#shampanier

[tangledbea]

Happy Valentine’s Day/Day of Hearts!

[nerdasaurus1200]

It's been so long since I've talked about this, but rewatching Under Raps the whole story of Shampanier and Herz der Sonne just doesn't add up. By the middle ages, monarchs and generals RARELY joined their troops on the battlefield. But Shampanier did. She led her men, ransacked the city, and stormed the castle all herself. That's a clear sign that somehow this battle was personal for Shampanier. Whatever it was, she had some score to settle.

And you can see here in the production art for the prologue, she is FURIOUS. This is a woman on a mission to make someone pay.

Big Nose outright says that Herz der Sonne and Shampanier fought for hours with neither of them relenting. If they were so focused on their battle that lasted for hours, then how on earth did Shampanier just happen to find the exact page of the journal saying that Herz loves her? Did she crash into the pedestal or something?

Even if that did somehow happen, look at her face here. This face doesn't look surprised or even happy to me. Shampanier looks almost disgusted or horrified reading the confession of love. If she stormed Corona herself and Herz der Sonne had enough time to build tunnels throughout his entire country, the War of Unification was clearly a very long and brutal war that was deeply personal for one or both of them.

My thought is that the whole love confession in the journal is true, but Shampanier refused him until he threatened to attack Saporia with automatons unless she agreed to marry him and unify their two kingdoms. And fearing for the safety of her country, Shampanier agreed, and the propaganda began.

[lightdrizzel]

“Der Sonne’s sworn enemy, General Shampanier, launched a full-scale invasion of Corona.

Shampanier fought her way through the castle to face King Herz Der Sonne herself.

Their battle waged for hours with neither side relenting.

That is, until Shampanier discovered that the book’s final pages contained Herz’s profession of love for her.

It was then she realized that she held similar feelings for him as well.

And soon, the two were married. And a lasting peace was brought to the newly united nations forevermore.”

[zonerobotnik]

Do you have your own backstory fro the Saporians?

Ohhh, boooy do I! First of all, they used to protect the Sundrop Flower. Like the Moonstone Opal, the Kingdom was built up around it and they protected it with wards and other protective measures and they had an elite guard just like the Brotherhood that I haven't actually named yet. Sun Warriors or something. (This is supported by their insignia resembling the Sundrop Flower, like the Dark Kingdom has an insignia that resembles the moon and rocks) The war between Corona and Saporia was started by Zhan Tiri, who manipulated King Herz Der Sonne, who had a massive crush on General Shampanier, who was the King of Saporia's cousin, into attacking Corona so the wards would be destroyed and Zhan Tiri could access the Sundrop Flower. When Demanitus stopped her, she sent Gothel to guard it while she and her other followers went to fight him and got sealed away. After the war ended with Shampanier's capture, when he forced her to sign her name with his to prove her devotion to him, Corona stormed the Kingdom of Saporia and destroyed it, taking anyone that didn't escape captive and turning them into slaves and later second-class citizens. Until shortly after Quirin moved to Corona, there were Saporian Hunters that dressed in red tunics and hid their faces with identical helmets, (sound familiar?) and it was Quirin's getting together with a Saporian that got Frederic to shut down the whole thing once he became King. The Survivors of Saporia moved to a water-locked cliff hideaway that was only accessible by air and plotted to regain their lost land and tried to preserve their culture. Andrew is the Crown Prince of Saporia, and the dark-skinned woman named Juniper is his half-sister and Crown Princess (different moms, same dad). He refuses to be crowned King until they regain their lost homeland. He is also a pacifist at heart and usually leaves the fighting and strategizing to his sister, and his first time ever trying a mission of his own was when he got thrown into Corona Prison. This is all stuff that I've put in my fanfics! ^_^

[rendellstreet]

A remake of a previous map of Corona I made last year or so, inspired / taking influence from the Bitter Snow series by bestworstcase.

Worldbuilding notes:

Corona

A prosperous member of the Seven Kingdom alliance, whose otherwise pristine appearance is blemished with internal strife and a tumultuous past.

Points of Interest

Equis Border – Corona originally controlled most of Lorraine River and the southwestern coast of Lake Alsace (red line), but lost its territory to Equis in a rather embarrassing war that involved seals, manatees, and a colossal flying squid (black line). It’s a contentious point between the two kingdoms, as Kongsburg lost is outlet to the sea and the Lorraine valley was a major agricultural region. Not helping the matter is the current sovereign, King Trevor, renaming the lake and river after himself in an escalation with his petty, childish feud with King Frederic of Corona.

