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gayregis · 5 years

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horse symbolism in the hansa

Roach (Geralt’s horses)

Roach (all of them, throughout the entire saga) have been known to be very temperamental, paranoid, and not easy to control... much like Geralt. They frequently kick and dance as they’re “bitten by horseflies” ... much like Geralt keeps complaining throughout the series because he can never seem to catch a break.

All the Roaches have been bays or chestnuts: earthy brown horses, which kind of parallel Geralt’s unnatural stark white looks.

The name Roach, much like the name Pegasus of Dandelion’s horse, might symbolize some self-reflection... especially because they discuss the names of their horses together before the rest of the company joins them. Roaches (as in the fish) are small and unassuming, nothing special about them, as Geralt might see himself. Pegasus, on the other hand, as a mythological being directly descended from the gods...

Pegasus (Dandelion's horse)

Pegasus is a gelding, which is irony in of itself (geldings are castrated male horses... and we all know how Dandelion acts in contrast to this).

Pegasus is also described as small, fat, easily frightened, and exceedingly lazy, which parallels Dandelion being... Dandelion.

Milva’s Unnamed Black Horse

Milva comes into some debate over giving up her horse in Baptism of Fire, because she refuses to do so. This may not seem very significant, but the point that it was a stupid peasant man that tried to take advantage of her by demanding her horse and that she wouldn't let him and instead punched his lights out... tells more of a narrative. Her refusal to comply may symbolize a protection of the self.

Cahir’s Various Unnamed Horses

Cahir obviously rode on a terrifying black stallion during the infamous massacre of Cintra that scarred Ciri's dreams, an nicely bred stallion that others were envious of. But not much information is given about his horse when he joins the Hansa -- I think this is intentional... as in, he simply has a normal horse... He used to be a concept of terror, and the pride and envy of others, as he was bred for war... but really now... he's just a normal young guy.

In Baptism of Fire, Cahir helps Milva save the horses in the company after Nilfgaard attacks the war camp... demonstrating his allegiances and also taking one of the first steps demonstrating his redemption to the company.

In Tower of the Swallow, he gets a horse from the mining camp where they fight Schirru -- “Cahir's horse, also from the [Nilfgaardian] military, was stronger and more enduring, but that made no difference because its rider was troubled.” Cahir is a very strong individual (and also... from the Nilfgaardian military) but his skill doesn't matter, because he has so much guilt and personal issues that it gets in the way.

Draakul (Regis’s mule)

The next horse in the company isn’t a horse. It’s a mule. Much like the human he belongs to isn’t a human. He’s a vampire.

Besides the parallels of being old and grey and Regis giving him that obvious reference of a name...

Draakul is also noted to be the most useful of the company's equines, despite looking underwhelming, because he is necessary to carry their goods. This is a parallel to how Regis fucking carried them at Stygga #killsteal #gitgud. (In more seriousness, I think Draakul’s usefulness is more parallel with Regis’s profession as a medic... it’s the upkeep that matters).

The whole thing about Regis being able to steal Draakul from Meve’s camp despite equines hating vampires... further demonstrates something good about his nature.

Preceding the Battle of the Bridge, during their time on the barge, Regis cries out for them to hold the horses, and gets an arrow to the chest while doing so. If we’re continuing with the “horses symbolize their human riders” theme... this could symbolize how dedicated Regis is to humanity, specifically the company.

Angouleme’s Unnamed Horse

Angouleme also gets a horse from the miner’s camp and fight with Schirru -- “The best horse had fallen to Angouleme, a bandit's small, but spirited animal.” Small, yet spirited, and used to belong to bandits... that’s her!

In addition, when the rest of the Hansa first meets her and we receive the blessed “I’m not your uncle, my dear.” “And I’m not your dear, Uncle!” interaction, Angouleme rides on Draakul during this scene. This symbolizes that she’s babie.

