#General Mugen Ku

[sociopath-analysis]

Sociopath Traveler (Part 2)

After the first game, the 2023 sequel Octopath Traveler II and the 2020 spinoff Champions of the Continent provided a few more sociopaths to the roster. Not nearly as many as in the first game, but they were still incredibly notable.

For profiles on these ones and the first game's roster, click here to see them all. (They may not be finished when you see this.)

#Octopath Traveler 2 #Octopath Traveler II #Octopath 2 spoilers #Champions of the Continent #Arcanette #Claude Octopath #Mother Octopath #Professor Harvey #Aguste #Pardis III #Ku Mugen #Mugen Ku #General Mugen Ku

[bestomato]

rough animation. just playing with some of octopath 2’s visuals

#octopath traveler 2 #hikari ku #mugen ku #or general mugen? how is he tagged……….. #i haven’t continued watching rgu but i think it rewired my artblocked brain #i got a ds emulator for android so right now i’m distracted playing pokeom explorers of sky LOL #but i felt the itch to draw today again. i like putting images down #i love animating. i like that it looks choppy bc i don’t know what i’m doing at all LOL #plus i really miss being messy and Not caring when i draw #also ik the aspect ratio is Very empty looking. i’ll add some more stuff later. this will be longer too! #animation #my art

[sombrerokiwi]

K so Hikari and Osvald knowing each other before canon due to distant family connections is great and can lead to hilarity if we ignore the obvious angst later.

The Prince came back from his trip, he looks happier and peppier so it probably was a good trip. Now it's time for the routine of the Prince coming up to the nicer soldiers and asking for a quick spar and you are the nicer soldiers so you comply. As he goes and shows you his improved swordwork he then goes and lobs a fireball at you, burning most of the field.

He immediately apologizes for it and says how he should have practiced first before applying magic to sparring, and you forgive him because he's the Prince and you're honestly too shocked to be angry.

Several hours later everyone is asking if you taught him magic because you were the first one he talked to and used magic in front of. Everyone is confused on how he did it and are trying to come up with a feasible answer. You have none because you're just some guy with a sword on guard duty.

This goes on for several months, and one day you are watching the Prince go up against General Mugen which- Gods this is probably only happening because the General wanted to prove a point and humiliate his brother and prove that he is weak or something like that. And then out of nowhere, the Prince steps back, calls for Alephan to aid him, and then screams "TONITRUS CANERE"

So you now have a fear of lightning and the Prince is being scolded on proper control over the magical arts.

Several weeks later you heard that the King wrote to the Prince's Teacher in the Magical Arts concerning his lack of control, only to be given a letter back that, while goes and apologizes for not working on the Prince's lack of magical control, effectively calls the King foolish for thinking Prince Hikari wouldn't want to practice his magical skills and that there should be tutors who should be helping him practice so that he doesn't always practice during sparring.

You then find out that a separate letter was sent to the King that is practically a call-out to all the war Ku has waged and how it will eventually lead to nothing and how the King is ineffective in leadership and how the Kingdom will eventually fall because of several pissed off people.

You still don't know what's happening but now the Prince is offering you to learn some lightning magic to perhaps help with the fear of lightning, something you appreciate.

#octopath traveler 2 #magikari au #hikari ku #osvald v. vanstein #kiwi says things #osvald is just being told that hikari is doing magic in front of ku's soldiers and he's just like: Good. He's practicing. #and then he is told that hikari just did a spell that most scholars have trouble on with almost no effort and he is just: #Ohoho! He's reading ahead! Good for him! #Don't get me wrong Osvald is still going to help Hikari on control #But he's 100% proud of the progress he's making

[bad0mens]

WIP LIST MEME

Tagged by @suspiciouspopsicle <><><>

Everything currently in the works is Octopath Traveler 2 (who could have possibly guessed?) Tagging @auncyen (if you feel like doing it! no pressure!)

Actively working on!

Casting Shadows - Partitio/Hikari Supernatural Horror/Urban Fantasy Modern AU Where Partitio and Papp move to an apartment in a new city and Partitio finds himself entrenched in a darkness he could never have imagined. (Probably about 2/3s or so complete, updates monthly on average. Read Here.)

Salve for Serpents - Castti/Throne faery tale inspired Fantasy AU, a follow up to The Prince and the Magpie, where Castti and Throne try to find a way to break the curse that binds them together. The first two chapters up Here.

A Mother's Blade - Canon Divergence fic about Kura being the chosen warrior and searching the continent for her lost son, Hikari, and finding herself entangled in the machinations of the country that she's left behind. First chapter Here.

Where The Wind Calls Home - Partitio/Hikari Stardew Valley AU. Partitio finds himself smitten with the new farmer in town, Hikari, a polite and quiet man, who's smile doesn't quite reach his eyes. Two of Eight total parts Here (along with a recipe in the notes of part two.)

Backburnered (for now)

The Light Goes On - Crick/Temenos faery tale inspired Fantasy AU, where Temenos has been charged with the murder of the Pontiff and must make a pilgrimage to atone before the gods before his execution. Along the way, they meet Ochette, and Temenos starts to get answers to more mysteries than just how the Pontiff died. 3rd fic in the cycle starting with The Prince and the Magpie.

