#A Successful Calamity

[byneddiedingo]

A Successful Calamity (John G. Adolfi, 1932) Cast: George Arliss, Mary Astor, Evalyn Knapp, Grant Mitchell, Hardie Albright, William Janney, David Torrance, Randolph Scott, Fortunio Bonanova. Screenplay: Maude T. Howell, Julien Josephson, Austin Parker, based on a play by Claire Kummer. Cinematography: James Van Trees. Art direction: Anton Grot. Film editing: Howard Bretherton. Music: Bernhard Kaun. Hollywood's most memorable reactions to the Great Depression tended to be ironic: Ginger Rogers singing "We're in the Money" ("We never see a headline about breadlines today") in 42nd Street (Lloyd Bacon, 1933) or nitwit socialites scavenger hunting in homeless camps for a "forgotten man" in My Man Godfrey (Gregory La Cava, 1936). But A Successful Calamity takes a different approach to the crisis, almost an endorsement of Republican optimism about the economy. The movie opens with a scene in the office of the unnamed POTUS, who in 1932 would have been Herbert Hoover. (Although we don't see the president's face, the actor playing him, Oscar Apfel, wears Hoover's familiar high, stiff collar.) The president is welcoming financier Henry Wilton (George Arliss) back to the States after a year helping negotiate a deal about war debts. Wilton has yet to return to his home, where he expects to be warmly greeted by his wife, daughter, and son. Instead, he is met at the train station by his valet, Connors (Grant Mitchell), who explains that Mrs. Wilton (Mary Astor) is holding a "musicale" because she hadn't expected him until tomorrow, that his daughter, Peggy (Evalyn Knapp), is probably with her fiancé and couldn't have come to meet him because her car has been impounded after too many accidents and traffic tickets, and that his son, Eddie (William Janney), is playing in an important polo match. When Wilton discovers that his family is too busy socializing even to have dinner with him, he asks the valet if poor people have similar problems. No, Connors replies, poor people don't have enough money to "go" all the time. So Wilton gets the bright idea of telling his family that he's "ruined," whereupon they flock around him in support, vowing to get jobs or otherwise find ways to make ends meet. And when word leaks out that Wilton is on the skids, the news somehow enables him to make a killing on a stock purchase he's been angling for unsuccessfully. The moral seems to be that poor people really do have it better. It's an inane premise executed with modest finesse by a director known for his collaboration with Arliss on half a dozen other films, most notably Alexander Hamilton (1931), The Man Who Played God (1932), and Voltaire (1933). Arliss, one of the more unlikely stars of the early talkies, is an odd match for Astor, 38 years his junior. She plays Wilton's second wife -- the grown children are presumably from his first marriage -- but there's not much conviction or chemistry in their relationship.

#A Successful Calamity #John G. Adolfi #George Arliss #Mary Astor

[magicwithered]

I could go on and talk about how Laerryn is not, in the end, motivated by hubris. Though The Age of Arcane is the age of Wizards who believe themselves bigger than gods. Or, or, I could talk about how Laerryn Coramar-Seelie was pushed by grief so deep it doesn���t just come in waves, it never fucking leaves.

How “It’s stupid to try and become a god” because she asked for the gods to save her friend. Pleaded with them to bring them back. That it was hubris that got her friend killed, and Laerryn is not the smartest person in Avalir for nothing. That she crushed it under her heel, but if her best friend, the greatest person she’s ever known had to die for her ambitions than it better well be fucking worth it.

That it is love, and love lost, that motivates her to do the things she does. And the fear of losing love again and again that motivates her to cast blight, despite her having paused for a second to listen.

Pride was her fatal flaw when Evandrian died. But it was not when she helped cause the calamity. It was love and love alone. Because pride is for people who don’t get shit done, pride is for the undeserving. She built a cathedral with her own two hands between working and researching. Between grief and mourning. Of course Laerryn is proud of herself, of course she believes in herself. She’s the goddamn Architect Arcane, she keeps this city afloat, makes discoveries for people to eventually use. She is the heart of the city. But she does not still her hand in pride, but fear, but love.

Love is what causes the Calamity. Love for Loquatious, love for Patia, love for her people. And also deep unsettling grief. Grief for what was lost to her, grief that the gods did not grant Evandrian reprieve. Grief for all the things that she could not save. Why would she waste her time trying to become a god, when she can show the gods that even them, even the mundane, even the mortals that they’ve created can do wonderful things and perform miracles. That they do not need them to grant them wishes, that they can do it themselves instead of waiting for the whims and whimsies of the Primordials to pay them any attention.

