#and imperial has beaten it in rankings...

[thursdayg1rl]

should i go for a year abroad programme??

[starcrossed591]

I'm kind of obsessed with how intentional and specific Flourished Peony is being about how sexism is not just a matter of individuals being shitty, but a matter of systemic inequality. (They're also being really fucking clear that classism and other elements of the social hierarchy compound it, but that's another post.)

First, take how difficult it was for Mu Dan to get a divorce (and she still doesn't have the paperwork, which I'm *sure* is going to come back to bite her in the ass!). In her attempts to leave the Liu family, she's up not just against her terrible in laws and trash husband, but an intertwined legal and social system that works against her being able to get out alive, much less with any sort of means to support herself. In order to get the local court to approve her divorce, she not only has to prove that her husband has beaten her (and also make it look like the physical abuse she endured is much worse than it was because spousal rape I'm sure would not be acknowledged as a crime), have her body examined in public in order to prove the beating is real--and because that's not actually enough to guarantee her escape, arrange for a higher ranking official on her side and a paid audience to be there for her hearing in order to make sure the judge doesn't sweep it all under the rug. Even with all that on her side, the Judge even tries to justify kicking her out of the Liu family, leaving her dowry behind, because she has not yet born a child and therefore must be at fault for the problems in her relationship.

And *then* even though she gets her divorce papers, her (terrible, no good, piece of garbage) father-in-law sends his servant to murder her so he can keep her dowry. They've already coerced her into giving up a significant portion of that dowry, and sold other parts of it without her consent. Her father-in-law burns her divorce decree, and she has to run for her life with only a potted plant to her name. She then stages her death because she discovers she can't actually go home. Using a combo of social conventions, legal conventions, and rank, the Liu family has convinced her family that Mudan is at fault for all the trouble and as such, they would immediately send her back if she goes home for help.

And then ass if *that* wasn't enough, once Mu Dan makes it to the capital, she can't get a dang job to support herself because she doesn't have a household registration because she wasn't able to get properly divorced! And not having the proper paperwork once again makes her vulnerable to further abuse and gender based violence. She takes a job working in a tavern for 30% of what she deserves for her labor and on top of that, is then nearly sexually assaulted and forced to become the tavern owner's concubine. And even though she manages to escape, she can't hold the tavern owner responsible for beating, abduction, and attempted murder because she can't take him to court because she still *does not have the right paperwork*.

Now, a lot of people acted terribly in this sequence of events, including but not limited to: the Liu family, especially Mu Dan's father-in-law; Mu Dan's trash husband, who has treated her like something he found on the bottom of his shoe for the entirety of their marriage and now only wants to keep her because she wants to leave; the Liu family's servants, who, admittedly, don't have much recourse of their own; the judge; and the tavern owner. Murder attempt and outright abuse aside, though, there were a lot of good people who maybe even *wanted* to help Mu Dan and either couldn't or chose not to because of a combination of legal restrictions and social conventions.

Perhaps the most potent example of well-meaning people using the law and social conventions to justify their perpetuation of this system is Mu Dan's cousin, the imperial scholar. Though he does intervene to save her when she runs bang into him when running for her life from the tavern owner, what he absolutely won't do is help her get a fake household registration. Without that registration, she can't get a job and would have to fully depend on his support for food, clothing, and shelter. And hanging over his offer to house her is the threat that if her in laws find out that she's there--which they eventually would--her law-abiding cousin would almost certainly feel obliged to send her back to said in laws that want to kill her. Because legally, they have a right to do with her what they want. Because she's a woman. Who can't seem to get a divorce.

Anyway, I can't stop thinking about it, so there you go, there's my gender analysis of the first seven episodes of this drama.

[abbyfmc]

Yandere Eunuch! x Empress! Reader Phrases:

Eunuch: Eunuchs are castrated servants (generally men) who served in the palace, having different ranks in their profession and jobs. They were especially seen in ancient imperial China working in cleaning, maintenance, and guard duties, and they could even be servants of the emperor and his consorts.

-"Greetings to Her Highness the Empress."- I'll start off soft, since here the yandere eunuch would simply tell you when greeting you or seeing you.

-"Please your highness, let me work for you. No matter the difficulties; Being at your side serving you is an honor and a compliment to me."- The yandere eunuch would be begging you to let him work for you (if he hasn't worked for you in the first place) and if you accept, he will be more than happy to be your servant.

-"I'm sorry your highness, I've talked too much."- In an environment where even the number of words spoken is controlled, it would not be unusual for the yandere eunuch to do this (regardless of whether he pretends to care about this rule or not) whether in the presence of you or the emperor himself.

-"My job is to ensure your safety and protect you, Your Highness."- The yandere eunuch would be very paranoid when it comes to you, to the point of not letting anyone lay their hands on you.

-"Incompetent servant! Watch where you walk and be careful with the empress!"- The yandere eunuch would not tolerate someone bumping into you, even accidentally. The only one who would stop the yandere eunuch from slapping or punishing the other servant who bumped into you would be you.

-"Your Highness, I am at your complete disposal with pleasure. I will do any task you give me and I will also gladly punish anyone who disrespects you."- Yes, eunuchs who were in charge of departments or some particular activity among servants in the palace were capable of punishing those who broke the rules. This also happened with eunuchs who worked for the emperor himself, the empress, or her consort, and the yandere eunuch would be no exception.

-"I am able to taste your foods and drinks to prevent them from poisoning my dear highness."- And there could be attempts at poisoning you by your husband's consorts. The yandere eunuch would follow each one carefully, listen and study their plans so that in the end, when you are about to taste your food or drink, two things would happen: 1) He would taste your dishes for himself and would end up swallowing the whole poison; 2) He would force your perpetrator to taste the food to check for poison.

-"For your highness I am willing to break any rule."- Whether he proposes to be with you, or you do it, he will never say no to you.

-"When I hear how you have fun with His Majesty at night, it breaks my heart."- Obviously, on the nights where you serve your respective emperor, he would be outside, "standing guard" and listening to you having fun with a man who is not him, which would break his heart and increase his hatred for the emperor.

-"The empress's palace must be very careful with luxury of detail. If anyone dares to break something or even rudely cut a flower from my beloved's garden, they will be severely punished."- Of course, being your yandere palace eunuch, he will personally ensure that your rooms do not lack a single area to clean.

-"How dare you speak to his highness like that?!"- The yandere eunuch will not tolerate anyone speaking in a mean or derogatory way to you, especially if it comes from low-ranking servants or concubines. The ONLY reason the eunuch doesn't whip them to death is because of your interventions, but if you didn't tell him anything…those people would have been beaten to death by the yandere eunuch.

-"No no no no no!; she can't… get pregnant."- And of course sooner or later you would get pregnant thanks to the emperor. The yandere eunuch obviously wouldn't be happy about this, but he knows that if he tries to do anything to you or harm your baby, he won't live to tell about it so he has no choice but to accept it.

-"I don't care if that child isn't mine. I will take meticulous care of you and him or her, your highness."- Whether you know of his love or not, he would tell you this to ensure his fidelity to you, especially in that possible pregnancy.

-The end.

[amuseoffyre]

I saw a comment on S2 along the lines of "I don't see why they brought in Ricky/The British as bad guys". As if the British empire hasn't been the big threat since 1x01. The Badmintons represent the empire's lesser sons. Ricky is a similar thing, but escalating.

It's not overtly said in the show, but the entire empire and colonialism is the villain. We have crews of various kinds of disenfranchised people - Frenchie (was in service), Olu (implicitly from a maroon community), Buttons (Scots), Wee John (Northern Irish).

And then we have the Queen Anne - Ed's background is woven with the history and legacy of the British school system in his Māori mother's dialogue. Izzy is a working class northern man with the scars of flogging on his back. Also Samoan Fang and south Asian Ivan.

In 1x01, we see how the British upper classes treat people they consider their "lessers". Everything they say about Stede's crew speaks measures for the views of the empire: colourful, savages, slave. The gratification of seeing them immediately punished is *so* strong.

We also see how they treat anyone who doesn't fit into the specific boxes they have assigned to people. Stede is a target of their scorn, violence and mockery and has been since childhood, despite the fact he should - on the surface - fit in with them as a rich white man.

While Chauncey's vendetta against Stede is his primary motive for hunting him, prestige, rank and station are more valuable to Wellington and Hornberry. They defy their commanding officer to elevate themselves when they have Blackbeard take the Act of Grace. It's all about empire - dining with King George himself.

Which brings me around to Ricky. He's a lesser son - like the Badmintons - but also he is the empire incarnate, a minor Prince from the royal family, with Daddy running the treasury. He wants what he sees Stede having. He thinks he can just walk in and take it. When he fails - and is punished - he doesn't grow and learn from it like Stede does.

While Stede willingly gives up everything to be true to himself, Ricky immediately goes running back to cling to the imperial apron strings and uses the wealth, prestige and his name - and royal ties - to bring the wrath of the empire down on the Republic as a whole.

He wants, so he takes. If he can't have, he will destroy. Even after he's demolished everything, he tells himself "well, I beat all the other pirates, so that makes me the best pirate" because he genuinely believes that. He doesn't see them as equals to him. They are to be controlled and beaten by him. We see it from his first scene, referring to the pirates as "rubes", saying that he and Stede are better than the other people in the Republic & telling Stede he wasn't good at what he did.

For him, this is just a game where he controls all the pieces. Much like the British empire did - do what you like for fun & profit & kill anyone who gets in the way.

The threat of the empire has always been there, right from the beginning. The Act of Grace was the first royal step to quash piracy. Ricky was Act 2. We're into the final confrontation now, building steam to the fall of the Golden Age and the end of piracy as it was.

