#ancient sage of lightning

[proxycrit]

Day 49– Riju’s Guestroom

(Ambassador Rauru never meant to get attached to the twin chieftains. The one that becomes the Demon King accuses him of forgetting his own history— the other, concerned with her people’s safety, bitterly capitulates to Hyrule’s demands.

Perhaps a kinder peace could have been achieved, if only Rauru chased after Ganondorf like Naborus on that fateful day. It didn’t matter, in the end. Time has ground every decision into indistinguishable dust, until all that’s left is echoes and ghosts.)

(This self indulgent totk rewrite au is called Familiar Familiar! It all starts when Zelda doesn’t get sent back in time, and now has a whole new batch of tragic tragic lore.)

((Wanna support me? Check out my patreon, with my throw away sketches and references! Remember to use web or android folks, apple charges 30 percent tax.))

[t-5secondsart]

now that the "what sage would the lu boys be" polls are over, i thought it would be fun to draw the chain as the ancient sages from totk!

[assorted-aesthetics]

some1 was mean to me on reddit so rb if u believe THIS woman could bear children with another woman. if she wanted.

[staranon95]

man with the new Hyrule Warriors set to focus on the War of Imprisonment, i really need to get back on my TOTK decolonial meta

[divinepriestesskokomi]

We don't talk enough about how goddamn funny Tighnari is. That man is unphased by everything.

Cyno shows up at his doorstep with a small child who is traumatized, illiterate, terminally ill, has an ancient god sealed away in her body, and asks him to help raise her, and Tighnari's only objection is that he doesn't know how to teach preschool level academics.

He eats a poisonous mushroom, passes out, has a hallucination and just goes "damn that was crazy. Let me write it down for science."

The dudes in charge of the whole country repeatedly beg him to come work for them and he tells them to fuck off.

The second fatui harbinger, said to be as strong as a god, threatens him and he basically tells him to fuck off too.

The traveler gets possessed by god and then comes back to tell him that the sages are building a false god and he's like "Damn that's fucked up. Anyways I gotta go check on my patient."

Dehya and the Traveler basically say "Hey we are helping Cyno overthrow the government" and he's just like bet.

He get's struck by lightning and is just like "Oof. Anyways gotta go check on my patient, good luck fighting a god".

He finds an illegal sentient robot crab and just adopts it and tells the matra not to worry about it.

He passes out from heat exhaustion in the desert and is just like "Damn. I'll need to bring some sunscreen next time".

Finds out Cyno has a long lost brother/cousin and is just like "Cool. Why don't you come over for dinner, meet the family".

The craziest shit can happen to this man and he's just like "Allright why not. This might as well happen" and I love that about him

[lumireis]

I saw someone wanting refs for the ancient Gerudo Sage of Lightning, so here you go!! I'm obsessed with her hair

[leiatalon]

Ink and Intrigue: Romantasy IF

It's here! It's here! 🎉

Ink and Intrigue is published and you can play it now! ❤️‍🔥

Play the demo for free!

Heed magic's call! Find love on a lush tropical island among immortal warrior-mages as you explore ancient mysteries, craft dragon-rune tattoos, and discover your true loyalties. When mystery tempts, how do you answer?

Ink an Intrigue is a standalone Heart’s Choice IF romantasy adventure set in the same world as Their Majesties' Pleasure.

Plunge into a world where magic calls the passion in your soul.

Choose your kindred: a powerful dragon, a shapeshifting griffin, or a blue-lightning phoenix.

As you train to become a warrior-mage, do you romance or befriend a sexy tattoo artist, a feisty initiate, a playful sage, or a maverick with an unfulfilled quest?

Ink and Intrigue is an interactive high-heat fantasy novel by Leia Talon, where your choices control the story. It's entirely text-based—300,000 words and hundreds of choices, without graphics or sound effects—and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.

As a seasoned spy from the kingdom of Minare, you have been sent as an emissary to the Kitherin warrior-mages of Ra'zai, whose tattoos give them supernatural abilities and whose magical rites bond them to powerful creatures from another world.

But, as soon as you enter Ra'zai, you hear the call of the Kitherin. The magic has chosen you, and now, your fingertips tingle and your heart pounds. An unnamed need grows within, like a thirst that can't be quenched. Magic infuses your very breath.

As your magic expands, so does your heart. Which of your new Kitherin companions calls to you?

TEO: Are you attracted to Teo, the soft-spoken tattoo artist whose muscular body is covered in tattoos and whose eyes blaze with amber fire? When he paints dragon runes onto your skin, do you feel the power of his heart as well as his magic?

KAI: Or to Kai, whose dark hair contrasts with brilliant blue eyes: his mastery as a warrior is unmatched, but his quest to overturn a corrupt regime has earned him the opposition of the Kitherin Council.

RAE: Perhaps you prefer Rae, a feisty fellow initiate, with her dark skin and wicked smile. Rae's determination is legendary—she has failed the trials before, but never stops trying—and her boisterous spirit is unbreakable.

THEA: Or maybe Thea is the one for you, with her sea-green eyes and copper hair. Elegant and serene, dedicated guardian of the temple—but if you earn her trust, she will show you her playful side, and sing the songs of her Fae ancestors.

What does the call of the Kitherin mean for your duty to the crown? Will you confess the clandestine role you've played for your king, or keep your secrets and leave your past behind? What information will you send back? Will you use your position to build alliances with the Kitherin Council and other nations, or will you use your spy skills of blackmail and poison to get what you want?