Untitled Fantasy AU - Fourth in the cycle starting with The Prince and the Magpie (if I get around to it before I lose steam), which sees Osvald and Agnea thrown together for their own goals, better off together than alone. Agnea has never left home, but the cursed shoes on her feet compel her to move and dance at the slightest music, and Osvald, who seeks the knowledge that might save his wife and daughter. Not romance fic like the others, but will focus on Osvald and Agnea growing into a father/daughter type relationship (there may be background romance, but it will not be for these two).

Untitled Canon Divergence/Meta fic where the travelers are all revenants, stuck undying until they've completed the tasks the gods have chosen them for, banding together in this bitter immortality and trying to forge friendships and relationships with each other, as no other people know the same pain that they do.

Untitled Canon Divergence where guns exist en masse thanks to the Roque Company, and it just so happens that General Mugen of Ku shows a great interest in what help these new weapons might prove in his bid for the throne of Ku, and further, the world.

Untitled Canon/post Canon fic with Fire Emblem Awakening influences, where Hikari and Partitio have an adopted daughter who travels back in time to save them from some unknown threat. (will probably feature other adopted children from other pairings if I ever really get it off the ground).

I lied about it all being Octopath Traveler 2!

I have one original story that's currently backburnered.

Detective Lilith - 1910s era period mystery piece about a cross dressing autistic lesbian detective. Meant to be the first in a series kind of like Poirot, but featuring lots of queer people and POC in a wide variety of roles and relationships. I had a bit of a breakthrough on it recently regarding the mystery so I might be picking it up again soon.

#writing meme #wip #octopath nonsense #tales of bad0mens writes

[beantothemax]

Welcome to the au where everything is the same except Hikari, Rai Mei, Ritsu, and Kazan remain friends. This changed several things about the plot and also gives a big “Ah Fuck” moment for Kazan.

You think that these four get smarter and more dangerous when they are together but in reality they get dumber when they are together! Still dangerous! They just go and lose several brain cells in the process.

They are all their worst influence in impulse control. They all do stupid things to piss off Mugen and to try and make Ku a little better. You think Kazan would be the responsible one but really it’s Hikari, who is only marginally better.

Kazan would make a whole battle plan while drunk, execute said plan, and then wake up at his house with no memory of said plan.

Rai Mei is doing spear tricks in increasing difficulty and danger while negotiating with other generals regarding her clan.

Ritsu is going up in the ranks for the sole reason of getting to Mugen and having an unfortunate accident befall on him.

And Hikari is in the corner drinking some tea while also helping Ritsu in said unfortunate accident.

Canon plot still happens though but this time Hikari, Ritsu, Rai Mei, and Kazan get lost in the desert for 4 days and having them somehow get to Orerush is a miracle. And also Kazan may be quietly thinking to himself about the incredibly shitty day he had before the capital burned, the empty flask, and the fact that he once again made a whole battle strategy only to forget everything the next morning.

Everything is chaos and fluffy and I am sure no angst is in there :))))

!!!!!! YEEAHHH WOOO

love how these four are just significantly stupider together. they r dumb and we love them <3

rai mei does kickflips off of her spear. she keeps falling on her face/accidentally stabbing herself but she is determined to get it right

and yes ritsu!!!!! go ‘accidentally’ shove a blade through mugen’s head!!!!!!

Partitio walks out of his house one day and just sees 4 very lost-looking travelers all looking at a map, which they’re holding upside-down

oh boy I’m sure glad for nothing bad to happen to anyone!

#asks #sombrerokiwi

[stars-and-loops]

Time Travel au dynamic of Kazan and Ritsu is hilarious and also fucking tragic after a while. But we going for the hilarious bits.

And that bit is just the fact that someone would be talking about the Eagle of Ku with revere and then someone points at Ritsu and they just say “Oh yeah and that’s Kazan’s Feral Ward. He tried to kill General Mugen and then he pointed out the stupid amount of security risks all over the palace. After debate he’s just here now because there’s a chance he might try again so might as well keep an eye on him. He’s just with Kazan because the man is the one of the few people that kid hasn’t tried to stab.”

everyone steers clear of ritsu because he looks like he'll stab you at any given moment. no one knows how kazan isn't fearing for his life right now.

#mav answers #through the loop au

[bookofjin]

Biography of Liu Hu of the Tiefu

[And his descendants. From WS095]

The Tiefu Liu Hu was a descendant of the Southern Shanyu, the grandson of the Worthy King of the Left, Qubei, and the nephew of the Leader of the Northern Section, Liu Meng. They lived north of Lüsi in Xinxing. Northern people speak of someone with a Hu father and a Xianbei mother as “Tiefu”. Because of that he used it as the title. Meng died, his son Fulun came running. Hu's father Gaoshengyuan led the section groups in replacement.  Gaoshengyuan was also named Xundou. Gaoshengyuan died. Hu replaced him.

