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twoheartsofsteel · 2 years

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I don’t know, the Luthors and kryptoanians kinda go together. It’s like Barry and Reverse Flash, Batman and The Joker, Captain America and Hydra, Spider-Man and the green goblin etc.

I get where you're coming from. But all of those examples only work because the heroes also have a strong rogue's gallery of other villains. Batman does not always fight the Joker. Spider-Man does not always fight Green Goblin. And the best stories when they do fight their iconic villains tell us something about the heroes themselves.

The last three seasons (2 and a half if we're getting semantic) were devoted to the Luthors as villains (*seasons 2 & 3 also suffer from the inclusion of Luthors, but it's different and I'll explain further down*), and I don't think it's a coincidence that these are the seasons that give Kara the least emotional interiority.

The reason I say this is because what does Lex Luthor mean to Kara? What does he bring out in her character?

He hates aliens? Okay, perfect. Fantastic racism. This can be used to tie into themes of the immigrant experience and xenophobia. So Lex Luthor's inclusion in season 4 makes sense, at least from that perspective and without taking into consideration execution (that's a whole other topic).

But once that season ends, these aren't the themes that surround his inclusion. Yeah, he still hates aliens, but he's more so a megalomaniac that wants power and is mad that Supergirl has defeated him before. So what does that bring out in Kara's character? Well, not much because really in season 4 (which also suffers from a lack of emotional interiority from Kara despite bountiful opportunity, I'd be remiss not to mention that) Kara's motivation comes from being an alien- from how that has shaped her experience and how this is personal- not simply "Lex is bad and doing bad things" which is what this morphs into in the last two seasons. And that is just too simplistic to do anything dynamic with Kara's character.

The closest we get to Lex's inclusion creating something that engages with Kara's character is when he traps her in the Phantom Zone. But any villain could have done that; it's the Phantom Zone that has to do with Kara's character not Lex.

And even so there's the ongoing question of the execution of all of this; some of this simply comes down to the strength (or lack thereof) of the show's writers. But I am also speaking from a conceptual level.

I've spent an awful amount of time talking about Lex Luthor, so let's talk about the other Luthors and how they were utilized in seasons 2 and 3.

Part of the issues I have with the rest of the Luthor clan's inclusion is that it lays the groundwork for the intense disservice to Kara's character in seasons 5 & 6. In that regard, I am saying I would rather the Luthor's not have been included at all than have them included and lead to that disservice.

In my most generous conceptions, Lena would still show up for maybe two episodes and then leave (as was the original plan), because there is (was) potential to create some parallels with Kara and reaffirm Kara's belief in the good of others. Beyond that though, I don't think she serves much purpose.

Or perhaps she could've if they'd really committed to holding Lena accountable for her actions and not just portraying her as someone whose supposed deep good inside cancelled out all of the bad she actually did.

This actually could have been really useful in having Kara grow from black-and-white thinking to being able to see people as both good and bad (and still needing to be held accountable for the harm they cause others).

The reason I bring up these what-ifs is because I think they only serve to contrast what the show actually did.

I've spoken briefly about this before, but a major issue in the show's feminism is its unwillingness to hold rich women accountable or explore the way their privilege influences their experiences. This started with Cat Grant, who was treated as a de-facto force of feminism even as she mistreated her employees. She's a de-frosting ice queen, sure, but no one calls her out on her white rich-lady feminism (or if they do the narrative twists to suggest they were wrong to do so).

This then becomes an issue with Lena, especially the longer she is on the show. She creates alien detection devices, which should be a first indication that maybe she (without cancelling out her unhappy childhood and trauma) has internalized many of her family's biases, but instead it adds up to little else than a plot point.

Clearly this show is interested in power (whether it be that of an invulnerable alien or privileged humans in society), so to not explore these nuances within some characters only serves to make your theme incoherent and your other characters wishy-washy.

Particularly in season 6, and against an episode like Blind Spots, the fact that Lena is entirely forgiven for TRYING TO LOBOTOMIZE THE ENTIRE WORLD BECAUSE SHE WAS ANGRY AT A FRIEND with what is essentially an "I'm sorry" is just mind boggling. An offer of redemption is fine, but Kara, Alex, etc. all accept Lena back in the same way. And that means no exploration of how one can actually make amends, because, well, no one seems to think Lena should make amends.

To which I then ask what is the function of this character? How much screen time and story has been taken up in her name if she isn't actually adding to the show's themes? If she doesn't challenge other character's in meaningful ways that add to their characterization?

This leaves me wanting to know how all of that screen time and story could have been filled if she and Lex had not been included in the show. It's a problem of execution, certainly, but more than that I think the Luthors don't add to the themes that the show was aiming to engage with in any meaningful way. And in the process took away from Kara Zor-El foremost, and the other characters by extension.

#Supergirl #CW Supergirl #Mail call #Should I have anti character tags on this? Let me know if that's necessary #Supergirl meta #I realize I didn't really talk about Lillian but she really only exists to serve Lex and Lena's narratives #To be honest I could talk about this all day #I actually find it a really interesting topic and case study #So yeah I'm really interested in creative ways that the show's themes and characters could have been explored #without falling back on the Luthors as plot devices

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cosmicjoke · 3 years

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Okay, I gotta talk a little about chapter 65 of AoT, and really some of the themes being put forth in general in this chapter. This is probably gonna be totally incoherent, because these are some big brain concepts that largely go over my head, I’ll be real, haha. But I’ll do my best.

I want to focus on Kenny’s conversation with his Grandfather, because it’s here that we get into some of the more broad ranging and world relevant themes of SnK, particularly dealing with issues of racism, xenophobia, isolationism, and concepts of homogeneity.

Kenny’s Grandfather talks about how the Monarchy doesn’t hate the Ackerman’s, but rather fears them, because they can’t be controlled. Because the Ackerman’s, along with very few other bloodlines that somehow ended up behind the walls, are all of different races than the majority bloodline, meaning, of course, the Eldians. And because of this, the power of the Titans doesn’t work on them. The Monarchy then comes to think of these other bloodlines as threats to the peace it’s attempted to cultivate among the people behind the wall, because their memories aren’t able to be wiped. So they end up using threats of violence, death, intimidation, and the like, in order to get these bloodlines to comply with their demands and keep quiet about what they know about the truth of the world and human history. Most bloodlines end up complying under duress, but the only two that don’t are the Ackerman’s and the Asians. They rebel and refuse, the Ackerman’s in particular giving up their position as the sword and shield of the Royal Government. Until the head of the Ackerman clan decides to not pass down any of his generations knowledge to their children, and offers himself up for execution in an attempt to protect the Ackerman’s from being purged. His efforts end up being in vain, though, as the Royal Government still finds itself unable to tolerate a group of people it can’t control, and thus the persecution of the Ackerman’s continues, until they’re driven to the fringes of society, forced to into desperation and poverty.

What’s really interesting about this is how it reflects so many real life situations throughout human history, and where concepts of tribalism and nationalism and isolationism come from. It’s usually because some governing power wants to control its population, its citizenship, and they do this by cutting them off from outside influences, indoctrinating them into a certain belief system and way of thinking. We see this, for example, in countries today like China and North Korea. This all is represented in AoT through the erasure of human history outside the walls, and the altering of historical texts to push the narrative that all record of human history older than 100 years has been lost. The ruling government, in this case, has forced generation after generation to be taught that humanity simply doesn’t EXIST outside the walls, thus stomping out any hope or ambition to get outside those walls, and interact with the outside world. If there’s nothing there to find, then why bother? Of course, it’s an imperfect system, given it’s essentially impossible to quell human curiosity and, as another prominent theme in SnK, the desire for freedom, to be able to choose for oneself and have agency over your own destiny, etc... Not only does the Royal Government employ these false teachings as a way of controlling the populace, but of course, also, the threat of the Titans beyond the wall. If the “reality” that there’s nothing left of humanity out there isn’t enough to stop the more curious and skeptical among the population, then the threat of a horrific and painful death should do the trick.