Play as male, female, or nonbinary; gay, straight, bi, and/or asexual.

Romance a passionate artist, a serene sage, a feisty initiate, or a determined warrior.

Choose high-heat or sweet options, or avoid sex scenes entirely.

Form a psychic bond with a magical creature: choose a dragon, a griffin, or a phoenix.

Learn how to craft dragon-rune tattoos, and infuse your art with powerful magic.

Explore a lush island paradise crowned with ancient temples, peaceful healing gardens, a hidden library, and sun-swept beaches with the perfect waves for surfing.

Indulge in magic elixirs and delectable food as you revel under the full moon.

Dive through portals to strengthen your ties with your bonded creature, and explore other worlds!

When magic calls, where will your heart find its home?

Play the demo of Ink and Intrigue and try the first three chapters free to see if the adventure sucks you in!

Big shout out to everyone who has given feedback on the WIP demo and during beta testing. Thank you so much for your suggestions and for sharing in the excitement for this game!

I can't believe Ink and Intrigue is 300k words! It's actually upwards of 375k words including repeated text (much of which still has to be edited for different situations). I meant to write it much shorter, but I accidentally wrote a whole extra chapter during beta testing and added to all the paths.

There are so many gems to uncover in this game!

If you have any asks, hit me up! I'll do my best to answer. Just please be patient as sometimes I forget to check socials for days at a time. 🤣 After working for a year straight on this game I'm taking a breather. I'll rest, you play. Let me know what you think!

Play the first three chapters for free!

Ink and Intrigue is published by Heart's Choice, the romance division of Choice of Games. Game art by Adrien Valdes.

[estcaligo]

Nobody: Me at 3 AM: Glorious Masquerade represents the confrontation between polytheistic and monotheistic worldviews

Or "The Big Three of Olympus vs One Christian God" in the Glorious Masquerade event

Content Warning: Greek Mythology, religion, Christianity, Glorious Masquerade event spoilers

Note: I talk about things in this post from a researcher's point of view, in a descriptive and comparative manner mostly. Just some observations.

I've already discussed a similar concept before - Idia, Jade, and Sebek representing Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus, the "Big Three" in Greek mythology, the most powerful and important gods of Olympus - during the Harveston event. See the post here.

However, in the Glorious Masquerade, the situation becomes even more peculiar because the SSR characters are dorm leaders - those who are in charge. And then there's Rollo, who is twisted from Frollo.

Note: I will consider all sources of inspiration for Rollo, including the book and the musical, which were confirmed by Yana herself to be inspirations for Rollo.

What? Why? Who?

3 vs 1. The Big Three of Greek Pantheon vs The One God, who embodies 3 in 1 - the Father, the Son and the Spirit.

The Big Three are the three most powerful gods among the Olympians - Zeus, Poseidon and Hades.

Zeus commands the sky, lightning, kingship and summon any weather conditions.

Poseidon manipulates water, storms and earthquakes.

Hades has dominion over the dead and undead, darkness, earth-related disasters, and metals and jewels.

*By the way, lightning was considered just Zeus throwing a temper tantrum, and what happened when Malleus got angry? Right, he started throwing  lightnings left and right.

And now we have Rollo. Twisted from Frollo, who, as we know was a religious man (especially in the book where he is a priest, not a minister).

And despite there being other characters, such as vice-president and the assistant, they aren't "real" or “important” characters like Rollo.

So we can say there is only one (1) main character in this event.

2. 7 Dorm Leaders vs 1 Head of the Council

As is well known, Ancient Greek mythology features many major gods, each controlling different aspects of life (or representing them, or serving as patrons). This makes Ancient Greek religion a polytheistic system - meaning it has multiple gods - akin to the Great Seven and the dorm system at NRC.

The Dorm Leader Council functions much like a small pantheon. Not to mention NRC is located on upper hills, which resembles a mountain (Olympus) if we look at the landscape of the Sage Island.

On the other hand, Christianity only has one God, making it monotheistic religion. There are multiple saints in Christianity, who are patrons of different aspects of life, however it is important to note that these saints do not control - they are more like the intercessors between man and God.

Even the NBC itself is focused on one Villain and has one statue in the yard, not the 7 (the "pantheon" of NRC). And NBC itself doesn't have Dorm system like NRC.

3. Oral vs Written

Greek religious tradition is primarily oral, with legends and stories passed down through generations by word of mouth.

In contrast, Christianity is predominantly a written religion, where the written canon holds great importance.

How is it important here?

Well, in this event specifically the NRC guys spend their time walking around and commenting on things. We learn some of their lore and thoughts on various topics through dialogue. Even Professor Trein reveals his past verbally telling about it. Naturally, it’s a game mechanism. But since we’re talking about such details….

On the other hand, the most important part of Rollo lore is found by the Big Three in written form - Rollo’s diary.  It's also noted how Rollo prefers writing above all else. He writes in his diary, sends letters, and drafts invitations. While this may not apply to the NBC in general, since we're focusing on Rollo, this detail is worth considering as well.

4. Our guys vs That One

Another difference between the two religions is that the Greek gods had flaws that made them more similar to humans. They had tempers and they often held grudges. This made the followers of the religion not want to be like them but, instead learn from them and their shortcomings, frequently through fear. 

In contrast to the flawed gods of Greek mythology, Jesus is portrayed as a man who is to be aspired to, more so than the Greek portrayal of a god; who the audience learns from (imitating in a way), rather than obeys.