Hu was also named Wulugu. At first he was a subject and adherent to the state, but since his multitudes and family groups were rather many, he instigated troops in an outer rebellion. Pingwen and the Inspector of Bing province, Liu Kun together chastised him, and Ku fled to occupy Shuofang. He resorted to adhering to Liu Cong. Cong, since Hu was of his lineage house, designated him General who Calms the North, Overseer of All Army Affairs of the Xianbei, and Commander of the Palace Gentlemen of the Dingling. He then crossed the He to invade the Western section. Pingwen, confronted, struck, and greatly routed him.

At the beginning of Zhaocheng, Hu again robbed the Western section. The Emperor dispatched the army, to confront and chastise, and again greatly routed him. Hu withdrew and fled, and set out for the frontier. Hu died, his son Wuhuan led the section groups in replacement. He dispatched envoys to revert to obedience.

Wuhuan, also named Baozi, summoned and assembled the family groups of his kind, and had the valiant of the various sections. He secretly communicated with Shi Hu, and Hu designated him as General who Pacifies the North and Worthy King of the Left.

Wuhuan died, his younger brother Eloutou was installed in replacement. He covertly planned to turn to rebellion, it is spoken of in the Preliminary Annals. Later Wuhuan's son Xiwuqi chased out Eloutou and installed himself. Xiwuqi died, his son Wuchen was installed in replacement.

Wuchen was Wuhuan's third son. After he had been installed, he dispatched his son to present at court. Zhaocheng used a daughter as wife for Wuchen. Wuchen secretly communicated with Fu Jian. Jiian used him as Worthy King of the Left. He dispatched envoys to request from Jian, seeking farm land within his territory. In spring he would come, and in autumn depart. Jian allowed it.

Later he carried off from Jian's border population more than 50 people as slaves and servants to offer to Jian. Jian chided [him] and returned them [home]. He therefore betrayed Jian, focused his heart on reverting to the state, and raised up troops to attack Jian. Jian dispatched his General who Establishes Steadfastness, Deng Qiang, to chastise and seize him.

Jian himself arrived in Shuofang, he used Weichen as Duke of Xiayang and controlled his section groups. Weichen, since Jian had turned around and restored his state, again adhered to Jian. Although the tribute envoys to the state were not cut off, actually his respectfulness was inconsistent. The Emperor chastised Weichen, greatly routed him, and gathered from his section groups six or seven out of ten. Weichen fled to Fu Jian. Jian sent him off to return to Shuofang, and dispatched troops to defend him.

At the end of Zhaocheng, Weichen guided Fu Jian to come and rob the southern region. The kingly host achieved defeat. Jian thereupon divided the state's population into two sections, westwards from the He belonged to Weichen, eastwards from the He belonged to Liu Kuren. It is spoken of in Yan Feng's Biography. Jian later used Weichen as Western Shanyu, to supervise and administer the sundry kinds west of the He, and to station at Dailai City.

At Murong Yong's occupation of Changzi, he designated Weichen Envoy Holding the Tally Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs West of the He, Great General and Shepherd of Shuo province, to settle in Shuofang. Yao Chang likewise dispatched envoys to join together on good terms, and designated Weichen Envoy Holding the Tally, Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs of the Sundry Barbarians in the Boreal North, Great General, Great Shanyu, King of Hexi, and Shepherd of You province. He continuously was robbing and murdering.

Middle of Dengguo [386 – 395], Weichen dispatched his son Zhilidi to rob the southern section, his multitude was eighty or ninety thousand. Taizu's army was five or six thousand people, and he became encircled by him. Taizu therefore used chariots as the sides of his encampment, equally fighting and moving ahead, he greatly routed him to the south of Tieqi Mountain. Zhilidi fled on a single horse. Captured more than 200 000 cattle and sheep.

He exploited the victory to pursue him, crossed the He from Jin Ford in Wuyuan, and entered his state. The resident people were terrified and in chaos, the section groups ran and scattered. Thereupon he arrived at Weichen's residence, Yueba City. Weichen, father and son, were frightened and escaped. He therefore separately dispatched various generals to pursue them with light cavalry.

The Duke of Chenliu, Yuan Hu, went south until Baiyan, and took prisoner Weichen's family. General Yi Wei arrived at Mugen Mountain, seized Zhilidi, and fully joined together his multitudes. Weichen escaped and ran on a single horse. He was killed by his section subordinates who transmitted the head to the Acting Palace. Captured more than 4 000 000 horses, cattle and sheep. Prior to this, the water of the He had turned red like blood, and Weichen had been repulsed by it. When Weichen had perished, they executed his family and kindred, and also threw them in the He. Weichen's third son “Bent Dregs” absconded and ran to the leader of the Xuegan section, Taixifu.

Bent Dregs [qujie] was originally named Bobo, Taizong changed his name to Bent Dregs. “Bent Dregs” is someone lowly and inferior. Taixifu sent him off to Yao Xing. Xing's Duke of Gaoping, Poduoluo Meiyiyu married him to a daughter. Bent Dregs was 8 chi, 5 cun tall, Xing saw and marvelled at him. He designated him General of Agile Cavalry, concurrently Chief Commandant of Imperial Chariots. He often assisted in the great debates on army and state, and his favour happened to go beyond [those] with achievements of old. Xing's younger brother, the Duke of Jinan, Yong, talked to Xing, saying:

Bent Dregs' Heavenly-[given] nature is not to be humane, and so he sis difficult to personally nurture. Your Subject has the audacity to be confused with the grand extend of his favour.