If you study any sort of regime throughout human history that utilizes terror as a means of control, one thing they often do is get rid of the smart people first. They cull intellectuals, artists, philosophers, etc... They kill them or censor them so that they can’t influence or impact the general populace with rebellious notions, or instigate in people any ideas that their government might not be treating them right. They want there to be no contention, no differential in thought, no real ideas or any sort of chance for clashes among groups. They want everyone to look, act, think and feel the same, because when that’s the case, fewer quarrels arise, fewer tensions, fewer instances of rebellion, fewer cases of people clashing with one another, for various reasons, which can lead to critical thinking and ideas forming, to thought patterns and beliefs being challenged. They want everyone to just sit quietly and not THINK. They also, often, will target minority groups, and cast them into a kind of scapegoat role, a target for the general populace to aim their grievances at, to blame all their problems on, directing their unhappiness away from the true source of their woes, that being the government itself. This is something we often see throughout human history. One of the most prominent and tragic examples is the Jews in Nazi Germany. Jews were, at first, skewered and debased through propaganda, painting them as the enemy of Germans, the great source of all of Germany’s plights and woes, essentially working the populace up into a frenzy of extreme feelings of bias and prejudice against them, before that escalated into gathering up and forcing them into cut off ghettos, away from the general population, before it took a much darker turn still, wherein they were gathered up and sent to death camps to be exterminated.

Within the world of AoT, the same thing happens to groups like the Ackerman’s and Asians, and whatever other, unnamed minority groups exist behind the walls. They’re persecuted, badmouthed, hunted and threatened into compliance, their ability to do business and make money, thus make a living, cut off and blocked. Pushed into a corner until they eventually start to die out.

It’s really fascinating, and brilliantly depicted by Isyama, how the Monarchy’s self-delusion leads them to believe they’re preserving peace and prosperity for the homogeneous population by hunting down and terrorizing groups of minority bloodlines and ethnicity’s and races, creating for these subsets of people a world and a life of endless suffering, and blinding themselves to their own, tyrannical exercise of power over a large population. Of course this sort of thing also leads to greed and a lust for power, a need for ever more control, ever more expansion of that power, which in turn leads to the very thing the Monarchy here claims to want to prevent, which is war. Even if the Royal Government, and the Monarchy, and the King, started out with somewhat noble intentions, it eventually morphs into a twisted and persistently corrupting power play.

There’s also the theme here of scapegoating an entire group of people, and holding them accountable for sins they themselves did not commit. We see in Historia’s memories of Frieda, and how she would at times begin acting like another person, how she became vitriolic and almost violent in telling Historia that she can “never cross the fence”, proclaiming that they’re all “sinners” and thus need to be punished by being imprisoned. This is where the original King’s philosophy begins to become deeply problematic and dangerous. In order to control the population, he’s forced each inheritor of the world’s memories to also inherit his philosophy, forcing each heir to labor under the belief that the Eldian’s are somehow responsible for the atrocities committed by their ancestors, and thus should continue to pay for them, even though not a single person at this point living behind the walls was even yet born when those atrocities were committed. The danger here is in the possibility of those people being held accountable for things they didn’t do, realizing the injustice of that, and in turn, growing angry and resentful for being made to suffer for crimes they didn’t commit. This in turn leads to a desire to hit back, to fight, to defend themselves, etc... This same scenario plays out on a smaller scale with the Ackerman’s, with the future generations of Ackerman children continuing to be hunted and persecuted, despite none of them having any knowledge whatsoever of the history of humanity or the world. It’s all a vicious cycle.

Further, this kind of attempt to play God, by dictating to an entire group of otherwise uninvolved people what they do and don’t deserve, and in turn deciding for them that they should be punished for things they did not do, is morally bankrupt. Deciding, in general, for an entire population, how they should be allowed to live is also morally bankrupt. And this exposes the Royal Government and Monarchy as corrupt, among about a million other things in story. Essentially, it’s a condemnation against the concept of any, one person having absolute power. That never ends well, for anyone.

Well, anyway, I’m just rambling at this point, lol. It’s just really fascinating and amazing how Isyama weaves all of these deep themes into his story, I think, and forces the reader to really think about these kinds of things.

Also, I missed the fight between Levi and Kenny! I’m glad they added that to the anime, haha.

I also noticed how Historia might have had an unintentional impact on what Eren later decides he has to do. She keeps going on and on here about being an “enemy of humanity” and wanting to “destroy everything”. And while Historia clearly doesn’t actually mean what she’s saying, and is only acting out in her frustration and anger at her douchebag of a father trying to manipulate her into sacrificing herself for his delusions of grandeur, what she also says to Eren about her “being humanity’s enemy, but Eren being her FRIEND.” is clear foreshadowing of what Eren later decides is his best and only course, to do whatever it takes to protect his friends, including killing the rest of humanity. This probably also ties into Eren’s choice to not reveal what he learns from his father’s memories, in an attempt to protect Historia. But I haven’t gotten to that point yet, so I’ll come back around to it later maybe.

#attack on titan #shingeki no kyojin

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krazyclue · 3 years

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Italian in Name Only

I am a mixtape of European influences, but the two biggest are Italian and Irish, so it's maybe ironic that I've never been much for family. Not hostile toward it, more like disinterested.

Italians and the Irish have the reputation of being devoted to their families. If there's nothing quite like a good Catholic upbringing mixed with poverty to convince people to have loads of children, then being middle-class and an only child is the antidote. Never wanted children, never wanted to be part of a family, didn't even really have a notion of them. I just never thought about it.

Not until lately anyway, and I do not mean in the sense of having children myself. I mean of being suddenly conscious of a growing need to know what my origins are, to see how I somehow fit into the larger concept of a family. When my ancestors arrived in America, what they did once they got here, and how that differs from or mirrors what other families have found. This desire might have something to do with the pandemic and all that time spent alone when the world was shut down—the isolation making me want to reconnect and do so on a deeper level.

Most of my knowledge of Italy is from the movies, design, and fashion. My understanding of Ireland is even more limited since I spent my only visit there wandering between pubs listening to white guys with 'dreads spinning drum'n'bass. I don't speak any Italian beyond a stray "Ciao, Bella" or "Vaffanculo." I know the second one because English soccer fans used it in a taunting chant whenever they played Italian teams ("Where were you in World War 2? VA-FFAN-CULO!!"). My father spoke fluent Italian when he was a child but forgot most of it in adulthood. My immediate family is small and spread by time, distance, and some animosity; I know very little about most of the members of my extended one. If I have cultural heritage, it's hard to know what it is.

I am not at all sure what made me start to think this way. It could have been watching the HBO adaptation of My Brilliant Friend, based on Elena Ferrante's novels. The show is a portrait of two women growing up in 50's Naples. We see their lives against a backdrop of a country coming fitfully to life after the devastation following the Second World War, its progress held back by repressive patriarchy. Grim moments often give way to more ecstatic ones before doubling back again the other way, leading to emotionally vivid set pieces that capture the personal and historical in the same scene. The score by Max Richter alone can induce yearning and seeing the young, very inexperienced cast gradually develop into compelling actors makes the whole experience unforgettable, like the best work of the Italian neorealist cinema.

But My Brilliant Friend is set in Naples, and my family is from Tuscany. Italy, like the States, is a country of regions that do not always like each other, the north versus the south, and my ancestors would have been culturally different from the show's characters. Still, carried by the show, I find myself more and more drawn to thinking about Italy—I have roots in Germany and France as well, but for some reason, Italy is the country for which I feel the strongest connection.

Possibly I am entirely led by my stomach. Early in the pandemic, I started getting into Italian cooking, going carefully through a copy of Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hasan, who you might call the Julia Child of that countries' cuisine. I have a copy of Silver Spoon too, a compendium of real recipes from Italian families, from which I've made a few dishes, and I have my grandmother's pasta maker, and somewhere on an index card her hand-written ravioli recipe. It took all day for her and my grandfather to make that recipe; she stirred the slow simmering meat and prepared the ingredients, and my grandfather painstakingly sealed each ravioli with a fork.

My German grandfather may have loved his pig's feet and pickled herring, but that obsession thankfully was not passed onto me, nor, as far as I know, to anyone else in my family. I might like a good stout too, even some Irish stew on occasion, but it's Italian food that captures my imagination. I am only beginning to know how each region has shaped that cuisine and the influences that created so many varied dishes.

I have not kept up with my family. I hardly know most of them, and outside of my parents and my uncle, I am not in touch with any other relatives. I forget the birthdays of even the closest friends and family; I must mark them on a calendar, or I'll miss the day altogether. My uncle has become something of the family historian and has been sending emails to nearly a dozen family relations. While I do recognize many of the names, there are far more that I do not remember and at least two I only know of by reputation. There are also people I met on that list, only once or twice, and those I saw most often were back when my grandparents were making their famous ravioli to go along with the Thanksgiving turkey, and that was a long time ago now.