Our NRC boys are someone we know and who we’re familiar with. We know their struggles and fears, their dark past. Even the guys in charge of each dorm - the Dorm Leaders - are not so distant from the regular students. Well, more of less.

Whereas Rollo is described by all the characters we’ve met at NBC (and even from his vignette) as someone who is amazing, excellent, wonderful and so…exemplementry. Rollo, at the same time, distances himself from everyone.

5. Vertical vs Horizontal

A small but interesting observation is that many monotheistic religions, including Christianity, often have a “vertical mindset” - symbolizing a relationship between the human and God.

In Christian cosmology, we often imagine a vertical world structure: Hell at the bottom, the human realm in the middle, and Heaven above.

In this event, we also experience vertical movement when things get serious. Initially, when it's peaceful and fun, we mostly walk around the town (mostly horizontal, not including the lower parts).

However, when the action begins, Rollo first sends us downward into the sewers. From there, we start moving upward. The ascent of the tower is highly symbolic, as we are literally ascending towards the sky where Rollo awaits us (with his “judgment”)

 6. Masks

The whole masquerade theme is, of course, a nod to the cartoon and part of the game feature to get the characters to dress up.

But let’s remember that in Ancient Greece, masks played a significant role in theater, particularly in tragedies and comedies (twst features elements of both). In general, it is known that masks represent hidden nature, transformation, and more. 

Interestingly, only our NRC squad wears masks and costumes. We even encountered some Royal Sword Academy students, but they were not given costumes (again, a game feature, but still noteworthy).

On the other hand, there's Rollo, who isn't wearing a mask or even a costume. He doesn’t need to. He is who he is, with no need to transform into something else, as he represents the One, in our comparison here. 

What's even more interesting is that, despite not wearing a physical mask, Rollo is the one with ulterior motives in this event, and we only learn his true face later on. He metaphorically takes the mask off, even though he never wore one in the literal sense.

7. Catholic Guilt

The last but not least - Rollo's punishment, which, perhaps is the most fitting and cruel outcome for him. Rollo, after being defeated, expects harsh punishment because he is ruthless with himself and assumes others will treat him the same way. He failed and he expects to be punished. However our Big Three surprise him by concealing the truth and allowing others (the NBC mobs were the first to thank him for his bravery at the tower) to believe that Rollo was a hero. This situation forces Rollo into a state of internal torment, where he must live with the guilt of his actions while being praised for something he didn't truly do.

Rollo's punishment is psychological, forcing him to confront his guilt and shame in isolation. They choose leave him one on one with his Sin.

On the contrast, in Ancient Greek mythology punishments were often cruel and involved physical pain. One of the most popular example would be of course the myth about Prometheus, which, by the way involved Zeus.

And the way Big Three dealt with Rollo was truly cruel in its own way.

(from an interesting article about Greek Gods and punishment - here)

Fin

I left out some obvious notes like Malleus having horns, Rollo hating on magic etc.

Naturally, there may be other details I haven’t mentioned, so feel free to add any additional insights!

[mipmoth]

The ancient sages helmets had such great designs it would've been cool if you could get them and they worked like Majoras Mask.

Repeating what the masks would do vvv

If they made treversing the sky harder then you could freely explore the sky with the Sage of Wind mask.

With the Sage of Fire mask you can roll fast on ground but also at the top speed climb up walls.

If they had added stuff underwater you could explore that with the Sage of Water mask and its a great way to move fast in water.

Mask of Lightning i think geurdo and hylians are too similar (the diffrence would be having round ears) so it doesn't transform you but it would let you summon lightning like Riju and Urbosa.

The Mask of Spirits is more difficult but it would either turn you zonai like mineru or turns you into a ghost that goes undetected by npc and monsters.

[jacestuckinhell]

Cinder and Storms

Indra Ōtsutsuki x Reader| Arranged Marriage AU | Word Count: 1,550 Genre: Slow Burn, Angst, Romantic Tension, Drama, Enemies to Reluctant Allies to lovers TW: Power imbalance (discussed), themes of dutywar, emotionally intense moments, arranged marriage

The first time you see him, he doesn't look at you. He stares past you, as if peering through the veil of this world into something far crueler. You’re standing in the Hall of Ancients, your formal robes heavier than the silence between you. They say he's a prodigy, the firstborn of the Sage himself—child of celestial power and terrifying purpose.

They say you're lucky. You don't feel lucky. You feel offered.

"A political marriage is a wise path," says the elder who brought you here. But wisdom doesn't keep your hands from trembling.

He doesn’t bow. Doesn’t smile. He just says,

“So this is what peace costs.”

And your spine snaps straight like a blade unsheathing. “I didn’t ask to be a cost,” you say.

His eyes finally meet yours. Sharp. Surprised. And for the first time, Indra Ōtsutsuki sees you—not a symbol, not an offering. A person.

They give you separate chambers in the palace. A courtesy. Or a warning.

He trains from dawn till dusk, and you wake each day to the sound of steel against steel, chakra like static in the air. You watch him from the shadows of the garden. You don’t speak.

He doesn’t either.

Until the night he finds you in the library, fingers tracing ancient seals.

“You read the old tongues?” he asks. His voice is low, curious, not cruel.

“I study what I’m forced to become part of,” you reply.

Something flickers in his gaze—humor? Respect? Regret? You can’t tell. He steps closer.

“Then you already know," he says, voice dark and hollow, "that peace is only bought in blood.”

Your heart twinges. “Then I hope you're rich.”

Days pass like leaves in the wind—quiet, beautiful, edged with decay.

