#somehow...

[rosehipsister]

bodies! bodies! bodies!

[xx-akubara-xx]

Stellar Remnants: Complications

Bill listens in on a private conversation.

[val-of-the-north]

Tibia Mariners and Those Lost in Death

While I am at it, I should talk about a detail found in Messmer's Shadow Keep. On the way to the Specimen Storehouse, you'll be faced with a peculiar sight: boats lit on fire.

This seems to be a callback to Viking funerals, except the boats are placed in a row and burnt on land. It's certainly an odd practice, but it might only be done this way because Messmer's forces are far from an accessible shore or water that's deep enough to perform it normally.

However, something else caught my eye. The boats looked quite familiar so I went back to check and...

It was the EXACT model as the boats used by the Tibia Mariners! Perhaps it is obvious seeing as the Messmer boats are used in a funerary rite, but I think it's still quite a significant connection, especially since the old Mariners have gotten quite a bit of new lore in the DLC. In Charo's Hidden Grave we can find the skulls of boatmen as a crafting material, presumably that of previous Tibia Mariners.

This is outright confirmed after finding the lone Tibia Mariner in the area, who upon defeat drops the Tibia's Cookbook, which describes them as the oldest of grave keepers.

(Btw I love the detail of the piece of lace cloth and golden ornaments, they are the same found on the Mariners themselves. They even come with the same ghostly glow)

This is quite the revelation, as prior to Shadow of the Erdtree we had no way of knowing that these guys actually predated the spread of Deathroot and Godwyn's transformation into the Prince of Death. And how could we doubt that, since they even drop Deathroot themselves? But there was something that most people have neglected to note about the Mariners, me included.

In the base game, the Tibia Mariner found in the Wyndham Ruins drops a spell called Tibia's Summons. This inconspicuous sorcery of the servants of death actually holds a perplexing description which mentions a group known as "Those Lost in Death".

There was something seemingly redundant and unexplained about these guys. What does "Lost in Death" mean? Why aren't they simply called "Those Who Live in Death"? It wouldn't blame anyone for assuming that this description just contains an outdated term for the undead before they stuck with the one used in-game. However, through the Tibia's Cookbook, we find a NEW reference to this same concept.

Roughly the same title (Those Lost in Death = one lost in death), the same underlying sentiment, and we have verifiable proof that the Tibia Mariners are outright ancient... so what's the deal with this? Well, I have a theory.

The descriptions of these things hint at the fact that the dead have been wandering for a very long time, and that they are in need of leadership. Before the DLC, it was easy to assume that the undead were simply a result of Deathroot, and the game seemed to suggest the same thing by stating multiple times that it was the origin of Those Who Live in Death...

... but that's the thing! Prior to Deathroot connecting them to Godwyn, the undead amounted only to shambling corpses. They were not LIVING in Death, but simply LOST in it, which is how the Mariners were able to control them in ancient times through the use of sounds, both their horns and the Calls of Tibia. It's only through the guidance of a lord, in this case the Prince of Death, that they found an identity and new life.

It's likely the undead waned in the era of Marika because of her elaborate Erdtree burials and general control of life and death. Heck, the figure of Rosus, who guides us to the Catacombs, must have also played a big part in their disappearance. His axe has a similar power to the Tibia's Summons and it's called Rosus's Summons. Its description also mentions that the dead easily lose their way, meaning that Rosus was meant to lend the dead a guiding hand. "Those Lost in Death" would be lost no more.

Without people Lost in Death, the Mariners kind of lost their purpose and vanished for a long time... until the Shattering and the rise of Those Who Live in Death of course. It might mean that the only reason they hold onto Deathroot is because it attracts and connects the new undead.

I guess Godwyn was meant to be a sort of "lighthouse" for all undead. He would make sure they never lost themselves but also that they would be allowed to live instead of being forced back to rest like with Rosus and Marika. Him being a "lighthouse" also fits the marine theme that all this death business is going for quite neatly I think...

But to return to what started this... maybe those boats lit on fire are Messmer's way of making sure the soldiers of his army aren't lost to death after their passing. A way to give them a proper rest the way Marika would have wanted, even though he is limited in what he can do about it. The Catacombs are now corrupted with Deathroots and Godwyn's corpse bodies, and guarded by his fervent golden Death Knights.

(P.S. - I didn't know where to put this, but "Charo" is one letter off from Charon, the ferryman of the dead in Greek mythology. Seeing as the place is connected to the Tibia Mariners, who shepherded Those Lost in Death in an age long past, I find that this connection might not be mere coincidence...)

[plantanarchy]

Oh it's happening. Oh we are turning this horrible space into something useful

[intotheelliwoods]

I think I project onto my guys so much its unhealthy lmao, anyways goodnight o7

[teddybeartoji]

i'm getting coddled by two lesbians rn life is good

[stygiansauce]

"But sauce" I hear you say "you haven't even written chapter five--"

I KNOW. I KNOW AND I AM STILL PLOTTING TRIAL AND ERROR. I WANT TO PLAY WITH MY DOLLS IN THE TEXAS HEAT EVEN IF THE FIRST STORY ISNT DONE YET, THE PLAYLIST GIVES ME FEELINGS. CAPTIAL F FEELINGS. I LOVE MY RANCHERS AND SOUTHERN TANGO TEK AND JAMES PROCTOR SO MUCH IT HURTS. MY HEART HURTS FOR THE BLORBOS I MADE AND I DONT WANNA WRITE CHAPTER FIVE RIGHT NOW I WANNA MESS AROUND WITH COUNTRY MUSIC AND WRITE TRIAL AND ERROR.

I'm staying up late to finish this final and then I have an all day hike planned to go touch grass....

[ask-red-and-solomon]

Patching Up...

[hasarjunadoneanythingwrong]

gandhari makes them share

[sincapjelly]

Hey uh, so since last time I drew her with a resting b face, I drew this... little gremlin Lilly and thought I'd share... OKAY BYE *runs and hides behind a rock*

NEVERMIND I'M BACK! Here is another version similar to the one in my pfp!

NOW I'M HIDING FOR REAL SHOWING ART IS SO SCARY-

[reluctanttrabbit]

watching those security breach cut content videos is dangerous for me i want to bite someone ESPECIALLY THE VIDEOS THAT JUST FOCUS ON THE MAP BECAUSE LIKE. ALL THE CUT HALLWAYS ARE SO COOL I WANT TO GO TO THERE I WANT TO REWRITE SECURITY BREACH GRGRGRGR

[pixel-star]

[thelesbianoffrontiers]

Just saw a clip of Taash saying “Starkhaven is full of assholes. It doesn’t count as stealing from them.” Is this a bad time to drop the lore tidbit that Ruby is from Starkhaven….

[ballonleastadiumofficial]

Heard you were making a ruckus about how much you don't like bug types at one point... but what about Ribombee? Where does that one stand?

@gmax-butterfree

Let's look at one, shall we?

Here. You'll notice that it's missing any and all bug type features that might make someone uncomfortable. A reasonable amount of round, clawless limbs. A fine layer of fuzz rather than shining exoskeleton. A cheerful and expressive face. I've no problem with it whatsoever.

[dockder]

Still struggling with Impertinent's medium/style, but I'm getting there.