Those emails coincide with my awakening interest in my origins. I know a few more names now: my great grandparents Enea and Italia Lorenzetti emigrated here in 1916 and had two sons; my grandmother's dislike for Enea, a man with old-world beliefs who thought women shouldn't drive, my grandfather's brother, who threatened to walk out if Enea told them how to run their business; a rift with the Catholic Church because a priest wouldn't baptize Enea's and Italia's daughter unless they paid him an indulgence, and that the girl died soon after.

I've seen family photos, the people captured in those images ghost-like in those black and white pictures, and since I am such a mongrel, I do not look at all like them. Of course, I'd like to know more, but really, what I want is a better sense of what Italy is and why I feel so drawn toward it, not only the particulars of my one family's experience. I will start getting to know my family, but that is only the beginning of reconnecting, not its conclusion.

As I read and study (and hopefully get to make that first trip to Italy after the pandemic canceled my trip scheduled for last October), I want to know Italy without romanticizing it. You can convince yourself that life is better "over there" when it's probably the same or worse. Okay, maybe better too, possibly much better. But I don't want to become an obsessive Italy fan. Or fall for obvious cliches—about how Italy is a place where people know how to live. Italians are all passionate and stylish, speaking with their hands, operatic and over the top, and all the other hot-blooded Italian tropes. I'm sure there's some truth there as well.

But Italy also had one of the worst Covid-19 outbreaks and still struggles with a government, often in disarray, that cannot impede the dominance of the Camorra clans in Naples. And Italy still hasn't quite overcome the legacy of Mussolini: a far-right movement led by Matteo Salvini remains threateningly close to taking power, a rise aided by racism and xenophobia. I do not want to idealize or unfairly condemn the place, but rather know Italy and its' people for whatever they are, so I can see how it shaped myself and my family. I want to take pictures in the streets, wander without a plan until I got lost and needed one. Maybe discover my operatic personality.

Coming out of this lockdown, old age not quite here but getting closer, as in just around the corner smoking a cigarette close, with the world isolated from itself, without any family of my own; maybe that is what sparked this need to connect with a sense of place, a sense of family. That's what being "white" can mean—it's when you've become so absorbed into American culture that your ancestry seems like it started around about 1980 (in my case anyway). I used to joke that my cultural heritage was shopping malls and Back to the Future movies at the multiplex.

I think that has some advantages to being part of a well-defined community or coming from a large extended family. If you have no family, you won't be assigned an identity by what they think you should be. You won't have as many expectations about your choices before you get to choose for yourself.

The problem is that you also have no sense of history or your heritage or how your small part fits into it the larger story. You are isolated. You can claim America, the nation of immigrants, but you make a claim not knowing where your people came from, and that might be the worst side effect of assimilation: forgetting the past. I've never known much about mine. I regret letting so much time slip before realizing family and heritage are so important. Now I am going to do my best to embrace my past, whatever it may be.

#family ancestors identity immigrants Italy USA America

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thenerdparty · 4 years

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REVIEW: Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang

Like many of us, I grew up on Superman. He was the paragon of virtue that all of us were to aspire. My first introduction was the old serial cartoons made in the 1940s. My dad bought me a VHS copy in the early 90s at a garage sale. I watched it repeatedly because it was simple: Superman is good and right and true; he overcomes the bad guys with his might. Rinse and repeat every nine minutes. Mechanical monsters, evil super-geniuses, arctic giants, and volcanos-- these were his enemies as far as I was concerned. It never occurred to me that Superman needed to fight hate and racism, but he did.

In 1946, "The Adventures of Superman," a popular radio show that aired from 1940 to 1951, took on the Klan. During the years of World War II, the show often had Superman battle and overcome the Nazis. It was easy to write with great payoff because America wanted to beat the Axis. However, with the Allies winning and the Nazis defeated, it didn't make sense for Superman to continue fighting them. The producers of the show were looking for a new villain, and Klan activity was on the rise in the northern United States. According to who you talk to, it was several people's idea to have the show go after the Klan, but what's important is that it happened and they had the courage and support to do it. "Clan of the Fiery Cross" was born as a stand-in for the Klu Klux Klan for legal purposes. We need to remember that the KKK, then as it is today, is litigious and organized with dues, budgets, and marketing campaigns. Superman took on the "Clan" and punched racism in the face. While thinly veiled, it worked, and ratings skyrocketed while Klan leaders denounced the show.

Fast-forward to 2019: "Superman Smashes the Klan," written by Gene Luen Yang with art by Gurihiru, is released as a three-part serial and is loosely based on the aforementioned radio show. Set in 1946, a Chinese-American family moves to the suburbs of Metropolis and out of Chinatown. The Lees are not welcome by all, and some are so disturbed by them moving in that a flaming cross appears on their front lawn. The focus of the story is on the two Lee children, Tommy and Roberta. Tommy is a gifted athlete who quickly usurps the mantle of starting pitcher on the community center baseball team. The former starting pitcher's uncle is the "Grand Scorpion" of Metropolis' local Klan chapter. Yang shows an interesting dichotomy with the uncle because when his nephew talks about being replaced, he essentially tells him to take it in stride and do better next time. That is until he hears the name "Lee." His entire mood changes, and he practically goes for his robes right there. I'm pointing to this moment because we often hear, "well, he's always been nice to me." It's a familiar character defense that comes up regularly when somebody accuses another of racism, sexism, or xenophobia. Yang lifts the veil of this defense as well as sheds light on the duality of racism. This theme is done deftly and sometimes overtly throughout the story. You can forgive the use of overt themes in place of subtly once you understand the history of this story and from what it was adapted.

The art is done in a playful way to showcase how different this is from the modern tellings of Superman of this current decade. It also achieves that shiny veneer and idyllic view of the past that so many of us have but also reveals how Camelot was a lie for people who looked different than Superman or me. Setting the story in Gotham, the reader wouldn't feel like it was that much of a stretch to see police corruption, systemic racism, casual xenophobia, etc. But Metropolis is the shining city upon a hill (even with death rays). Certain characters even voice their disbelief in the kind of activities that take place, including our favorite veteran paperman Perry White.

While Superman swooping in to save the Lee family from drowning, bombs and Klan activity is the main plot; the b-plot is Supes dealing with his own identity and the development of his powers. Superman can only leap, and his eyes only see. The comic goes out of its way to remind us of the early history of his character and limited abilities. These two stories are fantastic on their own, but at times they feel clumsy when smashed together. Going back and forth, you keep wondering whether this is a story about an immigrant family struggling with the Klan with the help of Superman or a Superman story struggling with his parentage while punching the Klan. The connections between the two stories of self-identity and immigration are tenuous at best, that is until the end. Yang does stick the landing when Superman accepts he's an alien and an immigrant and proudly reveals it to the world. Superman's revelation mirrors Roberta Lee's journey and the acceptance of her issues as well as her birth name.

Overall, this is an entertaining read with a pertinent message and, sadly, still a timely one, but it can either give you a glimpse of your past or small window into one you've never experienced. If you do read it, I recommend you make sure to read the epilogue written by Yang. It gives a brief history of the plight of Chinese-Americans, Klan activity, and his own experiences growing up. It is just as interesting as the Superman story the proceeds it and, in my opinion, should have been the prologue. It gives much more depth and understanding to the reader.

Tristan Riddell

Co-Founder and Publisher

TheNerdParty.com

#SupermanSmashesTheKlan #NetGalley #Superman #comic #racism #KKK #klan #dc #comics

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kendrixtermina · 5 years

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SUBJECTIVE OPINION TIME re: Rhea

Me: * Finishes Empire Route * Maybe it’s just because both dogmatic zealots and quasi-parental figures than only love you “conditionally” tend to set me off personally, but man, Rhea is scary

People: “Well she goes off the deep end there, in the other routes she’s much nicer”

Me: Alright then lets see what nice Rhea is like * waits for it *

[...]

Me: ...where is it?

Rhea: *Is barely IN the other routes* *Never once talks to any of the people who are so loyal to her* *it looks more and more like Edelgard did everyone a solid by removing her from the equation and they dont even know it*

Rhea’s support chain: is nothing but major creepo vibes (and some Jeralt backstory I guess) - you do get “personal space plz” dialogue options so this isn’t entirely unintentional

Rhea’s S support: “I fabricated a false history, deceived everyone and was literally giddy about the prospect of you becoming a meat puppet until you offered me your tits/dick”

the vibe is very much “This character was basically evil until just now, but sinse she’s somewhat (sym?)pathetic we’re letting you redeem her if you’re really comitted to it” - and why not? Video games are all about freedom. And it makes total sense that she could be swayed by someone acting as a strong protector to her since she has a very childish, self-centered mentality and basically wants her mommy.