Indra is distant. But not indifferent. He leaves tea for you in the mornings. Orders extra scrolls for your study. Once, you find a chrysanthemum on your windowsill. No note. Just the flower. Red. Blood-colored. Loyal. Stubborn.

Like him.

You don’t talk about it. But something shifts.

The space between you narrows.

One night, thunder snarls in the distance. You wake, drawn to the storm like it calls your name. And there he is—alone in the training courtyard, shirt clinging to him like a second skin, soaked in rain and grief.

"You're not made of lightning," you say softly. "You’ll catch cold."

He doesn’t turn. “Maybe I want to.”

You walk barefoot through the puddles to him. His chakra buzzes like a live wire.

“Why do you do this to yourself?” you whisper.

His jaw tightens. “Because it’s the only time I feel real.”

You’re quiet a moment. Then, “Let me try something.”

He watches you, wary but still.

You take his hand. It’s cold. Trembling. Slowly, you guide it to your chest, over your heart. “Can you feel it?”

His eyes widen. Your pulse thuds steady beneath his palm.

“You’re real,” you say. “You’re not a weapon.”

He doesn’t pull away.

After that, he lingers.

Not much—just enough to notice. To sit beside you at meals. To correct your stances during sparring, his hands burning against your wrists. To speak your name like a secret, not a sentence.

And once, just once, he laughs. A sharp sound, unused, like thunder cracking after a dry spell. You make a joke about his hair being longer than yours and he actually smiles—not the cold, calculated kind, but something unguarded.

He looks younger, then. Less myth. More man.

But peace is a house built on unstable earth.

Whispers of betrayal slither through the court. Your clan is accused of stirring rebellion. The elders want blood. And once again, you are a symbol.

Indra is silent through it all.

Until you storm into his chambers, hands shaking.

“They want me dead,” you snap. “They want us to break.”

He stands slowly, shadows curling behind him like a second skin.

“I won’t let them.”

You freeze. “Then say it, Indra. Say that I’m not just a placeholder in your war-script life.”

He stares at you, eyes burning with a thousand years of silence.

And then— “I didn’t want this,” he says. “Any of it. Not the power. Not the title. Not a bride I didn’t choose.”

Ouch.

“But,” he continues, stepping close, “if fate insists on writing me into this tragedy—then let me choose how I hold the pen.”

And then he does the unthinkable. He bows.

To you.

“For as long as I breathe,” he murmurs, “no one will hurt you. I swear it on my name.”

Your throat closes. Because this isn’t love. Not yet. But it is something.

And it’s more than you ever hoped to find in the eye of the storm.

Later that night, as the moonlight casts silver across his bedchamber floor, he sits beside you—not touching, not pushing, just there. You rest your head against his shoulder. His hand brushes yours.

“You still think you’re not real?” you whisper.

“I don’t know,” he murmurs.

You close your eyes. “Then I’ll remind you. Every day. Every time you forget.”

And in the quiet between thunder and dawn, Indra Ōtsutsuki—for the first time in his war-forged life—lets someone hold the broken pieces without fear they’ll shatter.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I don't know guys; this is my first time actually posting a fic on here. hope it's up to par. this is one of my favourites I think. anyways.

[skyloftian-nutcase]

TotK DLC idea!

The screen is black. You don’t hear anything for a long time. Then, faintly, in the distance, you can hear it.

Link. Link. Open your eyes.

While the line echoes familiarity, the voice does not.

Or. Well. It does. Because while it isn’t Zelda, it’s a familiar man’s voice speaking gently, so gently you almost don’t recognize it because there’s no way he ever spoke like this in the main game.

But he is now. And instead of a golden light being the first image you see before the screen shows Link awakening… you see gloom floating in the air. The image cuts to a Hylian waking up who… doesn’t look like Link from TotK?? He’s different, still small in stature, with slightly tanner skin, platinum light blonde hair, and red eyes. But… something’s wrong with his forehead. There’s a weird line on it.

This new character you apparently are gonna be playing in the DLC blearily blinks his eyes open, clearly groggy and too weak to really move. But then that line on his forehead moves a hair, it splits apart, and you realize it’s a freaking eye, red and yellow and it’s like the ones on gloom hands and oh gosh what the hell is it doing on his forehead—

Link realizes something is off and his eyes blow wide, his hands reach for his forehead and he screams in agony and terror, only for someone to scoop him into a hug to soothe him.

And suddenly you realize why that voice was eerily familiar.

It’s Ganondorf. He resurrected you from the era of the Imprisoning War. You, who have a history with him and his family. You, who he wants to protect, who he views as his kid, who he calls a prince and says he’ll keep you safe by controlling your body with his dark magic if he has to.

Welcome to Tears of the Kingdom: Hero’s Shadow.

You have to play a long gone Hero who was resurrected. Ganondorf, who is still recovering his strength in preparation for killing the current Hero, tasks you with finding your betrothed, his daughter, as well as his wife. They’re buried somewhere in the Depths like you were. He wants you to find their burial sites so he can use his secret stone to resurrect them like he did you, and control them as well. Which is doubly bad when you realize his wife was the original Sage of Lightning. He gives you free reign to wander once you go through a tutorial (he tests you to see if you’ve recovered enough strength), because he knows you love wandering and collecting things. Your own personal objective, however, is trying to help Hyrule from the Depths, to break free from Ganondorf’s control, because Link would rather set himself on fire than let Ganondorf resurrect and control the love of his life and his mother-in-law. Your best hope is to find shards of the shattered Master Sword to try and stab the eye on Dark Link’s forehead and break the control Ganondorf has on you. Until you can, though, the monsters are your allies, you can teleport across the Depths by manifesting out of the gloom created by gloom hands (just like what Phantom Ganon does), and the world below is your oyster. If you get too close to sword shards when gloom hands are nearby, Ganondorf can see your attempt and immediately takes control of your body, and no matter what button you press Link just walks back to Ganondorf’s location and stays there until you get a chance to try again.

