge part of her. A want to prove others wrong. This society doesn't believe in women. So theres a want to prove others wrong by being the best. It's an ego thing. As for adding herself to the royal family, I don't think she't totally opposed to it, I don't think she wants any of the white hair ones. All bad experiences (The choking: Aemond, Pushed her and slammed a 14 year-old's head into a table: Aegon, filled with holes: Viserys, tired to kill her and HATES her-Daemon.) Only sane one looking like the black haired ones 🥀

Yes, I love a good man whos always at war with himself. Ser Criston is very apprehensive of just switching sides bc Alicent has saved his life twice and now that the first real threat in over twenty years has presented itself. How could he just switch sides because the other side is so much like him. I think a part of him just hates the royal family because there is active rejection of who he is as a person so he is forced to be something he isn't so he is resentful. Thats but how I see him. I have a plan for Ser Criston and I guess in a way it is a redemption.

No lie, now that you brought her up. I totally forgot she was pregnant. Slipped my mind 🫠 but yeah I mean I think since she was showing she was three months along, so right now she'd be 10 months, but since you just said that, imma just pretend it's only seven months bc thats how long reader has been here. Things will get somewhat better eventually, she just needs to figure out how to secure Nrya's spot without her bitchass husband getting in the way. (I don't like Daemon.)

As for Aegon saying it. Maybe like once, she told him off for it. There was actually so much that happened between them but I was too lazy to write it. I want to write like a little side story of them two just hanging out just so ppl understand why Aegon misses that damn phone so much.

1-I don't put too much thought into it, I personally exfoliate like no tomorrow and like to wax a lot so my thinking was just that she taught Dyanna how to sugar wax bc she was gonna sell it to the whore houses before she got a reminded that hoes over there are animals. (GOT had me disgusted when I saw that one knight who likes his girls younger) Also, I don't think ppl over there are as clean, yeah they bathe but they use a sponge that doesn't rlly get in there and that's a royal, now imagine the commons. But you're thinking could also work.

2-That theory is very interesting. I won't discourage any theories bc I think they're fun to read, but I will say this. Take everything you read with a grain of salt. Since chapter 9, there hasn't been single version of her POV, it all changed when her little incident with the church happened. What you've been reading is POV of other characters and how they see her. They don't know what she's thinking or what she truly means when she says things. But your theory is very fun idea. However, remember that fundamentally she is very different and when ppl are different, others tend to look at them in a certain light. She is not from their time so that means there's not a single character in there that shares all of her ideals, simply bc she is so advanced and has years of history behind her, they don't.

I'll leave you with this as a way to try and explain her differences with them: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."-George Santayana

She has and knows the past, to them that is only the future which is unknown.

3- Her and Dorne would be very interesting. Right now as far as she knows, it's a foreign country and she knows nothing about it other than they killed a dragon over a century ago. I don't think it's the forefront of her mind, just a passing thought bc they're not in active war and she had bigger fish to fry. But I think if she learned what Dorne really was, SHES AUDI😭 catching the first horse to Dorne. Arriving at the doorstep begging for rights.

BUT NO PROBLEM I LOVE LONG ENTRIES LIKE THIS. I love explain my thoughts. I love people picking at my works. it's like the best thing ever! Thank you so much!

[bonefall]

I think Nightcloud's Thaw (assuming you keep that title) is a great idea not only because your Nightcloud is so interesting and because she as a character deserves more spotlight, but also because it would be interesting to see Crowfeather begin to change from her perspective. After all, you said it was a surprise he offered to help save Breezepelt at all- and what better way to show that than for us to not be inside his head when he makes the decision to offer to help?

I'm feeling more and more confident about it. I think BB!Nightcloud is absolutely the best choice of a character to observe the events of "Crowfeather's Trial," now Nightcloud's Thaw.

Nightcloud's Thaw is an okay title for now, but I want to bat around some more names.

It's meant to invoke the way her life begins to turn around, after Crowfeather's exile; beginning with that reveal, how Crowfeather's behavior reaches a breaking point in the Clan, her reputation turn-around, and finally accepting Crowfeather's help in aiding Breezepelt.

So "thaw" is one way to put it... but if I could capture something more related to the change of seasons or time, that would be good too. Nightcloud's Daybreak, Nightcloud's Horizon.

We can go through Nightcloud's process of unlearning with her.

The dread and fury at the reveal, the shock when Crowfeather actually sees a consequence, and the way that suddenly the Clan is sympathetic towards her in a way they'd never been

How this newfound empathy feels somewhat insulting to her, but, how it helps her start to realize that she DOESN'T deserve how Crow treats her.

Makes it easy to truncate most of OotS, can quickly be described as "they stayed together slightly longer, but if it wasn't dead, their relationship was quickly dying."