Xing said:

Bent  Dregs has talent for aiding his generation, I am just now gathering his arts and usefulness, and together with him uniting and pacifying Under Heaven.  What is impossible with that?

He therefore used Bent Dregs as General who Calms the Distant, ennobled Marquis of Yangchuan, and sent him to assist Meiyiyu garrisoning Gaoping. He debated using multitudes of the sundry barbarians of Yucheng and Shuofang, and Weichen's section, 30 000, to pair with him, so as to watch for dissent at the border. Yong firmly admonished that it could not be done. Xing said:

How can you know, Sir, what his manners and nature are?

Yong said:

Bent Dregs serves his sovereign sluggishly, drives the multitudes ruthlessly, is greedy, brutal, and without friends, and he is quick to come and go. Favour him with more than his allotment, and in the end he will be a harm for the border.

Xing therefore desisted, and used Bent Dregs as Holding the Tally, General who Calms the North, and Duke of Wuyuan. He paired him with the five Xianbei sections of Sanjiao, more than 20 000 family groups, to garrison Shuofang.

At the end of Taizu's reign, Bent Dregs assaulted and killed Meiyiyu joined together their multitudes. He usurpingly declared [himself] Heavenly King of Great Xia, titled the year Longsheng [“Dragon Rising”], and set up the hundred officials. Xing then regretted it. Bent Dregs was ashamed of his family name Teifu, and thereupon changed it to be the Helian clan, and spoke of himself as a signal made vivid [he] and connected [lian] with Heaven. He also titled his family's offshoots and baseborn as the Tiefa clan, saying that his lineage and clan was hard and sharp like iron [tie] and always capable of hacking [fa] people.

Liu Yu attacked Chang'an. Bent Dregs heard and happily said:

How will Yao Hong be able to resist Yu, Yu is sure to exterminate him. [I] will wait until after Yu has left, and take it like picking up something thrown away, that is all.

Hence he feed the horses and sharpened the troops, and rested and reared the officers and soldiers. When Yu had seized Hong, he kept behind his son Yizhen to defend Chang'an. Bent Dregs attacked him, and greatly routed Yizhen. He piled up people's heads as a raised mound, calling it the “Skull Terrace”.

Thereupon he usurpingly declared himself August Emperor at Bashang, titling the year as Changwu [“Splendid Martiality”], and settled the capital at Tongwan. He directed to engrave to the south of he city, lauding his merits and virtue. He used Chang'an as the Southern Capital.

He was by nature haughty and cruel, and looked on the population like straw and seeds. Steamed earth was used to build his capital's walls. If an iron awl could be stabbed one inch into it, he would killed the craftsmen and rebuild it. When fashioning armaments for the troops, the artisans who presented them would surely die. If he shot at armour and it did not penetrate, he promptly beheaded the bow man, similarly if it did penetrate, he quickly beheaded the armourer, altogether he killed several thousand workers and artisans.

He often stayed on top of the city, and set up a bow and sword by his side. If there one who he hated and was angry with, he killed him by his own hand. Among the crowd of subjects, those who had a defiant look, he pierced their eyes. Those who laughed, he severed their lips. Those who admonished, he spoke of as libellous slanderers. He first cut of their tongues, and then afterwards beheaded them.

He debated discard his oldest son Gui. Gui raised troops from Chang'an to attack Bent Dregs. Bent Dregs' middle son, the Duke of Taiyuan, Chang, routed Gui, and killed him. Bent Dregs used Chang as Heir-Apparent. 2nd Year of Shiguang [425 AD], Bent Dregs died. Chang was usurpingly installed.

Chang, courtesy name Huanguo, also named Zhe, was Bent Dregs' third son. When he had usurped the throne, he changed the year to Yongguang [“Eternal Brilliance”]. Shizu heard that Bent Dregs had died, and his various sons were attacking each other, and Guanzhong was in great chaos. Hence he went on a western attack. He therefore crossed the He with 18 000 cavalry to assault Chang. At the time it was the day of the winter solstice, and Chang was just then hosting a banquet when before long the kingly host arrived. High and low were frightened and agitated. The Chariot Drove to stay at the Hei River, 30 li distant from the city. Chang therefore set out to fight. Shizu swiftly went to strike him, and Chang withdrew and ran into the city. He had not yet reached to close the gates, when the army's soldiers exploited the victory to enter into his Western Palace, and burnt his Western Gate. At night they lodged north of the city. Next day, divided the army to set out in four directions and carry off the resident population. They killed and captured several ten thousand, the live captives, cattle and horses were several hundred thousand. Moved more than 10 000 families and turned back.

Later, Chang dispatched his younger brother Ding for a stand-off with the Minister of Works, Xi Jin, at Chang'an. Shizu exploited the absence for a western attack. He crossed at Junzi Ford with 30 000 light cavalry for combined marches over multiple roads. The crowd of subjects all together remonstrated, saying:

Tongwan's walls are firm and cannot be taken in ten days. Now if a light army chastise them, advancing they cannot overcome, withdrawing they will have no wealth. It is not as good as an infantry army with attack tools all going at the same time.

