#hes here to be some terrifying combination of a dark knight and warrior

[fatedroses]

The Gunbreaker, The Spellknight... and the Berserker?

[beccarooni]

(hey so this isn't a proper fic its just kind of stream of consciousness writing, but basic premise is an imaginary what if episode about thor getting cast out to the same place as Hela in thor 1 instead of earth.)

What if...Thor was never sent to earth?

Thor, the God of Thunder, was banished from the golden seat of Asgard. And his trusted weapon, the mighty mjolnir, was taken - cast far away, to find someone worthy of it's power.

I'm sure there's someone out there who views that possibility as a tragedy. As the loss of a gift, the loss of a limb - a hero separated from his trusty weapon. A knight from his sword. A soldier from his gun. A king from his crown.

A god from his hammer.

A beast from it's cage.

Mjolnir did grace my fingers, a long time ago. So long I can barely remember the feel of it in my hand, or the way it looked, or the words it bore. But I remember the feeling it gave me. The pressure of it's weight - the distant pulling sensation of the lightning leaving my body, pulled into that small fractured piece of the dying star.

I mourned it's loss for some time. And what that loss meant.

It meant failure. It meant Odin casting me to a land of darkness, all because my ambitions grew too wild for him to control. My temper was too short, my actions too callous and bloodthirsty to be becoming of a King of Asgard. I had made a mistake, and my punishment was to lose all I had taken for granted. My home, my friends. My power.

That was the way of it, for the first few days of my exile. The land the Bifrost had sent me to was barren and dark, with shadows clinging to every surface. Littered with the bones of fallen warriors - bloodstained valkyrie blades and the rotted wings of pegasi painted a morbid picture of what this place represented.

It wasn't a prison - designed to punish, a place to look at the prisoner and enact your justice. It was a graveyard. A place to lock something away, and to allow time to bury its memory.

Helheim.

Mourning your own death is a peculiar sensation. Lamenting the loss of yourself, and knowing that everything about your position here was all your own stupid fault. You became too greedy. You became too reckless. You had changed.

But then, a voice from the shadows. Silken and low, belonging to someone who bore a crown of spikes - the shadows obeyed her every move, following her this way and that. And her eyes, they were the same as mine.

She told me that it was not me who had changed.

I was the son Odin had raised, only he had changed his mind. I had followed his direction - I had courted death, I knew war as intimately as any friend. I had wielded my weapon for the good of the throne, for the power of Asgard, as my forefathers had. I was the son Odin had raised.

But Odin had changed his mind.

And she knew this, because this story did not only belong to me. It was an old tale, shared by another forgotten relic. Another child of Asgard, who had become just a little too powerful. Who had become a threat.

War had been my teacher, once. But now, it was Death who instructed me. Who taught me to cast out all feelings of loneliness and guilt, and instead sharpen them into blades of anger. To see my losses, as great as they were, as a gift.

Losing mjolnir felt as though my arm had been cleaved from my shoulder. But, in time, I learned that it's weight in my hand was not an anchor - tethering me to the storm, keeping me safe. It was a chain. Dragging me down, keeping me weak, keeping me powerless.

The storm burned from my veins, and this land of darkness became scored with my light. The sky was shared between us - forks of lightning silhouetted against the dark clouds, the shadows on the ground made that much darker by the flashes of thunder overhead.

I didn't feel alone anymore. Cold and terrifying as she was, Death understood my rage. She was my sister in fury; and with our combined strength, we set our sights on something better.

We would not die here, alone and forgotten. Asgard would know our names again. Odin would see his children, those who's ambitions had outgrown his own, and he would regret the day he cast us aside.

The whole of Asgard would regret that day. And I would mourn no longer.

[viterwrites]

An Equal Conversation (P: Bonds)

Whumptober Day 1.

“—am I to do with him? Don’t you have better-suited people for the job, Ir-?”

“The Lady for you. And yes, we do, but why should we aid you more?”

“To start with, he’s—”  

“Yes, yes, and the other tales we have passed down to you. The prodigy is your problem and your responsibility. Had it not been for your staggering incompetence, Paljot—and the whole of Quintera—would have been ours months, if not years ago. Hereby, you are to fix it, in the name of your late father, in the name of your fallen realm, and in the name of our Deity. Perhaps, not for yourself, for there is nothing that can redeem such a miserable human being, but you still might live a good life under Their rule.”

“You-”

“Are the sole reason you are still alive? Are your only hope, your single chance as of right now? Could execute you at any moment or give you away to the enemy for a momentary respite?”

“Hr-”

“Have we made ourselves clear? I believe we have, and you should believe so as well, as we do not fancy repeating ourselves. Bring him back under Their wing. By whatever means necessary. The method used at the end is irrelevant. If you do fail, however, you will replace him in the defence of our city. Oh, you would do a poor job.”

***

His hearing slowly returned, along with his consciousness. Gods, where was he?.. There was only darkness in sight—or his was lost—and no space to move. Restrained. He wasn’t getting up either way. The binds weren’t even the worst problem — it’s the way his whole body felt. Like it had rotten from inside out and frozen afterwards. 

The location was concerning too.

It was painful even remembering, as every thought seemed to draw more life out of his near-dead body. Riena. The army had stopped to celebrate the victory of the previous day, he, as usual, refrained from partaking in the festivities and stayed behind. And the servants brought him food… Soon after it went black. And hadn’t gone white to this time.

It didn’t take much time for him to realise what had happened. Poison.

At that moment, the door opened, letting the torchlight inside. Still hard, but he could now see just where he found himself in: a tiny cell, just enough space for two people to be in—and only in front of each other. Near-naked on cold stone. And a stretching shadow in front. 

With all the frail might he had left, he raised his chin and shot a glare towards the person in front. A glare soon-to-be followed by shock. And rage, weak as he was.

“Fjall Arveg, head of the Okel Village garrison. Bow to your Baron. Or is it that you have forgotten the Code while in service of the enemy? Please, do let me know, so that your offence may be treated accordingly.” 

The other could only chuckle. “The code states I must do a salute, but that seems out of the question right now, doesn’t it?” he tug his arms, feeling the rope retaliate. Then some more, and more, to the extent of where it burned. 

Pain helped him focus in such times. Always had, for better or worse.

The Baron’s gaze shortly narrowed, then relaxed. “We have got off on the wrong foot, it appears. Still, I am your superior, is it not right for me to be treated as one?”

“I have pledged loyalty to the Earl of Tertiara.”

“I was nowhere to be found, yes? It was rational of you to assume I had deceased and thus represent the people of Vardil in the new leader’s forces, but as you can see, I am still here in the Alliance, in flesh and blood, for they were so kind as to provide me with a residence, while I cannot return to my own. And you are obliged to help me do so, as a loyal soldier of your Barony, are you not?”

‘Avardil prepared well for this,’ Fjall thought. His words were true as well: the pledge he had made to the Baron was before all others by time and so, by priority. Yet he was no longer willing to uphold it.

“I am loyal to the Earl of Tertiara, Araien of House Paljot. I believe she represents the interests of Vardil as well as of her homeland, of Gret as much as well as of her ancestral home. My loyalty was pledged to the Barony first and foremost, of which Lord Avardil will no longer hold the control,” that caused a frown to appear on the Baron’s face. A frown and a scowl.

“Is that so? Please, do reconsider your options. Perhaps what I shall tell you next can change your mind,” he turned to the door and called for someone down the corridor. “Lord Halliste.”

The towering figure of the man who entered next was not one unfamiliar to Fjall. In fact, it was one he had engaged just the day before— no. perhaps, it was longer, but it was doubtlessly the man whose swordsmanship he couldn’t best in Riena. In truth, he would have been slain by him, had a superior not called this monster of a combatant back. 

Halliste—lord, commander, whoever he was—seemed as intimidating as in the first time their paths crossed: just like he seemed back at the western shoreline. He approached with a chair that Avardil happily sat down into, now looking at the restrained warrior from above. Halliste himself stayed right behind his back, looking down on Fjall from all his height, nearly reaching the ceiling. 

Regardless, it was clear that Avardil was bursting at the seams with information and the desire to lay it all out. Fjall prepared to listen, think and talk. These were the only three weapons he had left, ones he had never excelled at, yet the only ones that could be of any use now.

“I shall start by saying that you should not even hope to escape from here. Neither should you hope for a rescue,” the drasticity of a tone change didn’t go unnoticed, but he couldn’t show it outwardly. “If you have put two and two together, you know you are in the most secure place in Strell, one only the Lady of the Seas and her closest know of. It is nowhere to be found in the documents, the ones who were partial to its creation are nowhere to be found as well,” the Baron’s lips curled into a crooked smile. “This is no prison. You are in her secret headquarters, in the most secret of all cells there are in Quintera. None know where you are.”

A pause, as Avardil wanted Fjall to mull over these words. In the other’s turn… it wasn’t the first time no help was on the way, but it was the first time he was truly alone. In this cell, definitely underground, with not a soul to meet, except for his former ‘employer’ and his loyal dog. Although, that last fact was much less of a certainty than anything else. 

Halliste had not said a word in this conversation. As time went on it became more and more obvious he wasn’t there to speak or even intimidate, just to oversee. Not Fjall, either, although he was the centerpoint of the knight’s gaze. To oversee the Baron.