And really get to the meat of the story with how Crowfeather deflecting the blame of their son's Dark Forest training on her was the LAST straw. For everyone. Including Crowfeather himself.

(I think I'll actually change around the fight in the BOTTE to be Breeze attacking CROW, and Lionblaze STOPS him. Because killing his pathetic dad, in the end, wouldn't fix anything and would ruin his life forever. Really change it to stress that no one likes Crowfeather because of how he keeps treating people. If Crow wants to turn that around, he has to CHANGE.)

(Plus, something just feels nice about letting the two have a bond. Something about how they were both pulled out of the dirt at the Kitty Olympics and washed clean by Nightcloud, starting this deep, brotherly bond somehow. I'll have to revisit this.)

Nightcloud alone can link the way that Crowfeather is trying to change himself, AND the way Breezepelt is getting worse, in the way I want

She's cautious of Crowfeather, for good, obvious reasons. He hurt her, and has only ever used her good faith as leverage against her.

And she's charitable to Breezepelt, because she knows exactly what pain is behind his rash, emotional behaviors.

SO I can frame them both in the way I want through her eyes.

Plus, I need a place to put her childhood. If it's not here, I wouldn't have a good spot to put it.

I could link all the flashback segments with having Addersong pass away, since he would be VERY old at this point. It could be very bittersweet for her

She spent so much time away from her beloved mentor, who taught her so much.

She could have had so many wonderful years with him, his advice, and his songs. But now he's an elder in his last moons

All because she let her heart be hardened after the death of her family. Pain lead her astray so many times...

I'll probably rework a LOT of the stoat stuff. I know right away there's a lot of actions in CT I want to rip away from Crowfeather and hand over to Breezepelt; a lot of the loud, openly argumentative moments he has with Onestar for example. SHOW the way that Breezepelt interprets Harespring/Darkseeker's diplomatic responses as "sniveling and traitorous" to him.

Have Nightcloud be trying to bridge this gap between Breezepelt and his Clanmates with her new reputation, and it just not working.

Maybe shuffle Nightcloud's disappearance near the end of the book, around the time that the Kin appears. Show that his mother being suspected dead was a BIG reason Breezepelt made such an emotional choice to join the Kin, and bring his other allies with him.

[lapsedgamer]

1000xResist (Nintendo Switch)

1000xResist is a high concept but emotionally grounded drama about the Janus power of memory and storytelling to hurt and to heal. A generation from now, an alien invasion and accompanying pandemic wipe out the human race, save for one young woman who is rendered immortal. One thousand years later, the Allmother and her clone children toil beneath the surface to cure the disease and retake the world. Our point of view character is Watcher, who has the sacred duty of viewing and interpreting the Allmother’s memories through a psychic Communion. The first scene is Watcher killing the Allmother in a righteous fury; the story then jumps back to her first Communion, and the beginning of the journey to that matricide.

1000xResist’s greatest strength is that it establishes and maintains the emotional stakes through well written characters and their conflicting relationships. Created during the pandemic, the game’s story is underscored by the melancholy of physical and emotional separation. When we first meet the Allmother in her mortal guise as Iris, she is a troubled teenager whose difficult relationships with her classmates and parents provide the first hints that something is wrong at the heart of her new society. Understanding where this hurt comes from, its consequences for a millennium of human life, and how it will curdle Watcher’s piety in to hatred, provides a gripping narrative drive for the first few chapters.

Memories are not truths, however, and the game smartly constructs dramatic reversals and reveals out of the non-linear and inconsistent way Iris recalls her past. As an audience, and as Watcher, we have the opportunity to judge Iris’ actions charitably or harshly, but the way these events are remembered implies a clear moral judgement. What are the consequences if we forget and forgive this wayward child? What is the cost to the human race if we don’t? Has she even forgiven herself?

The loss of proportion that comes from passing the human race through a bottleneck one person wide is an opportunity Sunset Visitor have taken with both hands. 1000xResist deeply entangles its themes, characters and plot, their links through Iris causing them to pop up out of time and out of context, and with outsized influence on one another. Threads of cause and effect link cycles of hurt, and sometimes do and sometimes don’t align with the stories characters tell each other. This error-prone interconnectedness gifts the character relationships a page-turning precariousness in the later chapters and sets up fascinating juxtapositions that I shan’t spoil here.

This combination of emotional rawness and thematic cleverness also makes it hard for an amateur like me to do 1000xResist justice. It’s been living in my head since I finished it a few days ago and I’ve pages of fragmentary paragraphs. Playing it after Slay the Princess and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, two very different games about memory, story and relationships, doesn’t help matters. Suffice it to say that 1000xResist is food for the mind and the soul and an outstanding addition to the narrative gaming canon.