Shizu said:

In all cases, among the arts of employing troops, attacking cities is the very worst, if it cannot be avoided then do it. If they attack with tools, all going at the same time, the thieves will surely be afraid and defend firmly. If the attack does not take it at time, the food will be gone and the troops tired, and outside there will be nothing to plunder, not the best strategy.

We will use light cavalry to arrive beneath their walls. That one will first hear there is an infantry army, and then his followers will see the cavalry arrive, he will surely bar the gates. We will moreover will entice him with a haggard host. If we get a single battle, we are certain to seize him.

This being so, with the soldiers in the army 2 000 li away from their families, and also having the dangers of the Yellow He, can be said to set them up on deadly ground and afterwards they live. If we in this way decide the battle, we will have the rest. If we attack the city, it will not be enough.

Thereupon he acted. He stayed at Hei River, he divided of part of the army to hide in a deep valley, and used the smaller multitude to arrive beneath their city.

Chang's general Di Zhiyu came to surrender, he explained:

Chang sent people to chase after his younger brother Ding. Ding said: “The city is already firm and steep and cannot be taken by assault. Wait [for me] to seize Jin and others, afterwards we will proceed calmly, and strike them from inside and outside, how is that of no help. Chang considered it to be so.

Shizu detested it, and withdrew the army north of the city, to show weakness to Chang. He dispatched the King of Yongchang, Jian, and E Qing, and others, with a division of 5 000 cavalry, to go west and plunder the resident people.

It happened that a soldier in the army took responsibility for a crime, absconded and entered Chang's city. He told that the official army's provisions was exhausted, the officers and men were eating vegetables, the supply wagons were in the rear, the infantry troops had not yet arrived, and striking them would be easy. Chang trusted his words, and guided the multitudes to set out from the city, 30 000 infantry and cavalry.

The Minister over the Masses, Zhangsun Han, and others said:

Chang's infantry deployment is difficult to destroy. We ought to avoid their spear-point, and moreover give free reign to the infantry troops, and [all] at the same time rise up and strike.

Shizu said:

Not so. [We have] come from far away to seek out the thieves, fearing they would not set out. Now to avoid them and do not strike, that one will rise up at our weakness. It is not the plan.

Thereupon he gathered the army and pretended to go north, to draw out and exhaust him. Chang considered him to be withdrawing, advanced with drums and commotion, and spread out the deployment as flanks. When they had travelled five or six li, Shizu surged up at them, the thieves' deployment did not shift, but rather resumed the forward march.

There happened to be a rising wind, the methods specialist officer [eunuch?] Zhao Ni recommended Shizu that it was expedient to wait for a later day. Cui Hao reviled him. Shizu therefore divided the cavalry into left and right so as to grab hold of them. Shizu fell off his horse, the thieves were already pressuring and coming into contact.

Shizu mounted  his horse, stabbed and killed their Master of Writing, and also killed ten of the cavalry thieves. A fleeting arrow hit his palm, he strenuously struck and did not stop. Chang's army was greatly scattered, he did not manage to enter the city but ran to Shanggui. Thereupon vanquished his city.

Earlier, Bent Dregs was by nature extravagant, and fond of managing palace houses. The city walls were 10 ren tall, and 30 bu thick, on top they were 10 bu wide. The palace walls were 5 ren tall, their firmness could used to sharpen blades and axes. The towers and eyries were tall and great, the lofty chambers connected to each other, and all of them were carved and inlaid with pictures and drawings, covered in lace-work and embroideries, decorated in red and green, to the utmost end ornamented and selected. Shizu looked around, spoke to left and right, saying:

An inconsequential small state, yet employing the population like this, even if they intended not to perish, did they among them obtain it?

Later the Attendant Imperial Clerk An Xie seized Chang. Shizu sent Palace Attendant Gu Bi to welcome Chang on his arrival at the Imperial City, and housed him inside the gates of the Western Palace. He gave him a set of vehicles and carriages, and also decreed Chang wed the Princes of Shiping. He was made use General of Frequent Loyalty and Duke of Kuaiji, and was ennobled as King of Qin. He was convicted of planning rebellion, and submitted to execution.

Chang's younger brother Ding, child name Zhifen, was Bent Dreg's fifth son, he was fiendish, brutal, and unreliable. When Chang was taken, Ding fled to Pingliang. He declared himself with the venerated title and changed the year to Shengguang [“Surpassing Brilliance”].

Ding climbed Yinpan Mountain, looked towards his home state, wept, and said:

The Former Emperor used Us to inherit the Great Legacy, how has it come to the present day's affairs! To cause Heaven to make use of Our years, it must be so that [We] and you Sirs can establish a legacy of a last flourishing.

Suddenly there were a crowd of foxes making a hundred cries to his side. Ding instructed to shoot them but none were captured. Ding detested it, and said:

This is also greatly unfavourable. Tut-tut, Heaven's Way, again what does it say!