‘The closest are also on the closest leash, aren’t they?’

“Secondly, you could have gathered it on your own, but what happened in Riena was a stroke of luck. You are no match for Sir Halliste,” he paused tilting his head back towards the knight, “and the Alliance has a number of soldiers of his caliber. Are you not the strongest one in the Tertiara force?” The Baron wasn’t looking for an answer. “Then imagine what could happen, if all of them were released at once against your compatriots. And what will happen as they approach the capital. The Lady has no interest in letting the enemy step into her domain’s heart, so they will be stopped.” 

“And they die either way. What’s the point of passing it down to me?” without doubt, had they not wanted him alive, he would not have survived the celebration.

The Baron smiled. In the worst way imaginable.

“They don’t. Naive of you to assume death is what awaits them. It is salvation, not punishment,” The grin stretched wider. “People as important as them can’t simply die. No, they will have to pay for the inconvenience they caused us. And so will you,” his eyes locked onto Fjall. “Unless you agree to our terms.”

“Which are?”

“You fight for the Alliance. And take Her Earlshipness down. Perhaps with her falconer. Or perhaps leave him to mourn.”

“Them to mourn. Wait,” he exhaled sharply as the words sunk in. 

For himself to be the one to take down Araien and Io… Not long ago, the one purpose he has in life. Now, a terrifying prospect.

“And why me? Do you not have Halliste or other knights, all, as you claim, better swordsmen than myself?” even that sarcastic tone couldn’t draw out a reaction from the onlooker. Hm.

“I do not have to explain myself to my inferior. And you are not to question me, should you agree.”

“And if I don’t?” the same grin sprung up where it had been before. 

“I have not finished.”

Not once had Fjall heard of the Baron being as talkative as he was with him. Most of his words were threats, but at home that was not his responsibility: he had a wide enough network of ‘social workers’ to take care of that for him. Now he could see who they were taught by, if the rumours were correct.

“Araien. The poor young girl who prematurely lost her father. A formidable leader, he was and a formidable foe to me in the war—but even he could not stop the might of the Alliance combined with ours.” 

‘Didn’t he claim Vardil had won on its own? Another lie we were spoonfed, it seems,’ it was odd how his mind seemed to be sharper than it had ever been in this situation and this state. But the Baron continued talking.

 “How sad of him to pass away so suddenly, leaving his daughter grieving and ill-prepared to lead her house. Some called it a lucky coincidence, some believed it to be too lucky. And some,” the Baron half-bowed in a theatrical manner, “simply knew the truth. There are many things growing in the jungle around your village. Some can knock you out cold, some can assure you never get up again,” he paused letting Fjall swallow the words. In his turn, he was baffled at how blatantly, how openly Avardil admitted his guilt. And that was, without doubt, one of the many people he murdered.

Then something else occurred to him. Okel had never been known for making poison, but it was known for its herbs and the traders visited mainly for those, and those came from the jungle. “Precisely,” the Baron spoke up and Fjall’s attention shifted back to him. “You, as the head of the village garrison, the one who guarded all of those things, are also responsible for the death of Tolvi I of Paljot. And no doubt she will learn of it someday. The Lady and I will make sure she does, before her demise.”

Before Fjall can even process all of it, the Baron continued. “That poor girl, however, assembled an army, bringing together the finest from Paljot and Vardil, retaking Gret and even my ancestral home. Something I can never forget, but the Lady could and was, in fact, delighted to hear news of a woman to unite Tertiara after ages of separation. Until that same woman spoke up and rallied forces against her. Now, she is not even a dead woman, no, much worse, in fact. She will not be released from her shell until she passes from old age, and maybe not even then. Yet her life will not be a happy one—if you would call a lifetime of torture and pain in solitude, a torture on its own, a life: the Lady does not take kindly to those who offend her. Especially now that the coalition has control of Riena, her favourite outing spot. Araien is not to walk this land free, and neither she is to turn to the dead. She is to suffer for many dozens of years. This stands true if you refuse to slay her and put her to the Earth that she deserves, right next to her beloved, maybe. In her case, that is the best option.”

‘No. That cannot happen. She has a higher chance of defeating them than me anyhow, I have not been able to best her in battle. Besides, if things go awry, she is smart enough as not to let herself fall into the enemy’s arms. We are twins for a reason.’

“Defiance. Believe in her?” Avardil had an uncanny tendency to guess thoughts. “Untrue, but even assuming so, what about the others? Tallei, perhaps? She has no place anywhere, except for her troop and the two of you, and with you out of the question, that leaves the troop and Mortenir. Neither of which are welcome anywhere. But, you could bring her a happier life, instead of, once again, one of suffering. Her crimes against the Lady are so far insignificant, unlike her crimes against Paljot and Vardil both. And she could find a place and work in Strell, the Seafarer’s Heart, city built with this purpose in mind. Otherwise, for her and her family, it only gets worse from here. Regardless of whether your forces win or lose, although the latter is almost guaranteed.”

‘Bargaining? Abo would want none of that. She knows we’ve fucked up bad, she knows she has much to do to fix it. But she wouldn’t want to guilt of complicity, and neither would she accept it. This would be a betrayal from me. And I would never betray her.’

“What about Lieutenant Teie? That young boy who had responsibility thrust upon him by his masters, and did his best. It was saddening to watch, really, but I cannot go against the highest nobles so openly. He could have a good education, and a good life in the Alliance. Perhaps, with his newfound experience in leadership, he could even land a great position in the force. Would you take this chance away from him and take this youth’s life as well?”

‘Oita… The kid deserves the best. But he never wanted this, and never would he. Besides, he is strong enough to fight for himself. He can take down one of those ‘Hallistes’, and it would be yet another proof of his talent. And after the war, he can just… find a better place to be. And a better thing to do.’

“And, the last but certainly not the least, Lieutenant Mortenir,” on that, Fjall felt all of his mind shrink into one ability — to listen. As attentively as he could manage. “Do not think your nightly escapades—whatever they ended in—have escaped either your compatriots, or us. We have kept a watchful eye on the both of you from the fall of Gret. Young love, how nice that must be,” the Baron said to the knight behind him with a smirk, only to receive a stern glare back and hush. “Only if that love lasts. Thankfully for you, the Lady and myself are both reluctant to separate the two of you, so here is my last term and offer. Do the deed, and you can go free together, wherever your heart desires. Maybe even with the other lowly members of your group. Don’t you want things to be like they had been before all of this started? Here is your best chance.”

Avardil was a smooth talker, and he hit the bullseye.

Fjall was left grasping for straws, for something, some reason to say no, but all that came to mind was tied to this war. Before they left, even after, but before that skirmish on The Bridge, his world had been small yet perfect. It was far from it now. But they could still pretend it was, couldn’t they? Their small group, with a few more people, taking on odd jobs and travelling all across. Now that they could have each other, maybe all the other business: the Alliance, the Gods, even his legendary lost twin—maybe it didn’t matter. She didn’t matter.

The last thought had him shiver, to the delight of the Baron.

Hadn’t he sworn to protect any life worth saving? Hadn’t he pledged his loyalty, his knight’s pride to his sister, though she had begged him not to? Hadn’t he promised to himself—and to Abo, Oita, Meyl, Deim—that he would not make the same mistake as he had had before?

It was so tempting… A true Lady’s Trick, as some would call it. An opportunity one cannot accept but cannot refuse. And he was about to try the latter, certain it was hopeless for him. But, perhaps, not for the others.

‘Deim deserves a better person to fall for anyway.’

“I have pledged loyalty to the Earl of Tertiara, Araien I of Paljot. That is my final answer.”

The Baron’s expression changed to surprise. Then dismissive denial and, shortly after, anger. Pointed and concentrated on him. “Have you not heard me, perhaps?” he growled with pure venom in his voice. “This is your one chance to be normal, just like you had always wanted. Otherwise, be ready to witness them suffer for years without end, and try that yourself.”

“Your threats or your torture don’t scare me. Neither does death. They are strong enough to overcome whomever you pin against them, and will be better off without this criminal—now rightfully in a cell—regardless. I have given my answer.” 

“Foolish of you to assume that is your cell. No, this is simply a room for talking. Not even interrogations, but equal conversation and negotiation, if you will,” with that, he leaned in uncomfortably close. “But your time here has come to an end.” 

He stood up and walked to the door, but not before giving an order to the knight. “We’re done here, more drastic measures seem to be needed. We’ll see how he talks a few hours in. Rid him of his last bits of… dignity, and bring him upstairs. The clothes wouldn’t survive for long either way in those conditions.”

“Take this forward, Halliste.” 

“As I was inctructed to.”

[four-loose-screws]

FE4 Suzuki Novelization Translation (Gen II) - Chapter 10

If you would like to start from the beginning, read a missed part, etc., click here!

FE Game Script Translations - FE Novel Translations - Original FE Support Conversations

If you are interested in donating to support my work, please check out my Ko-fi here. Thank you!

———————————

Chapter 10 - Dark God Loptous

After the battle at Thracia Castle ended, Seliph gathered his entire army and said, "With this battle over, all of Thracia is free! But that does not mean the war is over here, because the children taken from here are still missing. When we safely save them, that will be the beginning of the end of the war in Thracia.

"We didn't come here to fight and defeat the Thracian dragon knights. We came to fight and save the people from the Loptr Church's oppression, as well as save the children from being sacrificed.