[wookieejamcrew]

So what made you such a Hux fan?

going to make two assumptions here that one you're asking about brendol and not armitage or maratelle, and two that you're asking this in good faith so i'll answer it the same, lol. brendol is precisely the type of character i'm drawn to: he's exceedingly layered, byronic, narratively unconventional in his grotesquerie of flaws and philias, and he's got a mysteriously domestic relationship with my numero uno, the grand inquisitor. brendol, when we are first introduced to him in secret academy, is an instant peculiarity: he runs an unconvential yet successful imperial academy set in a world straight out of a daphne du maurier novel, he's outwardly warm, kind, and charming to his cadets, he throws an intimate little gathering for one of the most powerful and highest ranking members of the empire...and then bickers with him at a table for two, unintimidated by the ire he might inspire by chiding the grand inquisitor like a fretted wife. his secret machinations, which are being investigated by tarkin (et al?), to create an army of children who are loyal to him from birth (like he claimed was jedi praxis) is fascinating insight into his character; he's someone who values and prioritizes loyalty (mind you, the guy who steps out on his wife) and personal safety to the detriment of his own position in the empire. he's a risk taker, he risked a court martial for not only breaking chain of command, but attempting to resurrect any cultural/philosophical merit from the jedi order. he is very rehearsed, choosing his words carefully, for instance the word family is only used by him once and in the context of what he wants cadets and stormtroopers to see the empire become. is it a manipulation tactic to inspire sympathy and relatability (in phasma his words are described as "pretty" and his motives "too pure"), is it a sincere desire for connection and community, one he has total dominion over, but a family all the same? it's both, because like all good creations spawned from horror, lines are intended to blur. i do think he had a rough childhood, his personal relationship to violence is evidence of that. he abuses armitage, he is aroused by being abused himself, he uses children as tools to commit acts of violence and murder, and he desires to be used as a tool by those who are more powerful and capable than himself. he wears his charisma and prepotency like a mask, but desperately desires someone just clock him square in the face and shatter it. he is lonely; he is a lonely narcissistic sadomasochist who salves his loneliness with cruelty. he hates his own son, but he loves his adoptees. he loves potential, he loves malleability. when he sees armitage he is forced to face himself in his most base form: weak, spineless, effete. when he looks at archex he sees what he has risen above. but it is all artifice. he is still that boy, tail between his legs, hiding behind a commandant. phasma describes him as a different man behind closed doors, which we see with his infidelity, his abuses, his joy at being beaten into submission, his behavior when he doesn't know zare is watching him, when he promises cadets he will turn the empire into a facsimile of family, when he and gallius whisper plans for supplanting the old way with the new. i love characters that doth protest too much, i love when authenticity must be pried free like a pearl in a clamped up shell. brendol is awful, and the narrative owns it, there are no justifications for his ills, but it also affords him depth for those happy to plunder his polarities.

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

[wangsejabin]

Chapter 126

Pan'er concluded that every time the palace held a palace banquet it always consisted of the same three things. Sitting around for hours, observing the titled women's greetings, and attending the feasts.

As for how it was for the men, Pan'er had no idea, but she hoped that the morning would be over soon, and that she would be able to relax after finishing her duties. In the afternoon she took the opportunity to go back to the palace to rest, and when she asked about it, she learnt that Emperor Jianping's side was not yet finished, so Pan'er went to sleep by herself.

After sleeping for less than an hour, woke up, hurriedly combed her hair and dressed to go to the Ning Shou Palace, and heard people say that the frontier sent a report of victory, His Majesty was naturally in high spirits. Ning Shou Palace was adjacent to the Chang Yin Pavilion, Chang Yin Pavilion is one of the largest theatres in the Forbidden City.

At the palace banquet, it was permitted to listen to the theatre, but naturally only the women who were members of prominent official family in the capital.

When Pan'er arrived, Empress Dowager Fu was already there, and around her, in addition to Empress Chen, there was also a circle of women. On the stage opera was being performed, most people were focused on watching, Pan'er quietly found a corner, and took a seat. Because the evening has no formal event, Pan'er did not wear auspicious clothes, but dressed in regular dress, coupled with the drums and gongs on the stage, her arrival did not cause sideways glances.

A palace maid came up to serve tea and asked if she wanted to move her seat, and Pan'er shook her head. After only managing a couple of sips from her cup of tea, on the side there were a few women gossiping. Now that the matter had spread in the palace, all because the report was reported at the palace banquet, probably everyone knew that His Majesty had been in a bad mood these days because of the situation at the border, someone went out of their way to time the report to inspire happiness and elicit rewards.

Before Pan'er left to take her nap, all the people above her had left their tables and that allowed her to leave as well. Whether one went back to rest, or to change clothes, this is the palace convention, only the empress dowager, the empress and highly ranked imperial ladies had this privilege, other women would still have to wait until the palace banquet had finished.

For example, Empress Dowager Fu had left earlier than Pan'er, actually not long after the start of the banquet she had left the table, then Empress Chen had left her table not long after the Empress Dowager Fu, and Pan'er had left a bit after them. So what these women had all heard, Pan'er had learned a little late.

It was previously reported from the border that the Jin people not only raided the town of Datong, but also raided Xuanfu, only because the casualties in Xuanfu is negligible, the capital had not been made aware of it. The two towns thought that the Jin people just raid their own towns, so they both set up heavy defence, fearing the Jin people returning.

Who knew that after they had failed in conquering the town, presumably they arranged scouts in the pass, and learnt that Datong's general in command Hu Bingcheng was seriously injured and unconscious, and then focused their troops secretly to raid Datong again.

Datong was missing their main general, but also because of the spies secretly sent to spread rumours to cause panic, even if they had tried to set up at strong defence, the Jin people would have beaten them. After all, they were injured and outnumbered against an overwhelming force. They thought that the other side of the army was divided into two ways, who knew that they were rushing to Datong, and were immediately taken by surprise.

At this moment of crisis, Yulin Pass received reinforcements. In fact, it was not proper reinforcements, but a low ranking officer patrolling the border with his cavalry, found that the movements of the Jin people was odd. This person turned out to be a bold man, with just a few people under his command, and no real rank.

After arriving, they found that the situation was not right, at the time it was just the practically defeated Datong garrison. To not call the person bold would be an understatement, he did not count how many people were under his command, had no fear of the opponent, and even dared to decieve them! They fanned out to seem like a greater force and attacked the Jin army from behind.

The raid came as a complete surprise to the Jin people, and it successfully managed to fool them into thinking it really were reinforcements arriving.They would have had insufficient troops, which is why they would schemed to pretend to attack Xuanfu and Datong at the same time. Feinting. Probably their own use of guile, but also afraid of the people of the Great Zhou using intrigue, deliberately trying to lure the enemy deeper, in fact, wanting to wrap them like dumplings.

After Datong, there is also Taiyuan, if Taiyuan had reinforcements, the leader of the Jin generals had the intention to retreat. The retreat of a lifetime, the morale is lacking, the team was immediately broken up, although the Jin people ran away more, but also beheaded a few hundred ranks, the Jin general was also captured alive. Afterwards, coincidentally they found out, the Jin general actually turned out to be a vassal king.

That is, the son of the emperor, similar to the meaning of a prince of the first rank. This credit is not small, enough to make up for the loss of Datong previously. That is not all, it was also clear that the court was very dissatisfied with the situation in Datong, so they specifically sent people into the capital to present the prisoners.

This occurred a few days after the General Hu Bingcheng was seriously wounded, presumably the imperial envoys sent to Datong at that point had not yet arrived.

That procession of prisoners would take about half a month to arrive in the capital, the report would naturally be the first to traverse the eight hundred miles to the capital. And the procession of war prisoners weren't just anybody, it was said that among them was the prince of the Jin people as well.

These were just the news shared over tea, and although Pan'er listened with interest, she didn't think much about it. Soon someone found her sitting in the corner and called out Your Highness, then Dowager Empress Fu's side heard it and called her over. After going over there was no small talk, that is, Empress Dowager Fu scolded her for sitting in the corner by herself, while Pan'er smiled sheepishly and said that she did not want to disturb the Empress Dowager and all the ladies watching the opera.

During this talk, the ladies sitting on the side were intentionally or unintentionally observing Empress Dowager Fu and Pan'er, and of course there was also Empress Chen, but most of the gazes were on Pan'er.

This was not the first public appearance of Su Guifei, said to be a divine beauty, which was perhaps an overstatement, but only beauty would not allow someone to remain favoured by His Majesty for so many years. From the time of the Eastern Palace, she was extremely favoured, and now she had been made a noble consort, and even the Empress was suppressed by her.

Of course, none of these words could be said loudly in public, and even the gazes were extremely subtle, so that it could not be detected. Regardless of the gossip, everyone knew they had to treat both the Empress and the noble consort with the same respect.

There was Dowager Empress Fu in the middle, surrounded by the matrons of the older generation, naturally, there was nothing for Empress Chen or Pan'er - both of a younger generation - to add to the conversation. Until suddenly a eunuch belonging to Jingren Palace suddenly came to give Pan'er the good news.

"Congratulations to Her Highness the noble consort, congratulations to Her Highness, your honourable brother has made great meritous service in Datong, it is said that he will soon be going to the capital to present the prisoners. The news has just been delivered to Jingren Palace, Sister Xiangpu and the others were not around, so the slave had the guts to come and report to your ladyship."

The person who came was none other than Xiao Tian Zi. It was that very same Xiao Tian Zi who had been suppressed by Xiao De Zi to the point where he had not been able to raise his head.