He and Liu Yilong joined in friendly relations, and from great distance divided [the land] north of the He. Eastwards from Heng Mountain would belong to Yilong, westward from Heng Mountain would belong to Ding.

He dispatched his generals to rob Lincheng. The Duke of Shiping, Wei Gui chastised and routed him. Ding again brought along several ten thousand people to go east and strike Gui. Shizu personally led light cavalry to assault Pingliang. Ding went to aid Pingliang, he deployed in a square and strengthened himself. Shizu besieged him on four sides, and cut off his water and grass. Ding could not get water, he guided the multitudes to go down from the plains. Decreed the General of Martial Guards Qiu Juan to strike him, his multitudes scattered. Ding was wounded, and escaped and ran on a single mount. He collected his remaining multitudes and then went west to protect Shanggui.

4th Year of Shenjia [431 AD], he was assaulted by Mugui of the Tuyuhun. He seized Ding and sent him off to the Imperial City were he submitted to execution.

#ws095

[supergenial]

[translation+lyrics] 葬雪サクリファイス by Ideadoll

Well, yet another story that ends in tragedy? What else would you expect from this blog? Anyway, this song’s composed by リゼ from Ariabl’eyeS which would be an interface spoiler (given their track record of sad endings) if the song wasn’t already named Snow-tomb Sacrifice to begin with, so you know things go south. While I enjoy it, I find the tale a bit too similar to Ido he Itaru Mori from Sound Horizon, what with the townspeople madly trying to kill an innocent “witch” as they’re led by superstition, plus it also reminds me of Ariabl’s Zettou no Labyrinth because of the cold motif and the witch supposedly being the one behind the winter, on top of you know, having the same composer in this song.

Overall it was pretty cool ep. This song slaps, and the other two also hold their weight. After much thinking, I’d say it’s about an 8/10, maybe a 9. I’m not sure how the circle may pan out in the future but I certainly got my eye on them now and hope that debuting on this ghost-M3 isn’t a bad omen for them. Lyrics down below and see you all next time.

Edit: Yeah, it’s a 10, and my favorite album of the year to boot!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

葬雪サクリファイス (souzetsu sacrifice, Snow-Tomb Sacrifice)

composition: リゼ lyrics: 鹿伽あかり vocals: Ideadoll

furuku katari tsugareru otogibanashi sono majo wa banbutsu wa madoromi he to izanau toiu yume to utsutsu no sakai ni saku sunoudoroppu no hana chi ni kogareru sono sugata ni majo wa nani wa omou no ka...

An old fairy tale passed down through generations A witch that invites people in and leads them into a deep slumber Snowdrop flowers which blossom in the boundary between dreams and reality As she wishes to return to the land what does the witch think of...

furitsumoru awayuki kasa wo masu hodo tsunoriyuku mayoi tachikiru sube mo naku

the snow keeps gently piling up if it keeps up we'll be in real trouble

nanigenai nichijou kage ga sasu hodo kumoriyuku fuon na uwasa ga mimi ni hairu

a shadow creeps into our unconcerned daily lives and scathing rumors find their way into people's ears

「sekai wo itetsukaseru madoromi no majo tou ni sumu bukimi na shoujo koso majo nano da」 to

"The Witch of Slumber is causing this and the creepy girl who lives in the tower, she is the witch"

yorube no nai fuan to kyoufu chiisana machi wo mushibande usuyami ni kokoro tozasu taishuu shinri sakerarenai mama

Left with no other recourse the panicking and terrified small town rots and so peer pressure controls them they cannot help it

tome do naku tsumori tsutsukeru yuki ga kanaderu Epiroogu hakugin ga nanimo kamo wo ooitsukushite owaru sekai

the downfall incessantly continues making the snow play our Epilogue as the silver snow blankets us our story approaches it’s end

omomi masu shirayuki iwa ni naru hodo kooritsuku haru no kizashi wa hodo tooku

and so the freezing snow turns to pure ice letting us know that spring is still far away

kuzureyuku nichijou fukyou na ko oto narihibiku fuan no ori wa tsui ni nadareru

as our daily life breaks apart to the tune of this noise it's echo finally leads to the inevitable avalanche

「kono yuki wo furasu no ga ano majo naraba erabubeki shudan wa tada hitotsu majo wo korose!」

"since this snow is the witch's fault she leaves us with no other recourse let's kill the witch!”

ne mo ha mo nai majiwaru kyojitsu muku na shoujo wo matsuriage danzai no maku wo akeru mujihi na marisu tomerarenai mama

and so the baseless falsehoods seal the fate of the pure girl the merciless malice draws the curtain on her judgement for the people's wickedness cannot be stopped

ikudo naku yuube shiteyuku zaika ga meguru Purorogu arishi hi ni fureta kibou kobami tsutsukete kooru mirai

and so opens the prologue to the sin humanity won't let go of as the cold future blocks the way for the hope we had on those days

kagayashi hagukumu te ni kyouki wo nigiri chibashiru me de shoujo ni tsumeyoru

madly holding onto their farming tools as blood rushed through their eyes, they preyed upon the girl