#hansa #im too tired to analyze kelpie and ihuarraquax #ihuarraquax is small and magical like ciri. boom deep analysis there #the witcher #no one: / me: HORSE SYMBOLISM #copied and pasted from my rants in discord #geralt #roach #dandelion #pegasus #milva #cahir #regis #draakul #angouleme #thoughts

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shade-without-color · 5 years

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The History of the Brossards Part II: Tristan II and how things fell out.

Note: Well this is the second part of the fall of The Brossards, and oh man things got way too wild. So I kinda borrow that incident from Anne Boelyn’s appearance in the pageant. It is quite a difficult one but I hope it is all satisfying for you to fill in the big gap in its history.

What I can say about Tristan II, and how it relates to Gascon Brossard, aside from that he took on his father’s handsome looks. However, I would attest that he is a man of quiet character. A traveller devoting himself to his ancestral home of Toussaint. For he took himself to serve under a king’s banner- Clovis. A handsome one and wise in his actions, like the Brossards he seems to disapprove the marriage of Princess Meve and King Reginald. For then he let go of Tristan from his duties when a family messenger came to the grounds of the palace to plead Tristan to come back to the estate, as his father requested him to be on his side during his fleeting last days. Of course, then he brought his wife, who was a Toussaint noble lady Sybile expecting their fourth child and their two oldest daughters Etoile and Serephina, and oldest son Marius back to his ancestral lands. I will get by with Serephina’s side much later as her story is tragic and frightening as the fates of the Brossards.

Tristan II came back to the lands, with his appearance weathered by Toussaint sunlight, to the warm welcome to his brother Eudes, as Kais did not hold much admiration for his favoured brother. Nevertheless, they put aside their differences to ease their father to the afterlife.

Thus Tristan II took over family matters, and buried his father in the same tomb as little Jean and Hugues, for they shall be united in death. Titus’ grave, in contrast to his role as the king’s eyes, were decorated rather simply, with only a figure to watch over him until judgement day. King Reginald took the trouble to arrange a lavish funeral for Titus, to the disapproval to Kais and Eudes, as they felt that it should be channelled to rather useful purposes like helping the fellow villages around their land. Nevertheless, all of Titus’ children and grandchildren watch the final moments of seeing their ailing grandfather lying at last, and only Tristan II is grateful for his generous offer. It said that after his father’s funeral that the Brossard brothers slowly drift apart, though they agreed on a few matters. That my friend sparked the seed of its downfall.

For now, I will talk about the sons of Tristan II, and I say he must be proud of them. For Marius, Gwain and Eudes II took up to be at the king’s side like his brothers, watching over the affairs. Marius has a similar temperament to his uncle Kais, sombre and yet sharp, Gwain was a charmer as he was brought into favour by a certain noble lady which he married, with the approval of his father Tristan, and have two young children Tristan III and his daughter Anne, Eudes II, took over his uncle’s position to look over the finances of the family,as he assigned renovation of the family tombs and its lands to be beautiful. It is said that Gwain’s balls and parties are the highlights of the North. Of course, Tristan II did spare no expanse as he brought barrels of wine from Toussaint and strong spirits from Mahakham to quench their guests’ thirst and entertainment so delightful that it made the men forget their trouble of the upcoming wars. It said that laughter and mirth light up the areas and the daughters of Tristan II, Etoile and Seraphina are wonderful hosts to many who come. However what they left is a strong impression of his youngest son, which he nicknamed himself the little pearl- Gascon. Even before we all know him as The Duke of Dogs, the leader of the infamous Strays of Spalla, he was a charming fellow and Tristain II think of him fondly as Hugues, should he survive that horrible disease. He is delightfully charming and witty- to the point that he managed to break a small smile to the stoic Kais. He was also loving to the wolfhounds which are three times his side, Fiorano and Pomino.