Pan'er also knew about this, so she subconsciously thought that someone had dug another hole for her, wanting her to make a fool of herself in front of the crowd, or else how was there some kind of maternal elder brother who had appeared out of nowhere.She had a smile on her face, but her eyes were glaring at Xiaotianzi, and in her heart she was deliberating on what kind of words to say in order to manage the scene in front of her. If it was someone deliberately trying to trap her, the other party would definitely have a backhanded plan, so how should she deal with it? "Your Highness is overjoyed, right? The imperial court's report of a victory has been reported to His Majesty, there can be no mistake." Hearing His Majesty, Pan'er sobered up. Since Xiao Tianzi mentioned His Majesty, he must have a meaning, and he wouldn't dare to knowingly help someone to harm her. That would be a death sentence. At this time, some people beside him whispered about the words Datong, offering prisoners, and wandering officers, and someone else took the initiative to explain to Dowager Empress Fu. So the whispering grew more and more, and Pan'er heard someone say, "That meritorious warrior seems to be surnamed Su, the same surname as Noble Consort." "This I did not pay attention to ......." Pan'er quickly said, " Such things are brought to such a place for what reason? There is no need to disturb the Empress Dowager and the ladies watching the play, still not quickly leaving?" Xiao Tianzi also realised that he had caused trouble, quickly kowtowed and left .

However, after that, there are not just a few people asking Pan'er a barrage of questions. There were people inquiring about the 'brother's age, whether he was married or not, but Pan'er remained vague, as if she didn't want to mention it for fear of stealing the limelight, but in fact, even she herself was confused.

It was not easy to deal with all of that, so Pan'er excused herself and temporarily left the main floor of the pavilion by going to the purification room.

Just as she walked out, she saw Xiao Tian Zi standing outside posing as an attendant eunuch. She led Xiang Pu all the way to the purification room, Xiao Tian Zi followed behind, into the purification room, Xiao Tian Zi explained the ins and outs. The truth of the matter was, after Pan'er had left, Fulu arrived to report the news, and Fulu had ordered him to go inform his mistress.

It was a coincidence that Xiao Dezi was not there at that time, and the errand was taken by Xiao Tianzi. If not, how could Xiao Tianzi who had been suppressed by Xiao Dezi ever have the chance to speak before her, after all. About the specifics he could not say clearly, and did not dare to ask more, only said it is Eunuch Fu come, announced Su family's Su Hai from Datong had rendered meritorious service and would be arriving in the capital.

But Pan'er pretty much understood what was going on, it seemed without her knowledge, Zong Cong sent Su Hai to the border.

For what?

Naturally, it was for her.

Maybe he had made the arrangements back in Yangzhou, but had never told her about it. Naturally happy, at the same time there was a kind of watery haze filling her eyes, Pan'er closed her eyes and took a deep breath before saying, "Alright, I know, you go back first."

Xiao Tianzi obeyed and left. Pan'er took Xiang Pu with her, a while later as she had to freshen up before she went out. Obviously Xiang Pu was also curious about what was going on with all of this, but she naturally didn't think through it as thoroughly as Pan'er, but she didn't dare to ask too many questions, after all, it wasn't the place.

After that it was about time for the theatre watching to end and for them to attend the feast. Pan'er could feel that many people intentionally or unintentionally were looking at her, it seemed that the scene that happened in the Changyin Pavilion before was known by many people.

What in the world were they thinking?

It turned out that Noble Consort Su actually had a maternal clan, wasn't it said that she was brought in from the thin horse trade?

In fact, regarding the rumours of Su Guifei origin as a thin horse, many people were doubtful, after all, the thin horse women had wrapped feet.

Whenever Su Guifei usually appeared in front of people, she was dressed in formal attire and long skirts, but one was still able to observe that she did not have wrapped feet.

But there was no doubt about who had sent Su Guifei into the palace. That had been the Chen family and clearly they had lifted a stone and smashed their own feet, this thing had been the subject of many jokes in the capital.

Jokes were jokes, but people also dared not take this Su Guifei lightly.

After all, this was the Chen family, but who let her quickly become an equal match with the Empress Chen, and even suppress her, there are few people who could have such ability and clearly she was not simple.

These thoughts of others, Pan'er does not know, she only knew that after the Changyin Pavilion gathering was held, dinner would held and after that came the moon feast.

At each of those events the ladies seemed to be more respectful to her, while Empress Chen and Hu Shufei looked at her with a complex gaze, and there was a hidden sense of trepidation in it.

Halfway through the Moon Viewing Banquet, Pan'er went back to Jingren Palace.

After almost two quarters of an hour, Zong Cong also came back. He drank wine, his body tinged with a faint smell of alcohol, but the Canaan incense was stronger than usual.

Pan'er felt that he seemed to be drunk, because whenever he was drunk or close to being drunk, his eyes and behaviour were extraordinarily different. For example, usually in front of the servants, he would rarely make too intimate gestures towards her, but once he drank too much, his small gestures were extraordinarily numerous, either wrapping his arms around her waist or holding her hand, touching her face or something like that, like a small child.

"You first drink the sobering soup, after you finish it go wash up, there's something we need to talk about later."

At this time, Pan'er had already washed up, wearing a begonia red bedclothes, the person was wrapped in Zong Cong's arms, she couldn't even push him away.

"You serve me to wash."

"I'm all washed up, how can I serve you to wash."

Seeing that the mistress and His Majesty were entangled, Fulu and Xiang Pu they both naturally hurriedly retreated, fearing that if they stayed for one more moment, their eyes wouldn't want to be there by then.

"Just have you serve."

He wrapped his arms around her waist, his gaze particularly passionate, and Pan'er naturally understand his meaning.

After kissing for awhile, the two went to the bathing room, and after a series of random tossing and turning, Pan'er was exhausted.

She went to lie down on the bed, she no longer having the desire to talk, and even with a belly full of unanswered questions, she was too lazy to ask at this moment, not wanting to move a finger, but he was full of interest, not at all sleepy.

"The matter of Su Hai coming back, did Fulu say anything to you?"

"Fulu did not personally tell me, he came to Jingren Palace ......" Pan'er repeated the course of events roughly.

Upon hearing this, Zong Cong snorted, "This old bastard, he can sell himself to curry favour."

[hulijingemperor2]

Lan zhan: Jingyi, are you serious?

Wei wuxian: are you being blackmailed? Do you need a hitman or something.

Jingyi: no I don't. I just find he's cool.

Wei wuxian: so who's gonna be pregnant. You or him?

Jingyi: Wei Qianbei!!!! Don't ask me that!!

Wei wuxian: you're Huangdi's son. You got to make heirs.

Lan zhan: but with someone from Moling Su, Wei Ying.

Wei wuxian: I get your point. But I think its funny.

Lan zhan: weird behavior.

Jingyi: Hanguang Jun, I will never let you down! I'm weird if you say so, but u think I'm in love.

Wei wuxian: do you say that to all your hulijing gfs?

Jingyi: no-o. I'm getting late for my date. Hehehehehehhe. *runs off*

Xichen: aw, I love love. But I think the Su sect is still salty.

We're not salty at all.

.

Meanwhile....

Su she: Su Fengge, congrats. I'll kind of let it slide, since he's Huangdi's son.

Su Fengge: thanks Su shushu. 

Yao: I hope you two are compatible. Knowing the history of Lans and Sus.

Su Fengge: *nervous* y.....yes. Huangdi. Can anyone ever have  a rivalry under your rule.

*kneels* Huangdi.

Yao: why are you so shy in front of me?

Su Fengge: Moling Su has so much respect and devotion for you. And I'm feeling as if I'm meeting a deity.

Su she: that's why he's the best.

Not because he's my relative. It's becsuse of his manners and skill.

Yao: very delightful.

Su Fengge: Su Zongzhu follows your policy of cultivators being ranked in accordance to their skill and behavior, and not their birth.

May I kiss your hand?

Yao: how charming. You may. *stretches out hand* Su Fengge we're basically family.

Su Fengge: *kisses hand* ok Huangdi.

I'm honoured to be considered your family.

Yao: Minshan, Su yin. Millions of Moling Su members and residents are all like this?

Su she: yes Huangdi.

Suyin: they're ready to pour out their hearts for you.

Yao: *amused*

Su Fengge, stop kneeling.

Xue yang: Jiggy, you know you have everyone in a chokehold. Stop acting oblivious.

Mo xuanyu: you're everyone's beloved emperor.

Yao: I'm so happy to hear that. And yes I do know. It's just that I love the adoration, and I always love to hear from my people.

Mo xuanyu: awww.

Xue yang: is Lan zhan still here? I want to harass him.

Suyin: same 

Su she: let's go bully him! Fengge, want to join?

Su Fengge: sorry Su shushu, I got a date.

Su she: ooooo.

Mo xuanyu: thanks for giving us fuel!! We're gonna tell Lan zhan that you're pregnant eith Jingyi's child!

Fengge: WHAT????? DONT DO THAT!!

Yao: before you four get badly beaten, I would like to mention that Lan zhan won't fall for it. In the Imperial family, Rusong must have a child before his siblings. He's the eldest.

Mo xuanyu: shit.

Su she: You're right. 

Fengge: duhhh.

Xue yang: I still want to harass him!

Yao: just don't get your ass whooped.