「majo wo sabake!」

"Let's punish the witch!"

senretsu ni osou shoudou ni omowazu tobidashita

amidst the fierce assault I jumped in before I could realize

shougeki ni madoromu shikou dokoka tooku hibiku dogou musekaeru chi no nioi to yasashii kaori ano hi no nukumori

as the attack happened my thoughts receded and I could only hear screaming as the smell of blood covered that gentle scent that gave me warmth on those days

senketsu ni boyaketa shikai jojo ni too no ku ginsekai madoromi no oku he shizumu amai sasoi ni aragaezu

my vision goes red and blurs out as I slowly drift to another silver world slowly sinking into that deep slumber as I can't reject it's sweet allure

kuzure ochita ichirin no hana koegoekitta mihatenu youkou sora tsunsaku doukoku no koe sae mo matsuyuki ni tokete

my one precious flower has been completely torn apart the sunlight we didn't get to see has frozen thus the sky is filled with our wailing as the snowdrops thaw

furiyamanu yuki wa subete ooikakushite majotaru shoujo no doukoku sura kakikeshita chiisana karada wo furuwasete kanawanu negai wo idaita mama sekai ni mugen ochiteyuku

soredemo, watashi wa anata ni ikite hoshii

the never ending snowfall covered it all even the cries of the girl deigned a witch as her small body was shivering a single unfulfilled wish remained in her heart for the entire world to be consumed into dreams

Even so... I wish for you to live

You can buy the album digitally on their booth https://ideadoll.booth.pm/items/1870017 just make sure to select  “digital” 

#葬雪サクリファイス #souzetsu sacrifice #ideadoll #translation #lyrics #ariabl'eyes #matsuyukisou a fairy tale of A #待雪葬 a fairy tale of A

[sociopath-analysis]

Sociopath Traveler

The world of Octopath Traveler has plenty of sociopathic characters to choose from. And thanks to the poll, I'll be looking into all of the ones I can find. Trust me, there are plenty of them to find.

Either reblog this one to share or any of the profiles found inside or the gallery below (Note: Not all of them will be complete when you see this.)

SPOILERS will be below for the whole franchise, so be careful if you haven't finished the games.

Galleries Part 1 and Part 2 can be reblogged to share as well.

Listed in alphabetical order:

Arcanette

Auguste

Claude, the Progenitor

Galdera, the Fallen

Gideon

Helgenish

Professor Harvey

Lucia

Lyblac

Miguel "Twinspears"

"Mother"

General Mugen Ku

Pardis III

Rufus, the Left Hand of the Crow

Simeon, the Puppet Master

Vanessa Hysel

Werner

#Octopath Traveler #Octopath Traveler II #Octopath Traveler CotC #Champions of the Continent #Octopath Traveler 2 #Octopath spoilers #sociopath #character analysis

[beantothemax]

Behold Fic. Tw for Vague suicidal ideation, violent intrusive thoughts, and Hikari not really letting himself feel anything other than detached numbness. He’s really not doing well.

“Hikari, what are you doing?”

Hikari freezes in place. Right. Right it may be late but not everyone would be asleep. Kazan especially was already one to stay up late, he should have realized that before he packed his things.

“I’m just going out on a stroll Kazan,” he lies. “Do not worry. I’ll be back shortly.”

Kazan glances at his bag and back at him. “Is the stroll going to involve you walking to the other side of the Continent because it sure looks like it.”

He really shouldn’t have packed his bag immediately.

Hikari laughs nervously. “I don’t know what you mean Kazan.”

“Hikari I can clearly see your bag packed, you’re trying to leave.”

Play dumb! screams the Curse, a rare statement not involving bloodlust.

“What bag?”

Not that dumb!

Kazan groans and put his hands to his face. “My Prince, I’m going to pretend that wasn’t a horrific form of lying and instead just tell you to get back to bed. Castti just fixed both of us up and if she finds out we’re out of our beds she’s going to kill us. That is not exaggeration. I genuinely think she will kill us if she finds out we’re out of our beds.”

While he doubts Castti would kill them if she finds out they’re up, she would give a stern talking to both of them and probably strap them to their beds to rest. He’s seen it happen before with Partitio and frankly he is not looking forward to that.

At the same time though, he needs to go. The Curse sings to him louder and louder and every day it is getting harder to ignore. If he stays any longer he’ll hurt his companions. He already gave in to the Curse so many times over this Journey, much more than when he was at Ku. In Wellsgrove he had it take over him completely and almost striked down General Rou.

And then Kazan revealed that he caused Mugen’s uprising and all Hikari could think about is the amount of people who died that day and how it was all caused by him and how easy it would be to run his sword through him and kill him and bring justice and-

We can still kill him now Hikari. It sings.

It would be so easy. No one is awake. We can finish the job that you started and you fled from. Give in to that anger. Give in and let the blood spill. Give in~

He closes his eyes, breathes, and tries to will the Curse to go away. Kazan is his friend and even though there is still some loathing buried inside him, there is no reason for him to kill. Kazan regrets it and right now Hikari has to move on and let it go. He has to let this whole thing go and give Kazan a second chance at fixing things. Nothing is gained from needless bloodshed.