Kongsburg – The largest city in northern Corona. It’s a major port on the southern shore of Lake Trevor and economically speaking, been feeling the pinch of losing its outlet to the sea. There have been numerous scuffles between Coronan and Equisian ships over fishing rights. Rumors of the colossal flying squid harassing Coronan warships and snatching Coronan fisherman are unconfirmed but steadily growing.

Pingora Mountains – First of the two mountain ranges that split Corona into three parts. The tower Mother Gothel used to imprison Princess Rapunzel lies among the foothills, tucked way in a secret ravine. The region is heavily forested, filled with creatures and supernatural that can be very hostile to humans. Despite that several copper mines and logging sites maintain an active presence.

Herzingen – The capital of Corona and the fourth largest city in the kingdom, after Anburch, Alcorsīa, and Charcāthēn. The island formed the nucleus of Corona from which it has grown from annexing the adjacent coastal settlements and then expanding across the mainland. A defensive wall bisects the island and city into an affluent upper side clustered around the Der Sonne Palace, the seat of the monarchy, and the working class lower side that is connected to shore by the Shampanier Bridge. Beneath the city lies a honeycomb of secret tunnels built by King Herz der Sonne during the War of Unification with Saporia and they are of vital security to the Royal Guard of Herzingen.

Nathair River – The largest river in Corona, the kingdom’s primary breadbasket, and former source of conflict between regional powers. Originally hosting the city-state of Anburch and the Confederation of Wolfsburg-Kassel, both were annexed as Corona expanded over the Pingora Mountains. Now the river is divided between Corona controlling the lower valley and Franconia controlling the upstream and headwaters.

Saporia

A former kingdom that once prospered from its trading routes in the southern continent and abroad.

Points of Interest

Corona Border – The red line indicates where the border fluctuated across Nathair valley, with Corona pushing south to the mountains while Saporia pushed north to stop the encroachment. This ended up being one of the main causes of war between Corona and Saporia. The following union between the two kingdoms stopped the fluctuations and firmly placed the border flushed with Pittsford.

Janus Point – A rocky, steep promontory that stands between Artois and Cuxhaven. An ancient tree stands at its center, surrounded by a stone henge left crumbling from years of neglect. Zhan Tiri used to be worshiped here.

The Havasok – The second of the two mountain ranges that divide Corona into three parts, extending through Franconia and into Ingvarr. Steeper and larger peaks from those found in the Pingoras. The highest seven peaks are known as the Painted Ladies, known inspiring artists worldwide for their untouched beauty. They also formed a natural boundary between Corona and Saporia.

Mount Demanitus – The highest peak in Corona, hosting the ancient Demanitus Device inside. Originally named Zemplén by Saporians, it was renamed to honor Lord Demanitus for defending Corona against Zhan Tiri’s tyranny.

Zsófia’s Pass – A secret mountain passage between Mount Demanitus and Mount Impel that General Zsófia Shampanier used during the Nathair War to circumnavigate Coronan defenses along the river’s south bank, launching a counteroffensive that sliced the valley in half with the capture of Wolfsburg. Later, Shampanier and Herz der Sonne used it launch their conquest of Saporia with their combined armies. The passage was named in her memory.

Artois – Currently the fifth largest city in Corona, was the third after Alcorsīa, and Charcāthēn when Saporia was independent. Situated on the Nathair River Delta, it benefits from being the only major Saporian city not marred with strife and poverty, due its economy not disrupted by Coronan law. Saporians here mostly been assimilated into Coronan society and seen as ‘model citizens’ for others to follow.

Lake Hévíz – The largest freshwater lake in Corona and Saporia, draining into the sea via the Slaná River. Between the lake and the city of Pilsen lies a vast stretch of swampland called Mlaștina Doamnei, infamous for supposedly being Zhan Tiri’s original home in Coronan folklore. There have been several attempts to drain the swamps for practical land use but Saporians fiercely push back each time, citing the concern for ecological conservatism.

Alcorsīa – The second largest city in Saporia. It was once a wealthy city benefiting from being the terminus of several lucrative trade routes, notably the one that serviced Argentum and the other Hellenic states. Following the conquest of Saporia, the city experienced a gradual economic decline as Corona rerouted sea routes to Herzingen and Cuxhaven, the land routes through Charcāthēn, Pilsen, and Artois. It is now known for its destitute and neglected infrastructure, which feeds into growing tide of separatism in Saporia.

Charcāthēn – The largest, oldest city in Corona and the former capital of Saporia. Charcāthēn was sacked and burned in the climax of Corona’s conquest, its riches carted back to Herzingen as spoils of war and chunks of its surviving inhabitants fleeing to Marne and Pittsford, setting up diaspora communities in consequence. The city is a hotbed of Saporian separatism and has been the epicenter of several uprisings against Corona. Today it remains more or less under a military occupation by Coronan forces.