Team d: we won't, Huangdi.

~~~~

Cloud Pavillon 📍 (Jingyi's residence)

Jingyi: well this is my mansion. I asked them it in Gusu aesthetics.

Fengge: that's why it's ugly.

Jingyi: this is the best thing you have ever seen. Admit it.

We're behind closed doors. We can be enemies now.

Fengge: more like Frenemies.

Jingyi: I kind of like that.

Fengge: so i got to stay here? With you? Since we're still pranking captain stone face and Bichen butt.

Jingyi: *gasps* don't call them that.

And yes, the mansion is big enough for both of us.

Fengge: can I get a Moling Su sect corner. And I would like to make a shrine for Huangdi and Su shushu.

Jingyi: yea yea, you can do the one with Huangdi diedie.

Fengge: ok!! Huangdi is our God actually.

Jingyi: that's cool!

Well as a Meng Dianxia, I think I can give you an ok to put an appreciation shrine of Su xiandu. He's chief cultivator after all.

But my Lan soul can't.

Fengge: that's still fab, haha.

Jingyi: I broke up with my gfs by the way.

Fengge: good.

Jingyi: I need some food.

Fengge: same.

Jingyi: where's my butler.

See, I'm a classy person.

Fengge: uhuh.

Do you eat, like bland food?

Jingyi: no. Oh come on, I'm a Dianxia now. And even before that, I used to eat meat, and drink wine!

Fengge: *gasps* scandalous Lan. Breaking all the rules.

But that's cool. *bats the end of Jingyi's headband away* ugh! Keep your headband to yourself.

Jingyi: omg! Omg! Omg!! You're not supposed to touch my headband!

Fengge: dude, it's just a piece of string. It's not that deep.

Jingyi: it's a sacred symbol. Only significant others and relatives can touch it!

Fengge: You're starting to sound like Lan Qiren.

Jingyi: *gasps* you take that back!

He's very lame, old and grumpy *pouts*

Fengge: *laughing* you detest Qiren?

Jingyi: yea. He keeps cranking my style. I'm so glad I finished studies there, however I'm still a Lan at heart. I'm the lord of Gusu now, thanks to A-Die. May become their ruler one day.

Fengge: huh. So you're gonna depose Hanguang Jun?

Jingyi: nooo. Him and Wei qianbei can live a quiet life.

Fengge: other than that. I met the emperor today. He's so glorious all the time. I got to kiss his hand!!!! Ahhh!

And Su shushu congratulated me on hooking up with you!

What's going on with your side?

Jingyi: Well Wei Qianbei thought I needed a hitman. And Hanguang Jun is still dumbfounded.

Fengge: lame.

~~

On the other side~

A-qing: Meng Furen, can you give me a makeover. I want to surprise Rusong.

Qin Su: awwww. Of course I'll give you a makeover.

A-qing: thank you.

Qin Su: I'll make you sparkle!

Bicao, get the rest of staff.

Bicao: sure Huanghou.

Qin Su: sit here. Have you ever tried wearing gold?

A-qing: no.

Qin Su: I was going to gift you a gold outfit, since you're pretty much family, and you make Rusong happy.

A-qing: aw thank you, Meng Furen.

*Attendants arrive*

Qin Su: have you done a spa day?

A-qing: only once with team dimple.

Qin Su: ahaha. Well you'll experience a spa day from my maids today.

A-qing: oh waw!

Attendants: *giving them facials and brush their hair*

A-qing: this is so relaxing.

Qin Su: ahh, yes it is.

*doing manicures*

A-qing: what do you do as an empress? Do you have free time? Do you just sit there and look pretty? Um....make children??

Qin Su: not only that. My job is to support Huangdi, and take away his stress. Stand by his side.

Yes I'm pretty much idolized by women, but that's just the fun of it. Huangdi and I would discuss on certain topics for the betterment of the empire.

A-qing: ohh. I don't think I have the intellect to run an empire. Alongside Rusong. Do I need to take an exam?

Qin Su: A-qing you're very intelligent. And it's what you think is best for everyone.

A-qing: were you scared when you married Huangdi?

Qin Su: no. But I was shy at first. Everything was like a lesson, however I picked up fast.

Don't worry, I can always help you, when you become Huanghou.

A-qing: thank you.

How is Taihua Gongzhu? And where is she?

Qin su: She's going great. My little diva is growing up.

She's with her private preschool tutor.

A-qing: awww. I heard that she has fancy tastes

Qin su: oh yes. Well she's a Gongzhu, so.

A-qing: that's so cute.

An hour later, after a few finishing touches~~~

She looked liked this.

(Yep~ this is A-qing's actress 🌟)

A-qing: *looking in the mirror* I look so unnoticeable. Omg.

But how am I to walk in all this cloth?

Qin Su: You can't rush with them. And maybe try wearing heels.

A-qing: heels?? I can't walk in heels to save my life.

Qin Su: Don't worry. I'll get you some comfy wedge heels.

A-qing: ah.

Qin Su: it may become popular if you wear them.

Once I wore a type of embroidered sash, and everyone started calling it the Su stole.

Aqing; omg really?? Well i heard that you are a  trendsetter.

Qin Su: yup. Us Meng ladies are. Your time will come. Then Hua and Xiaoyu's time.

Actually everyone is in love with the Mengs, and especially the emperor and princes. You know, there's a thing called the Mengfluence.

Aqing: Mengfluence! I like that.

Qin Su: You must  it's very superior.

Now how do you think you look? Do you like it?

A-qing: absolutely gorgeous!! I want actually want to dress like this everyday.

Qin Su: aw.

Songsong would definitely love your little makeover.

You're very pretty.

A-qing: thank you! Gosh, this thing must  cost a fortune.

Qin Su: nah, it's just half a million. No big deal. Us Mengs are very wealthy.

A-qing: and the Qins are wealthy too!

Qin su: mhm.

A-qing: you make me look like a princess, which I'm much far from.

Qin Su: You are, silly. See how adorable you are!

Now, go find Rusong. Your maids will assist you with your outfit.

Go seduce my son.

A-qing: *gasps* Huanghou.

Qin Su: well that's your duty, Xue Wangfei.

A-qing: *blush*

Qin Su: tell me if you like the shoes!!

~~~~

A-qing: team d, team d, how do i look?!

Mo xuanyu: awwwwww like a princess!

Su she: you look lovely.

Xue yang: who are you?

Su she: xue yang!

Xue yang: scolding me won't help me!

A-qing: xue yang! Are you blind? I'm A-qing!

Xue yang: A-qing?! Wow. You look so.....so...feminine.

A-qing: what's that supposed to mean?

Xue yang: I'm just surprised to see you look this rich. Omg. You look like a very successful thief.

A-qing: I can and will still beat you up.

Xue yang: I was teasing you, kid.

You look stunning. Are those diamond earrings?

A-qing: yea. They're Nainai's....I mean taihou's

Xue yang: ayyyy simp. You're calling her Nainai. Omg.

A-qing: she gave it to Huanghou, and Huanghou gave it to me.

Xue yang: look who knows about jewel history.

Mo xuanyu: Miss Meng and Qin Huanghou have the best jewelry collection pieces.

Su she: always.

Xue yang: oh, so you're wearing family heirlooms.

Someone's in the family now.

Yao: A-qing. You look beautiful.

I'm happy that you and A-Su were bonding.

A-qing: thank you, emps!

Yao: team dimple, don't delay her. She got to meet A-Song.

A-qing: Do you hear that, team d.

.

Rusong: *practicing his guqin*

A-qing: Rusong. *tries to run.

Rusong: *looks up* Aqing. *walked over to her.* you look so beautiful. *kisses*

A-qing: I'm so glad you like my makeover. I think I'll continue dressing like this. Since you love them.

And I love the style too.

Xue yang said that I look like a successful thief.

Rusong: *laughing* a successful thief?! Noo. *wraps his arms around her* you look like my Wangfei.

Lemme guess, A-niang gave you a makeover.

A-qing: yep.

Rusong: I see.

A-qing: i feel so happy in your arms again. Will you ever marry me?

Rusong: of course. I was thinking of proposing some time. You'll be surprised.

A-qing: *squeals* I can't wait!

But you know the answer is yes.

Rusong: *makes his guqin disappear* come, let's go take a stroll.

A-qing: let's go! *hugs arm*

Rusong, where's your  assistant, Kohaku.

Rusong: he's doing some filing in Yunping.

Aqing: ahh.

Rusong: yea. Things are going great.

And Kohaku is brilliant, as always.

A-qing: I know you and Huangdi cherish your staff. It's so amazing.

Rusong: well we must. They're working very hard.

A-qing: mm. Rusong, I learnt about Mengfluence.

Rusong: that's so good! You got to know about Mengfluence.

We're the most influential family in the Jianghu. Us and the Jins. Well We're all related after all.

A-qing: so I have to be a diva

Rusong: haha, not really.

Or maybe you can.

Xiaobao: *hugging Huaien's arm* Song gege!! Taizi gege! Hiii!

Rusong: oh hi. What are you two up too?

Huaien: I arranged a surprise date for him.

Xiaobao: isn't he a sweetheart.

Rusong: aww that's so cute. Have fun you two

Xiaobao: thank youu!

Rusong: Remember, we're heading to Yunping tomorrow, with Jingyi.

Xiaobao: mhm. And I figured out what to wear already. My staff is so helpful.

Rusong: they always are.

Xiaobao: I just lay on my bed while I eat sushi, and they pick it out for me.

Rusong: *laughing* what a diva. But same.

Xiaobao: speaking of diva. A-qing, you look gorgeous!! And so glittery.

A-qing: thank you!! Xiaobao.

Xiaobao: getting into that future empress role, huh.

A-qing: trying, lol.

Rusong: she'll be fine.

Huaien: you and Rusong gege make a cute couple.

A-qing: aww. Yes we do!

Xiaobao: would you think ouyang Zizhen become jealous.

Rusong: pfft no!

Not when I'm building my harem.

Xiaobao: ahh. Huaien, can i have a harem? *grinning mischievously*

Huaien: no.

Xiaobao: but Huaien, you'll be my trophy wife. I promise.

Huaien: well.....that still sounds good. And I know everyone is in love with your cute little dimples.

Xiaobao: mhm. I'm a Meng so!

Huaien: *kisses* you're mine.

Xiaobao: yes yes I am.