Just saying, none of the lords require you to screw them for them to listen to reason. You could run off with their best friends if you wanted.

Alliance Route: Edelgard was right about the censorship and shady meddling... actually, it’s even worse, because she’s to blame for the rampant xenophobia and closed-mindedness too!

I already suspected that Nemesis wasn’t going to turn out to actually have been good/ that there must be a bit more to it, but I’d had a lot more sympathy if she hadn’t basically enslaved 1000 years worths of humans for something their distant ancestors did. Nemesis and the elites were dead. In fact she killed them, and rightly so! But even if she could kill them again and again it wouldn’t bring back Sothis. And what did the commoners ever do to deserve this?

All while the actual Culprits go unchecked, cheerfully inflicting similar slaughter on, say, Edelgard’s and Dimitri’s families.

They had sad backstories too. Almost the same one (”Agarthans killed my whole clan”). What did Edelgard do with it? Decide that she will uproot both the meddling shadow factions, end inequality and give power to the people even if she has to give up everything she cares about, so the same never happens to anyone else. Sure, she had a much harder time trusting or connecting with people and dealt poorly with being cornered but she recognizes that her classmates aren’t to blame for what their fathers did. What did Dimitri do with it? Well he struggles alot, but he definitely developed empathy for the downtrodden and other victims of violence and he makes an effort to be aware of his shortcomings and be a good person most of the time. He never believes that trying to do good or fight evil means that hes perfect or cant be criticised. At some point he definitely held some resentment against Adrestians as a whole (not just Arundel or Edelgard themselves), but he got over that and became a dedicated peacemaker.

Both of them have more maturity and self-awareness at 23 than Rhea has at 23 hundred.

Church Route: Well, at least Mama Eisner actually DID die of natural causes and there’s no indication that she mistreated her ‘experiments’ in anyways, but it can’t have been great for Byleth’s mom, to grow up knowing that she’s considered a ‘failure’, that her mother figure would so much rather that someone else take her place and is just waiting for her to die of old age so she could repeat the process.

And then there’s how she made all the higher ups of the church drink her blood/ crest stones

Would this have happened to Jeralt if he hadn’t died when he did? Heavens could she have monsterified anyone who disagreed at any time?!

And just to twitch the knife she just HAS to call poor Byleth “mother”to their face at the very end after they went through all the trouble to rescue her and forgave her for the meat puppet thing.

Kingdom Route:

- The Ashe/Cassandra support DEAR GOD

...did she just get off scot free?

It’s not like I want her dead, per se, just not-a-threat-anymore.. She lives in her S support but she also partially recognizes her wrongdoings and that she’s unfit to rule and even goes on to atone, so, no objections from me. Whereas here we never see her realize that she was wrong in any way. Sure she’s stepped down but she’s probably discarded and assumed new identities a bajillion times. Just because she CAN cause trouble again doesn’t mean she will but if it were me I’d want some minimal assurance that she wont...

People: “But she has a sad backstory/sympathetic motivations/characterization other than muahaha”

Me: That’s decent writing, not morality.

By “evil” I don’t mean “cackling disney villain”, I mean that a certain critical mass of badness is present and that her motivations are mainly selfish at other’s expense. Sanctimonious delusions just make it worse.

Like you might feel sympathy towards some guy who was beaten by his father until you find out that he then went on to beat humiliate and mistreat his own children. It’s the same principle, though I recognize that this is by naturally subjective.

She’s clearly intended to be tragic/pitiable and I’m certainly not going to get on anyone’s case for feeling sorry for or emphatizing with her (let alone liking her - you’re allowed to like antagonists and not every opinion has to be some great act of moral value)

But wether or not one wants to use the label “evil” which by nature is a subjective emotion-charged thing, or the entirely separate question of what one would or wouldn’t view as appropriate countermeasures, there’s no denying that the results of her actions were net negative and that she was just plain incompetent and accountable to no one. And she wasn’t ever gonna stop.

It’s hard to give her a pass for being childish when Edelgard, Claude and Dimitri (eventually) take on so much responsibility and determinedly pursue altruistic goals though they are young and inexperienced.

As I see it, Rhea’s a “rule the world” villain whereas the Agarthans are a “destroy the world” one. Lawful vs Chaotic evil. Out of the two you’d probably prefer to be subjugated by Rhea because she’ll act as a benevonent tyrant as long as you do not openly defy her but both view the surface-dwelling people as lowly animals. In Rhea’s case, you get to be the pet cat, and she may even protect you like a pet cat. But pet cats dont get any say in how they are governed.

#fire emblem: three houses #fire emblem three houses #fe3h #Rhea #archbishop rhea

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mochidoodle · 5 years

Text

Houseki - 宝石

Since there’s been some curiosity about it lately, I’ve decided to officially introduce Houseki! Houseki is my original series made with the help of my faithful editor-in-chief @ukitakejuushiro.

It all began with my first D&D character, a half-elf druid named Eizan Shen whose backstory I fleshed out over the past year. The story takes place in the elf nation of Liang (Chinese: 亮), meaning “light/brightness.” I incorporated my Asian heritage into a fantasy, magic-filled world brimming with all the classic (and favorite) fantasy story tropes. Sky-high towers and mages and dragons...a mix modern fashion with ancient Chinese wardrobes...and a set of unique customs built on Asian foundations. (ok now I sound like a chef on Chopped😅)

This explanation ended up hella long, so the rest is under the cut! I’m so happy people are curious about Houseki. It’s the culmination of my love for drawing, world-building, and storytelling (and anime ofc lol). Hope y’all enjoy my first original story!

The Kingdom of Liang

The prosperous Kingdom of Liang is a country landlocked on three sides, facing the sea on its west coast. It’s ruled by an oligarchy-monarchy mishmash I’ve yet to totally work out and three big political factions I won’t delve into too much now. The important thing to know is Eizan’s wife, Saya, connects him to the nobility because she’s the niece of the king. Her entire backstory is a wild ride involving a dispute for the throne, “dishonoring” her clan, and finding a family for herself.

For the most part, the main plot revolves Eizan and his job. If you’ve read MTNN by Matsui Yuusei, you’ll figure out exactly who inspired Eizan...in fact he’s kinda like a (slight) Pokemon evolution of my favorite MTNN character (lol oops...)

Anyway, for that reason, I gave Eizan a similar-ish job. (I’ll keep Eizan spoilers to a minimum here because the campaign I’m playing right now has yet to reveal his deets... but if asked, I’d be happy to give’em!) We follow his adventures and meet his best friend, Taizi (a human) and his brother-in-law, Chai (an aspiring mage).

Due to a horrific 100-year-long war (appropriately named the 100 Year War), Liang experiences the aftereffects of rampant xenophobia. Nowadays, border relations are peaceful and the xenophobia is minimal, but the bitter aftertaste of intermittent racism and elf elitism remains.

We get a dose of this in Taizi’s backstory — Taizi and his human family were immigrant beggars rejected by the locals until Eizan’s father offered them a home and helped them get back on their feet. Ever since then, Eizan and Taizi have been the best of friends, like brothers.

Meanwhile, Chai, the snooty son of one of the biggest royals around, learns what it means to be the “non-elite.” He meets Taizi, his sister marries Eizan (a commoner and a half-blood), and he becomes a working apprentice at the local woodshop. His is a tale of self discovery, treating people with fairness, finding his own goals, and opening his worldview when he crosses paths with characters from all walks of life.

Jade

One of the most important customs in Liang is the symbolism of jade. Jade is the most sacred stone, symbolizing a lifelong promise between two (or more) people. It is a vow of friendship, family, love, and loyalty. Jade is not to be gifted lightly. Royals tend to have a family and/or individual ring made of jade.

Most, if not all couples, will exchange unique jade pieces when they marry. I call it “Trade a Jade” (˚▽˚) For example, Eizan gave Saya her hair clip and she gave him a set of earrings. Sky gave Yuri a beautiful hair ornament, and she gave him jade chevron ear cuffs. (Couples do trade other items, but these happened to be similar gifts.)

Magic

The theory of magic in Liang is based off the number eight, representing harmony and balance. Mages use “anchors” to connect themselves to the natural energy of the world. While magic theory/technique may vary geographically, Liangese magic always utilizes eight anchors. A gate between the first seven anchors and the universe is established using your soul anchor (the eighth pillar, one’s own mana). The first seven are elemental anchors (fire, earth, water, etc) which draw power from the natural world. The stronger the mage, the purer the magic, meaning one can draw a greater quantity of power with a better connection.