You start with three hearts, all empty looking like when gloom hurts you, and if you get injured they just shatter. Whenever they all shatter, you respawn at Ganondorf’s location because his gloom hands came and rescued you from dying. The only way you can get more hearts is by collecting poes and offering them to the statues in the Depths. You can communicate with the spirits of soldiers, who may give you combat tips or info about the area. If you gain enough of Ganondorf’s trust, he’ll let you command monsters, and he might even let you wander the Surface (under his supervision) during a blood moon.

You learn of Link’s and Ganondorf’s history through discovering ancient relics/texts that trigger memories. This connection between you and Ganondorf stems back to time before the war, well over ten thousand years ago. Link was engaged to Ganondorf’s daughter, but during the Imprisoning War the family fought against the demon king. Ganondorf did love his family, but he loved power more. Link sacrificed himself, letting himself get mortally wounded to save Rauru from a killing blow. Gan held him as he died, and it allowed Link to both beg him to stop and stab him in the heart with a light shard. The shard didn’t kill him, but it was what Rauru connected with when he hit him in the chest, allowing him to seal Ganondorf away. Ganondorf still wants the world, but his love for his family is still present, though now twisted, so he thinks he can control Link and everyone else with his dark magic in order to keep them safe and in line. Once the threat of the current Hero is eliminated, the world will be his, and his family will be safe. As such, he treats you, Link, the player, like a stubborn child, reeling you in, but does so in a horrific way, torturing Link by controlling him.

You have to break free of this and stop him, and the only hope you have is the distant call of a sword spirit…

[rayroseu]

I think the similarity between Malleus and Grim might be because Grim is Malenoa's phantom.

To preface, I'm assuming Malenoa overblotted because of the scene in Sleeping Beauty where she snapped at seeing Diablo turned into stone? 

Additionally, both movies of Maleficent involved a "death scene." In Maleficent 1, it was Diaval being chained down by King Stefan's soldiers/Maleficent was about to be slain by King Stefan and in Maleficent 2, its Maleficent actually died from protecting Aurora.

Both scenes eventually had a "saving from their impending death." But, since this is twisted wonderland, the Disney movie is more inspired by the Original Animation where Maleficent and her goons actually lost to the humans.

—

Diablo (Maleficent's birb) in TWST, is Levan right now and in recent updates its said that the latest news about Levan is that he's missing and there's rumors about him fighting Knight of Dawn; the strongest of the Silver Owls.

Right now, the Silver Owls are ambushing the Land of Briar castle where Malenoa is. 

If it goes like this??? I think they kept Levan as hostage to officially take the land or something—

All I know is that someone must've harmed Levan because in the movie, Maleficent only attacked the kingdom or used all her powers to kill Prince Philip upon discovering the fairies turned Diablo into a stone bcs they want Prince Philip to escape and save Aurora.

From the words of Lilia about Malenoa, Malenoa is undefeatable– so I really don't believe she was overpowered by strength, but rather she was caught off guard by emotional turmoil (or for this theory, consumed by her own overblot).

—

Going back to Grim might be Malenoa's phantom… Grim is always assumed to be a phantom labeled as a direbeast for now... Its heavily theorized like that because of how, in his feral state, he devours blotted magic stones.

And, blotted magic stones are what supplies a phantom to live because they carry the magic power of a mage.

But phantoms can't be born without an overblot first... so who's mage is he a phantom of?

We know that the phantom's strength is a reflection of a mage capabilities when they were at the right state–

Malenoa was a really powerful mage so if we consider the destruction of NRC (and possibly the Sage Island? The entire sky was black out too) that we've seen in the prologue as the power of Phantom Grim, then Phantom Grim must originate from a formidable mage like Malenoa, because he easily beaten all mages on the island effortlessly and even plunged the surroundings in darkness.

If Grim is a phantom then he's a powerful one because he's ancient (assumed from his diagnosed curse from STYX), he has the intelligence of a human, and has immense destruction power (if he's not sane as shown with how he easily destroyed his cage room at STYX).

Also even if Overblot Grim is composed of different parts from the main 7 phantoms, his form is majorly resembling a dragon. And, Malenoa's a dragon.

(long post ahead)

—

On top of it, the story kind of implies that Malleus and Grim has similarities with each other.

I read a theory that Grim must be an extension of Malleus, it was a bit of a crack theory but rather than Malleus himself, I would like to believe Grim is Malenoa's phantom. That's why Malleus and him are similar because they're??? both related from Malenoa???)

does that mean Malleus and Grim are siblings then....

■ Grim Overblot is at overpowered HP, like Overblot Malleus.  No other overblot is like that. If Grim is a reflection of (Overblot) Malenoa's power, then it makes sense for Malleus and Grim to only have exclusive overpowered HP.

■ Most of Malleus' magic derived from his mother (thorns, lightning, and green fire). Both Grim and Malleus' cards shares their elements. The comparison is on this post.