[monstersdownthepath]

Monster Spotlight: Impariut

CR 10

Lawful Neutral Medium Outsider

Adventure Path: War for the Crown: Reaper’s Right Hand, pg. 86-87

Stern, regal, and carrying the presence of both an imperious ruler and executioner, the Impariut hails from the ranks of the Inevitables, mechanical lifeforms created in the city of Axis to uphold the ideals of Law. Like many Inevitables, the goals of the Impariut bring it into frequent conflict with the goals of the mortal lives it sees itself as trying to protect. While most of the time their kind’s adherence to absolute Law can make them more villainous than valorous, it’s difficult to argue that an Impariut’s main duty is anything but an overall boon to whatever society it finds itself in: The establishment of a peaceful and sustainable society in which every member is cared for.

They do this by killing any government official--from a minor baron to a local lord or mayor to the king of the land himself--whose corruption, negligence, or chaotic behavior threatens their ideal society. ... Well, okay, it doesn’t normally get to the ‘murder’ part, but it happens often enough that Impariut are never without their +1 Mithral Longswords, just in case. 99% of the time, Impariut shapeshift into a Small or Medium Humanoid to inveigle themselves into the society they’ve been tasked with guiding, walking amongst the greatest nobles and the lowest beggars alike to gain an understanding of what they’re working with, taking careful notes about any form of failure and any room for improvement they find. Often, they carefully interview citizens and officials to truly get a sense of how things can be made better, because who would know what’s wrong more comprehensively than those being wronged?

... i mean, it’s fiction, anything can happen

Anyway, once they’ve compiled a list of grievances, the Impariut has a decision to make. In the majority of cases, the Inevitable confronts the leader(s) responsible for the society’s suffering in private and drops their disguise, patiently but sternly explaining the ramifications of the leader’s actions and the possible consequences of their continued neglect. While the Impariut lack truly superhuman intelligence, they can nonetheless calculate precisely how long a corrupt mayor’s rule will last before they’re dragged into the streets to be beaten to death by a mob, something that is likely sobering for people used to getting away with their crimes. If the target expresses a genuine desire to better themselves (and the Impariut will know if they’re genuine, as it can constantly Discern Lies), the Inevitable will devote its time, counsel, and wisdom to helping its target better themselves and their society... Likely while inscribing a Mark of Justice onto them (castable 3/day) to keep them true to their words.

To those amenable to the Inevitable’s assistance, it can gift up to three creatures at once with its Royal Gift, granting them a +1 to Will saves, a +2 to saves against disease and poison, and +2 to Knowledge (Nobility), Knowledge (History), and Sense Motive checks. Notably this is a sacred bonus, a fun little mechanic hint that the Impariut has nothing but good intentions despite the... reputation that Inevitables normally have. While many Inevitables would try to instate an iron-fisted regime in which the chaos of free thought is not tolerated, Impariut are actually flexible in regards to their morality and know that such tyrannies and dictatorships cause more chaos in the long run as wars, uprisings, and destructive revolutions rage in response. Thus, though their reasons for doing so are cosmically pragmatic, they tend to lead towards guiding societies into the path of Lawful Good rather than Neutral.

The other half of Royal Gift is allowing the Impariut to constantly monitor the distance, direction, and general state of its chosen few. Though it cannot teleport, it has Dimension Door 3/day to quickly join its targets should they need its assistance... and of course, this also means they’re instantly alerted if their target violates their Mark of Justice. Be on your best behavior, lest you provoke the Inevitable’s intimidating rage. However, even when driven to anger, or if they encounter government officials whose behavior will not change through legal or peaceful means, Impariut try and avoid bloodshed. While their sword remains sheathed, they can lash out with two slam attacks a round for 1d8+5 damage, BUT they can use Dethrone to swap one or both of their slams out for a steal or reposition combat maneuver. As the name suggests, Impariut typically use Dethrone to tear the symbol of office from an unworthy holder’s head and hurl it to the ground before making a show of flinging them from their chair, stripping them of their authority before an audience and then appointing a new leader right then and there.

Should all else fail (or should the corrupt leaders lash out at them), Impariut are more than capable of turning to violence. Their aforementioned +1 Mithral Longswords can be swung up to three times a round as part of a Full-Attack, each swing dealing 1d8+6 damage. They can weave a single off-hand slam (1d8+2) in there as well, either for extra damage or to Dethrone a target. They also have the evocatively-named Kingslayer, a delightfully unique ability that grants them +2 to attack and damage rolls as well as +1d8 damage to all attacks against any creature who holds a title of authority over a group of people (including baron, mayor, lord, or even chief), a set of bonuses which doubles against a recognized head of state (lord of the land, emperor, president, king, etc) AND allows the Impariut to flat out ignore any DR the target may have. Since a bunch of adventurers are unlikely to hold enough dominion over an area to gain an official title (except, obviously, in Kingmaker), Kingslayer is an ability almost exclusively reserved for killing NPCs!

While Impariut are typically hovering ominously over the shoulder of a misbehaving NPC monarch, this doesn’t mean a player party will never encounter one in a battle. Perhaps the local nobles wish the creature exterminated for their own reasons, villainous or otherwise, and whether or not the party is aware of why the Inevitable is there is up to the DM. Perhaps the players come into conflict with a local lord and find out that they’re being protected by a mechanical mountain of a man whose DR 10 and Regeneration 5 can only be bypassed with a Chaotic weapon, whose obnoxious access to Hold Monster 3/day locks the party beaters and casters in place while scores of guards come in to arrest them. Interestingly, Impariut have Invisibility 3/day, but it lacks the typical restriction that the creature can only cast the spell on itself, meaning the Inevitable can protect its charge (or an innocent) by disappearing them so they can escape while it holds off the party, which can cause some frustration if the noble was the target instead of the Inevitable.

Or maybe the party’s found itself up against a corrupt Impariut, driven to unhinged chaotic behavior by constant exposure to political corruption? There’s more than a few possibilities when trying to weave these killers instructors of kings into a campaign!

You can read more about them here.

[demonsndystopia]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬 Demon Slayer Taisho Era Lore

Long ago over the horizon, it is stated that there was the birth of the 'Original Sin'. This Original Sin bore blood of inhuman strength and immortality, and he sought with a type of feeling- vengeance? Spite? Malice? Pure sadism?- to share his rotted heart with the world. At least, that's what we say.

But what we don't know? The Original Sin was once a young girl of the Imperial family. Not the next heir, but one of the later born daughters, naive and optimistic- a beauty, even, with many suitors and even more admirers. Her life was one with hope, her future bright. In her earliest of years, she was ever so slightly sickly- not a cause for huge concern, but due to her birth, she was given all of it. Tended to night and day, and seen to by her parents more than perhaps any child in the family recently, she was given more attention than any of her siblings- and thus began the unsightly treatment they had given her. Day after day, bullying became worse- at first it was but a bug in her hair, but not long after, it was rocks thrown. Body pushed over ledges. Being beaten, being left in alleys only to succumb to whatever happens in the dark when you're alone.. whatever her guards who- prone to losing their jobs when her own blood had lured her away- could not protect her from. The Original Sin had, by the time she was fourteen, seen and experienced unsightly horrors the world had to offer simply because of the jealousy of her siblings, who were always plotting new ways to give her new nicks. By then, she was broken. By age seventeen, she was angry. By twenty, she was gaunt, cruel, unmarriable, and most of all, alienated by the parents who once swooned over her. She had become a 'problem child'. They knew not why she had ended up this way, only that she had walked herself into numerous troubles, had given them many problems to solve, and in the end, an abhorrent personality to ice the cake. Her actions, while never her own fault, were known to only be of her own actions- and now, she was hardly redeemable in appearance or attitude.

Now a true burden to the family, not just hoped by her siblings but in execution, she was little more than acknowledged- and never lovingly. Nobody knows how it happened, or why- but her body was found at the end of the family's dining hall, skin blue and black. Poisoned. When they came to retrieve her body, it was somehow gone. Nobody knew where she had been taken, or by who-

Little did they know, she had walked herself right out that door, with many abilities- one of which being able to create more of whatever she had become.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

After trial and tribulation of many humans suffering at the hands of demons, it was decided action must be taken. A family by the name of Zenchi began the Slayer Corp with the intents of learning the secrets of the demons, stopping them altogether, and protecting humans from their path of havoc.

The Zenchi family has always been known for their incredible intelligence, foresight, and guidance. This has translated well into their role as head of the Demon Corp. Their presence is known to have a calming effect on the humans they meet- making them feel seen, heard, and respected. It is unlikely for anyone below the rank of Hashira to meet the current head of the Corp, as there is always need for them to be well defended due to their importance.

Up until now, the Demon Slayers' efforts have been admirable, but there has been no progress made on learning the demon's secrets or how to put an end to it all for good. As the demons seem to be growing in population and more suspicious activity is on the rise, it is imperative that the Corp puts their best foot forward to make a change.

It is suggested to try to find written language for clues, utilize the longest lasting swords for dependability, and the best medicines to keep your energy and morale high. To put a stop to the demons is to learn their motivations, their origins, and their weaknesses.

Good luck.

[the year is 1912]

New Plot Updates as of 3pm on 12/18/2023

There's evidence that the demons in Japan are currently working to manipulate and gain information from the slayer corp; the motive is unknown. Worse, is that there has been tensions growing between the government and the corp- rumors that the government is brewing something and needs to snuff out any slayers unaffiliated with their official power. It is believed that this tension- and need for the slayers to be cautious - has to do with news that demons have been spotted on western fronts, though the western fronts have not yet recognized them as demons, and instead as deliberate attacks from Japan- and now tension and rumors of war are brewing. Be careful.. and do remain vigilant.

Join now!

[the-realm-of-enderun]

Sarai Rose

Appearance

Art by ME!!!