"Just because we've liberated Thracia, does not mean we can party, or rest. We must begin to march soon. To Miletos, to rescue the children. Then, we will go to Grannvale next, and topple the empire!"

After fighting one battle after another, the soldiers were all tired, but Seliph's speech put them in high spirits.

"To Miletos!" One person shouted, which soon turned into everyone shouting.

"To Miletos!"

Seliph had also grown over the past year. His position as the leader of the liberation army made him experience many times more worries, decisions, and orders than one living a normal life, but it had also outfitted him with charisma befitting of a leader.

The liberation army left Thracia Castle without taking much time to rest, then started marching towards the Miletos region right away.

The Miletos region (sandwiched between a portion of the sea surrounded by land) was located south of the empire, and was home to many cities that had built a great amount of wealth through trade. Those trade cities used the power of their wealth to avoid interference from the surrounding nations, and each possessed self governing rights like that of independent countries.

Peruluke was one such city. It was a northern port city located near the Thracian border. The land bridge that connected Grannvale and the Thracian Peninsula was extremely inconvenient for transporting goods, so Peruluke took advantage of that geographical situation and prided itself on how it flourished as a relay base for trade.

However, when the liberation army reached Peruluke after fighting a harsh battle, they couldn't believe their eyes. What lay before them was a far cry from a prosperous city. Instead, it looked like it was about to die. After just a few years of the empire and Loptr Church's rule, the most beautiful city on the isthmus had changed into a town that reeked of death.

The Thracian children were nowhere to be found. As they were the first children to be taken from Thracia, they were said by the Loptrian priests to all be "the finest treasures." Because of that, they were quickly taken to Queen Hilda's Chronos Castle.

Hilda was from Velthomer, the same house as the emperor, but she'd married Bloom of Friege and had two children with him. One was Ishtor, who'd been killed at Melgan Castle, and the other was Ishtar, Julius' beloved.

Hilda was so cruel by nature that it could be considered insanity. And it was only doubled when her husband and son were killed by the liberation army. 

When the liberation army thought of what kind of fate awaited the Thracian children, they couldn't afford to relax in Peruluke. They quickly prepared for their next attack.

-

During their preparations, Julia went missing.

'Did she have some kind of premonition?' Seliph wondered.

As soon as they'd gained control of Peruluke, she had approached Seliph to talk to him, and he did not know the reason why, so he’d felt uneasy ever since.

'It's really unusual for her to be the one to start a conversation with me.'

Ever since Lewyn had entrusted Julia to him, as her guardian, he'd always taken special care of her. However, she did not take advantage of that. Especially ever since she'd learned that Lana loved him, it was apparent that she was always avoiding him on purpose.

But on the battlefield, she told a different story. Though she'd previously been a shaman, she could also use light magic. Seliph had given her an Aura spellbook he’d obtained during the battle in Isaach, and used it to fight bravely, killing countless enemies.

Seliph talked to Lewyn about what to do.

"Julia's gone missing!"

The always calm Lewyn looked unusually shaken up. "I see, that is a huge error on our part. We needed to be more careful. It seems we underestimated the enemy a bit."

"What's become of her?"

"She was kidnapped by the enemy. That's the only thing I can think of."

"But why?"

"I don't know why yet. But your mother Deirdre also went missing once. It was during the fight  with King Chagall in Augustria. She'd just given birth to you, so she didn't participate in the battle. However, during a break in the fighting, she left the castle to meet with Sigurd. That was when she went missing.

"The next time I saw her was during the Battle of Belhalla. She appeared before us as King Azmur's granddaughter and Arvis' newly wedded wife. That makes you and Crown Prince Julius brothers from different fathers."

"Lewyn, I've always had this feeling. This feeling that you're hiding a lot from me. Please tell it me. Don't worry about my feelings. I want you to tell me everything you know."

"Yes, I was thinking that the time would soon come for me to tell you. It seems like this is perfect timing.

"Until now, I have emphasised the aspect of this war that is the people standing up against the tyranny of the empire and Loptr Church. That was because I wanted you, as the leader of this army, to think about the people. No matter how many Crusaders wielding Holy Weapons rise up, if you are not an ally to the people, you have no chance of winning.

“But when I heard your speech in Thracia recently, I felt that you now have all the qualities of a leader. So I think it's finally time for me to tell you about one more aspect of this: the Crusader's battle.

“I have traveled the world for over ten years in search of the truth about the Battle of Belhalla. What really caused it? I met more people that I could count, and scrutinized each and every record of the event I could find. I thought the profession of bard fit in perfectly with that goal, but I also occasionally changed my appearance. I have even disguised myself as a priest of the Loptr Church.

“That was how I discovered a huge secret."

And so, Lewyn began to tell a long story.

"This happened about three hundred fifty years ago.

“Galle, who would go on to become the founder of the Loptrian Empire, crossed the sea and traveled the world when he was young. His goal was to drink the blood of an ancient dragon of legend and gain power that humans could not possibly match.

"Nowadays, ancient dragons have become the products of our imaginations. No one has ever seen one. However, when Galle returned home from his journey, he possessed a mysterious power.

“Galle had been ambitious from the very beginning, and in Year 440 of the Gran Calendar, he said that he was the arrival of the one and only god Loptous, then founded the Loptr Church. After that, he used his mysterious powers to reform many young people, and created an evil army that did exactly as he told them to.

"Seven years later, his army caused a civil war within the Gran Republic. The world called it "The Rebellion of the Twelve Deadlords." In just half a year, the republic fell. And in the next year, they established the Loptrian Empire, with Archbishop Galle as its emperor. That was when Loptous transformed into a dark god.

"Loptous wanted the fresh blood of children. Those who resisted were killed without mercy. The "Tragedy of Miletos" and "Massacre of Edda" that we still pass down stories of now, are nothing more than particularly striking examples from that time. 

"To the people, every single day was a living hell.

"Finally, they were unable to put up with it any longer, and in Year 535, Maira, of the imperial family, started a rebellion. Maria's rebellion was quickly suppressed, but after that, a liberation army rose up in every region, revolting to overthrow the empire.

“The liberation armies were defeated by the mighty imperial army, but where one was defeated, another rose up in its place, and the fighting continued on for a long time. Only the fighting itself could not be stopped. Then, the Miracle of Darna, which you've spoken of before, occurred.

"The gods that descended at that time knew that the chaos occurring on the Jugdralian continent was caused by powers those of the dragon tribes possess, and if they left things as they were, then the entire world would one day be controlled by dragons. To prevent that, they came from their other world.

  “The gods took on human forms. For example, Light God Naga appeared as a young girl, and Fire God Salamander appeared as an old man. Next, they exchanged a blood pact with twelve warriors, meaning that they pricked their fingers, and gave their blood to the warriors. It was the same way that Galle hand received the ancient dragon's power. The twelve gods were actually dragons as well.

"The dragons gave the warriors their blood, as well as twelve weapons that had their powers sealed inside them. That is how the Twelve Crusaders were born. 

"Loptous was the most evil of his tribe, one that possessed terrifying power. Only the Dragon King Naga could oppose him. And so, Naga gave Saint Heim, the leader of the liberation army, her blood, and the Book of Naga. 

“After that, they passed on several warnings to the Crusaders, then left. The Twelve Crusaders combined their powers and finally defeated the emperor of the Loptrian Empire, who was Loptous current incarnation. Some were against the efforts to eradicate Loptous’ bloodline, as they questioned whether or not it was necessary to go so far as killing the children. However, they had no other options. One of Naga's warnings explained to them that Loptous could be revived. 

“If a woman who'd inherited Loptous' blood birthed a boy and a girl with one of the descendants of the Twelve Crusaders, and their children then had a child of their own, Loptous would be reborn in that child. Fearing that possibility, the Crusaders killed every member of Loptous' family. However, one person managed to go undetected by the Crusaders.

“That person was a descendant of Maira, the one to start the rebellions. The emperor who suppressed the rebellion had massacred Maira's family, but a child he'd had with a commoner when he was young escaped. Maira had only spent one night with the mother, so he didn't know they'd had a child together. Because of that, the child was not treated as a member of the imperial family.

"One hundred years passed.

"Naga's warning was the "Hope of Resurrection" to the surviving followers of Loptous. Any of them that were found were burned at the stake. However, the priests could use magic, so some hid their identities, and served royals and the wealthy.

"Those mages searched tirelessly for a survivor of Loptous's family, and, in the end, they found a descendant of Maira. That lineage had birthed a daughter, whom the priests educated in the behavior and speech of a high-class woman, dressed in fine clothes, and sent to a place where she would be noticed by a man who'd descended from one of the Twelve Crusaders.

"Eventually, the woman, named Cigyun, caught the eye of Duke Velthomer. Though she did not wish to marry him, she had no choice but to do exactly as the mages told her to.

"That marriage resulted in the birth of Arvis.

"But later on, Grannvale's Prince Kurth sympathized with her plight, and the two developed a secret love. As soon Duke Velthomer discovered it, he felt he could not bear such a disgrace, and committed suicide.

"Meanwhile, Cigyun was terrified of the weight of her sins, and fled Velthomer. She was pregnant with Prince Kurth's child at that time. After returning to her home, the Verdane Forest, she gave birth to a daughter, who was your mother, Deirdre.