■ Both Grim and Malleus has ancient magic. Papa Shroud said that Malleus' magical barrier looks like something out of a illustration book.

c: @/cymrJP on yt

STYX also said that Overblot Malleus' magic which is territorial control; where inside his magical barrier time has stopped and all life forms has fallen to sleep is an ancient magic.

So, if theres any mage from past who can do what Malleus can do, then Malenoa could've summoned a magical barrier like that once she overblotted as well.

And, you know, who's an ancient being except for Lilia? Grim.

We don't know his age but its highly likely he's older than we know because of his ancient curse. Which is proof that he must've been existed as Malenoa's phantom because he's already existing from a long time ago.

■ Both Grim and Malleus are big eaters. A little trivia about Malleus is that he's a big eater (from the Scalding Sands event), maybe even more than Sebek because it just makes sense as he is a dragon.

But, his big apetite is displayed at a classy manner unlike of Grim who just messily devours.

We can assume that all dragon faes are just like that, so Malenoa could've possibly been a big eater as well. If she's related to Grim (aka being her overblot form's phantom), then Grim's voraciousness for food, which is depicted as a comedic relief for now, can be a reference that his power/mannerism is from Malenoa.

■ Malenoa is commanding like Grim. Grim refers to us as "henchmen" and at first, thinks of us as just mere servant to gratify his demands (but he slowly got attached to Yuu in the end).

So.... You know, who else has henchmen??? Malenoa as the leading commander of Land Briar's military and her henchmen aka Lilia and his fellow soldiers.

And... She seems to order around Lilia as she pleases like how Grim orders Yuu around lol

■ Grim and Malleus' overblot forms has the same lacing patters on their faces. Their main design is very similar. And their pattern both adorns their forehead.

■ Grim constantly says and wishes to be the greatest mage in all of TWST. If Malenoa is alive right now, then she'll be the most powerful.

Plus, Grim's pride for himself and the way he easily talks down others despite only having a normal amount of magic might also come from this inherent personality of Draconia's "being better than everyone" (and they literally are).

Malleus is even shown to talk down at others as well if he's triggered the wrong way, he doesn't hesitate to flaunt his strength if needed. Although unlike Grim, he has self control because of Lilia's discipline that "he musn't use his power carelessly." (what Lilia said to little Malleus after the freezing castle fiasco).

■ Malleus is referred as monstrous or similar to a monster because of his strength and no one approaches him because he might burn you because he's a dragon (from what the students has been whispering about him). Grim is a literal monster who'll blow a fire on you, he's not feared like Malleus but no one really wanted to take him in NRC except for Yuu.

Their similarity is that its only Yuu that they care for (outside of Malleus' family ofc) and Yuu is the only one who sees them for who they are.

—

Additonal Info of Why I think Malenoa Overblotted

• Papa Shroud saying that Malleus magic happens only in fiction can also imply Malenoa's overblot.

Because her death/overblot happened a long time ago, then its treated as a fairytale/fictional because its just "unrealistic."

We know that TWST History is unreliable. In one of the vignettes (of Lilia i think??) Lilia talked to Trey about giant magical pens and how its probably so long ago that the present people thinks its fictional or a myth now. (Altho we're not sure of its legitimately what happened since Lilia was telling it to make Trey, the listener, be confused whether it is real or not.)

The History voicelines has said about fairytales being the real... I can't remember much except from this voiceline from Rook where he said "Do you think fairy tales are fiction?"

Additionally, TWST is also a world where fairytales of Disney Villains is regarded as historical facts— I'm saying the Great Sevens stories in TWST is like a fairytale or ficitional because we know their true personality/their true story in their respective Disney films). But, their twisted version is regarded as factual despite it being so wrong from their actual story. (Ex. Frollo of the City of Flowers was a hero but in Hunchback of Notre Dame, he was not that lol)

• Every overblot we had must be from a student who perfectly embodies one of the Great Seven. Malenoa was the first character outside of the main characters to have a great influence from Maleficent. Which strengthes the prospect of her overblotting. She's even more resembling to Maleficent than Malleus himself.

She's referred to as snapping her goons with thunder like Maleficent, she's the most evil princess, and she seems to only have affection for Levan which parallels to Maleficent only being caring to Diablo and no one else.

• Grim doesn't remember his past. If Malenoa overblotted like Malleus and it mirrors with the magical barrier he's using right now, then it makes sense for Malenoa's cause of death and the Silver Owls to be unknown up until now.

Because her death happened inside that magical barrier where its time and reality operated differently.

• Plus, isn't it strange how Lilia immediately knew Leona was overblotting? He quickly sensed the negative energy almost as if its familiar.

It could also just be because he's knowledgeable with Magic itself but I'm putting this here as proof that Malenoa overblotted because Lilia has experienced it during his General days and thus why its familiar.

Also because... The way he yelled at Malleus before he overblotted feels like he's stopping him because he's really aware of what happens when a mage overblots... 😭

Probably had flashbacks when Malenoa overblotted and was consumed by it as well?? KJXAKJE

[bloobluebloo]

I saw the totk thing you reblogged and?? yeah where is any of this coming from? there's absolutely no stated "civil war" going on between the ancient gerudo in totk as far as I'm aware, they seem to have just separated themselves from Ganondorf the moment he decided to "turn evil" (in heavy quotes because this game thinks not liking rauru/hyrule is a sin punishable by death)

i'm not going to be playing age of imprisonment but I hope at least it clears up some of these absolute bullshit takes, geez

The whole it was stated in a memory that there was a Gerudo civil war between Ganon and the Sage of Lightning is wild because not only does this memory not exist, the memory where the Sage of Lightning speaks to you she says:

"Our chief" as in he was the chief. Of all the Gerudo. Straight from the Sage of Lightning's mouth. She didn't pull a Nabooru who was all like "I would never bow to such an evil man".