Faintly, he hears someone sit on his bed. “Okay how about this, I’m going to take your stuff and put it in Partitio’s room because clearly right now you are going to make a stupid decision if I don’t.”

Hikari blinks and comes back to himself. Right. He’s trying to leave.

Kazan moves his bag away before he can grab it. “I would say that I don’t know why you’re leaving but that’s a lie, so I’m going to assume that the reason you’re leaving has something to do with…” He gestured vaguely. “…the whole Wellsgrove conversation thing.”

Hikari flinched.

“And apparently I’m right,” Kazan sighs. “Great. Love it when I’m right about things I don’t want to be right about.”

“It’s nothing I can’t handle,” he says. It’s true. It’s nothing he can’t handle. He kept the Curse in check before and he can do it again. He’s done it for 8 years, he can survive a little longer with it before finding a more…permanent solution to it.

We both know you don’t want to die Hikari.

He closes his eyes again and breathes. He’ll figure out that solution later and he’s sure that he won’t resort to that. Hopefully.

It does take care of the Curse though…and it’s not like the country would fall apart if he was gone. He can trust his friends to take care of things so if something happened to him then-

“I really doubt that you are handling it well.”

The Prince shakes his head. “I am. I’m keeping it under control.”

“…Which is why you packed your stuff and planned on leaving,” he says slowly.

He really shouldn’t have packed his bag immediately.

Kazan sighs. “Okay, do you want me to leave for a little while? At least after Partitio does his Department Store with Alrond?”

Hikari blinks. “You’re leaving?”

“Not permanently,” the other says quickly. “Not permanently. Just long enough so that we both have time to think.”

He tilts his head. “Why would you want to leave?”

“I don’t know Hikari maybe because I just went and told you I caused the downfall of Ku and made the plan for your brother to ascend the throne.”

He’s practically admitting it! Aren’t you angry? Don’t you want to kill him and spill his blood and give justice to all those who died because of him? Don’t you want to do it Hikari?

He squashes the resentment down. “I fail to see how that connects with the fact that you’re leaving.”

Kazan blinks and looks at him incredulously. “Hikari,” he says slowly. “You can be mad at me. I would rather you be mad at me then have you doing…whatever this is.”

“I’m taking a stroll,” he supplies helpfully.

“Yes, you’re taking a stroll for about…” Kazan checks the bag. “…5 days.”

“…It’s a long stroll.”

“Hikari I’m serious about you being mad at me. Ritsu was mad at me when we told him what I did. Literally everything I did is a good reason to be mad.”

He’s putting himself up to you! Now’s your chance! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill-

“I have no reason to be mad,” he pleasantly says. Because really, he has no reason to be mad. If he ignores it long enough then the pain will fade away and the Voice would go and just shut up for onece.

Kazan stares at him.

“Okay.” The man stands up. “Okay you’re not going to go and talk about what’s bothering you today.”

“Nothing is bothering me,” he says, ignoring the clamoring song in his head.

“Oh gods we are going to need so much therapy.”

Now that’s something that Hikari can agree with.

“We’re going to need so much therapy,” Kazan continues. “And we’re going to go and have you talk about what’s wrong when Partitio and Throné are done here.”

“After we take back Ku we’ll talk.”

“Absolutely not we have to talk about it some point. If you don’t want that then when I rejoin you at Ryu.”

“After we take back Ku,” he insists. “And you’re not going to leave.”

“Stormhail,” Kazan offers. “How about that? Stormhail and I stay. Close enough to when we launch our strike against Mugen and I’m staying. We’ll talk then.”

Hikari thinks.

Enough time to plan the murder. Perfect Hikari! I knew you would come around eventually! We’ll bathe in the blood of your friends and that wretched Clan at Stormhail! Oh and your little Traveling Companions! They may join the rabble and give the countermelody to our song! Oh it’s so wonderful! It’s so beautiful! Oh Hikari-

Silence Imposter.

The Prince bows his head. “I accept,” he says quietly.

At that, Kazan visibly relaxes. “I’m holding you up to that my Prince. Remember that.”

Hikari smiles softly. “Of course. I never intentionally break my promises.”

And what about the promises of being by your friends side? What happens when you finally snap and kill them? What then?

It’s fine. He’ll be sure to prevent that from happening in the future. One way or another.

Kiwi have I told you how much I love your writing

the prelude to stormhail… im certain nothing bad or traumatic will happen to anyone there! why do I hear boss music.

kazan just saying ‘we are going to need so much therapy’ is amazing. because goodness gracious they are

AND!!!! the curse trying to get Hikari to kill Kazan during the whole fic!!!! it’s getting harder to ignore!!!!! aaaaa!!!

ALSO HIKARI. HIKARI ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT YOUR ISSUES. IT HELPS. HIKARI. BEING THE BOSS IN YOUR OWN FOURTH CHAPTER IS NOT A HEALTHY WAY OF LETTINH YOUR FEELINGS OUT. HIKARI-

kiwi i am so so excited for the stormhail fic you have no idea

#asks #sombrerokiwi #4 braincells au #inbox fic