"The Loptrian priests searched frantically for Cigyun. However, by the time they figured out where she had been, she had already passed. That was when Deirdre and Sigurd were married, and had even already had you.

"However, the priests didn't give up there. Their only hope was in Loptous' revival.

“For that reason, they kidnapped Deirdre and erased her memory. The one to do that was probably Archbishop Manfroy. He had appeared when Arvis came of age. This is also just a guess, but Manfroy probably told Arvis that he has both Mage Warrior Fjalar and Loptous' blood, and once Arvis knew that, he likely feared that he would be burned at the stake. Of course, Manfroy undoubtedly also whispered in his ear sweet words of making him emperor if he'd cooperate with the Loptr Church.

“And so, Arvis fell in love with Deirdre at first sight. Then, he introduced her to King Azmur as his betrothed. The king took one look at her, and suspected that she might be a member of his family. When he had Deirdre take off her circlet, he saw the Holy Mark of a descendant of Saint Heim. He recognized her as his late son's daughter, and entrusted the country to them.

"That happened right before the Battle of Belhalla. Since three years prior to that, battles had occurred here and there across the continent, but it’s believed that those were also orchestrated by Manfroy from behind the scenes. There's no question that Manfroy's target was Arvis and Deirdre's child, and to end the bloodlines of the Crusaders before Loptous was reborn. And things went as he'd planned. When the Battle of Belhalla was over, the only surviving descendants were Arvis and Travant.

"Then, Julius, the child who was supposed to eventually become Loptous in the future, was born. The first half of Arvis rule was not a bad one, but recently, the Loptr Church's tyranny has become obvious, and I'm certain this is because Julius has grown and become powerful. 

"Arvis and Deirdre had one more child, a daughter and Julius' twin. She should be, of course, Saint Heim's descendant, but no one has seen her at the palace in years, meaning she has gone missing. But she is actually Julia.

"She is your sister from another father.

"The only thing is, I do not know the reason why she was kidnapped.

“I know it has something to do with Loptous' rebirth, but how is Julia connected to that? She may be a descendant of a Crusader, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she was born with one of their powers. Julius should be the same. Has Loptous already been reborn within Julius, or has that not happened yet, and they need Julia for it? Or perhaps they are trying to round up all the Crusader’s descendants fighting with the liberation army, for something like the Battle of Belhalla. Is that why they kidnapped Julia, because their goal is simply to recreate that?

"That is what I do not know."

Lewyn's long story was finally finished.

There was so much to it, that Seliph didn't know what to say right away.

Just then, Lana walked into the room. "Am I interrupting something?"

"No, you're okay. Do you need something?" Seliph asked.

"A bard has asked if you'd like to listen to a poem about the Crusaders."

"I don't really want to hear it right now, but…"

"No, a bard is a person that always tells the truth. If he's come from afar, we absolutely should listen.” Lewyn said.

Lana led them to the bard, a blind old man. His clothing was not at all stylish like Lewyn's, and he had nothing but a kithara with him, making him easily mistakable for a beggar.

 He clumsily bowed his head, then raised his kithara.

However, from the moment his fingers strummed the strings, and the first sound echoed into the air, the proof of his skill was undeniable. The first measure was powerful, the second was like something from a dream, and from the third onwards, he strummed a string of complex chords.

When the short prelude ended, he recited with a clear voice,

'Black Knight Hezul

Cut through the darkness with Demon Sword Mystletainn

Sword Saint Od

Swept away the darkness with Divine Blade Bulmung

Holy Warrior Baldr

Lit up the darkness with Holy Sword Tyrfing

And lastly, Saint Heim

Prayed to the heavens with the Book of Naga

The prayer turned into a light

Which turned into a white dragon

That challenged the black dragon to battle

The white dragon and the black dragon,

Light and darkness,

Fight a long battle that might never end

Will it end in victory?

Or in death?

I am not afraid

For even if our battle

Ends in defeat 

The light we seek

Will never be lost

I believe

In those who will inherit our hearts

I believe

In those who will inherit our light.'

Seliph gave a huge round of applause for the bard's magnificent recitation of the poem.

The bard winked at Lewyn, then left the room.

"What's the matter, Lewyn? That was an amazing performance, wasn't it?"

Seliph looked at and asked Lewyn, who hadn't clapped, and spoke not a word, because he was lost in thought.

"I was a fool."

"Why? Why were you a fool?"

"The reason why Julia was kidnapped. It was obvious. She isn't necessary for Loptous’ revival. She's the opposite - she's an obstacle in their way, because she is the inheritor to the Book of Naga. Meaning she is the one who possesses the power to defeat Loptous. I fear that Loptous has already been revived, and he intends to kill her. Why did I not realize it sooner!?"

"What did you just say!? Then we must go save her right away!"

'Julia, please stay alive.' Seliph prayed. 'We'll come save you. Until then, please stay alive.'

[dvrksiider]

multiples of 3 for the OC questions

Super detailed questions about your OCs || Not Accepting (thx nida :p) 

@errantson​

3. Did they have a good childhood? What are fond memories they have of it? What’s a bad memory? 

Main Verse: Nyla had an average childhood. Not necessarily good or bad (I don’t know if neutral is the best word here). The few fond memories were her warrior training before her Force sensitivity kicked in at full throttle. 

Light Side Au: Corryn feels she had a good childhood. Of course it was difficult for her because of her sensory overload and the intense training she began as a little kid. She fondly remembers spending time with her mother and father and how proud they were of her. 

6. What were they like at school? Did they enjoy it? Did they finish? What level of higher education did they reach? What subjects did they enjoy? Which did they hate?

Main Verse: She kept to herself and was distant. During her short time at the praxeum, she made very little friends. She was a bright kid with a lot of potential but the sensory disorder combined with her Force connection made her learning environment toxic and agonizing. Nyla finished her training with Snoke; out of her 17 years of training, 14 years were dedicated to darkness. During this time Nyla learned the ins and outs of pain, what made people tick and how a person could be broken. She also discovered she had a knack for Sith Alchemy.

Light Side Au: Corryn was shy and distant at first before finally feeling comfortable enough around the other students. She grew to love the academy as well as Luke and most of her peers. Before her 18th birthday, she went to Coruscant to start her sentinel training where they were busy restoring the Jedi Archives. Corryn stopped her training for a year once she discovered the praxeum had been destroyed. After that, she went back to Coruscant for another two years to study under her second master. She studied the old Jedi texts in great detail and learned how to strengthen and maintain control of her connection to the Force.

9. Do animals like them? Do they get on well with animals? 

Main Verse: Nyla is mean so therefore animals are like “uh no way.” She doesn’t particularly care for them either. There’s probably an unspoken agreement between her and creatures of the galaxy which involves both parties staying out of the other’s way. 

Light Side Au: Corryn loves animals. Most animals seem to like her as well. She helped Mara Eclipse take care of a smuggled Porg and the little guy has now won just about everyone’s heart around base. (eron wants to eat him??!! but he’s a good boi!!) 

 12. What is their favourite food? 

Main Verse: Traditional Mandalorian dishes. Whatever will give her the strength and nutrients needed to ensure her survival. Alcohol is nice too. 

Light Side Au: Corry loves meat ( a la Sokka), but really give this girl anything. She has a crazy metabolism and is a bottomless pit. 

15. Are they good at cooking? Do they enjoy it? What do others think of their cooking?

Main Verse: Nyla could survive on her own if need be, but because she’s aligned with the Order, she usually does not make her own meals unless away from her regiment or on some solo mission. In short she is adequate. 

Light Side Au: Corryn can cook decently. She’s actually better at baking and likes to surprise her friends and fellow Resistance members with something sweet every now and then. Most people would say she can make a good enough meal. 

18. What’s their favourite genre of: books, music, tv shows, films, video games and anything else

Main Verse: (gonna sound edgy but...) everything dark and macabre honestly. In a modern setting, Nyla would be all into horror and the supernatural.

Light Side Au: Corry enjoys action, adventure, mystery and comedy. She would be a fan of classic NES games and other pop culture phenomenon. 

21. Do they have a temper? Are they patient? What are they like when they do lose their temper?

Main Verse: Yes and no. Nyla’s secret is that she’s always seething. Unlike another dark sider, she’s gotten very good at masking it and keeping it under control. Nyla understands that there is a time and place for such anger- too much freedom will turn her into a loose canon. So in her right mind she is very selective about when and how she displays her anger. When she is angered enough, nothing is off limits; no words, no actions. The juxtaposition between her level persona and her rage induced state is incredible. It makes her all the more terrifying. 

Light Side Au: Corry can get a bit of a temper now and again. It’s nothing like that of her dark side self, but it can still be destructive in its own right. She’s been known to dig deep and say things that she knows will shut others up; ie something that might negatively resonate with someone. As she’s continuing to grow and learn, she’s always trying to develop more patience and finding healthier ways to express her anger. 

24. What is their sleeping pattern like? Do they snore? What do they like to sleep on? A soft or hard mattress?

Main Verse: Nyla only sleeps when it is required. (kinda like Leo Di Vinci) She has her own unique circadian rhythm. Some periods of time she gets adequate sleep. Other times she’s awake for days. Nyla’s silent breathing can be heard if listened closely, she prefers some level of comfort so a mattress in between soft and hard. 