Why would the gods give her this power, this intelligence that she’s honed like a fine tuned instrument if not so that she can show them all that Avalir can be? And in the end, how could she learn? Why would she change everything? Change anything. In the end, her point was proven, the things she lost were no longer for naught. How could she ever regret what happened if in the end it was for love?

#exu laerryn #laerryn coramar seelie #avalir #exu calamity #this was inspired by Laerryn’s hesitation when Nydas fucking grappled her #and then seeing the Tree of Names and seeing Quay in danger and IMMEDIATELY casting blight #also aabria said she didn’t learn anything from the calamity and I was like: shit I wouldn’t either lmfao #I kept seeing like: it was only love #or it was only hubris #and I don’t think enough people think about #how close Evandrian and Laerryn were #and how she TOO was grieving #and how grief can fester and infect #how mourning can rot someone from the inside out #if they don’t have the ability to expel it #AND ALSO! #How Laerryn is as a person as such a goal oriented person #she would have to make his death mean something #because if he died and she cannot be successful in the thing that caused his sickness #then she killed him and it was pointless

[thespoonisvictory]

I LOVE a story that starts with something dead and missing in a friend group. When the person who got the gang together is something they can’t even talk about, and you can just feel that they should be a main character in this story, that’s when you know you’re in for the good shit

#this is about #evandrin alterra #exu calamity #exu:c #but also steve and leigh in thohh #nate in succession #the role of a spouse in a friend group or family is So. Good. esp when they're gone #when the story starts with a bleeding heart and the worst thing having already happened

[yloiseconeillants]

house warming party @ the crystal tower (antonio my friend antonio belongs to @hermits-hovel)

#L M A O #something nice before everyone gets buried in the agonies i guess #the allagan tempest #medusa #scylla #antonio #emet-selch #always feel weird tagging emet-selch in my barbie adventures like hello yes this is my oc emet-selch #who is exactly like video game emet-selch except he's got like 4 exes #that he attempts with varying success to recruit to his apocalypse cult before each calamity #3 exes? #3 exes and a 'never happened' i guess : )

[zellink]

I am starting that pre-calamity fic after all.......

#this will take MONTHS i already know it #and i won't even start posting until i have at least 7 chapters written down #and i may be 6 years late to the party but who caaaares #also yes that is from a john berryman poem that is also used in succession #it's a damn good poem and 'all the bells say' fit pre-calamity so much methinks. #nat says #bells tag

[emo-eyemakeup-evildude]

how the hell was it easier to give this asshole interesting character development in my high school AU where he’s just the fucking janitor who shows up sometimes to say cryptic shit than in his own fic where he gets to be the specialest little guy he was meant to be

it just doesn’t add up

I genuinely honestly believe it's because they gave us SO LITTLE canon information about him that it's just impossible to invent something that seems to organically actually Come From Him. it's all an illusion. all Things about him come from surrounding narrative. he's an absolute black hole of a character.

he's just Some Guy nintendo hired to stand around in scenes and go AHA YOU FOOLS and that's it that's the whole thing and they probably underpaid him because he did it so well he just defies all development all plot all fucking modern and traditional storytelling. even in the one scene he actually walks with his own two feet he literally has zero facial expression. in his one big scene his fucking legs go transparent from the effort of maintaining a very basic Badguy Speech™️

thank you for the inspiration tho because I will character development this asshole even if I have to fucking beat him to death to get there

#astor age of calamity #fucking get in the fic you stupid bastard #shoves you shoves you pushes you shoves you #I'm working on three wips rn that I want to post eventually #the one thats going best is the one where he just shows up every couple thousand words to be Mysterious and A Bitch #I dread when he actually becomes an active part of the story #my most successful moments with him across all of my fics are when we know nothing about him or when he's doing nothing #ultimate give us nothing king #allergic to specialest little guy syndrome

[pocketramblr]

me, Pocket "family trees" Ramblr, looking at this new lass in the trailer: now you aren't going to believe what my theory is here-