Gemstones — houseki (宝石) — are used to enhance the channels established by anchors. Certain jewels even have elemental affinities. Stones with high purity resonate strongly and channel the best magic.

Fun fact: If you take away the hat-shaped radical in the first character of Houseki, you get the word for “jade”...!

Connecting to different anchors produces different spells. For example, combining several elements provides complex magics like telepathy and foresight. Using only one type of anchor creates create pure magic, such as straight up fire or water spells. However, magic is not produced out of thin air — it requires a trade of the user’s mana for the world’s energy. A spell’s strength still depends on the caliber of mage, not just what anchors they use.

Magic tools are very common. They use magic batteries made of gems/metal ores or simply rely on the user’s mana. Inscriptions and magic circles establish anchors if none are enchanted into the gems. High quality magic tools are made of metals with high magic compatibility. The more common items made from regular steel, stone, and glass include thoughtography radios, magic-infused cameras, and quartz crystal TVs.

Additionally, healing is possible by accessing life element anchors (found in your soul anchor or in organic objects) to summon sheer life force energy. Liangese healing magic is very advanced to the point where one can conduct brain and open-heart surgeries. However, the usage of certain magics is forbidden without qualification. Medicinal magic is limited to certified clerics, and alchemy is strictly prohibited unless you’ve graduated from the capital’s School of Alchemy.

Note: Much sketchy underworld business revolves around black magic, illegal alchemy, and magic weapons trade.

Basic spells are taught in grade schools, but not everyone has strong magic affinity, so mastery isn’t a requirement. Most children continue on to a regular university, vocational school, or magic academy if they don’t enter a direct apprenticeship following primary education. Easy spells are frequently used in daily life to simplify tasks. For example, one can check the quality of materials or speed up certain processes using analysis/trace magic. Cooking magic is an entire art on its own, and very difficult to master.

There are laws banning time-altering magic and revival of the dead, but very few ever violate them. This is because these spells never end well. You can land in an eternal time loop or accidentally create a soulless, man-eating zombie. And then you die. While spells that save someone on the brink of death in exchange for one’s own life force do exist, you cannot bring back the dead.

There is only one exception to this, and even that singular instance required hundreds of years of research and preparation, not to mention the cost.

Finally, certain noble clans specialize in different magics, often attaining mastery of multiple disciplines. I’ll save that for a different post, but for now, just know that the Cheng Lis are primarily fire, alchemy, and space/time mages. Eizan is good with earth or plant-based spells (aka he has a great green thumb!)

commissioned art by Ling

Plot (???)

The plot of Houseki is still a work in progress. I have a general outline that I keep adding to as more ideas come. I’m writing out the fine details/arcs, which will include the dark underbelly of the royal world, black magic, a threat to the nation, the secret to life (?), and the truth behind the throne. Love me my cliches hehe~

Here are some character facts you might find interesting! ...okay, yes, my cast is like 90% one royal family and I have terrible naming sense (I legit named Taizi after my fave badminton player) but here ya go!

MAIN CAST

Eizan Shen: A half-elf druid created for my first ever D&D campaign hosted by a friend! He’s a huge family man and an avid tea enthusiast. Very calm, levelheaded, and specializes in handling a knife...or many knives. (I don’t know where he keeps them...😨) Eizan gives off ultimate dad vibes and his most treasured thing in the world is his family.

Saya Shen: Eizan’s wife, a full elf born to one of the most powerful royal clans. She was supposed to be the first princess of Liang, but was disowned by her family when she rebelled from their ideals and married a commoner (and a half-blood, to boot). She’s an incredibly strong woman both mentally and physically, but also one of the warmest, most loving characters in the series. Oh, also her biceps are made of steel.

Chai Cheng Li: Saya’s little brother, a young mage prodigy who specializes in fire magic. He’s a tad snooty and arrogant, but at heart just a nerdy bookworm who loves magic. He grows up admiring his sister, feeling heartbroken when she “abandons” him and leaves the family, but later rediscovers himself and in his journey to become king.

Taizi Ying: Eizan’s childhood friend. He and his family were immigrant beggars shunned by the locals until Eizan’s parents offered them a place to stay. After his parents died of illness, Taizi made it his life goal to repay the kindness that Eizan’s family showed him years ago. He becomes the greatest swordsman in the nation and earns great respect despite the human blood in his veins.

Dae Ongaku: She is spunk in the form of a small elf girl, the one and only Dae. Head apprentice of the Shen Woodworking Company, her skills are nearly unrivaled. She’s known for her contagious smile, eccentric love of cheese, and her liveliness. It really isn’t a day without Dae Ongaku. (Character inspired and written by @ukitakejuushiro)

Sky Silvers: A cool and aloof elven ranger who befriends Eizan during our D&D campaign, later residing in the Shen household temporarily before he becomes a disciple of the greatest archer in Liangese history, Hanzhen Cheng Li. In the future timeline, Sky also ends up falling in love with Han’s daughter and marrying her. (Sky belongs to @ukitakejuushiro, and is her player in the campaign.)

Hanzhen Cheng Li: Youngest brother of the king and Saya’s uncle. Known far and wide as the One-Eyed Archer, Han is the strongest archer in all of Liangese history. He lost function of his left eye in the 100 Year War, hence his nickname. His wife passed away due to cancer, but thanks to my incredible plot armor (backed up by a decent magic theory), she will come back to life. They’re the cutest shit you’ll ever see, so I have absolutely no regrets. Best decision ever.

Yumiko Cheng Li: Han’s beloved wife, a cute little lady with a head of fluffy chestnut hair. She died approximately 75-85 years ago due to an incurable cancer, but I brought her back to life because Han was too lonely and I love her to bits. She is pure sunshine, the actual greatest good in this world.

Just look at this...how can you say no....

Yuri Cheng Li: Daughter of Han and Yumiko. Like her parents before her, she is a skilled archer, and her personality is a perfect mix of the two. She has a passion for fashion, art, and teaching, but her emotionally tragic past hinders her confidence and her relationships. Fortunately, she meet someone who helps her becomes brave again, and fate aligns just right :’)

Hokuzhen Cheng Li: We should finally introduce the King of Liang himself, shouldn’t we? Cheerful and easygoing, Hoku is a kind and intelligent king. He’s very perceptive of the state of the nation, while also keeping up with “hip and cool” trends much to his daughter’s dismay. He can be somewhat clumsy, often tripping over his massive robes. A good man with one too many dad jokes...

Alishan Cheng Li: The Crown Princess of Liang, named after the literal Alishan mountain range of Taiwan. She’s Hoku’s daughter and Saya’s cousin. Ali is polite and well-mannered but not particularly adventurous or motivated. She knows for sure that she doesn’t want to inherit the throne. Oh, and she loves food (especially mantou) ♫

Bonus:

Wakamori Yakaze: A spirit mage from the western island country of Kouhaku. Yakaze is Sky’s first teacher and Han’s best friend. Though he doesn’t appear in Houseki’s main plot, he’s a main character in Han’s spinoff story, which will rejoin the final timeline of the main series. Yakaze’s tale is one of angst and hopelessness and his journey to someday becoming whole again. Personally, I believe his friendship with Han is unrivaled, far surpassing both love and life. Keep an eye out for him in YUMI TO YA —弓と矢 (Yakaze belongs to @ukitakejuushiro)

ANTAGONISTS

Yan Wu Seigi: A cunning mage who runs an underworld spy network. He is the head of the Seigi clan (and political faction), but his heinous actions in the 100 Year War dishonored his clan, and they were stripped of their status. His sly methods and ulterior motives drive the underlying plot behind Houseki.

Akagi Kanshikan: Yan Wu’s adopted son. Akagi lost his family to a house fire when he was young. He grows up a wild, obsessive, and unstable youth who craves social intimacy but doesn’t know how to achieve it. His love for violence and lifelong training as an assassin don’t help much either. He meets Eizan during their school years and plays a large role in one of the more devastating arcs.

Jimo Kanshikan: Akagi’s younger sister, a small, emotionless, and cold assassin. Trained to be a killer since her formative years, she is fast and deadly...but somewhere deep inside, she wishes Yan Wu would show her fatherly approval and she seeks warmth from her sibling(s).

Shanmu Seigi: Yan Wu’s only biological daughter, a wicked poison enchantress who adores mind games. She supports her father’s regime but also has an evil plan of her own. The shame of their clan drove her to mother to madness, and Shanmu’s hand in her mother’s demise explains why she has become so twisted. Shanmu is a recurring antagonist who cleverly slips beyond reach of the law.