- Female human

- Long raven-black hair drawn in a braid in the back, with hair extending down the sides of her face and covering the left side of her forehead

- Deep crimson eyes

- Six feet and four inches tall

- She has a buff and rather bulky frame

- 32H (Imperial)/ 70H (Metric)-cup breasts, mostly bound in sarashi bandages

- She has many different scars ranging from dark, to pale, to pink and red across her body from both normal means and attacks from magical weapons and beasts striking her throughout the years, and many scars from whip strikes across her back and one on her jaw

- Her left arm is replaced by a full black aegisteel prosthetic up to the shoulder

- Her right palm is branded horribly, roughly  with the symbol of a rose

Outfits

Casual:

Combat:

Bio

- Thirty four years old

- She is a warrior of renown, despite her age

- Known as "The Black Rose of Tyr" or "The Black Iron Rose"

- Follower of Tyriel, Valienca, and Solaris, and has a burning, painful hatred toward Barathrum and especially Skrios

- Sainted as an Archangel of Tyriel, one of the God of Justice's acolytes due to her unwavering dedication to facing evil and chaos

-Honorary member of the adventuring guild known as Dawnfire

-A master at battling with all her weapons, most notably her massive zweihander flamberge

-Primarily a loner due to past trauma, but has since done her best to try to let others into her life once more

-She is still trying to come to terms with the trauma of everything that has happened in her past.

-She will rarely speak unless spoken to.

-She isn't the best at taking care of her gear on her own. when her depression strikes her, but always has help in Dawnfire.

- She has zero tolerance for worship of Skrios, and will more than likely kill any worshippers of the mad goddess she discovers

- Has drifted from kingdom to kingdom throughout her life, originally from the deserts of Sabaal on the continent of Sevlrass

- At age thirteen, her life was thrown into shambles as everything and everyone she knew were destroyed and killed, leaving her with memories of maniacal laughter from the ones who destroyed her life

- Quickly had to learn to fight for her own survival, and she learned how to kill

- Joined with a group of mercenaries named the Shatterblades when she was thirteen and trained under their leader, and grew to high ranks within them by the time she was nineteen

- After a series of harsh battles against the bandits who destroyed her home, she was left broken amongst the corpses of her entire guild after they were all mercilessly killed by the bandits, who had turned out to be cultists of Skrios

- After recovering, she journeyed away from Sabaal, across the seas to the town of Warshire in Vunalis

- From there she trained herself nearly to death week after week and month after month in the deadly Icewind Pass, not listening to anyone that told her to stay away. Her body was forged into what it is now, and she grew intensely strong

-Sarai joined in the battle against Barathruum's corrupted drow and abyssal creatures deep below the Iron Mountains of Vunalis years later in life after the Shatterblades were killed by cultists of Skrios. She traveled deeper into the Abyss but was beaten down, lost her arm, and was taken prisoner by the drow, but not before using the last of her strength with the aid of a sorcerer's spell to protect her allies and cover their escape. She suffered in slavery for five years before she could aid in an uprising and recuperate her body and gain what would be her prosthetic armored arm.

-She eventually killed the bandits who destroyed her life and killed the leader of them with a single, decisive strike of her blade.

-Moved away from the cold of Vunalis and to Aerilon, where she eventually decided to join Dawnfire as an honorary member

-Helps train Aerilon's guard from time to time

-Also aids the Church of Tyriel at times in hunting down groups of Skrios worshippers

- Still doing her best to come to terms with her past and her role within Aerilon

- She will protect her allies until her last dying breath if necessary

- Masterful with battling with any of her weapons, most notably her great zweihander or bastard sword

- She rarely speaks, only when absolutely necessary or when spoken to

- Always on alert for attack, which has caused multiple issues in her time in Aerilon

Weapons

Disclaimer: This art of her bastard sword is the updated design, and I didn't update it in Sarai's character art because it would have been too much to do.

Bastard Sword: Sarai's first weapon crafted for her while she was with the Shatterblades. An adamantine sword with a four and a quarter foot long blade and seven inch long hilt, and a simple curved crossguard and pommel. The hilt is wrapped in white cloth. Sarai easily uses this sword in one hand.

Zweihander Flamberge: A massive, black aegisteel zweihander bearing no name. The huge weapon overall is around seven feet long with a fifteen inch long hilt, an 8 inch long ricasso, and a thick, six foot long and seven inch thick, undulating blade. This weapon was crafted to rend and crush. It is black with silvered edges, a straight crossguard, and a heavy ball pommel. Truthfully, she rarely uses this weapon, but she can wield it rather easily in both hands, and can even wield it in one hand if necessary. This weapon is enchanted to stick to her back when put away. Inherited by Sarai from her mentor and adoptive father.

Shortsword: Small, durable adamantine sword kept on her right thigh, mostly used as a last resort. It has a twenty inch long blade and six inch long hilt. Inherited by Sarai from her adoptive brother.

Dawn's Lightning: A heavy siege arbalest with quadruple limbs, a thick and sturdy chord, a sturdy aeigisteel-reinforced, cedar ironwood frame, and a mithril bayonet. While Sarai doesn't keep this weapon with her, it is enchanted to summon to her hands when she wills it. It is strung with a thick quadruple Fulgur Chord that swaths twenty-inch-long bolts in holy sunlightning when they are fired at the cost of the bolts themselves.

Abilities

Great Strength: Extremely powerful, especially for a human. Her size and strength were granted through both extensive, near-death training and as a boon of Tyriel due to her dedication to beating back evil.

Archangel Form: Sarai grows four great, black wings from her back, giving her the ability of flight. Her eyes also glow a red aura, and the magic connecting her prosthetic arm to her body glows a brilliant white color instead of red.

Charm Immunity: Due to her trauma and the cold it left in her heart and soul for years, Sarai is immune to magic that would charm her.

Here is a MEGA file with all her art in case you couldn't read all the words on the images here.

You should be able to see it all without a key!

[tomorrowusa]

Gideon Rachman is chief foreign affairs columnist for the Financial Times and the 2016 winner of the Orwell Prize for Journalism. Even when I don't entirely agree with him I find his writing insightful.

In this column (archived) he compares France's 7.5 year colonial war in Algeria with Russia's neocolonial invasion of Ukraine.

Some excerpts...

France cannot be France without greatness,” wrote Charles de Gaulle in the opening of his memoirs. His nation, he insisted, must always be in “the first rank”. Vladimir Putin feels the same way about Russia. Back when I was still able to visit that country, Fyodor Lukyanov — a foreign policy thinker close to Putin — told me that the Russian president was driven by the fear that his nation might permanently lose its status as a great power. That fear and paranoia reached its tragic apogee with the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. But instead of restoring Russian national grandeur, Putin’s war has disgraced and isolated his nation. Unlike Putin, de Gaulle’s belief in national greatness did not depend on the subordination of a neighbour. He ended France’s war in Algeria and accepted Algerian independence in 1962. By contrast, even after 30 years of Ukrainian independence, Putin could not accept Ukraine’s right to shape its own destiny.

Nobody would accuse the late President Charles de Gaulle of being soft on French patriotism; he had been the leader of the Free French forces during World War II. But de Gaulle had the sense to see that France was in a no-win situation in Algeria and this was leading to deep divisions in France itself. There was even a failed insurrection against de Gaulle by some French generals after he had entered into negotiations with the Algerian independence movement.

Algeria became independent in 1962 despite bitter opposition by some in France. Resistance was punctuated by acts of terrorism perpetrated by ethnic French former residents of Algeria. But de Gaulle knew that no matter how much disorder would ensue, saying good-bye to Algeria was the best option in the long run for France.

Where de Gualle decided to look to the future, Putin gradually sinks in the quicksand of the past. De Gaulle said adieu to colonialism but Putin refuses to say до свидания to neocolonialism.

As Gideon Rachman says in his FT piece...

Freed of its colonial burden in Algeria, France was able to forge a new future. Modern France is not a superpower, but it remains a leader in Europe. It is a global player in culture, diplomacy, business, sport and military affairs. France retains some of the badges of great-power status, such as nuclear weapons and a permanent seat on the UN security council. But its grandeur today rests on culture and the global respect it inspires, rather than on raw power or territory. Putin, by contrast, was unable to imagine Russia as a post-imperial power. He still defines Russian greatness through his country’s ability to control territory and inspire fear. It was de Gaulle who was born in the 19th century, but it is Putin who clings to a 19th-century imperialistic view of national grandeur. In the 21st century, however, the bloodbath that Putin has unleashed in Ukraine has inspired disgust rather than admiration in the rest of Europe, isolating Russia from its neighbours and reducing its influence in the wider world. [ ... ] Putin has been unable to separate his vision of national grandeur from his personal power and wealth. He clings on in the Kremlin. Those who disagree with his policies are beaten up in the streets, imprisoned, driven into exile or die in suspicious circumstances. Russia needed its own de Gaulle. Instead, it has ended up with a pale imitation of Ivan the Terrible.

Perhaps a Russian version of de Gaulle would be good, but a Russian version of Atatürk would be better. Somebody needs to drag Russia, screaming and kicking, from the 18th century into the 21st century.

[wariodemambo]

Dear Mr. Wario D. Mambo,

All of our efforts to settle the matter discussed in our previous letter amicably have been unsuccessful. Despite our generous offer of ten days to act, we have not had the courtesy of a response. We have delayed legal proceedings up to now based on your understanding of the situation at hand and your willingness to act. Enclosed is our first letter, in which we laid out the problems in no uncertain terms and gave you our deadline.

Please be advised that you have left us no alternative but to file suit immediately. We have attempted to be understanding of your busy schedule and complicated home situation, but our patience has now reached an end.

This matter has been turned over to the Adrestian Empire's Ministry of the Interior's judiciary branch, of which houses the highest-ranking attorneys at Her Imperial Majesty Emperor's disposal. While I regret the necessity of this action, I must advise you to govern yourself accordingly.