[subject-2-change]

Have you heard of the theory that Cassandra is a descendant of Shampanier?

Haven't heard that one! I suppose it would have to be on her father's side. I'm about it. Anything Cass and Shampanier related is good for me

[moviereviews101web]

The Millionaire Tour (2012) Movie Review

The Millionaire Tour – Movie Review Director: Inon Shampanier Writer: Inon Shampanier, Natalie Shampanier (Screenplay) Cast Dominic Monaghan (Lord of the Rings) Rick Gomez (Sin City) Jordan Belfi (All American) Agnes Bruckner (Murder by Numbers) Bruce Davison (X-Men) Plot: A man takes a cab from LAX. A couple gets in as well and he finds out what a millionaire tour is: they take his…

[cbybookclub]

BOOK REVIEW: Lost and Found by Natalie Shampanier http://cbybookclub.blogspot.com/2023/04/book-review-lost-and-found-by-natalie.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[tctmp]

Drama

[bound4escape]

Book Review: Lost and Found by Natalie Shampanier

Forgotten toys at a summer campgroundAre tossed into the camp’s Lost and Found.But Dino Boy refuses to spend his days on a shelfHe sets out to escape and find a home for himself.A ballerina, a hippo, and a mood ring tag alongOn this great adventure to find where they belong. Award-winning screenwriter and family therapist Natalie Shampanier draws from her experience with adopted children to…

[tangledbea]

So I was rewatching Under Raps and while the backstory is interesting is Seporia still a neighboring kingdom just in alliance with Corona or has the kingdom been dissolved and is no longer around.

It's been dissolved and is no longer around. When Herz der Sonne and Shampanier got married, they combined the two kingdoms into one under the name Corona (sort of like how, traditionally, women take their husband's last name when they get married).

The Separatists of Saporia don't want their kingdom back, they want Corona to be Saporia instead. Without the narrative having explained it at all, I always got the sense that some of Shampanier's troops/citizens were opposed to the merger in general, and felt that it was somehow losing the war by allowing themselves to become a part of Corona. So, generations later, the Separatists of Saporia were seeking to not only reclaim what they felt was rightfully theirs (even though it wasn't a hostile takeover by any means), but to even the score by claiming all of Corona and turning it into the new Saporia.

[nerdasaurus1200]

Some more evidence I just noticed that points towards Gothel and Cass being related to Shampanier- they both have a sharp chin with almost the exact same slant to it, and their noses are both kinda flat with no real upturn. And also their hair has a very similar comb-back styled part.

And also, Cassandra and Shampanier have very similar snarls and looks of confusion as well as a similar facial structure. Heck, Cass actually looks more like Shampanier than she looks like Gothel.

[lightdrizzel]

And just like that you reminded me of all the subtle parallels between Shampanier and Cassandra.

laughs well I could honestly be digging a bit but I made that post a few months back and it still makes sense so!!

[zonerobotnik]

Why do you care so much for the Saporians.

Because I see the potential in their story that was only vaguely hinted at. There were two Kingdoms, they were at war. Why? We don't know. They supposedly united into one, but there's a ruined castle near the Sundrop Monument in season 3 and no mention of the Royal Family. On the big unification celebration day, there is only one banner; Corona's. Where is Saporia's? Why is "Saporia" spoken with such vitriol? Why would General Shampanier stop fighting when she saw King Herz Der Sonne's confession if she wasn't even reading it before that point? She was already in, she didn't need the map. Why are the Seperatists so angry? Could it be because the love story is a lie, General Shampanier was a prisoner of war and Corona DESTROYED SAPORIA?

I love the Saporians because I hate how the show only used them as bit-part villains when they have so much to them. They invent, they have magic, they're forced to live in hiding, I wish we got to see more of them and to see what Varian saw, how he got to be so comfortable with them, the moment Clementine told him about when she watched Rapunzel and Cassandra play with her cart and accidentally erase Rapunzel's memories, which was CLEARLY alluded to by them smirking at each other before drawing Rapunzel's attention to the wand! I want to know why Varian felt perfectly comfortable with Andrew and Clementine in his lab, but every time Rapunzel or anyone in her friend group is in his lab he watches them like a hawk and gets nervous and can't relax. I want to know why Andrew didn't just drop Varian over the side and instead hesitated for ten seconds, maybe longer if Pascal didn't slam into him, and then DIDN'T LET HIM DROP AND INSTEAD HELD ON TIGHTER TO PULL HIM BACK ONBOARD WHEN HE GOT KNOCKED OVER.

There is SO much to them, and we only saw a glimpse. And I hate it, and so I make it my personal mission to expand their lore.