#i think shes the dauGHTER OF ORIGINAL FLAVOR LINK #we'll take the literal 'blood of ganon in his veins' idea plus the fact that loz1 sprites are a bit darker skinned than successive ones #the fairy influences on the gal's style? ya her da's part time fairy #plus whichever zelda he married (holding out as i am for it being game one princess not game two) #kiddos gonna inherit a LOT of magic with everything going on #and when the blood curse on her dad's unleashed? thats calamity baby #thats 10000 years of blood moons #and a warning in prophecy that sealing powers she inherited from her mother can only last so long #its NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN but what if this girlie has a moment thinking about the red triforce on her father's hand. i'd keel over #n e way thats just my silly little theory shes probably like #none of those things at all #totk spoilers #i guess. lightly

[sonata-stigmata]

went to fed ex today to send my aunt something and got complimented on my outfit and glasses! :)

#no calamities i invented in my brain actually happened AND a positive interaction? success! #I'm going to get a good grade in being happy and normal which is something you can definitely achieve #trash posts

[betterbooksandthings]

"Romances in space are just out of this world. Love in the dangerous, endless expanse of space isn’t easy. Traveling far distances in ships that you often cannot leave is challenging in the best of conditions. In space, the door is locked and you have to make it work. Interplanetary travel, adventure, and romance are not for the faint of heart. Good thing I have some entertaining books to pick up instead of making the trip yourself.

My favorite romances in space involve a level of mystery, political intrigue, and danger. There is just something about a romantic pairing in trouble that really sells me on their mutual respect, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. When you are in space and in trouble, sometimes love is part of the answer, and I think that’s fun."

#8 Out-of-this-World Romances in Space #SPACE ROMANCE #space opera romance #romance #romance books #romance book recs #Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell #The Red Scholar’s Wake by Aliette de Bodard #Aurora Blazing by Jessie Mihalik #The Stars Too Fondly by Emily Hamilton #To Plunder a Pirate Queen by Nina Saxena #Calamity by Constance Fay #The Principle of Moments by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson #The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older

[nabuplata]

No te pierdes en la oscuridad porque mi ser emana luz, eres consciente del dolor pero te aferras a mi recuerdo para ignorar lo inevitable, te sientes invencible por mis ideas, tus ideas, la energía del universo y de dios...

Si es una ilusión lo que nos permite resistir y hacer sueños realidad, entonces déjenme vivir soñando pues, seguramente este mundo pertenece a los que sueñan y no a los que temen soñar.

N.P.

#nabuplata #realidad #versodeldia #poesia #esperanza #signodeaire #pareja #textos #pensamientos #noche de fuego #aullido #succession #suck my tiddies #euforia #age of calamity #caos #ideas del corazón #citas de dolor #citas de la vida #fuego del sol #aguasalada #angel dust #esperamos #espejo #cortadas #flesh #me ahogo #marzo2024 #3

[anarchywoofwoof]

i feel like i'm going to vomit

raytheon, who is a salesperson on behalf of agony and death, casually unfolded their disgusting, exploitative blueprint of human destruction in their latest earnings call. raytheon executives, in suits soaked with the blood and sweat of global suffering, gaped at the "opportunity" unfolding re: the ongoing war crimes and horrific brutality being carried out Palestine.

while Palestinians watch everything they've ever loved get turned to rubble, raytheon stockholders see dollars in destruction, profit in pain, and business blooming on the battlefield. imagine, turning the tremors of traumatized, suffering people into a system of fuel for your war machine - this is their normal. this is the shit that sales people at raytheon live for 9 hours a day and then go home and sleep at night.

history bleeds from the pages of raytheon's diary, filled with tales of technologized terror, largely carried out against minority peoples with little means to fight back or defend themselves. tales where human lives are turned into rows and columns on spreadsheets and civilizations’ calamities are converted into cold, hard cash trails.

meanwhile, the boardroom buzzes and swarms with heartless vultures, circling the globe, eyes peeled for the next plot of despair to descend upon, beaks ready to peck at the literal carrion of communities in conflict.

oh, and Biden's Defense Secretary was on the Board

“see a benefit,” they have the fucking audacity to say, as if the orchestras of war are trumpeting some sort of symphony of success for their gross and disgusting contributions. raytheon's portfolios pulsate with the rhythms of air strikes and raids, and their balance sheets boom with the bass of bombs dropping on communities that have been traumatized so many times over that they have nothing left to give.

in the tragedy of others, raytheon finds triumph. in the heartbeats silenced by their symphonies of destruction, they find the rhythm of their entire revenue stream.

the engine of exploitation, oiled with oppression and fueled by the flames of conflict, roars at the center of raytheon's profit model. call it out when you see it: capitalism is incompatible with the preservation of human life.

