cavesalamander

[cavesalamander]

"But Wylder and Duchess don't have any sibling dynamic-"

EXACTLY. Two siblings are finally reunited, but DOOMED BY THE NARRATIVE.

Both of them realized their connection, but couldn't be sure that the other recognized them as a sibling too.

Both miss the time they spent together as children, but they can't repair their bond BECAUSE ONE OF THEM WILL DIE IN THE END. Duchess will die with the Roundtable, Wylder is injured and can't survive in the outside world. They are both ready to sacrifice their lives for each other, but what's the point of creating new memories? It will make everything even more painful than it is

[cavesalamander]

Has anyone ever noticed that wicked and mdzs start in almost the exact same way

[cavesalamander]

I think this is definitely the case, and it brings to mind too, the very concept of what a crucible knight is. A "crucible" is a real word meaning a melting pot - and in the base game all the crucible spells have the following text:

This is a manifestation of the Erdtree's primal vital energies - an Aspect of the primordial crucible, where all life was once blended together.

I don't think any crucible knights in game have a seal - their abilities likely come from some blending of their being with an animal, not just a spell they cast. I don't think there's a seal in game that boosts them either, which imo lends to that idea of it not being a spell for them the way it is for the tarnished.

And then you have the confusing and contradictory perspectives of their journal entries, and I'm not sure there's another way to read what the Executor's whole deal is.

I'd also love to know more about why the artist was slated for execution by the crucible knights. Like, could it be related to the way the golden order shunned and tried to replace the crucible? The artist seems to worship the erdtree, or at least highly revere it to paint it so much, and in the elden ring timeline the erdtree and golden order supplanted the faith in the crucible - even going so far as to do a genocide on the people associated with the crucible. (I know it was more complicated than just that, but the point is the erdtree and the crucible don't get along)

This also makes me wonder if the not-godrick night boss having crucible powers is telling of anything or hinting at lore relating to the erdtree's influence in the nightreign timeline.

That has also got me thinking about grafting in general, and if it was some shadow of an attempt by Godrick to mimic the power of the crucible. (Which is odd, considering how much he wanted to be the golden boy...)

An Analysis of the Executor's Remembrance Questline

Specifically, who exactly is the Executor?

This wound up a bit lengthy, so analysis is under the cut vvv

I see it consistently taken for granted that the Executor is the Crucible Knight from his questline, and I do agree this is the case, but there's another important facet that's often overlooked and is worth going over.

To start with, here are the Executor Journals:

Elements of particular note to this analysis:

Seemingly multiple characters referred to in the 1st person in sequence in chapter 3

Seemingly the same character referred to in both 1st and 3rd person in chapter 4

The phrases "A crucible holds a composite.", and "Two faces, one sword."

Chapters 3 and 4 are written in a way that, to me, gives the impression of memories recalled from multiple perspectives.

Journals of the other Nightfarers remain far more firmly in a singular perspective, with even the letters from other characters we see being ones the Nightfarer would have read. In this regard, the Executor's journals stand out, and reaffirms my belief that all the perspectives portrayed are the Executor, and not just one.

Additionally, I believe that the phrases "A crucible holds a composite." and "Two faces, one sword." also contribute to this reading.

I did consider “two faces” possibly being in reference to the beast form of the Executor, as characters with a beastly transformation are conventionally presented in such a manner. However, with the beast form’s general absence from the questline, it’d be odd if that was the sole remark about it in the journals rather than a remark related to the artist and guest, whom the rest of the journals concern themselves with.

From here, I'd like to turn your attention to the end of the Executor’s questline.

Before unlocking the 7th chapter of the journal, you fight a boss called the Executor’s Cry, and upon its defeat, you witness a short scene before fading back to a short conversation with the Duchess/Priestess and receiving the final journal, alongside the Executor’s remembrance garb.

Conceptually, fighting a mirror of yourself is already intriguing, but also of note is the dialogue upon the boss's defeat;

“And yet you still search…foolish other self… Then I ask… That you live…without averting your gaze…”

After this, we witness a scene taking place at what is presumably the painter's shed. Outside, a Crucible Knight lays dead on the ground, inside, another Crucible Knight cradles a figure's head, and upon the player talking to them, the Crucible Knight stabs themself. After this is the point where the scene fades to black, indicating the scene may be from the Crucible Knight's perspective.

The reward for the questline's completion includes the Executor's remembrance garb, which resembles his base garb with the exception of a wound to the abdomen, the same place where the Crucible Knight stabbed themself.

So, what exactly do I think this all means?

Laying it all out;

The Executor’s journals contain the 1st person perspectives of both the artist and the guest, sometimes even in the same chapter.

Aspects of both characters are found in him, such as through his connection to the crucible and affinity for painting.

The Executor’s Cry fight, where the player character is referred to as a "other self", along with its ensuing scene, is proceeded by a chapter that includes the phrase “A crucible holds a composite.” and is followed by one that includes the phrase “Two faces, one sword.”

Taking this all into consideration, I think that the Executor is not just the guest from his journals, but rather a composite between the artist and guest, formed after their deaths and carrying both their memories.

[cavesalamander]

daily affirmations:

i am kind

i am in control of my emotions

it does not bother me when someone is in the kitchen while i was planning to be in there alone

everyone in the house has the right to be in the kitchen

i am kind and in control of my emotions even when someone is in the kitchen while i was planning to be in there alone

[cavesalamander]

[cavesalamander]

Another artfight revenge!! This one was a lotta fun, and I do like the concept of dungeon cleaners. Getting the pose down was tricky, since I wanted something dynamic and combative, but something that the skirt wouldn't obscure to the point of being confusing to look at.

Shout out to Adorkastock for always coming through for me in that regard <3

[cavesalamander]

Oh yeah, my artfight link! I forgot to post before, bc i think external links makes posts less pass on able sometimes.

[cavesalamander]

Eeeee thank you!! I'm so glad you like it!! <333

Artfight attack on @herzspalter! What a fun and funky character!

[cavesalamander]

Artfight attack on @herzspalter! What a fun and funky character!

[cavesalamander]

I don't think i ever posted these? Figure drawings from about a year ago of Aeryn Song as i was working on figuring her out.

She's got a very wirey build - strong, but with very little but the muscle.

[cavesalamander]

More artfight! Also a revenge, but this time featuring a character of mine - i thought they might get along a little ^u^

[cavesalamander]

Lets see if tumblr lets me post this today! Another artfight attack, this one is a little revenge ^u^

[cavesalamander]

I wanna do more artfight stuff but its so overwhelming trying to pick someone. The artfight discord is way too huge to even process any the characters running by constantly. I don't know how to find a smaller group, and I clam up every time i wanna try and post somewhere. Aough.

[cavesalamander]

Aeryn Song, Usurper of the Flame - my edgy ds3 oc~

She was brought back from beyond death as an Unkindled just to immolate herself to perpetuate the dying world, and decided to have absolutely none of that. She will claim the flame for herself, fuck you very much.

She's got a bad attitude and will cut down anyone who stands in her way, but isn't needlessly cruel. She does feel for her fellow Hollows who are also as bound by this tragic fate as she is.

[cavesalamander]

Artfight ATTAAACK! For @angryarisen

[cavesalamander]

i have such a love for characters who descend into madness or villainy out of deep, deep empathy. characters who fundamentally cannot cope with the cruel realities they find themselves in and blow up about it in spectacular fashion. fallen angel type characters with tears of outrage in their eyes. characters who break before they bend, and break so badly they splatter blood all over their noble ideals. every variation on it gets me so good

[cavesalamander]

Artfight attack 1!!