Hayazhen Cheng Li: The eldest Cheng Li brother, Saya’s father, and formerly the Crown Prince of Liang. He was once a benevolent man to his loved ones, but after an unfortunate plot twist, he begins seeking vengeance in the form of cruelly grooming his heir. Hayazhen is a key national figure and maintains strong influence behind political tides.

Asuka Cheng Li: Hayazhen’s wife, mother of Saya and Chai. She supports her husband’s endeavors regrets her inability to help Hayazhen make wiser choices. Instead, she blindly takes his side, thinking it was the only way to support him.

Junzhen Cheng Li: A stingy, arrogant second Cheng Li brother. He’s just straight up mean and rude, no holds barred. But no one gives a damn about him either lol.

SUPPORTERS & FRIENDS

Setsuna Reifan: A renowned healer who spearheads the movement for workers’ rights and class equality. She becomes an important ally to the main cast.

Ichirou Reifan: Setsuna’s son, a member of Eizan’s team. A really average joe. Pleasant to be around, but not very interesting.

Hyouka Tsaomei: A quiet, sweet girl who specializes in illusionary magic. She loves strawberries. Her name means strawberry. Will kill for strawberry shortcake.

Qiuzhen Rin Koori: Magic forensic specialist who only likes three things in this world — coffee, candy, and sleep. It pains him to get out of his chair, and it’s near impossible to extract him from his magic lab.

Old Nao: Headmaster of one of the military academies in the capital. A kind man, but also incredibly ancient.

Torisu Bia: One of the Ongaku Daily Sun’s best political journalists. Doesn’t sleep much, loves to write, and gets her nose into sticky situations every now and then. Uncovers a great conspiracy.

Osamu Raisan: A bard of the royal court who plays the shamisen. Something about him is particularly ethereal and all-knowing...

Maikku Shantian: Another bard of the royal court. He sings. Loudly. A very popular bard amongst the populace.

Layla Zanabaq: A local florist in the capital’s most immigrant-populated town, where Eizan and Saya live. Has a huge crush on Maikku. (Inspired and created by @harunnn)

Shu’un & Ranshao: Two of Chai’s university friends. The first is a salty little mage who uses familiars, and the second is the token idiot who only knows how to use explosion magic.

Paiya Yoon: Dae’s childhood friend and rival. She moves into the capital when she finds a new job there, rekindling their competitive friendship. She’s named after a papaya. Yes, you heard me, a papaya. (Inspired by @kyahgamis)

Rem: Sky’s eternally sleepy childhood friend. Even while holding a conversation, there is a 99% chance he is asleep. May or may not be a ninja, but you didn’t hear that from m—

Collie: An archery kouhai from Sky’s youth. She looks up to him a lot and she flaps her ears when she’s excited, as if she might try and fly away. Collie is often mistaken for a boy.

Ra: A very Extra™ healer who has 100% faith in his skills (as should you). He calls people by their full name all the time (a power move), doesn’t skimp on eyeliner, and has known Sky since his village days as well. (Rem, Collie, Ra by @ukitakejuushiro)

FAMILY

Ezi Shen: The plucky, curious daughter of Eizan and Saya! She adores the color pink and loves bows of all kinds: bow ties, ribbon bows, bow tie pasta, you name it! Ezi is quite the fearless little adventurer and one should consider it an honor to be invited to her weekly tea parties.

Daizan Shen: Eizan’s father, a master woodworker who owns the shop where Dae works. He’s a strict but fair man who earned great respect amongst fellow craftsmen with his hard work and skills. He and his wife serve as the liaisons between local mixed-race business and the corporate elf society.

Meihua Shen: Eizan’s mother and Daizan’s wife. Though she was born to elite elven family, Meihua pursued her dream of being a seamstress. She now owns a beautiful dress and tailor shop. Despite being a pacifist, Meihua’s incredible intelligence was needed at the end of the 100 Year War, and she temporarily served as the head military strategist.

Tian Cheng Li: The only daughter of the previous king and sister to all of the Cheng Li brothers. Tian is an absolute riot who turns proper princess stereotypes on their heads. She is the root source of Saya’s spunky nature, the rebellious and boisterous Cheng Li aunt.

Hayano and Irino Cheng Li: The notorious family twins, Tian’s youngest sons. They are the most chaotic duo of memes elves you’ll ever meet. They always have their hair dyed one wacky color or another. Lately it’s been orange (Hayano) and lavender (Irino).

Hokkaia Hibari: Saya’s maternal grandmother, a very loving and tender woman who taught her grandchildren how to read and write. When the family dynamic turned sour, the children sought comfort in Hokkaia. She taught them to hope and dream :’)

The Ongaku Family: Dae’s family of two fishermen, a navy boy, and the editor-in-chief of the Ongaku Daily Sun. They’re frequently so busy with work (coastal fishing, deployment, running the newspaper, etc) that they’re often absent from the household. As a result, Dae practically lives with the Shens nowadays.

Rei, Jun, & Maeno Cheng Li: The rest of Saya’s cousins. Rei is the oldest, an elegant but stiff woman. Underneath her guise of propriety, she seems lonely, like she just wants to have fun and be friends. Meanwhile, Jin is her stuck-up asshole of a little brother, a true snob. Don’t give Jin time of day, ever — it’ll get to his head. Finally, Maeno is the benevelent older bro of Tian’s twins. He has a soft, round stature and a warm smile.

Sei Ling Zhou: The former queen, mother of all the Cheng Li siblings, and the most renowned healer in history. She’s known for her quirky attitude and snarky clapbacks, having once turned down the proposal of the last king himself. Sei Ling will discover a never-before-seen spell that could very well be considered the “secret” of life...

Akira and Kawano Cheng Li: Akira is Junzhen’s wife and mother to Rei and Jin. She married into the family forcefully, desiring access to their magic libraries. Akira is not a stranger to getting what she wants. Kawano is Tian’s husband, a calm and steady man to balance out her spontaneity. He comes from a family that owns a fruit import company.

CUSTOMS

Jade: As mentioned before, the jade stone is the most precious and worshiped gem. Recklessly gifting jade would tarnish one’s reputation and belittle Liangese culture. Of course, they are understanding of mistakes, especially when foreigners are just learning about their customs.

Festivals: Liang has four big seasonal festivals — the Lantern Festival on the summer solstice, the Lunar Dance Festival in mid-autumn, the White Tiger Festival on the week of the new year, and the Jade Horse Festival on the spring equinox. People gather to pray to shrines, dance and sing, eat good food, and visit their families.

Tournaments: Similarly, Liang also has four seasonal tournaments called “Medals.” Winners of the Medals, appropriately called Medalists, are recognized as the greatest master in their respective fields. (Minor competitions also occur, but these are the big ones):

There is the Swordsmanship Medal, which lasts five days and ends on the summer equinox (the day the Lantern Festival begins).

The Ceremonial Dance Medal in mid-autumn, which perfectly coincides with the Lunar Dance Festival.

The Archery Medal on the winter solstice.

And finally the Horsemanship Medal during the spring equinox.

(all statistics are approximate and not quite final yet!)

Mastery of Arts: In Liang, mastery in any field (magic, arts, athletics, medicine, etc) is a very respected achievement. Oftentimes, masters are the older folks, hence why elders are held in high regard. An important plot point involves Taizi achieving mastery of the sword and winning the Swordsmanship Medal, defying classism and racism, and becoming one of the youngest and most respected masters of his generation.

Market Day: A day-long event akin to an Asian night market or western farmers’ market. Shop owners, farmers, and restaurateurs gather in the central marketplaces of large and small cities alike to sell their specialty items. It’s a day to celebrate food and advertise your best goods!

PLACES

Hisui: The capital. It has a circular layout and lies in the western central region of Liang. The Royal Palace sits at its center, hugged by a river that comes from the north. The Inner and Outer Capital are areas separated by the imaginary circle drawn by the river. This line divides the government and business sectors from the smaller residential districts.

Hayashi: Saya’s main hometown growing up. An industrial city slightly northeast of the capital.

Bing Harbor: Han’s city of residence in the northwestern province. It is Liang’s biggest port town, and thus the “gate” to the western world. Bing Harbor is known for its beautiful winter landscapes and seamless escape into vast forests.

Huamao: Eizan’s hometown, where he met Taizi. Known for its peaceful gorges, clear pools, and beautiful small cascades.