[x]

#palestine #israel #fuck capitalism #anti capitalist #anti capitalism #raytheon #twitter

[sreegs]

SHIVERS [Legendary: Success] — Before you stands an inflatable pool filled with plastic balls. Despite being referred to as a "pit", it's quite shallow. Currently inhabited by a handful of young denizens, members of a social network, faces painted to look like characters from a story about teenagers who bring about the end of the old world and start anew.

YOU — What else do I see?

SHIVERS — It's flanked by an inflatable castle. The fans used to keep these structures erect fill the conference hall with an ominous drone, washing out the conversations around you. You can make out an utterance about shipping, but it's evident none of these people are involved in freight. Occasionally, a shoe squeaking on the concrete floor pierces the drone. You feel insignificant, and out of place here.

YOU — Embrace the cold.

SHIVERS — Further outward, you can sense rooms partitioned for speaker panels and lectures. Rows of empty chairs facing a podium, soon to be the stage for a one act tragedy. The anticipation of throngs of guests has uncoiled into an underwhelming sadness. The heroes and storytellers the people have been promised will not be making an appearance.

SHIVERS — At the hotel desk, a small calamity is brewing into a storm. A debt must be paid, and quickly, before the people taking part in this little experiment are expelled into the rain.

YOU — Where am I?

SHIVERS — Even further out, you see the building you are within. A cement and steel structure surrounded by acres of wet asphalt, just off the I 90. You are in Schaumberg. You are at Dashcon. You have one more hour in the pit.

#disco elysium #dashcon #tumblr #original content

[shaevilux]

People knock on Rhoam for being a bad dad cuz he's distant and stern to little Zelda and say how Rauru is the goat (heh) for taking her in like his own daughter. Like Zelda had her real parental connection with Sonia and Rauru. But frankly that's a little reductive.

Rauru literally descended from the heavens, married a priest, started a kingdom. Man didn't really know much strife yet. There's no looming threat of calamity or prophecy yet. Things are peaceful. Things are fine. Things are great. Zelda dropped in during this time, talking about a doom that's going to happen tens of thousands of years in the future.

This sad, lost princess.

Of course any reasonable person would take her in and calm her and tell her she is fine and listen and support her.

Rhoam not being able to be this kind of figure for Zelda is tragic. Just read this poor man's journal entries:

"It has been a year and three months since her mother passed. Perhaps she is held back by heartache too deep to heal. If the Ganon prophecy wasn't looming over our heads, I would tell her to take her time... To wait until she is ready. But our situation is dire and leaves no room for weakness—even on behalf of my beloved daughter. My heart breaks for Zelda, but I must act as a king, not a father. I must order her to train relentlessly at the fountain." Pg 4.

"In truth, I understand Zelda's feelings. Painfully so. She lost her mother, her teacher, before she could learn from her. Ten pointless years of self-training, without so much as a book or note to help her find her way... Those in the castle talk behind her back. And I, her only family, scold her for her shortcomings. No wonder she wishes to hide away in her beloved relic research. I'd love nothing more than to console her... But I must stay strong. She MUST fulfill her duty, just as we all must. Even if she comes to despise me." Pg 6.

"I have been told my Zelda went to the Spring of Wisdom... This will likely be her last chance. If she is unable to awaken her power at Lanayru, all hope is truly lost. If she comes back without success, then I shall speak kindly with her. Scolding is pointless now. I forced 10 years of training on her... and after all that, it seems her power will stubbornly awaken some other way. Perhaps I should encourage her to keep researching her beloved relics. They may just lead her to answers I can't provide. For now, I sit anxiously, more a father than a king in this moment. I sit and await my daughter's return." Pg 7. (He fucking dies and never gives Zelda this bit of closure uuuugggghhhhhhh Zelda I'm so sorry Rhoam I'm so sorry)

It sucks because most people remember the cutscenes (duh it's more immersive and important) and in the cutscenes of the first game Rhoam was mostly shown as being stern and mean to babygirl Zelda, who is closed fists explaining herself to him at the verge of tears. And in contrast everyone in the first royal family of hyrule in the second game treated her with such kindness and we can see how happy she was being there with them.

Rhoam was shackled by duty. By prophecy. By the looming calamity. And from the day he named his daughter 'Zelda' he shackled her as well.

And what does Zelda do with these shackles? She accepts them. She tolerates them. Because she loves her father and her kingdom and knows there's a power dormant in her that can stop the calamity that she must do her best to unlock. She does this dutifully. She does all the training, she does everything that is required.