The Gerudo are always treated as one unit. "Gerudo Assault" implies the Gerudo as a tribe assaulted Hyrule with Ganondorf at the forefront. When Ganondorf swore fealty, he did so on behalf of all the Gerudo. The Gerudo as a whole are made to repent for Ganondorf's existence. If there was a significant schism something would have been mentioned when Ganondorf came to give his fealty. The only smallest tiniest hint is the scene where it states that "the last free Gerudo village has fallen" which sound less like a schism amongst the Gerudo and more like the game going "Look how bad Ganondorf is, he is attacking his *own* people! Even though this land is already his!"

In other words, everything in that post past "artbook" had me like:

[science-lings]

I have the chronic condition of having too many ideas to implement before my motivation behind them runs out so any and all votes will help.

Asks are also open to discuss the ideas in this poll, if you want to help make the oc beyond just choosing between my base ideas lol.

[ziskeyt]

The Ancient Gerudo and the Zonai

While playing Tears of the Kingdom I was struck by the choices made for the Lightning Temple, and this resulted in me going around to all the Gerudo ruins to compare what was different. I'm going to share what I collected through screenshots with you here today. Now, I do not know how to do free camera in my Switch games, and I'm not interested in attempting to mod my Switch to try, so you'll have to endure my game screenshots that will include Link just standing around. Sorry! Let's start with the ancient Gerudo ruins we have in game. Some existed in Breath of the Wild, some are new for Tears of the Kingdom. So let's explore!

Hallway leading toward the Eighth Heroine statue in the Gerudo Sanctuary. What you'll notice in the ancient Gerudo ruins, same in both game ruins, are the ornamentation patterns on the bottoms and tops of pillars and the bands near the top of the screen (mid-pillar) that look like they could either be further ornamentation or a language. New to the Tears of the Kingdom though, we have ruins with stairs and here we see the Gerudo of whatever time period made these liked to do designs on the faces of the stairs. Two more ruins from BotW that show this ornamentation band, one from the North Gerudo Ruins, and from the walls around the Seven Heroines. When I first noticed this band on the wall in BotW around the Heroines I honestly thought it must be some kind of language.

A refresher on the Seven Heroine statues from BotW: They have Gerudo text on the bottom parts of their robes that reads "The Seven Sages" in repeat. There are parts on the robes and on the ornamentation either of her head covering, or hair, that look like they were either painted at some point or somehow made of a different stone. The pedestals by their feet read "pedestal" in repeat where the balls go for the puzzle, these aren't in TotK.

In TotK they are the same, but they have now mostly fallen and are easier to get a look at:

The eighth Heroine in BotW is the same as the ones in the desert in model, but she her detailing doesn't look like it was ever painted, and her text still says "The Seven Sages" only for her, it is mirrored.

In TotK she is defaced to make way for the new cavern with the Tingle clothing piece. She has a Zonai device on her collarbone area now meant to receive the light beam for the puzzle to access the cavern in her head.

The eight statues in the Yiga hideout are a different model type than the desert. They are more blocky in styling, and here we do have all eight together in a circle before a raised platform in the middle. The text down the swords reads: "Gerudo an unblemished desert flo". (likely says "flower" at the end) They have triangles on their top parts, that along with the details on their collars are painted, and further unpainted designs that are meant to be the borders of their robes. The top front of their headwear has an oval with four lines around it a little like a child's sun drawing. The text on the walls to the sides of the statues reads "Gerudo there is no strife Gerudo like water we flow with life"

Note the designs on the sides of the statue by the swords, we see those again around the Yiga hideout, showing that this was fully something important to the ancient Gerudo and not just this area with the statues and Gerudo text.

-------

Now we've seen what we had in BotW for ancient Gerudo ruins styling. We got some more in TotK with the advent of the caves, so let's take a look at those.

In the Gerudo Underground Shelter, likely the first place you'll go and see them, we have a new model for the Heroine statues. They are much smaller and seem to either be painted or made of different colour stones. The reddish stones is a little similar to the stone of the highlands we find the Eighth Heroine only it's a different hue that leads me to believe these are painted.

Once you give them all their relics and open the chamber below we see a slab of Gerudo text, untranslated, but the game tells us what it is meant to say. The Zelda Wiki doesn't have anything from TotK on their Gerudo page, and I cannot find anything on ZeldaDungeon either, if you do know of anyone who has translated the Gerudo we got in TotK, please share! In front of it we see another new statue model. The new statue has designs on what seem to be the robe borders as with the larger ones in the Yiga Hideout, and then the same design on the sword. She has a stone in the front of her head covering, similar again to the larger blocky statues.

In the shelter itself we have a few other Gerudo ruins, the ancient Stele (only two pictured, and untranslated, but we are told what they are meant to say in game.) They do appear to at least have different Gerudo text from Stele to Stele.

And this mural that leads us to the quest to get the temple to rise from the sands. Gerudo text untranslated again, but we are told what it should say in game. It would still be nice to have them translated though! And, oh, what's this? Zonai ornamentation on the bottom? How curious. the Gerudo pillars framing the entrance to this area have a similar design detailing as the robe borders of the Yiga and new smaller statues.

From the shelter we can flow into another ancient ruin site, the Valley of Silent Statues where we get another new heroine statue, or well, a bust of one anyway. She seems to just be the model with stone, no detailing at all. She holds the magic Zonai lamp used for the puzzle in this area.