Why were they at war? According to my lore, Zhan Tiri manipulated Herz Der Sonne to attack Saporia and Saporia fought back. General Shampanier fighting him was her trying to get through to someone she thought was a friend.

Why did Zhan Tiri cause it? Because Saporia was protecting the Sundrop Flower like the Dark Kingdom protected the Moonstone Opal. Someone pointed out that Saporia's sigils resemble the Sundrop Flower, open in the original sigil and budded in the Seperatists of Saporia sigil, and this strongly supports my lore.

Why did Andrew call himself Hubert? Because Cassandra demanded his "real name" at swordpoint and he gave her the name of a character from a Saporian children's tale. Every other time he shows up, he is "Andrew".

Why did Andrew not kill Varian? Because he actually CARED about him.

What happened to the Royal Family? They fled with who they could when they got attacked and Andrew is the last Crown Prince of Saporia.

[rendellstreet]

A while back you made a post about Eugene and the royal court and I'm curious do you have more headcanons about that

Anon I know you asked specifically for Eugene, but the more I think about this, I am going to take a detour and go on a head-canon / world building tangent about Corona and Frederic

To back it up, the original post was inspired by my knowledge of the French court at Versailles, which is known for the Scandal, Gossip, and Intrigue. Louis XIV put up and center himself in this Rich French People Drama as a means to weaken the nobility and consolidate his power as an absolute monarch. 

Back to Corona, while I know some people aren’t keen on the idea, but I do like the idea of Frederic (and to a lesser extent Rapunzel) being a descendant of the Herz der Sonne, but not a direct descendant.

My head-canon is that der Sonne and Shampanier (who doesn’t have a name, but I like the name Zsófia so) were in love and got married, but neither one had real interest in... starting a family. They were pressed to have children but ultimately they were no kids, double income.

Fortunately, der Sonne did have brothers, five of them, and Frederic can trace his ancestry to the fourth one, because he ended up inheriting the throne*

*(Brother 1 died of illness, Brother 2 had a crisis of faith because of Brother 1 and become like, the Coronan version of a monk, Brother 3 and 5 died of illness 2: the electric boogaloo)

Now, as far as the royal court goes, Corona is this your typical court, with titled positions and whatnot. I do like the idea of Nigel and Captain being some kind of noblemen, Nigel’s family always were the stewards of Coronan kings, Captain coming from a family whose knight got titled and land or something,

But as a whole the Coronan courtiers are not particularly... friendly people, once you get past the smiles and etiquette, because this is a cutthroat business of getting the best position and putting yourself as close to the king and queen as possible. There WILL be blood and tears.

So where does Eugene fit in all of this?

Well, when Rapunzel went missing, there was a lot of anguish and distress Frederic and Arianna experienced, and the court did nothing to help but make it worse by jockeying positions as they always do, but thinking a distraught royal couple would be easier to manipulate, but then also like, “Why don’t you just have another kid”, which is kind of like. Dude. She’s been missing for like a week Holy shit-   

Cut to 18 years later, Rapunzel returns! Everyone’s excited! But there’s also [squinting] at this fresh-faced girl who doesn’t know a lick of anything about Corona and more importantly she’s single. Cue a LOT of courtiers maneuvering themselves to be in Rapunzel’s favor and promoting their choice of a perfect bachelor to her -

Except. Eugene is there. And he and Rapunzel love each other very much. 

So a big chunk of the contempt Eugene gets is everyone finding him being an unsuitable partner for Rapunzel and fuming about their plans being ruined 

There’s also the fact that a lot of them know him as Flynn Rider, so for a while it’s an endless “Hey I know you, you stole-!”

Then of course, Eugene is poor and a common man, HIGHLY inappropriate for high society Corona, the transgressions of class and status. If they don’t hate Eugene for being Flynn Rider, they hate the fact that this common street urchin is moseying around the palace in his grubby little clothes and has the Princess of Corona eating out of the palm of his hand.

Several courtiers have gone out of their way to get rid of Eugene. But Eugene is 1) smart 2) sexy 3) stolen long enough from rich people to know how to play their games 4) forcing him out just makes his love for Rapunzel grow stronger and 5) he’s spiteful he’s not going anywhere :)

[meezcarrie]

Book Review: Lost and Found by Natalie Shampanier

LOST AND FOUND by Natalie Shampanier ILLUSTRATOR: David Pavon GENRE: Children’s Picture Book PUBLISHER: Artichoke Heart Publishing RELEASE DATE: December 22, 2022 PAGES: 32 Forgotten toys at a summer camp ground Are tossed into the camp’s Lost and Found. But Dino Boy refuses to spend his days on a shelf He sets out to escape and find a home for himself. A ballerina, a hippo, and a mood ring tag…