But it still doesn't unlock. So she tries other ways. She isn't just going after the 'relics' because she's scholarly and nerdy and wants to learn about them. She does it because she's pragmatic. She knows her sacred sealing power isn't present in her. She knows she might not be able to control it or even unlock it in time.

So she tries this alternative approach. The Divine Beasts, the guardians. Ancient tech that was used to prevent the calamity of their time. And she awakened the tech. And her father chose the champions for each divine beast. And they were all prepared. And it's all thanks to Zelda.

And then... Fucking tragedy again. Ganon probably learned his lesson from the last time he was thwarted and immediately went for the tech, corrupting it and turning it against the new users. Against Zelda.

It's never really stated how fast it all turned to shit when the tech betrayed them (or maybe I don't remember) but every account points to it being almost overnight. The champions died. Rhoam died. And suddenly, suddenly Zelda unlocks her sealing magic.

I always always hate the literary trope of using tragedy to unlock a great power that could've actually stopped the tragedy from happening in the first place.

And it's no different in BOTW. I hate that Zelda had to go through all this to unlock her powers.

And then what happens next?

She's stuck in limbo (in an almost mocking parallel to Rauru in the next game with his imprisoning arm) holding Ganon back. For a hundred years.

This young woman had gone through so much only to be trapped with a calamity seeking to destroy Hyrule for a century.

Does she know her father died in the war? Does she know the champions died in battle? Would she know Link would survive in the Shrine of Resurrection? Would she know how long it would all take? The century she would have to wait?

I think she didn't. I think it all happened too fast. I think ultimately, she decided a stalemate with ganon was an agreeable outcome. I think in her mind she probably thought she failed Hyrule. When the divine beasts turned she must have been distraught. Distraught might not even cover it tbh. But at least... At least when the kingdom was brought to it's knees by the corrupted tech and was waiting for the final blow, she had the ability to ensure the final blow never came.

And oh boy I have a looot more to talk about regarding Tears of the Kingdom. But I do want to have a couple of more playthroughs of it to really formulate what I want to say.

#zelda #zelink #totk thoughts #loz spoilers #totk spoilers #the legend of zelda #legend of zelda #tloz botw #tloz totk #loz totk #loz botw #loz tears of the kingdom #tears of the kindom spoilers #breath

[utilitycaster]

An ongoing theme, with regards to the gods (as opposed to Predathos and the Imperium) is that of free will. The gods are stringent in collecting on promises made, and the Betrayers will use initial consent as license to act freely, but it’s notable, in a campaign where nearly all the main player characters are shaped by entities that never once gave them a choice, the gods require an invitation. Except, worryingly, Predathos, a being of nigh-divine powers who does not seem bound by this limitation. And, of course, mortals can do as they will.

When Lolth overtakes Opal, the fact that Opal assumed both the crown, and the title of champion, willingly, is repeatedly mentioned, in DM narration and by Lolth herself. Lolth also mentions to Dorian, (perhaps untruthfully, though the events of EXU indicate this might be genuine), that she wished for him to become her champion instead - but he did not put on the crown, so she can’t have him. Obviously, Lolth takes many liberties with Opal once given entry, but she can only speak to people or act through someone who has permitted her. We see this too with Asmodeus: it is ultimately Zerxus’s choice not to walk away and face his death, but make good on his pact; some degree of initial consent is needed. K’nauth and Judicators are also both explicitly described as voluntary: once permission is given, they are bound, but this is no different than the contracts of warlocks and notably, with the gods, while we’ve seen them make deals under dire straits, we’ve never seen such unwitting participants in their pacts as Fjord with Uk’otoa or Laudna with Delilah among the gods. All entered in control of their faculties, to our knowledge, though not necessarily with the full knowledge of what it entailed.

The Prime Deities are differentiated from the Betrayers in that they continue to provide free will to their champions and their faithful. The Raven Queen accepts Vax’s trade of his life for Vex’s, given without any direct communication from her, but she quickly does begin to communicate clearly; when Vax communes with her in Duskmeadow, she tells him what she wishes, putting him much more at ease. Later, after his death, she gives him an option to either remain dead, or to have a little more time left with Keyleth, Vex, and the others of Vox Machina before he completes his task and returns to her, and he makes a choice. When Morrighan asks for guidance, the Raven Queen’s response is to ask “why are you fighting, and what are you fighting for?” and stresses that she wishes to lay out the exact terms before Morrighan agrees to anything. When Percy asks her what to do she, ironically enough for a goddess of fate, tells him he possesses the capacity to do great things of his own accord. All of Vox Machina’s divine favors come willingly, only after a conversation; the Wildmother first reaches out to Fjord before he decides to accept. And mortals have the capacity to resist even these promises; Opal is only partially successful but she does not give the Spider Queen two deaths and she does not leave alone. Fy’ra Rai finds herself able to go against Lolth’s wishes even when the Wildmother does not wish to intervene; it is her choice not to kill Opal but to go with her.