Sincerely, The desk of Marquis H. von Vestra Retainer to Her Imperial Majesty Edelgard von Hresvelg

He's. So tired, guys. Things keep happening so fast. He lost his building, his bike, he's been beaten to a pulp twice in the past month, and now he's very likely going to get his ass handed to him via the legal system as well. He doesn't even, like. Have the strength to say anything here. He just. Reads the paper. And let's it fall to the ground. Because. Yeah. He's tired.

❝ Dude ... that's not good. ❞

Amazing observation, Jimmy.

[nwbeerguide]

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and Tudo Games collaborate on the "One of the Year’s Smallest Ad Buys".

Press Release

MILTON, Del., Jan. 24, 2023 – Bringing its off-centered ethos to the football field, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery sprints into next month’s Big Game with one of the year’s smallest ad buys.

With some advertisers reportedly spending up to $7 million for a 30-second commercial during the Big Game this year, Dogfish Head is spending 1,000 times less.

Airing exclusively in the Delmarva (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia) area, a subset of the Salisbury Designated Market Area (DMA), which is ranked 137 out of 210 – and the region Dogfish Head calls home – the brewery’s 30-second spot will cost just $7,000 to air.

Dogfish Head’s spot – its first ever Big Game commercial – pokes a little fun at Big Game marketing hoopla, and instead of highlighting professional football, it highlights Electric Football. Featuring the brewery’s Founder & Brewer, Sam Calagione, the commercial pays homage to his use of Tudor Games’ iconic Electric Football game to invent the brewing method of continual hopping, from which the brewery’s beloved beers, 60 Minute IPA, 90 Minute Imperial IPA and 120 Minute IPA, were born.

By rigging an Electric Football game over a brew kettle, Calagione was able to cascade hops into his beers at a consistent rate to create a lineup of IPAs that are outrageously hoppy, without being crushingly bitter. To honor this invention’s impact on the craft brewing community, Dogfish Head’s original continual hopping mechanism now sits in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Museum.

“Throughout our 27+ years in business, our only game plan has been venturing off the beaten path, and this commercial, as well as our partnership with Tudor are perfect examples of that overarching passion for off-centered exploration,” said Calagione. “From one of the smallest craft breweries in America to one of the smallest Big Game commercial spends, we felt it only fitting to air our spot featuring a tiny football game exclusively in our slight but mighty backyard, coastal Delaware. At Dogfish, we take what we do seriously … ourselves? Not so much.”

Continuing its longtime relationship with Tudor Games, Dogfish Head recently announced its exclusive beer sponsorship of the “not-so” big game, the Electric Football World Championships. Slated for Saturday, Feb. 4, and Sunday, Feb. 5, the only weekend of the professional football season without any live games, the Electric Football World Championships is expected to draw elite coaches from across the country to battle for one coveted title. Taking place at Dogfish Head’s Tasting Room & Kitchen in Milton, Del., the brewery will livestream the event’s most anticipated moments on its YouTube channel for those unable to attend.

To complement the brewery’s big game spot and sponsorship of the Electric Football World Championships, Dogfish Head will launch a custom beer-themed edition of Tudor Games’ Electric Football game. Later this month, boards will be available at www.dogfish.com/shop for $110 each. Supplies are limited.

For more on Dogfish Head, visit www.dogfish.com. To learn about Tudor Games, check out www.tudorgames.com.

XXX

Assets: Dogfish Head’s Big Game Spot & Related Images

Dogfish Head:

Dogfish Head has focused on brewing beers with culinary ingredients outside the Reinheitsgebot since the day it opened as one of the smallest American craft breweries more than 27 years ago. A Delaware-based brand and supporter of the Independent Craft Brewing Seal, Dogfish consists of Brewings & Eats®, an off-centered brewpub, Chesapeake & Maine®, a seafood and cocktail spot, Dogfish Inn®, a beer-themed hotel and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery®, a production brewery and distillery featuring the Tasting Room & Kitchen and Dogfish Head Distilling Co.® For more, visit www.dogfish.com.

Tudor Games:

Since 1949, Tudor Games has sold over 40 million Electric Football games, igniting the imagination of football fans young and old. Since buying the company in 2012, we have been re-imagining and re-designing Electric Football. Our amazing new products bring kids and adults of all ages together for healthy play. What could be more fun than that?

[musicallisto]

♕ — 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝; (anya x f!reader)

summary: “Well! What you need right now is a little bit of spirit-lifting. And I know exactly the medicine.”

prompt: “How long as it been since you’ve slept?” song: dodie - Would You Be So Kind | 𝄞

author notes: my entry for @locke-writes ’ 1.5k writing challenge, and also my first time writing for anastasia! I hope you all enjoy this <3 (i don’t know how to say this but anya is dani and reader is jamie from thobm i don’t know why it makes sense but it does). I wrote this in second person at first then changed my mind and switched everything to third, then changed my mind again so if you see inconsistencies in the pronouns, that’s why (lol i’m a mess)

word count: 1.6k features: a bit of sad Anya, but mostly fluff; singing and music. this is really not my best writing but i’m rusty and overworked so please don’t insult me

𝐎𝐇, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐎𝐑 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐃.

“Who is your great-grandmother?”

“Queen Victoria...”

“Who is your great-great-grandmother?”

“Erm — Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coldburg-Saalfeld!”

Through the beaten mahogany doors, Anya’s attempts at ladyship have been reaching your ears all day. Enthusiastic in the beginning, they have grown progressively more frustrated as the night has swollen, and your friends’ demands with it. There’s little in courtly life, you imagine, that Anya hasn’t tried her hand at yet.

Oh, the poor child indeed.

“Your best friend is...”

“My little brother Alexei —”

“Wrong! Your best friend —”

“I know who my best friend is!”

The outrage in Anya’s voice is almost as palpable as the bitter cold in your room, adjacent to their rehearsals; you can’t help looking up from your book at the closed door, as if it could tell you how to avoid the collision threatening your group. You grit your teeth, both in empathy and apprehension.

“What a temper!”

“I don’t like being contradicted!”

“That makes two of us!”

“Continuing on —” Vlad tentatively interjects, but Anya and Dmitry’s exasperation, even muffled, is clear in their voices. A second more and one of them will snap; although you’re uncertain which of the two short fuses will go off first.

“I’ve had it!”

Ah, so Anya it is.

“I hate you both! I’m sorry that we ever met — I’m hungry, I’m frightened, and I’m only human, don’t forget! I don’t remember anything — get out and let me be!”

“Anya, darling...”

But Vlad’s soft tone, ever the cunning mediator, is not enough this time to alleviate the young woman’s turmoil; and before he’s finished his sentence, raging steps echo in the vast hall, and a door slams — your door, at the step of which Anya stares you down, blinks in confusion, frowns, then lets out a harrowing sound.

“I’m so sorry, Y/N, I didn’t know you were here —”

“It’s alright. You can stay here as long as you want.”

Anya lets out a long exhale, heavy as a storm cloud, and slumps down on the foot of your bed with a resounding thud. Her shoulders crumple over themselves like bruised wings, and silence falls on the vast house.

But you can’t keep your attention on your book for very long — not only because the living story before you, defeated and worn, is much more vibrant and bewitching; also due to the racing of your heart whenever Anya stands near you. From the moment you’ve laid eyes on her, and even through the dust and gloom of your night, she’s kept that same regal beauty to her — something neither tatters nor amnesia can erase. It’s not in a long-lost parentage, you think, but all in the way her soul rustles with excitement at anything new and beautiful... rare are the souls, in Saint Petersburg, that gray skies and red stars have not yet tattered.

“They’re making you go through everything, aren’t they?”

“Heavens, yes! It’s too much, and I just want to go home!”

You set your book aside, directing your full attention to Anya.

“How long has it been since you’ve slept?”

“Maybe before the horseriding lessons — I can’t even remember!”

“Horseriding? Was that before the mazurka?”

“Yes, and before ten in the morning! Do you know the order of arrival for each guest at an Imperial ball? First, the Great Princes who come through the entrance in the Saltykov lane, then the bearers of the Court Ranks...”

“Anya, I don’t think that’s neces —”

“And married women must wear diadems! Is that not idiotic? What if I’m unmarried but don’t want to wear flowers in my hair?”

“I think you have way more important problems than your Imperial headpiece, like breathing.”

As if on cue, she takes a sudden gulp of air, and her reddened face, constricted by irritation, somewhat relaxes; maybe from the oxygen, maybe from the slight, amused smile that has crept onto your lips.

“Why haven’t they trained you to be Anastasia?” she resumes, her mouth now curled in a pout.

“Have you seen me?” you chuckle, all holed clothes and creviced skin, but your eyes loving. “I couldn’t even pass for Anastasia’s dog keeper.” (She can’t tell you yet, but she thinks you would make a wonderful princess, gracious and intelligent; but she blushes at the direction her thoughts are taking.)

“Dmitry could be the dog.”

“What a lovely sight.”

You settle into a comfortable silence, cross-legged together on either end of the bed, as the biting wind howls and claws at the window outside; but neither of you feels the cold. December is long forgotten, glowing dim as an ember, as long as you keep your gaze on Anya’s appeased face, the blush on her cheeks, and the romantic delicacy of her features.

“Do you believe you might be the Grand Duchess?”

Your question is but a whisper, and you fear she might not have heard you, even more so since she doesn’t turn her head to face you; but rather her gaze clouds, immobile in the flickering white light. A mist of melancholy traverses her face. A second later, it is gone, save for the last specks of snow in her eyes that never seem to melt.

“I don’t know. I don’t know anything,” she responds truly, her words equally as quiet as yours.