You may wonder previously that I mentioned about its tension, between Kais and Eudes, and Serephina, the beloved daughter. I would start simply with a party held by the Brossards, to celebrate Meve’s birthday, then I must add that Serephina is one of Queen Meve’s trusted handmaidens after the passing of Cicely, and recently she caught the attention to many nobles for her exceptional beauty. And oh it shows in a little pageant which all of the ladies dressed as the Queen’s blessings- which Marius, unfortunately, have to witness. And his sister was Preserving and it caught the eye of King Reginald, despite respecting the queen is known by the kingdoms to have many affairs with handmaidens, and she was not spared from his gaze. Throughout the night, he tried his best to get by her side, to the disapproval of Marius. For Reginald took matters by vouching for the ailing Tristain II, for her hand in marriage. In his lucidity, he refused it under the under the speech of Kais, as it will prove grief to Queen Meve. However, he was given some money in the condition that he would depart some men to service for a small war in exchange that his daughter will keep him company. Thus it began a secret affair, which Reginald disguised her as a pageboy to keep eyes away especially to the sharp Kais. It was not too long before he called his assassins to kill off Kais quietly by a cloth covered in poison, and buried him quickly without a grave. It was only one of the Brossards’ hounds to find his body. That started to caused grief to Tristan II, usually charming to grow bitter. He was too late to see Reginald’s cruelty for he was killed much later, as he went for Reginald’s hunting expeditions by a quick blade.

As for Serephina, she was left in the tower, impregnated by Reginald’s child which I cannot say more, as they perished that day, which in turn spread news to all Brossards, furious over her treatment of an innocent woman, for the child and mother were buried without any parting words or memorials. And thus began the rebellion of the Brossards in 1258- for it was a bloody one, and it only left a few in a trial. Marius and Eudes II spoke of the king’s infidelity which most agreed, and even to Queen Meve who was then rendered silent, as Reginald felt that harrowing affairs must not temper a woman expecting child, a royal heir that symbolised the unification of Lyria and Rivia. Of course, the judge overturned their sentence to take away a certain portion of their lands which they accepted it begrudgingly, but alas it did not satisfy Reginald’s vengeance. For he used the Brossards to accept his lust- as propaganda to his soldiers that they turned themselves to the enemy forces. And thus he did not spare any mercy to all. He started that outside, Elenore who was staying happily in Aedrin with her husband and a few grandchildren. For they were brought to a place of comfort to only be drowned by Rivians into the crushing tides of a nearby river. Then Eudes, who was in a study trip in Oxenfurt, he died by poison from a simple tipple of strong spirit. Etoile was deemed the worse, as she was murdered in her sleep.

If you must wonder about the massacre in the Brossard house, Gascon was outside the house, learning how to fence with his favourite lecturer. He was not aware of the murders until he saw all Rivian soldiers wiping the blood from their blades, as they recently killed his brother Eudes II and Marius fighting off the commander, pleading them to spare his life. He will never forget the dazed look of his mother whispering him to run away as fast as he could, with her chest slowly oozing out in blood. The fencing instructor Wolsey, empathetic to the Brossards’ downfall hid the boy quietly in the family cellar which he helped Marius to fight against the murderers. I wish to spare you the details of people even associated with the name, as it was a horrible deed that will stain the conscience of the North.

Soon silence fell upon the mansion, which little Gascon took what remains of his family including a torn off piece of the family crest. He held it with much pain, as he quickly ran away from the gazed looks of those murdered. You may wonder how he becomes the leader to the Strays of Spalla, simple- there are a few orphans staying by the woods neglected by necessity. Gascon used his wit and charm to build terror along the lands and sparing no expanse. He even dropped his last name, as a symbol of a departure of his tragic past when he turned ten summers. No matter how much he tried, he will never forget the looks in his family’s eyes and it will haunt him for his entire life until a certain queen amend her late husband’s pains.

Dear reader, I shall pause its history for you. Do the Brossards deserve such horrors? I do not think so, they served faithfully to the previous king of Lyria and maybe many before which I cannot record. It is just that fate becomes a cruel mistress to a noble family and a king blind in his own human downfalls that caused such pain. As I will write this simply, how high they rise and yet how low they fall.

#writing #worldbuilding #Thronebreaker #thronebreaker spoilers #The witcher #Gascon Brossard #Okkkk it is done #TW: childbirth #TW: pregnancy #TW: Blood #tw: violence

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