When mortals express doubt in the gods, it’s typically not their actions. It’s because they don’t think they meddle in the matters of mortals enough. As mentioned, Percy struggles with the open-ended nature of the Raven Queen’s advice. Essek, frequently considered an “anti-god” character is actually quite mild in his doubt and ultimately more frustrated at the clerics of the Kryn Dynasty than the Luxon itself (put a pin in that). Ludinus Da’leth states the gods should have prevented the Calamity, despite us knowing that the Prime Deities avoided intervention and that ultimately, while the Calamity had a number of causes, mortals (Vespin, Laerryn, much of the city of Avalir) were at the root. Ashton and Imogen’s frustrations with the gods have both ultimately been that they asked for assistance and did not receive it.

The extension of the Prime Deities’ belief in the free will of mortals is sufficiently strong that even during the Age of Arcanum, when many mortals rejected them, and when they did not require mortal intermediaries, they still chose to preserve it until the Calamity began. Each major action by the gods as a group is ultimately one to preserve themselves (the sealing of Predathos; the destruction of Aeor; the current campaign’s truce) or to preserve mortals (the Primes during the Schism and in creating the Divine Gate).

Contrast this with Delilah, who seizes control of Laudna and who is never stated to have asked permission for any of her actions. Compare to FCG, designed by Aeorians to lose control and kill. Compare to Chetney, bitten by a werewolf in the wilderness (and the others of the Gorgynei as well) - indeed, what control he has is the legacy of magic granted by the Raven Queen and by a nature spirit tied to the Wildmother. Contrast this now with Predathos, whose Ruidusborn had no say in this connection and indeed, many are motivated in service to Predathos with the goal of freeing themselves. Enforcers within the Kreveris Imperium refer to themselves as The Will, and Elder Barthie refers to those who oppose them as being made “pliable”. Chetney’s loss of control under Ruidus is deliberately triggered by the Weave Mind, with whom he made no deal.

If we (in my opinion, rightfully) reject any argument that denies the right of sentient entities to self-preservation, we are left with the following accusations of the gods: failing to stop wrongdoing by mortals (both in their name and unrelated); and acting in accordance with pre-existing agreements. The latter we can also reject; it is not perhaps kind of the gods to hold people to their contracts, but this is not unique to them and as discussed extensively above, they do require that, at least initially, the promise be made willingly.

The former, unfortunately, will not be stopped by destroying the gods. Ultimately, such people as Tuldus, Bor’Dor, and the people of Hearthdell were oppressed by their fellow mortals. In-world, we have seen zealotry in the name not just of the Prime Deities but that of countless lesser ones, notably Uk’otoa; if only the Prime and Betrayer gods are at stake, this simply creates a power vacuum to be filled by other entities vastly more powerful than mortals. On the other hand, should all power-granting entities be devoured, setting aside the upheaval this will cause in society, this leaves no shortage of room for oppression on the basis of race or political affiliation, both of which we’ve seen. The Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting’s original incarnation, prior to the further development of Wildemount for Campaign 2, even stated the Dwendalian Empire forbade all religion and was still an authoritarian one. Colonization is the end goal of the Weave Mind and indeed the motivation for killing the gods per Edmuda. It also is not unheard of on Exandria for reasons not attributed to religion, notably the settling of the Menagerie Coast by Marquesians, and Tal’Dorei (formerly Gwessar) by human settlers from Issylra. And, of course, as we know in our real world, you do not need provable deities for religion to develop nor for colonization and oppression. Mortals do these things in reality and Exandria, whether or not the gods exist, and destroying the gods in Exandria achieves no prevention, only carnage.