Light Side Au: Depending on what’s going on in the Resistance determines Corry’s sleeping habits. She could be well rested some nights and then running on two-four hours other nights; nothing a good cup or twelve of caf can’t fix. She totally snores (nothing loud just noticeable. Mara can attest to it) and because of her sensory thing she likes soft things <3 

27. What makes them sad? Do they cry regularly? Do they cry openly or hide it? What are they like they are sad?

Main Verse: The last time Nyla cried was when she was 10. So...I mean. As an adult, she doesn’t feel or experience sorrow the same way as she did in her youth. Things are just repressed before they can even be processed in real time. 

Light Side Au: The thought of never reuniting with her parents makes her sad. The thought of losing the war against the First Order makes her sad. The possibility of her friends and comrades dying makes her sad. Corry just feels a lot, okay? And while she’s not overly emotional, she will cry if she’s worked up enough and at that point she doesn’t care if people are around. She gets quiet and distant when she’s sad.

30. Do they exercise? Regularly? Or only when forced? What do they act like pre-work out and post-work out?

Main Verse: Nyla exercises pretty regularly (when she’s not in the middle of a mission that is). She’s very focused pre-work out and likes to tune out most things. She focuses only on herself and improvement. After work out, she’s calmer than usual and almost in a bit of a daze.

Light Side Au: Corryn tries to exercise regularly, but sometimes other things come up that are more important. She tries to be happy and positive before working out so she doesn’t give up halfway due to effort. Post work out, she’s tired and needs a shower and a nap tbh.

33. What underwear do they wear? Boxers or briefs? Lacey? Comfy granny panties?

Main Verse: Nyla wears bikini style and sometimes hipsters. 

Light Side Au: Corry wears hipsters and boyshorts most of the time. O my god corry you so gay

36. What are they good at? What hobbies do they like? Can they sing?

Main Verse: Well Nyla is good at murder. Not sure if that’s a hobby exactly...she is an exceptional duelist (her warrior training on Mandalore helped prepare her for this). She is also a very gifted psychometrist and performer of other dark Force powers; force storm, drain knowledge, memory walk, etc. I would pay to see Nyla sing. 

Light Side Au: Corryn is good at absorbing a lot of information in a small period of time. She is skilled with her lightsaber as well as Light side Force powers; battle meditation, Force concealment, Force protection, etc. Corryn isn’t a bad singer, of course when she’s drunk it is truly a spectacle. When sober she can carry a tune. 

39. Do they like letters? Or prefer emails/messaging? 

Main Verse: Nyla prefers holo messages. Gets the point across much faster and usually more effective (her methods are beyond brutal). 

Light Side Au: Corryn prefers letters because they are more personal. Growing up, she did her best to preserve her writing so she would never forget her mother tongue. 

42. What are their goals? What would they sacrifice anything for? What is their secret ambition?

Main Verse: Nyla wants power and control and she’s willing sacrifice her humanity for it. Her secret ambition is to kill her dark side master and take his place. But beyond that, Nyla desires to extend her reach beyond the First Order and to become the most powerful and formidable entity in the galaxy. 

Light Side Au: Corryn wants to become a self actualized Jedi Knight (grey jedi later). She would sacrifice herself for the Resistance and for her friends. It’s not a secret ambition, but Leia is currently helping her rise the military ranks so that she can become a well respected leader and teacher. 

45. How do other people see them? Is it similar to how they see themselves? 

Main Verse: People see Nyla as cruel, evil and diabolical. She can’t exactly dispute any of it and quite frankly she doesn’t care. She knows what she is and she revels in the darkness. 

Light Side Au: Most people think Corryn is a sweet girl determined to do the right thing. Sometimes she has self doubt but then she is reminded of who she is by result of her actions and feedback from those she fights alongside. 

48. Do they enjoy any parties? If so what kind? Do they organise the party or just turn up? How do they act? What if they didn’t want to go but were dragged along by a friend? 

Main Verse: Nyla would rather not. She only attends gatherings because it is expected from someone of her position. It’s all political and even she must save face and play along with the hierarchy of the Order. 

Light Side Au: Corryn enjoys smaller parties because too much going on overloads her senses. If it’s with people she likes and trusts then she’s bound to let loose and have a great time. If the party is huge then the poor kid becomes a wallflower. 

[ramajmedia]

Ranking Of The Nightmare On Elm Street Movies Based On Their Rotten Tomatoes Scores

When Wes Craven made the first A Nightmare on Elm Street in 1984, he had no intention of turning it into a franchise. It was a struggle to just get the first movie made, and New Line Cinema had no idea how big of a hit they were about to have on their hands. Thankfully for all parties involved, A Nightmare on Elm Street was a hit both at the box office and with horror buffs.

Over the years, a total of seven sequels have been released, as well as a remake in 2010 with Jackie Earle Haley starring as Freddy Krueger. The films in the Nightmare franchise have seen varying levels of success, which can be clearly seen by their Rotten Tomatoes scores. Here is a ranking of each of the Nightmare On Elm Street releases based on their Rotten Tomatoes scores.

RELATED: 10 Most Brutal Freddy Krueger Kills

9 A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984) - 94%

Unsurprisingly, the original A Nightmare on Elm Street is the best-rated movie in the series. The original film was written and directed by Wes Craven and starred Robert England as Freddy Krueger and Heather Langenkamp as Nancy Thompson, along with Johnny Depp and Amanda Wyss. The film was about a child molester who was murdered but comes back for revenge through the dreams of teenagers.

A Nightmare on Elm Street had an incredibly unique plot and helped put New Line Cinema on the map. As the Rotten Tomatoes score reflects, most people agree that the original is the best of the series, especially since this film featured a scary Fred Krueger instead of the comedic figure he would eventually turn into.

8 Wes Craven’s New Nightmare - 78%

Despite Wes Craven not wanting his film to have sequels, New Line Cinema made it happen without him. He returned to the franchise in 1994 for the seventh installment of the series called Wes Craven’s New Nightmare. Like the original, this sequel also had an ingenious plot, with the actors in the film playing themselves and recognizing that A Nightmare on Elm Street was just a film.

Eventually, Heather Langenkamp is hunted down by Freddy and must fight a real-life Freddy Krueger to protect her son Dylan. While the film doesn’t surpass the original, it brings Freddy back to his darker roots and puts a fresh spin on a series that was quickly going downhill.

7 A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors - 74%

While A Nightmare on Elm Street and Wes Craven’s New Nightmare are often considered the best two films in the series, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors is often a fan favorite. Wes Craven had originally returned for the sequel to write a script, but his script ended up being too dark so New Line Cinema went in another direction with Frank Darabont and Chuck Russell.

Dream Warriors is a notable addition to the series since Heather Langenkamp returns as Nancy and because of the creative deaths of the characters. Each of the Dream Warriors have special powers when they go into the dream world, and together they are able to defeat Freddy… until Part 4.

RELATED: 10 Fan Theories That Will Forever Change Your Favorite Horror Movies

6 A Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master - 55%

New Line Cinema wasted no time when it came to making a new Nightmare on Elm Street movie. A Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master was released in August 1988 and sees Freddy return to take revenge on the Dream Warriors. Tuesday Knight replaces Patricia Arquette as Kristen, but the real star of the film is Lisa Wilcox who plays Alice Johnson.

The series started to go downhill at this point, with Freddy starting to become more of a comedic character despite his humor being incredibly dark. This is also the sequel where Freddy is supposedly resurrected by a dog peeing on his grave, so that really says something about the quality of the film.

5 Freddy Vs. Jason - 41%

Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Michael Myers are two of the most well-known horror characters in the slasher genre. The script for Freddy vs. Jason went through several re-writes, but, after waiting patiently for years, fans finally got to see Freddy square off against Jason.

Freddy vs. Jason may not be an Oscar-worthy film, but it was certainly a fun slasher flick with plenty of fan service. There isn’t a definitive winner at the end of the film, but that’s part of the fun of Freddy vs. Jason. Freddy fans will think Freddy won, while Jason fans will think Jason won.

4 A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge - 41%

After the success of Wes Craven’s masterpiece, New Line wanted to create a franchise out of Freddy, with or without Craven. Released just a year after the original, A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge sees Freddy possess a teenage boy in order to make the boy kill for him.

The writer behind Part 2 purposefully wrote homoerotic subtext into the film, which is extremely obvious in the film. Freddy’s Revenge also has a lot of plot holes, with Freddy somehow coming into the real world at one point to slash up teenagers at a pool party.

3 A Nightmare On Elm Street 5: The Dream Child - 32%

A Nightmare On Elm Street 5: The Dream Child picks up after the events of Part 4. Part 5 tells more of the backstory of Amanda Krueger, showing the birth of Freddy and the horror that soon follows.

The film has some graphic death scenes, with Freddy stuffing food into a girl’s mouth until she suffocates and basically turning Alice’s boyfriend into a cyborg with a motorcycle. The film apparently had a rushed production and a smaller budget than previous sequels, which could be part of the reason why it failed to connect with fans.

RELATED: Freddy Krueger’s 10 Most Terrifying Quotes From The A Nightmare On Elm Street Franchise

2 Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare - 20%

Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare was marketed as being the final installment of the series with the promise of actually killing off Freddy Krueger. The film was directed by Rachel Talalay, who produced previous sequels, but she missed the mark with Part 6.