[astrorakesh1726]

How do I understand the energy of Ketu in Vedic astrology?

In Vedic astrology, Ketu is considered one of the lunar nodes, also known as the South Node of the Moon. It represents the descending lunar node and is considered a shadow planet. Ketu is often associated with spiritual liberation, enlightenment, past-life karma, and detachment from material desires. Understanding the energy of Ketu involves examining its placement in the birth chart, its aspects, and its relationship with other planets. Here are some key points to consider:

Spiritual Growth and Detachment: Ketu represents the spiritual journey and the quest for enlightenment. Its energy encourages detachment from worldly desires and material attachments. Ketu's influence can lead individuals towards spiritual practices, meditation, and introspection.

Past-Life Karma: Ketu is associated with past-life karma and indicates unresolved karmic issues that need to be addressed in the present life. Its placement in the birth chart can reveal areas where one may experience challenges or obstacles as a result of past actions.

Intuitive Insights: Ketu is often linked with intuition and psychic abilities. Its influence can enhance intuitive insights and spiritual experiences. Individuals with a prominent Ketu in their chart may possess heightened intuition and a strong connection to the subconscious mind.

Sudden Events and Transformations: Ketu is known for bringing sudden and unexpected events into one's life. These events are often karmic in nature and can lead to significant transformations. Ketu's influence can prompt individuals to release old patterns and embrace change.

Moksha (Spiritual Liberation): Ketu is ultimately associated with moksha, which is liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Its energy encourages individuals to seek spiritual fulfillment and transcendence. Ketu's influence can facilitate spiritual growth and lead to a deeper understanding of the true self.

Challenges and Confusion: While Ketu's energy can be transformative, it can also create challenges and confusion, especially if its influence is not well-integrated. Individuals may struggle with feelings of restlessness, disillusionment, and uncertainty under Ketu's influence.

Remedies: In Vedic astrology, there are various remedies prescribed to mitigate the malefic effects of Ketu, such as wearing gemstones (like cat's eye), performing specific rituals, reciting mantras, and engaging in charitable acts.

It is important to remember that the interpretation of Ketu's energy in Vedic astrology may vary depending on individual chart factors and the astrologer's perspective. Additionally, astrology is a complex and multidimensional system, and no single planetary position can determine a person's entire life.

For more information you can use Kundli Chakra Professional 2022 Software. And you can also contact us.

[rubyvroom]

Continuing with Seveneves, I am actually enjoying the last third of the book. It's more obvious than ever that the first two sections are reverse-engineered from the need to wipe out all of humanity to seven individuals, to get at the genetic playground he wanted to use, so it's really too bad it took 600 pages to get here. Now that we're here, the epigenetic time bomb Moirans are a lot of fun, as well as the whole pvp evolutionary process which is really the main concept of the book.

But back to my original point about how current events in 2025 are leading me to the least charitable interpretation of everything...to divide the 5000 years in the future human society into Red and Blue, and to literally make a segment of Reds actual Neanderthals is a Choice. But since it's objectively hilarious I'll allow it. XD

[100hands]

https://urbanaut.app/spot/sabha-open-house - please rsvp here and forward to those likely to be interested.

Sabha Open House, April 12&13

To mark its public debut, Sabha is hosting an Open House weekend on April 12th and 13th from 10 am onwards, inviting the public to experience the space through a series of free events and performances. The lineup includes eclectic music performances, sketching sessions, community drum circle, talks, and heritage walks—each designed to showcase the artistic and cultural possibilities the venue hopes to foster.

With a special focus on children, Sabha features a flea market run by Merchants of Happiness, where kids create products and run their own stalls. There will also be storytelling, art and play sessions, a book launch by a young author, and even a magic performance by a child magician.

One of the highlights of the Open House is the performance by musician Susheela Raman, Sam Mills and Jeet Thayil- A Golden String- an immersive spoken word weaving and musical evening interpreting the work of William Blake.

All events are free and open to the public, offering a glimpse into Sabha’s vision as a public space and Bengaluru’s newest home for arts and culture.

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About Sabha

Tucked away just off Commercial Street, a 160-year-old heritage building—once a school—is now home to Sabha, a vibrant new arts, crafts and culture venue in the heart of Bengaluru. The roughly 7,500 square foot property, owned by the RBANM’s Charitable Trust and revitalised in partnership with the Ammini Trust, includes a large hall with a pitched roof, a smaller building with a traditional Madras terrace roof, and two serene courtyards.

The transformation of this space was led by architects Bijoy Ramachandran, Sunitha Kondur and their team at Hundredhands who undertook the meticulous task of restoring the old structure while preserving its soul.The restoration honours the building’s layered history while infusing it with a contemporary spirit, creating a welcoming space for artists, children, and craft practitioners.