Returning, finally, to Essek: when we look at the major characters who are PCs or are aligned with them who have expressed frustration with the gods, the only one who has much of a case for being influenced by the actions of a deity is Percy, who is staunchly on the side against Predathos. One could split hairs and note that Vecna was not a deity at the time of the murder of Percy’s family, his own torture, and the destruction and occupation of Whitestone, but rather merely a power-hungry wizard extending his lifespan via unscrupulous means, but Percy’s own choices render this moot. Meanwhile, the gods simply did not alleviate Imogen and Ashton’s experiences, both of which were in part due to powers caused by entities the gods, in fact, failed to sufficiently destroy (Predathos and Ka’Mort specifically) and mostly perpetuated by mortals reacting to Imogen’s abilities or Ashton finding themself orphaned on the outskirts of a notoriously rough city and later, caught as the fall guy in a failed heist by a morally questionable wealthy collector.

It is my belief that Keyleth’s anger is, on some level, extended towards someone who can’t respond nor change and who she feels she cannot be angry at, and that is Vax. Vax made the deal and the Raven Queen collected; Vax decided to take the Raven Queen’s second offer. He was forced into neither, and as discussed later, he likely would have responded poorly to a True Resurrection attempt given his faith. Vax is dead because of Vecna, but neutralizing Vecna didn’t fix it. I think Dorian’s anger at Lolth meanwhile is valid, but it’s also something I’d imagine he feels he cannot direct towards Opal, even though her actions are a part of it. And I’m sure both Keyleth and Dorian blame themselves, to an extent, whether or not that is rightful. The gods make just as convenient a scapegoat for those hurt by mortals as they do an excuse for cruelty.  But I don’t think killing them will bring back Vax, and certainly not Cyrus. Much as Derrig and Will and four other Ashari lie permanently dead at the hands of Otohan Thull despite her demise, and Orym’s trauma remains, killing the gods will not undo what happened to Imogen or Ashton. And since their main crime is considered to be inaction, killing them does not end suffering (and, indeed, should we dig into the infrastructures of Exandrian society and cosmology, may very well drastically increase it). It merely confirms that no one will receive their favor rather than only some; a bringing everyone down to your misery rather than striving to elevate all. An apt, if slightly tongue-in-cheek comparison to the real world is the fact that the cause of student loan forgiveness has been hamstrung and neutered by people furious that, since they didn’t receive help, no one else should - it is a self-centered and retaliatory mentality to lash out so far in jealousy that one would willingly destroy the life of another with the goal of increasing universal suffering.

Sources:

Timestamps available upon request but here are the episodes I’m drawing from. Printed works include pages.

Lolth, Opal, and Dorian: see 3x92-93; see also EXU Prime episode 8, EXU Kymal episode 2 for Opal willingly accepting and EXU Prime episodes 5 and 7 for the Spider Queen trying to get Dorian to put on the circlet.

K’nauth: EXU Calamity episode 2

Asmodeus and Zerxus: EXU Calamity episode 4

Judicators: 3x43

The Raven Queen and Vax: notably 1x44 (initial deal), 1x57 (Duskmeadow communion), 1x103 (her offering him the choice to pass or to become a revenant). Percy is also in 1x57.

The Raven Queen and Morrighan: 3x93.

Vox Machina’s divine favors: 1x104-1x106

Fjord and the Wildmother: 2x65; powers granted in 2x76.

Fy’ra and the Wildmother: 3x93

Essek’s feelings: see the final portion of this excellent post from essektheyless

Ludinus on the gods: 3x45

For causes of the Calamity, see EXU Calamity in its entirety, but Vespin specifically is episode 4, many of Avalir’s actions (including ignoring the hall of prophecy) are episode 2, and Laerryn denying the Arboreal Calix needed energy and casting Blight are in episode 3).

Ashton on the gods: 3x65

Imogen on the gods: 3x79

See page 12 of The Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount regarding the Prime Deities’ choice not to enforce their will during the Age of Arcanum.

Sealing of Predathos: 3x43; destruction of Aeor: EGTW 121; Truce mentioned in 3x67 and has appeared in 3x89 (Vezoden) and 3x92-93 (The Wildmother and Lolth).

Schism: EGTW 12; Divine Gate EGTW 13-14.

Delilah seizing control: 3x23

FCG’s design: 3x32 and 3x45

Chetney and Gorgynei (history and control): 3x40-41

Weave Mind control of Chetney: 3x91

Goals of Ruidusborn: multiple but see 3x48 and 3x89, 3x92 for a strong example with Liliana.

Imperium practices: 3x84

Tuldus: 3x44. Bor’Dor: 3x63. Hearthdell: 3x60-61.

Actions of Uk’otoa: much of Campaign 2 but notably 2x98 and The Mighty Nein Reunited.