This film tries to cram in more comedy than all of the previous films combined, which completely takes the horror away from Freddy. This film introduces Freddy’s daughter named Maggie and also explains how Freddy got his powers when he was burned alive. The film got largely negative reviews with fans and critics, and it’s not hard to see why.

1 A Nightmare On Elm Street (2010) - 15%

After sixteen years of Freddy being away from the big screen, the character returned in 2010 for Samuel Bayer’s A Nightmare on Elm Street remake. The film replaced Robert England with Jackie Earle Haley, whose talent wasn’t enough to save the film.

The remake was criticized for being too similar to the film from 1984 and not having enough original ideas. Many people also didn’t want to see anybody else in the role of Freddy except for Robert Englund. The film never got a sequel despite the end of the film opening the door for one, but there have been talks for years that A Nightmare on Elm Street reboot is again in the works. 

NEXT: 30 Crazy Details Behind The Making Of A Nightmare On Elm Street

source https://screenrant.com/ranking-nightmare-elm-street-movies-based-rotten-tomatoes-score/

[whattheschmuck]

Dear Crystal Dynamics,

For the next Tomb Raider game I would like to see several things happen:

**I had made a post like this on Twitter fairly recently and figured it would be prudent to share my thoughts on here as well. Please note that there might be several add-ons in this post (meaning that some of these weren’t on my Twitter list).

1.) Sam.

I have to say it right off the bat: Lara is a flat, one-dimensional character without a fun-loving foil there to interact with her, emphasize different parts of her personality, and help bring her to life. The human, relatable side of Lara is what brought so many new fans to the series in 2013, and without Sam we don’t really get to see that side of Lara. Crystal Dynamics, you should really reconsider throwing away all of that untapped potential.

2.) Tombs.

I want to see tombs that are central to the plot rather than being added into the game as optional extras. After all, isn’t the game named Tomb Raider?

3.) Puzzles.

Speaking of tombs, the puzzles need to be made more difficult and logic puzzles need to be incorporated rather than only having the standard physics puzzles. I want to be shown how brilliant and intuitive Lara is.

4.) Globetrotting.

I want to see Lara actually go globetrotting rather than recycling the “stranded and fighting for survival” trope again...and I’d like to add that it is possible to follow through on this suggestion and keep the current combat and leveling systems. All you need to do is provide us gamers with several regions/maps to explore (each having their own plot-centric tombs too, of course!). I don’t care if the map sizes are cut down to facilitate this--you can get rid of all the extra outfits for all I care! When we, as gamers, are told that Lara’s going to be globetrotting we expect to see actual globetrotting! Having a single Syria segment does not count, sorry.

5.) “Daddy Issues.”

NO. DADDY. ISSUES. Please! It’s such an overused trope in every TR-verse and it directly contradicts who the Lara you’ve created is! How is she supposed to make a name for herself if she’s stuck following daddy’s research and walking in his shadow? It’s a double whammy: it compromises the integrity of her character and strips her of her independence--which happens to be one of the traits that made her so awesome in 2013! Just let Lara be her own person instead of defining her by who her parents were.

6.) No Hero Cliché.

If you want to make Lara a reluctant hero then by all means go for it! But don’t make her a white knight. That’s not who your character is and it’s not who you’ve developed her to be. Lara’s a survivor who is setting out to make her mark, to find adventure. Focus on that and Lara’s own personal interests. If she has to stop a big bad cult of religious fanatics to get what she wants, so be it. But don’t make this a narrative of “Trinity is bigger than I ever imagined. They have to be stopped.”

7.) Better Villains.

The villains in Rise were weak and underdeveloped. Take Ana for example, she was so transparent that her betrayal didn’t even come as a shock to me...why else would you guys throw a shady character that we’ve never met before into the game if not to have her be an antagonist? Here’s the frustrating part: she actually had the potential to be a wildly complex and multidimensional character--she just didn’t get the development she deserved. I didn’t know what hers and Richard’s relationship was like, I didn’t know what kind of a relationship her and Lara had or how close they were, I didn’t even know if she was lying when she said “I loved Richard” or if there was actually some capacity for moral ambiguity there! I swear, this kind of waste should be criminal.

8.) Enemies.

There needs to be a better variety of enemies in the game than what we’ve seen so far. I mean, the very first Tomb Raider game had dinosaurs in it for Pete’s sake! And while I’m not saying you need to throw dinosaurs into the next game, what I am saying is that I’m tired of fighting dudes with machine guns and immortal warriors. You clearly want to delve into the supernatural with these games so do that! Create something wacky and terrifying yet still fun to fight because you pretty much have full creative freedom to do so here--your imagination’s the limit! And while you’re at it, please give us a real boss battle!

9.) Gameplay.

Bring back the days of boat chases down the canals of Venice. Add more variety to the gameplay instead of serving us yet another plate of mass slaughter. For example, let us play through flashbacks instead of making us watch them. Or better yet, Rise took place in Siberia and Trinity clearly had a lot of technology at their disposal, right? So how about a high-speed snowmobile chase across Siberia’s treacherous terrain? Variety.

10.) Stop Clumsy Croft 2K17.

Stop making Lara look like the clumsiest, most lucky bint in human existence. Literally everything falls apart beneath her; it’s overused and it actually has the complete opposite effect of what you apparently intend it to have. Instead of putting me on the edge of my seat, stuff like this actually detracts from the drama of the game because I’m more focused on making fun of Lara for being worse than Nathan Drake in terms of breaking pretty much everything in sight despite being a brilliant young woman who graduated from UCL, one of the top-ranked universities globally. Cut back on this and show us that Lara has gotten skilled and hardened since Yamatai. Show us that she’s the Tomb Raider.

11.) “A Hardened and Experienced Survivor.”

Shouldn’t Lara have retained something from the island if she’s supposedly more “experienced”? I’m not saying that everything has to carry over from the previous game, but I shouldn’t have to relearn how to recover arrows from corpses. I also feel like a “hardened survivor” would at least be prepared for an adventure with a pistol, survival knife, and some rope. Worried about people who are new to the series having a steep learning curve? Put in an optional tutorial sequence at the beginning of the game. Otherwise just take a leaf out of Uncharted’s book and combine the tutorials with the actual gameplay.

12.) Improved Melee.

I cannot stress just how much this needs to be addressed. Tomb Raider’s melee combat system is imprecise, clunky, and just not that effective in actual combat. Here’s the thing: we know that Lara’s a bit of a scrapper based on the fight she had with the Trinity thug in Croft Manor around the beginning of the game. So why can’t we get her to fight hand-to-hand like that in the actual gameplay? Even if she lost her fight with the thug, she certainly seemed a lot more effective in close-quarters combat in that cutscene than she ever has in actual combat with her axe(s). I get that using the climbing axe as a weapon is becoming sort of a trademark for reboot Lara, but it’s just not practical and I personally feel like it should be dropped as a weapon (besides which point she already has the bow as her signature weapon). Explain the melee change as being a result of her having taken self-defense classes following the events of Rise. Just do something.

Below the read-more link is a continuation of this list with things that are a little bit more of a personal preference than the things I’ve listed to this point. Feel free to look over them if you want!

13.) Dual Pistols.

There’s a legitimate canonical reason for this. As we all (hopefully) know by this point, Roth was not only a father figure to Lara but also her mentor. He taught her everything she needed to know for survival--including how to fight. Now, Roth also preferred to dual-wield pistols so considering that and the fact that he is the one who taught Lara to fight, it’s not unreasonable to assume similar fighting styles between them (when Lara’s not scavenging for weapons). Thus: Lara dual-wielding pistols. It’s a nice way to honor Roth’s memory in future games and it gives a neat (in my opinion) backstory to Lara’s iconic dual-pistol combo. CD, make this happen!!

14.) Companions.

The presence of helpful companions (for select missions) who can hold their own can only help enhance the overall gaming experience. Having companions (like Sam for instance) would give Lara some people to banter with and help bring her character back to life. Making Lara a lone wolf hasn’t done anything for her character, there’s too much missing without someone else for her to bounce her thoughts off of. At the very least I would like to see Lara communicating with other people on an earpiece. The main thing is to have her consistently interacting with others who actually know her in some way, shape, or form because that’s when she shines.

15.) Scars.

This is actually more important than I think you realize. Give me the actual scars from Yamatai, not this thing you’re doing where the only scar you gave her is the Vladimir-pistol-whip scar artistically placed beneath her right eye. It’s cool that you included the scar from her first kill but it’s not enough. Lara’s origin story was ugly, dark, and gritty but she survived. Why would you want to erase that? Lara’s skin is a blank page and her scars are the words printed on it to tell a story. That’s the point: they were originally supposed to be kept on her character model to tell the story of how Lara Croft became Lara Croft.

It looked like you were going to stick to that plan too when you released the first Rise trailer that featured her in therapy. Her hands were scarred, she was having flashbacks, she was anxiously foot-tapping...it was perfect. But then you eliminated all of that. Here’s the thing, Crystal Dynamics: having those “ugly” scars is what will make Lara beautiful because they showcase her determination, and they showcase how powerful she is to have received all of them and endured. They most certainly would not make her look weak if that’s what you’re afraid of. Give me the deltoid scar, give me the scars on her chest, and, while you’re at it, give me the left eyebrow scar on her turning point model. Give me all of it because I want to see Lara for the undeniable badass she is.