Mountains: The mountain ranges surrounding Liang are classified into three different regions, each with their own specialty resources (i.e. mountain ore, lumber, etc). They are home to a few aboriginal clans.

Huen: The southernmost Hisui district. It has the highest immigrant and non-elf population in the capital. This where Eizan currently lives.

Haretsuki Lake: A large lake shaped like a crescent moon crashed into the sun. It lies in a valley to the southeast and has much historical relevance.

Here is a vague, incomplete map of Liang (still a really rough draft so far, and not quite the shape I want it to be...):

As you can see, I have great naming sense (´∀｀；) I either name on a whim or I throw in references to my family in some way or another... Anyway, I plan to change the shape and layout a bit. I’m not quite satisfied yet...

In conclusion...

That...was a lot. If you made it this far, holy shit? Thank you?? Feel free to check out my Houseki tag and ask questions and just...please talk to me about my OCs omg I’m so excited ( ๑>ᴗ<๑ )

This is kinda my first big original “project.” I’ve always wanted to do something like this and I’m super excited to share it. Most of it’s on my personal docs or in chats with Danie, but I will share it all eventually! And I’ll update the (very unfinished) Houseki blog with all the formatting and plot, so stay tuned!

#houseki #about houseki #mochi projects #AHHH so I finally wrote up this WHOLE THING and it's ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE #if you're curious and have lots of time to spare #PLS CHECK IT OUT AND TALK TO ME ABOUT MY OCs #special thanks to my houseki editor @ukitakejuushiro #BLS TALK TO ME ABOUT MY OCs huhu ;w;

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amaetheon · 7 years

Photo

More Information Below

The biggest models are the current days king and queen, while the smaller colour palettes are the original Solgaleo and Lunala that came to Alola, and the children of the king and queen that star in the story. I imagine Solgaleo and Lunala are a common type of Ultra Beast, and that they have a clan mentality there where queens and kings look after the offspring of other Ultra Beasts. The two originals managed to get to Alola from an accidental wormhole that their friend Necrozma made, but decided to stay and live in the new region because they loved it so much! Now one thing to note, the current day Solgaleo and Lunala are not the children of the two originals , they are two random Cosmog chosen by Arceus to continue the royal family's line after Necrozma betrays his two friends. Hopefully that will be a story I can explore more later.

ALSO ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THOSE ENTERED IN MY CONTEST. A few individuals have asked for more time because of family-related issues, so I'm prolonging it for the end of the month. If you still have an outstanding entry, please get it in. :]

Now for the information dump, oh boy.

Original Lunala

Height : 13'01"

Weight : 264.6 lbs.

Ability : Shadow Shield

Personality : The original Lunala loved life and everything in it. She was also very trusting, a trait which would lead to her death. Despite not knowing the language or abilities of the world she came to live in, she loved learning and adapting to her surroundings. She was fascinated by every little thing, because she saw the beauty in even the heart of darkness. She also had the unique personality that let her be friends with legends like Necrozma and Kyogre, both who are perceived as stuck up and bitter.

Battle Effectiveness : The original Lunala preys on her opponent's weakness by using Hypnosis. She believes an incapacitated opponent is the easiest one to defeat, so she'll abuse Dream Eater as her main method of attack. She sees Moongeist Beam as a sacred move and refuses to use it except when absolutely necessary. She'll never lead an attack, but she will act as support on the sidelines.

Special Abilities : As an Ultra Beast that had grown up in Ultra Space, Lunala is able to do a lot of things that would be seen as magic to the outside world. She can regenerate lost limbs and wounds with ease, can teleport with the flap of her wings instantly, and can take and give energy to the world around her. She also has full control over the moon and sea.

Backstory : After accidentally stepping into a wormhole that transported her, her husband, a Cosmog herd, and Necrozma into the mortal plane, Lunala was forced to live out her days as a mock Legendary Pokemon. She befriended the grudged island guardians and worked to make Alola a place that was desirable to live in. Soon the native Pokemon began to welcome her into their fold, and she was praised as the queen of the moon. She didn't actually find out there were other legends alive until Kyogre happened to swim by the island one day. She and her family were taken to Arceus, who allowed them to stay so long as they checked in with the council every year. Kyogre and her ended up becoming best friends despite their amazing differences. She never expected she'd be betrayed, but after Necrozma was able to link a portal back home her former friend wished to lay destruction on the land he called a prison. The three fought, but the hoard of Ultra Beasts proved too much. She was slain at the scene, along with her children, and left as a sign of what would happen to those who tried to leave Necrozma.

Moveset : Moongeist Beam, Hypnosis, Dream Eater, Moonlight

Lunala (Natsuki)

Height : 13'01"

Weight : 264.6 lbs.

Ability : Shadow Shield

Personality/Backstory : Natsuki (named after Johto's moon) started off as a youngster, happy as could be, though life soon gave her a bad hand of cards. She was thrust into a leadership position at a young age because she was the strongest female Cosmog alive at the time and was taken from her nest in Alola to grow up with her mentor. As soon as she was old enough to learn Moongeist Beam she was taken from said mentor, Lugia, and asked to rule alone on a desolate island. Loneliness ate at her conscious and she tried hard to make friends. However, because she was an Ultra Beast, no one would talk to her except Ho-Oh and Lugia. Both were taken from her when the Brass Tower burned down, and her isolation made her paranoid and cryptic. It got worse when her first litter died stillbirth deaths, leading her to believe that Arceus and the Undertaker were mocking her. All of these negative feelings fed on her paranoia and when Xerneas mocked at the next legendary council’s meeting, she lashed out, declaring all outsiders to be against her. The battle between her and Xerneas left her eye and body scarred, and Arceus ordered her to leave she did so bitterly. From that point forward she refused to attend meetings and isolated all Alolan legends on the island. She’s a worrier to the extreme, and extremely protective of her children. The only legends she trusts are her husband and Lugia (and temporarily Cresselia).

Battle Effectiveness : Her battle technique is remain out of sight and out of mind, only coming out to attack when her opponents are distracted. This helps her get the upper hand in many situations, and she'll often rely more on Phantom Force than Moongeist Beam. Her darker coat also allows her to blend in with the shadows, a trait her daughter lacks. She abuses this power in nearly every fight, since her crippling defences mean she can be taken out in a few good hits.

Special Abilities : She has the same abilities as the previous queen, but her Ultra Beast abilities are severely weakened because she chooses not to use them. She can teleport but not instantly, she can only take life and not give, and she can only partially heal wounds. Her connection to the moon is stronger though.

Moveset : Moongeist Beam, Moonlight, Phantom Force, Moonblast

Baby Lunala (Mahina)

Height : 13'01"

Weight : 264.6 lbs.

Ability : Shadow Shield

Personality : Mahina is nothing like her mother. She trusts strangers and loves meeting new people. She also loves proving herself and trying to out do her brother so she comes off as the strongest of the duo. She's very loud and makes a lot of squealing noises to draw attention to herself, something she thrives on. Mahina believes there's a bit of good in everyone. She's also a natural caretaker, as she's been looking after her mother since she evolved into a Lunala.

Battle Effectiveness : She is much tinier in comparison to her mother, but also more bulky. She prefers to ram into opponents with her speed and get as many hits in before fleeing. Her defence is her main concern, so she relies heavily on Moonlight to restore health before firing off many related Moonblasts as possible.

Special Abilities : She has the same abilities as her mother, but has basically lost all of her Ultra Beast powers. She later, however, recovers the ability to use her third eye after digging deeper into the roots of what it means to be a Lunala.

Moveset : Moongeist Beam, Moonblast, Moonlight, Cosmic Power

Original Solgaleo

Height : 11'02"

Weight : 507.1 lbs.

Ability : Full Metal Body

Personality : Though definitely more reserved than his wife, the original Solgaleo was a happy soul. He and his wife would love to go out and explore as a team, and he had a lot of love in him for his family. Even the Cosmog herds, all of which he was not related to, were given a share of his love, and he took his role as a guardian protecter very seriously. He did take more caution when it came to friends, but never faulted in trying to make everyone feel as though they were welcome. There was some xenophobia present in legends like Groudon when he first arrived, but he soon proved him and many others wrong, eventually befriending them. The love he had for his wife knew no bounds, and he died covering her body to stop Necrozma from desecrating her corpse.

Battle Effectiveness : Solgaleo is not frail, but has to keep his defences strong. Sunny Day gives him more of an advantage, but also opens up his weakness to fire. He relies a lot on Morning Sun to keep him healthy and strong, and rarely uses Sunsteel Strike unless it's an emergency.