Along with her are the familiar ornamentation on the walls and stairs, and more of the smaller Gerudo statues.

There is another new model (hidden here slightly as this is taken after solving the puzzle) with Zonai detailing on her where the Gerudo designs were. These new models have the light receivers where the swords would be and they have reactive eyes, where the Gerudo designs on on the robes, we now have Zonai. We'll see her model again.

If we go into the Gerudo Sanctuary under the North Gerudo Ruins we encounter these stones that are usually used as tomb / grave covers. They have Gerudo text on them but we never get any in game text or dialogue that tells us what these are supposed to say, and honestly, I cannot get any visual on them good enough to be able to attempt it myself.

Once you make it through the winding pathways down in the cavern you'll get to the sanctuary where you find this slab with the story of the Eighth Heroine on it:

Again, untranslated, though this text is darker and likely could be, the game itself does tell you what it is supposed to say.

And then eight more of the smaller heroine statues. Interestingly, the eighth one, in pride of place, does not have the stone at the front of her head covering.

There are two more ruins with the Heroine statues with the Gerudo script, the Ancient Prison ruins have some that guard the hallway and final one who has her back covering an entrance to the cavern with the hidden shrine.

Then there is another another in the West Gerudo Underground Ruins guarding the Vah Naboris helm.

And then finally, we have the Gerudo statues that I'm not sure the name of who point you through the desert. Here you can see her surrounded by smaller pillars with the same designs as the others. She is made of a much lighter stone than any others around Gerudo, all or most hold a rusted sword for you to take if you need.

Okay, aside from repetitive ruins that just have the same assets in different ways and no new ones, these are all the ruins of the Ancient Gerudo in BotW and TotK aside from the Lightning Temple. As I'm now at the limit of images for a post, the deep dive into the temple will have to come in a reblog. Part Two | Part Three

[talonabraxas]

‘He under whose supreme control are horses, all chariots, the villages, and cattle; He who gave being to the Sun and Morning, who leads the waters, He, O men, is Indra.’ ~ Rigveda

Lord Indra Talon Abraxas Indra - lord of Heaven Indra is one of the most important gods of the ancient Indian vedic tradition. He is the king of Devas, and rules the high heavens, the svarga, with his capital at the immortal city of Amaravati. Many contemporary scholars consider Indra a personification of the forces of weather. Indra is the god of thunder and lightning. And of course, the rain, the single most important factor in the life equation of the early fledgling agrarian societies.

Origins: The origins of Indra are subject to much debate among the historical scholars. Some say, the name is derived from Inra, a got of Mitanni, an ancient Hittite race from the Asia Minor region. However there is a great resemblance to other gods from all across Asia and Europe - from Nordic to ancient Persian religions - and many scholars believe them to have a common origin.

In the Hindu Puranic texts, Indra is the youngest son of Aditi and Sage Kashyapa, who is in constant conflict with his step brothers from Diti and Danu, the other two wives of Kashyapa. Indra and his brothers, the Adityas (sons of Aditi) are the force of good while Asuras, his step brothers (sons of Diti and Danu) are forces of evil.

Significance and Role: Indra is undoubtedly the most important of the vedic deities. He is hailed the supreme god in over 300 hymns of the Rigveda. In these hymns he wields the Vajra, the thunderbolt, and is the slayer of demon Vritra.

A very interesting aspect of the vedic depiction of Indra is although Indra is consistently mentioned as the supreme deity, the Vedas never say the other gods are subservient to him. This is consistent with the vedic doctrine of the Param Brahmn, the supreme consciousness from which everything else emerges. All the gods are but aspects of the Brahmn, and in a manner of speaking, equivalent.

Indra is the first among the leaders. He was chosen by his Aditya brethren to lead the war against the Asuras - the daityas and the danavas. He is the king of Svarga (heaven) - the third of the upper seven lokas, after Bhuloka (Earth) and Bhuvarloka (Antariksha). He is the bridge between Devas and the Mortals.

The ahutis (oblations) given during their yajnas provide food for the devas. And in return the Devas provide humans with a range of material benefits mostly related to the natural phenomena. Indra is the prime deity responsible for the cycle of seasons that provide conducive conditions for life to flourish on the Bhuloka.

Indra is also a spiritual guide who appears before sages who have performed the appropriate penance and leads them on the path of spiritual ascension.

Benefits of worshipping Indra: Indra is the god of thunder, rain, rivers, and other meteorological forces. Agricultural communities worship him to bring timely rains. He is the powerful king of gods and slayer of the Asura, Vritra, and in this aspect, devotion to him brings human prosperity and happiness. His influence ends the serpent of deceiving forces and life’s delusions, imparting a clarity to the worshipper.

Almost all of the yajnas include giving havis (ahuti in agni) dedicated to Lord Indra. The somayajna - the prakriti of all yajnas - which includes Soma Ahuti dedicated to Indra bestows the doer (or the yajamana) with much grit and sharp intelligence.

Powers of Indra: Indra is a powerful deity in the vedic tradition, being the immortal king of all devas. His dicatats are as binding to the mortals as they are to the devas. He is the god of war and is invoked for success in the battlefield. Indra’s other powers include his influence over the weather of the world, which we have discussed previously.

Indra is often associated with Somarasa, a drink about which the scholars hold contrasting views. Some believe it to be an intoxicating drink like wine, others believe it to be a refreshing brew more akin to a kind of herbal tea.