16.) PTSD.

Mental illness is not a weakness! Let me tell you something: I am currently on three different medications (Wellbutrin, Trazodone, and Vyvanse) and I know that doesn’t make me weak. In fact, it makes me infinitely stronger than all of you big shots making the calls on Lara’s character because it is incredible that I have made it this far when I have struggled with mental illness for eight whole years! It takes strength to force yourself to get up in the mornings when you feel completely dead on the inside. It takes strength to force yourself to work harder than all of your classmates in spite of this because you had an undiagnosed learning disability and were at a disadvantage right from the start. It takes strength to tell yourself better things are coming when you feel like you have nothing worth living for.

Just living life takes strength. So how dare you call mental illness a weakness! Being mentally ill makes you anything but that, and I think that PTSD would be a testament to Lara’s character and her inner strength. Scratch that, I know it would be and I know that her having PTSD would make for an incredibly compelling narrative that also addresses very real and very serious real life issues. Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, it’s a common human struggle that many people go through. What isn’t human is magically coming out of the entire Yamatai ordeal with your psyche completely intact. That right there is what will make you lose fans: suppressing Lara’s humanity and locking it in a fridge. Stop worrying about controversy! There is nothing controversial about a person going through normal person stuff. Nothing. Stop making excuses and just take a chance for once!

[thomasroach]

Top 5 Upcoming RPGs April 2019 (Dragon’s Dogma, Final Fantasy X/X-2, Vambrace Cold Soul and More!)

The post Top 5 Upcoming RPGs April 2019 (Dragon’s Dogma, Final Fantasy X/X-2, Vambrace Cold Soul and More!) appeared first on Fextralife.

Welcome to the Top Upcoming RPGs of April 2019! In this series we highlight the Top 5 RPGs for the upcoming month. In this edition, we’re going to take a look at each of the titles, talk a little about each, and then explain why we think they deserve to be on the list. So join me now and find a mixture of some hidden gems and old favorites given a shiny new coat of paint.

Top 5 Upcoming RPGs April 2019

Last month’s top spot was grappled by the shinobi inspired action game, Sekiro Shadows Die Twice, bringing new heights to the Sengoku period. This month’s round up of games takes players on a slightly different journey of old and new, with some classic titles making appearances on new platforms. Whether you’re looking to take on a familiar game on another platform or searching for a new challenge, there’s a variation of games to suit different moods. Without further to do, let’s get into the month of April!

Honourable Mention: Darksiders Warmastered Edition

Release Date: April 2nd Platform: Nintendo Switch Developer: Vigil Games Publisher: THQ Nordic

Releasing this month on a new platform of the Nintendo Switch, Darksiders Warmastered Edition brings the first entry in the franchise that focuses on the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse. The first game features War, who acts along with his brothers as the enforcers of the Charred Council, maintaining the balance between Heaven and Hell. But War is called to Earth due the chaos raised between fighting Angels and Demons. As he tries to defeat a demon, he realises his powers are being drained, he next wakes up accused by the Council of being the cause of the end of the world. In order to prove his innocence he returns to Earth to clear his name but is tied to Watcher to keep him in check.

Gameplay includes wielding apocalyptic powers, brutal attacks, supernatural abilites as well as an extensive arsenal of weapons to choose from. There are also quests that will take you to the wastelands and dungeons overrun with demons. Evolve your playstyle using a range of relics, upgradeable options for your weapons, unlock new abilities to suit your destruction.

Darksiders: Warmastered Edition comes to the Nintendo Switch on April 2nd.

5. Vaporum

Release Date: April 10th Platform: PS4, Xbox One, Switch Developer: Fatbot Games Publisher: Fatbot Games

A single-player game with steampunk theme, this dungeon crawler RPG Vaporum is inspired by games such as Dungeon Master I and II, as well as the Eye of the Beholder series. The story takes place stranded on a small islet situated in the middle of ocean. Entering a gigantic mechanical tower you must uncover the mysteries that lie within and well as discover who are you.

While most RPGs favour abilities to level up, Vaporum focuses on improving your exoskelton, because in this game “you are what you wear”. The gadget system allows you to change up your loadout at any time, which gives players a great deal of flexibility for different situations that you may encounter. As you progress, unlock new circuits which will give you a permanent attribute advantage as well as passive skills.

The title offers first person combat in real time, puzzles as well as level-wide objectives and a gadget-based RPG system. As you explore the immersive steampunk world of Vaporum you will be rewarded with loot as well an enigmatic storyline which is accompanied by a fully voiced cast of main characters.

Vaporum releases on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch on April 10th.

4. Vambrace: Cold Soul

Release Date: April 25th Platform: PC/Mac Developer: Devespresso Games Publisher: Headup

Vambrace: Cold Soul is a narrative driven rogue-like title that pits players against brutal challenges matched with deep strategy. Players take on the role of Evelia Lyric, the only human able to enter frost covered Icenaire, the cursed city. Now inhabited by it’s former residents that have been raised from the dead, these Wraiths  plague the city. It is down to you to bring hope to this darkened land, as you bear the enchanted vambrace. Plan your missions underground and then head to the surface with your team to combat strange encounters.

Journeying into an epic fantasy adventure, this title spans over 7 chapters, captured in a beautiful hand-drawn artstyle. You can choose to take part in sub-quests to unlock character skins. Battle through perils with your party in turn-based combat, choosing from 5 different races which include humans, elves, foxier, dwarves or drow, and 10 different classes. Items can be crafted as well as armor, use materials gathered from your side-scrolling adventure. It’s down to your decisions, that will make or break your party’s survival.

Vambrace: Cold Soul will release on PC on April 25th.

3. Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster

Release Date: April 16th Platform: Xbox One, Switch Developer: Square Enix Publisher: Square Enix

Now joining two new platforms, Final Fantasy X/X-2 will be arriving in April for Xbox One and the Nintendo Switch. In Final Fantasy X, players follow the story of Tidus a blitzball player who journeys with a young summoner named Yuna. Together they set on a quest to save the world of Spira, an advanced universe that relies heavily on machina. But it now suffers from the endless destruction cause by the villainous Sin. In Final Fantasy X-2 you return to the world of Spira, two years after the commencement of the Eternal Calm.

Both titles offer over 100 hours of combined gameplay, with remastered graphics, offering players the choice of listening to the original or new enhanced audio. Final Fantasy X takes on the classic turn-based system but adds a few twists with actions and cooldown times, which can rearrange sequence order or even swap out active characters during battle. The sequel, Final Fantasy X-2 uses a modified ATB system which has been used in other titles in the series, but is more fast paced and allows two actions simultaneously. Explore the the world of Spira, take on quests, minigames and optional side-quests.

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remastered releases on Xbox One and Nintendo Switch on April 16th.

2. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age

Release Date: April 30th Platform: Xbox One/Switch Developer: Square Enix Publisher: Square Enix

Another Final Fantasy title making its way to Xbox One and the Switch is Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age. In this entry the kingdom of Dalmasca has been infiltrated by the forces of the Archadia, it’s down to a couple of vagabonds, a knight, leader of a resistance, a sky pirate and a rabbit lady to take on the wicked enemies and save the kingdom. There’s an airship, humanoids rabbits and Chocobos, what more could you want from a Final Fantasy game?

This entry in the Final Fantasy universe takes on a different approach when it comes to combat. In this title battles take place out in the open, no teleporting to a battle scenario here. Tailor your party’s actions to behave as you wish using the gambit system between fights. Actions are carried out once cooldowns have completed, swap and switch actions in the list of commands to have them play out when ready. You can gain new commands to customise your squad further from merchants throughout the game.

Combat is fairly flexible when it comes to characters, allowing you to choose any role to cast them in, with a selection of 12 variations of Licences. For example choose “white mage” to gain those much needed heals or “foebreaker” for a more upclose combat build. The remastered version brings an updated feature which allows players to speed up actions if you wish and New Game+ mode.

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age releases on Xbox One and Nintendo Switch on April 30th.

1. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen

Release Date: April 23rd Platform: Switch Developer: Capcom Publisher: Capcom

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is set in an open-world, where players will be able to embark on an action-combat adventure accompanied by three AI companions also known as Pawns. Together with your crew, you will battle terrifying enemies to reap the rewards.

Wield a sword and shield as a Fighter, protecting your group or take on the role of Mage by using spells to attack or recovery magic to aid your party. There are a number of different jobs to take on to suit your preferred gameplay style which includes Fighter, Strider, Mage, Warrior, Mystic Knight, Ranger, Assassin and Magic Archer. You can even summon other player’s pawns to aid you in battle by visiting a Rift stone.

The game has been adapted for a more Switch friendly gameplay experience, with a “revamped user interface” meaning better screen visibility for both handheld and docked mode. Dragon’s Dogma was first released in 2012 directed by Devil May Cry lead Hideaki Istuno, which was later expanded with Dark Arisen.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen will join the Nintendo Switch on April 23rd and comes with all previously released content and DLCs.

That’s a wrap for the Top RPGs of April. Did I miss your favorite April release? What games are you most looking forward to this year? Please let us know in the comments below.

You can also check out the Top RPGs of March 2019.

So, do you want more? If so, you can find more Top RPGs for 2019 here.