“Well, for starters,” you pick up, a little louder this time, “if Anastasia had the temper people say she had... you’ve got that covered.”

She chuckles, like the tinkling of snowflakes twirling in the wind.

“She does sound like she was a lot of trouble, doesn’t she?”

“I think she sounds pretty charming.”

But before you can let the silence stretch for too long, and worry to crease Anya’s porcelain skin again, you enthusiastically slap your thighs and jump from the bed.

“Well! What you need right now is a little bit of spirit-lifting. And I know exactly the medicine.”

After rummaging through the mountain of clutter piled in the corners of your room — what in the world are Vlad’s sketchbooks doing here anyw-- Christ, so that’s where that book was all this time! — you brandish in triumph a triangular-shaped instrument, the one you carved yourself in leftover logs, on a particularly freezing night, the one the three of you painted with care until the crack of dawn to keep you warm and joyful.

“Oh, play me something, please!” Anya’s childlike passion engulfs your heart as you clumsily test out the chords. The balalaika is worn and sanded off at the sides, and severely out of tune, but your hands find their familiar places without hesitation, and the sound of the instrument is clear enough for the both of you on an exhausting and windy night.

You pick up speed, falling into a melody you once knew; what fragments you can’t remember, you improvise, and try your best not to grimace; but Anya’s leaning over, eyes and smile wide as though she wants to drown in your music, and all of a sudden your chest has started to sing on its own.

“Would you be so kind as to fall in love with me? You see, I’m trying; I know you know that I like you, but that’s not enough, so if you will please fall in love, it’s only fair...”

Your eyes leave the strings as your voice rediscovers the words, your fingers the notes; Anya, in front of you, nods her head to the rhythm she savors for the first time, her foot keeping time unconsciously. If she ever had a childhood, this is surely what it was made of: soft, loving voices, gleaming eyes, a ray of light on her face, and the irrepressible urge to laugh.

"There’s gotta be some butterflies somewhere, wanna share? ‘Cause I like you, but that’s not enough, so if you will please fall in love with me...”

You’re grinning wide too, now, but unaware of it; all you see is Anya and her joyful brilliance, and you could swear that despite all the weariness in her body and the bruises on her soles, she’s ready to jump around in utter liberation. If only the music descended by itself from above your heads, you think, and you could drop the balalaika to dance with her — a dance she might enjoy, this time, a dance she doesn’t know the steps to!

Soon enough, you start giggling, without really knowing why; maybe from the silly wiggling of the shoulders Anya does, or maybe from the overflowing of light and sun in your chest; and it’s a pain to let out the last words between your uncontrollable laughter, even more after Anya starts laughing too.

“Oh, I like you, but that’s not enough... so if you will please fall in love with me...”

And so, after your grand finale — holding the last note a little too long and a little too high, and stroking the strings a little too fast like a Russian bolero —, the song comes to an end, the notes hanging in the air like your suspended laughter and hitched breaths... and your sparkling eyes lost in the sea of each other dare to hope, for the first time, that something might happen...

... but it doesn’t.

“Thank you for cheering me up,” she pulls back with a sincere smile, and you can’t fight the cruel disappointment seeping in your chest. Of course — you’re still in Saint Petersburg, where dreams have died long ago, and she has a fate much larger than yours. Still, you return the kind smile. She deserves as much; she deserves everything.

“No, thank you. For letting yourself be cheered up.”

The wind is still howling outside the window, but it carries, like an effervescence, the distant music of a balalaika, and you remain hopeful, your hand resting next to Anya’s.

If she would be so kind...

tagging; @softeninglooks @fives-cup-of-coffee (all my writing) ; @bravelittlesunflower @lxncelot @amortensie (musicals)

[madtomedgar]

The Case For Wang Lingjiao

Ok. I’m going to make the case for the Untamed’s third most unlikable character, Wang Lingjiao, being sympathetic.

Wang Lingjiao starts out her story as a servant. She’s not a cultivator. She doesn’t have a golden core. She has no social or spiritual power at all. She’s just the servant of either Wen Chao or Wen Xu’s wife. And Wen Chao, who has both a ton of social and spiritual power and can literally set people on fire with his mind, decides he likes her. Wen Chao is the worst person to decide he likes you. Jin Guangshan is second worst, only because he doesn’t have a habit of setting people on fire with his mind. 

Wang Lingjiao has two options here. Option one: try to fight it and get set on fire at worst and merely fired at best. Option two: go with it, and try to do whatever she can to keep Wen Chao, CQL’s first ranked douchebag, happy and happy with her. When and if Wen Chao gets tired of her, she doesn’t have a lot of options. They are: get set on fire, at worst, and get cast out to fend for herself as a now fallen woman with a bad reputation at best. So she has a big vested interest in doing whatever she thinks will keep Wen Chao interested in her.

This explains the whiny “gooongziiiii” pouting, it explains her vendetta against Mianmian, because if Wen Chao decides to replace her? She’s fucked. He could literally just kill her and no one would care. It explains her being so insanely ride-or-die for both him and the Wen clan, because if he goes down, she goes down with him. It explains her coming along places where it really doesn’t make sense to bring your mistress, because a) gotta keep him interested and keep him from bringing home a new side-piece, and b) do whatever and go wherever he says, enthusiastically. It explains her being extra nasty towards Wei Wuxian, because Wen Chao hates him, and that will impress Wen Chao. It also explains her pouting about being “sooooo scared” after the sack of Lotus Pier and harping on Madam Yu’s qualities as undesirable, in sharp contrast to her. She’s painting herself as dependent, devoted, and desirable. It’s a strategic performance as much as anything, and she’s playing Wen Chao to keep herself safe and in a good position.

Her imperiousness towards Madam Yu also, I think, makes a lot of sense. Madam Yu is exactly the kind of person who Wang Lingjiao has lived her whole life under the boot of. She was born to social power, she is a strong cultivator. Wang Lingjiao spent her whole pre-canon life bowing and scraping and cleaning up after the Madam Yu’s of the world, and, when she didn’t do a good job, getting slapped or beaten or insulted. Of course she’s going to lord it over the current stand-in for the oppressive system she lives under, and have way too much fun with it. Also, in her eyes, Madam Yu’s refusal to offer tea is an insult, not just to the Wen clan, but an insult to her, personally, because Madam Yu thinks she’s better than her, because of her birth and marriage and cultivation. All of these things are completely off-limits to Wang Lingjiao. And when Madam Yu does insult her, it’s not based on her terrible behavior or her violation of Jiang sovereignty, it’s based on her birth (low), her job (a servant), and her lack of cultivation. 

On the last night of her life, she knows she’s screwed, not because of Wei Wuxian, but because Wen Chao has grown bored with her. She’s scared of Wei Wuxian, scared of the war, just scared in general, and all he does is yell at her, threaten her, and insult her. We see later that he’s perfectly willing to kill her when she’s bloodied and asking him for help. Of course she was taking the jewels and running. She knew what she was in for the day he lost interest, and she knew that day was tomorrow. Wang Lingjiao never had a chance, not because she wasn’t a good person, but because the circumstances she was in didn’t give her the option to both be a good person and live.

[livesdngrsly]

Rob’s SW verse: similar job but worked for Emp.ire in some capacity and was drafted during the Civil War.

I recall in old rpg guides they had game hunters/wardens/reserves/zoos etc, so here’s the 2 second scenario, based on current verse and my Man.do watch (I am more familiar with lega.cy)

I’ll come up with a planet name (or not) but the setup:

Rob lives on a far mid rim planet (zone between expansion region and outer rim) with several large wildlife reserves that dated back from old republic times, and worked there like father before him. Planet has mostly temperate and many jungle zones. Used to be a place a lot would go to for safari vacations. Difference was Emp.ire called shots by the time Rob was a warden and they had interests on the planet.  Mostly bigwig Imperials came to visit.

By that time the planet also housed a special black ops survival camp for imperial commandos (utilizing the wildlife populations & jungles as an obstacle), the populace was generally loyal, if not very gung-ho Imp.erial. Many were still there for the wildlife. After the Emperor’s Death, Operation C.inder targeted the world, chiefly the cities, camp(s), and reserves, with a special clause from robo-Palps saying he wanted the animals all wiped out, ABY 5. Surviving locals, reserve, & camp forces resisted, and successfully stopped a force intended to annihilate the capital city, and routed them into the jungles, where jungle-versed locals picked them off (if the animals didn’t). Imperial forces blockading further ‘punished’ the world used climate disruption arrays to create violent tropical storms. This resulted in more deaths and a large die-off of the flora and fauna.

Repub.lic forces (led by Republ.ic, but mostly cobbled from some neighboring worlds) finally showed up two months into the disruption and a joint operation between Resistance forces and the New Rep.ublic defeated the Imp.erial ‘loyalist’ faction following Operation Cin.der. Of note to the Rep.ublic were the lack of trials; if the planet’s ‘Resistance’ (Imperi.al just months before) forces got their hands on those blockading/’punishing’ the world, they killed them without hesitation. Inevitably, the Repu.blic refusing to hand over some of their captives and taking them for trial created some friction between the forces.

By Man.do era, the planet has been abandoned by the Em.pire, and the Repu.blic has seemingly forgotten about it, save for some of the nearby worlds providing assistance with rebuilding efforts. In just a few years, the wildlife has recovered at a surprising rate, with little done to ‘manage’ it, and infrastructure has never recovered. Those who did not leave the planet are mostly just surviving, it’s no longer a tourism spot, unless you’re looking for something really off the beaten path.

Rob is a persona non grata by Em.pire and Rep.ublic, but has a good reputation locally. Off-worlders would think he gives off a local/hunter, and also somewhat Imp.erial vibe. With the absence of a planetary government, some locals (often veterans who held rank) uphold the peace. Muldoon is one of them.