Original description of the Dwendalian Empire: Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting (not Reborn) page 99

Goals of the Weave Mind: 3x85

Colonization of the Menagerie Coast: EGTW 17 (largely a peaceful one); Colonization of Tal’Dorei: Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn page 18 (explicitly stated to be against the wishes of the elves; led in part to the rule of Drassig and Scattered War).

Percy and Vecna: Vecna ascends in 1x106; the events of the Whitestone Occupation begin prior to campaign 1. Percy is in multiple war councils against the Vanguard and notably appears in the plans for a distraction to allow Bells Hells to take the Bloody Bridge in 3x81.

Imogen and Predathos: the revelation that Predathos may be within exaltants comes in 3x92; 3x83 and 3x87 both have involuntary experiences due to Predathos and see Liliana’s arguments in 3x48 as well as Imogen’s discussion of Gelvaan.

Ashton and Ka’Mort: emotional fallout most notably in 3x78; Evontra’vir’s description of what happened with the shard in 3x74. Memories of the Hexum Manor heist can be seen in 3x35.

#critical role #long post #cr meta

[cranesofibycus]

A few thoughts after having just rewatched the first ep of EXU Calamity:

It had never occurred to me that Avalir is a cruise ship but man Avalir is a CRUISE SHIP! The floating city that lands in a harbor once in a while and is full of people who think they've found the real meaning of life by living on this thing. The endless luxury and useless amenities. The unbelievable amount of resources needed to keep that city afloat. The metaphor is right there and I had never seen it.

I've touched on this before but it strikes me once again how great Brennan is at making ability check successes feel purposeful. When more people make checks in different abilities about the same thing he will describe in detail how their expertise helps them piece together information (specifically thinking about the solar bow fragment here). And it really makes it feel like a group effort.

Brennan sarcastically thanking them for breaking up the party two minutes after he had finally managed to get them all in one place is very funny considering how little time they will spend as a group in the following episodes.

It's such a small moment, but I adored when Nydas received the homemade loaf of bread from his brother and sister-in-law. It comes right on the heel of a sequence that is overflowing with descriptions of the most outrageously arcane surroundings. The sphinx, the automatons, the hundreds of wands... and then there is this mundane object that Nydas gets excited about in a completely different, much more private and quiet way. He hugs it and smells it like it's worth more than the vaults of Avalir could ever hold, and if that doesn't distill everything about what is right and wrong in that world down to its quintessence I don't know.

The hubris. It's just. It's everywhere and it's already painful to watch.

Anyway, episode 1 was already so much better than I had remembered and I was able to follow all of it without great effort or need for attention. Rewatching Calamity: 10/10, would recommend.

#critical role #exu calamity #calamity

[pocketseizure]

Zelda’s Secret Well is located in Hateno Village behind Link’s house. Zelda used the small room at the bottom of the well as a quiet study where she could be alone with her thoughts. This is where she left her personal diary, from which we can learn about her life after Link freed her from Calamity Ganon.

It’s unclear how much time has passed since the events of Breath of the Wild. One of the clearest indications, however, is Hudson and Rhondson’s daughter Matisson, who is old enough to travel to Gerudo Town. Perhaps it makes sense to speculate that, while seven years passed in the real world between the release of Breath of the Wild and the release of Tears of the Kingdom, seven years passed in Hyrule as well.  

The diary in Zelda’s Secret Well suggests that, during this time, Zelda lived together with Link in Hateno while establishing a school for the village children. Zelda seems to have attached great significance to her work in Hateno, and her students’ crayon drawings adorn the walls of her underground study. Despite the success of the school, the stacks of books and papers covering the desk and bookcase in the well suggest that Zelda wasn’t quite ready to settle down. The mention of Zelda’s frequent travels in her diary also suggest that she saw Hateno Village as more of a base of operations than a permanent home.

In an interview, Hidemaro Fujibayashi said that Tears of the Kingdom is about Zelda “going through growth, experiencing things, and ultimately figuring out what kind of a person she’s going to be.” It may be inevitable that Zelda will eventually return to Hyrule Castle, especially since her diary reveals that she still thinks of Link as a bodyguard. Nevertheless, the solemnity of Zelda’s journey along the path to becoming a queen is undercut by the “treasure” you find next to her desk: Link’s champion-blue hairband from a hundred years ago, a memento that Zelda always kept close.

#Legend of Zelda #Tears of the Kingdom #Breath of the Wild #Princess Zelda #Zelink #Zelda meta #TotK wells #Zelda's Secret Well