The post Top 5 Upcoming RPGs April 2019 (Dragon’s Dogma, Final Fantasy X/X-2, Vambrace Cold Soul and More!) appeared first on Fextralife.

Top 5 Upcoming RPGs April 2019 (Dragon’s Dogma, Final Fantasy X/X-2, Vambrace Cold Soul and More!) published first on https://juanaframi.tumblr.com/

[thecultofculture-blog]

They come in all shapes and sizes, some with deadly skills and others with questionable intellect, but every villain needs a horde of henchmen to help them carry out their nefarious plots. Plus, players need something to kill as they hone their skills for future boss battles.

From the horrifying right hand men to mindless cannon fodder, here is The Cult of Culture’s top 10 video game henchmen!

10. Kremlings – Donkey Kong

#gallery-0-29 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-29 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-29 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-29 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

The Donkey Kong series features plenty of bad guys, but none compare to the prowess of these reptilian henchmen. The Kremlings come in a variety of forms from standing alligators to the annoying Klaptrap, but all of them serve King K. Rool in his quest to steal DK’s famous banana horde.

While the average Kremling might be an idiot walking straight to their deaths, other members such as the Rockkroc can make any level a difficult challenge. Who knows what these crocodiles want with bananas, and who cares?! Pummeling these henchmen is way too much fun.

9. Bob-ombs – Mario

#gallery-0-30 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-30 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-30 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-30 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

There are all sorts of henchmen lurking within the Mario universe, but none gets the job done like a Bob-omb. Why? These walking, and sometimes talking, bombs sacrifice their lives for Bowser’s cause. First appearing in Super Mario 2, it’s hard to imagine a game without them now.

These single minded kamikaze minions can give anyone a run for their money, especially in large numbers. However, like all mindless henchmen these bombs are easily thwarted. In some cases, they can even become a weapon to throw at other enemies. While they’re certainly not the largest threat in the game, they sure do make it more fun.

8. Grunts – Halo

#gallery-0-31 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-31 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-31 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-31 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Ah, the comical grunt! Sometimes, you have to feel bad for the Unggoy. These poor aliens are the workhorses and cannon fodder of the Covenant Empire. Cowardly, usually unintelligent, and pathetic on the battlefield, the only advantage these aliens have is in their numbers.

Grunts can be found in abundance throughout the Halo series ranging from mindless idiots firing laser pistols to the more dangerous Unggoy Heavy, but it’s hard to take an enemy that falls asleep on the battlefield seriously. The never ending chance for a fun kill, mass numbers, and comical relief make these goofy aliens awesome video game henchmen.

7. Badniks – Sonic

Common sense dictates that any evil genius should have an army of evil robots at his disposal, like the Badniks. These dastardly animal-like mechanisms are constantly getting in Sonic’s way as he attempts to stop Dr. Robotnik’s wicked plans.

In the original games, these automated death machines were powered by real life animal friends of the game’s protagonist that would be released upon destroying their metal captors. They come in a variety of styles, each with their own weaponry, and some are even modeled after Sonic and his allies. While some are easier to take down than others, they all can lead to a fateful game over screen.

The Badnik’s undying loyalty, determination, and massive numbers earn them a spot on any top henchman list.

6. The Star Wolf Team – Star Fox

Lead by Wolf O’Donnel, this team of galactic felons seeks to destroy the Star Fox team. While they run their own operations these days, they were originally henchmen for the evil Andross as he attempted to take over the Lylat planetary system.

These humanoid animals are expert fighter pilots, especially Wolf, putting any player’s skills to the test when facing them in a dog fight. Their highly advanced Wolfen starfighters, determination to kill Fox McCloud, and evil cunning made them incredibly dangerous henchmen.

While their original appearance was in Star Fox 64, fans of the series can face off with them once again in Star Fox 2 on the SNES Classic Mini.

5. Darknut – Legend of Zelda

#gallery-0-32 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-32 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-32 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-32 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Since the very first title in the Zelda series, these knights have been one of the top choices in henchmen for Ganon. Heavily armored and highly skilled combatants, they are often considered the toughest non-boss enemy in the game.

Their heavy armor makes them impervious to head on attacks, forcing the player to wait for a chance to strike from behind. They carry a large shield that they use to deflect any arrows, as well as a gigantic sword that they often use to charge at Link. While a one on one fight with a Darknut is going to require your best moves, many games feature insanely difficult rooms filled with these evil knights.

Terrifyingly fierce, these opponents test any players mettle. Therefore, they certainly earn a spot on this top videogame henchmen list.

4. The Tarkata – Mortal Kombat

A mix of humans from Outworld and a demonic race from the Netherrealm, this vicious warrior army serves Emperor Shao Kahn (or whoever is ruling Outworld at the time). Their large mouths harbor razor sharp teeth while spikes protrude from their bodies. These nomadic creatures are tribal, brutal by nature, and downright evil.

The most famous of Tarkata is named Baraka, a prominent character in the MK universe, who’s brutal fighting style and arm spikes make him a great character choice and a deadly opponent. He leads the Tarkatan hordes into Earthrealm in both timelines as they slaughter countless warriors and imprison helpless civilians.

These video game henchmen are not to be taken lightly and prove to be worthy adversaries for even the most skilled fighters.

3. Space Pirates – Metroid

#gallery-0-33 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-33 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-0-33 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-33 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

This alien species is one of the most brutal in the entire Metroid universe, destroying and enslaving civilizations out of sheer pleasure. They are an intelligent race of arthropods who use advanced technology to create devastating weapons. One on one they aren’t much of a threat, but their numbers are vast and can easily overwhelm a player.

These cronies serve Ridley, a giant pterodactyl-like villain, who has led them to unleash some of the most dangerous things found within the galaxy. They are constantly experimenting on themselves and other species with mutagenic substances such as phazon or biochemical weaponry, which has led to some horribly monstrous results as well as widely altered appearances. Their brazen attitude and superiority complex has led them to attempt harvesting deadly aliens such as the Metroids.

They know no fear and will fight Samus to the death in Ridley’s quest to conquer the galaxy. With minds like worker bees serving the hive, these aggressive Space Pirates make formidable henchmen.

2. Red Arremer – Ghouls ‘N Goblins

#gallery-0-34 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-34 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-34 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-34 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

If you have ever played one of the titles in the Ghouls ‘N Goblins series, you know exactly who these pesky devils are. Although small in stature compared to other enemies in the game, the Red Arremer are lethal opponents.

Serving the ruler of the Demon Realm, these demonic foes swoop down at high speeds to attack Arthur with their sharp claws and teeth. Incredibly fast, they can be hard to dodge and even harder to attack. In fact, they’re so good at dodging your weapons that they will even taunt you by dancing.

It takes several hits to bring down a Red Arremer, but the satisfaction after killing one is priceless. Why did they make number two on the list? They are one of the most annoying yet successful henchmen in video game history being one of the few who actually succeed in killing the protagonist. While you might succumb to henchmen now and again, you will most certainly land on that dreaded Game Over screen more times than you like to admit because of these demons.

1. Verdugo – Resident Evil 4

#gallery-0-35 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-35 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-0-35 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-35 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Henchmen to Ramon Salazar, who happens to be a henchmen of Lord Saddler, these are easily one of the most terrifying creatures you can encounter in any video game. Considered Bio Organic Weapons, they are the combination of human and insect DNA implanted with the Plagas virus. What makes them the top henchmen on The Cult’s list?

For starters, their appearance is horrifying. They initially hide behind demonic looking cloaks with their nothing visible but their clearly inhuman faces. Never speaking and never moving without a word from Salazar, they give off a a dark, ominous presence. Once the cloak comes off these insectoids are the stuff of nightmares. Their mouths are comprised of two salivating mandibles that open to create a horrid sound, while their entire body is cased in a jet black exoskeleton.

The Verdugo attack with large tri-clawed hands and an long tail that features a deadly blade-like point at the end. The move at superhuman speeds as they stalk their prey, snarling and gurgling. In Resident Evil 4 Leon Kennedy faces off against just one of these abominations, which proves to be one of the toughest fights in the game. They are capable of withstanding gunfire and explosions to the point where a player can fire off all of their ammo to seemingly no effect.

The only way to destroy it (without having gone through the game a few times to acquire the Chicago Typewriter or Hand Canon) was to freeze it with liquid nitrogen and use the action kick button. However, the beast can still muster up the strength to claw Leon while frozen. What made this fight the most terrifying was being stuck in such close quarters with a lightning fast opponent who could tear you in two with the flick of its tail.

Subservient, deadly, nearly invincible, and downright horrifying monsters, the Verdugo are the perfect henchmen for any villain’s evil plot. Thus, making them the ultimate video game henchmen. Thankfully, they haven’t appeared in any further RE games.

Thanks, Henchmen

Without henchmen in a videogame, things would be awfully boring. They give us something to wail on, practice trick shots with, add a challenge, and sometimes even give us comic relief.

Which henchmen would you have added to the list? Let me know in the comments section below! There were so many to choose from that I actually had a hard time slimming this down to just 10.

If you liked this post and want to see more from The Cult of Culture, follow us on Facebook or sign up for our weekly newsletter.

  The Top 10 Video Game Henchmen They come in all shapes and sizes, some with deadly skills and others with questionable intellect, but every villain needs a horde of henchmen to help them carry out their nefarious plots.