Special Abilities : Like his wife he can heal wounds with ease, teleport, and take and give life to the world. He's also in control of the sun and monitoring how much sun is given to the plants. He can accidentally open portals if he releases enough energy at sunhigh. His coat is so light it glows even in pitch black darkness.

Moveset : Sunsteel Strike, Morning Sun, Sunny Day, Solarbeam

Solgaleo (Haru)

Height : 11'02"

Weight : 507.1 lbs.

Ability : Full Metal Body

Personality : Haru (named after Johto's sun) is much more laid back compared to his wife, but he too is tired of the constant fighting and bickering between them and others. His ragged coat reflects his mind, tired and seeking peace in a life that's granted him none. He's not a slacker, but he is reluctant to do much of anything. He's much more submissive compared to his wife, and won't stand up for his ideals because it creates noise. He tries to be a good father because of his wife's crippling mental illness, but even as their sole role model he can fall into pits of depression now and again. He wasn't close to his mentor like Natsuki was, so Ho-Oh's "death" didn't have much of an impact on him, those it did train him to fear humans.

Battle Effectiveness : He's not as attack oriented as the original king, but has trained himself to use Flare Blitz to combat stronger foes. Because he hates fighting, he'll often try to use Noble Roar to scare opponents into leaving him alone, and if that doesn't work, he'll fire off Sunsteel Strikes.

Special Abilities : He has full control over the sun and has some of his Ultra Beasts abilities like being able to heal and give life back into the earth, but has lost the ability to transport. He also cannot make portals of his own will, but can enter and live in the Ultra Space without any trouble.

Moveset : Sunsteel Strike, Morning Sun, Noble Roar, Flare Blitz

Baby Solgaleo (Kala)

Height : 11'02"

Weight : 507.1 lbs.

Ability : Full Metal Body

Personality : Kala is easily excitable and loves the thrill that comes from hunting. He can't stand being indoors and prefers associating with nature at all times. He's also a legend that loves fighting, when unavoidable. As a Solgaleo wearing scars is seen as a badge of honour, and he takes a great deal of pride in his chest scar. He's sweet with his sister Mahina, and the two share a friendly rivalry. He wishes he had more time with her, but funnels this enthusiasm and want into his fighting. He'll stop at nothing to protect her and their family, and always tries to impress his sickly parents to make them smile.

Battle Effectiveness : Kala is more steel-type focused, and loves to have his opponent at a disadvantage. This is present in Metal Burst and Flash Cannon, both which have the chance of lowering the opponent's stats. He's offensive, often getting up close and trying to soak up hits while dealing the most amount of damage as possible. He's got a lot of spirit, and doesn't give up until the bitter end.

Special Abilities : He has the same abilities as his father, but has basically lost all of his Ultra Beast powers.

Moveset : Sunsteel Strike, Morning Sun, Flash Cannon, Metal Burst

#solgaleo #lunala #legendary pokemon #alola #pokemon #referneces #my art

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xivu-arath · 7 years

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sith trash lord i mean rkorya What does their writing look like?:

➥ What is your character’s full name?: rkorya kaliyan➥ When were they born?: I’m so glad I made a timeline just for this shit uhhh 3661 BBY/8 BTC (that’s... before the treaty of coruscant. since u don’t swtor)➥ What are their parent’s names?: rusae and hatru➥ Do they have any brothers or sisters?: no, she was an only child➥ What kind of eyes do they have?: vivid green, originally. now they’re Sith Gold➥ What kind of hair do they have?: dark red, tightly curled. she has more of it than she seems to since she keeps it in multiple tight braids. hangs to the base of her neck➥ What is their complexion like?: pretty clear, and the Giant Tattoo kind of obscures any marks or scars that were there in the first place➥ What body type are they?: short and small-boned. she’s 5 feet even barefoot but 5′2″ in her usual gear and built daintily➥ What is listening to their voice like?: haughty, sophisticated, subtly tense. educated and capable, but always on the verge of becoming Far Less Subtle, though she can sound surprisingly warm when amused or pleased.➥ What do they hate most about themselves?: she resents her height a little, because she really likes glaring angrily into people’s eyes and that is hard to do at times. or more introspectively, she hates her loyalty - that she’s attached herself twice now to people who used her as a pawn and tried to ruin everything she cared for. she’s worried about making that mistake again.➥ Do they have a favorite quote?: “through victory our chains are broken” is my go-to until I actually. research quotes➥ What sort of music do they enjoy?: she’d probably really enjoy symphonic metal, especially the like... really obscure orchestral stuff that has 20 different instruments and one archaic one they dug out of a korriban tomb a few decades ago➥ Have/would they ever cheat(ed) on a partner?: nope! loyalty is a huge thing for her, and her forming romantic relationships is rare enough as it is so she’d. never do this➥ Have they been cheated on by a partner?: also nope!➥ Have they ever lost someone close to them?: not yet, thankfully, though the enforced distance in her family left some scars➥ What is their favorite sound?: vette’s voice (wHAT A SAP), the humming of lightsabers, distant thunder➥ Are they judgmental of others?: very much so! she has the rank to make those judgments Known - a few of them are her own reformist opinions and prioritizing one’s subordinates, but some are just being critical of recklessness or stupidity.➥ Have they ever been drunk?: a few times. she’s more inclined to get tipsy rather than full on drunk - she tends to just laugh a lot more ➥ What are they like when they stay up all night?: a little more curt and prone to snapping, and she usually ends up having to nap a bit later on➥ Have they ever been arrested?: nope!➥ What evokes strong memories for them?: thunderstorms always, after growing up on dromund kaas. sand being blown against stone. the still, oppressive air in voss’ temples and the dark heart.➥ What do they do on rainy days?: most of the time do whatever needs to be done - she’s used to the rain and not too bothered by it. in her rarer idle moments she might practice lightsaber forms or read while listening to the rain➥ What religion are they?: being a sith probs doesn’t count but close enough➥ What word do they overuse the most?: "Clearly”➥ What do they wear to bed?: something loose and comfortable. she sleeps with her lightsaber in reach➥ Do they have any tattoos or piercings?: she has a large tattoo covering most of her face. one part is a traditional design indicating her clan and the bulk of it represents her commitment to the sith empire➥ What type of clothing are they most comfortable in?: sturdy armour, longer robes or coats and capes. preferably some combination of all these at the same time.➥ What is their most disliked food?: ignoring all the food she can’t eat bc carnivore, she likes most fish but can’t stand eel➥ Do they have any enemies?: so many tbh. jedi and most of the republic, obviously. any traitors to the empire. fucking vitiate➥ What does their writing look like?: an angular scrawl, often jagged and growing steadily more cramped and incomprehensible the more emotional she is while writing. ➥ What disgusts them?: betrayal. ambition for ambition’s sake, self-serving power or greed, excessive violence, xenophobia.

#oc stuff #rkorya #thanks for sending this in friend!#it was a lot of fun #larkspear

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boburchin · 7 years

Text

Let Me Explain The Curse of the Free Market

No doubt the most resonant result of the May 7 presidential election in France was the victory of the centrist liberal Emmanuel Macron.

Yet a secondary, only slightly less notable consequence was the success of National Front leader Marine Le Pen in continuing to grow her nationalist party. She is now poised to seize power in 2022 should the untested Macron prove unable in the interim to pull France out of its economic doldrums, bring down unemployment, and improve public security — all herculean tasks. Meanwhile, Le Pen will continue to do what she does best: stoke public xenophobia by making vague and lurid allusions to shadowy figures and institutions bent on controlling the world at the expense of “ordinary patriots.”

Her goal will be to portray Macron, the country’s president, as one such shadowy figure. And her chosen material will undoubtedly include Macron’s employer from 2008 to 2012, the Rothschild & Co. investment bank.

It won’t be the first time she has attempted to exploit those ties. When Macron joined President François Hollande’s cabinet in 2012 as economics minister, Le Pen told her flag-waving supporters: “Today the enemy of the French people is still the world of finance, but this time [this world] has a face, he has a name. … He is called Emmanuel Macron.” Le Pen well knew that her coupling of “the world of finance” with Macron would also evoke the Rothschilds in the minds of her backers.

She also knew it would evoke anti-Semitic imagery. Le Pen has long argued that the open racism purveyed by her father and National Front founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen, is harmful to her party’s ambitions to win power. But she has never rejected a more refined conspiracy-mongering that flirts with anti-Semitic themes. Macron’s ties to the Rothschilds, a Jewish banking family that has occupied a special place in the darkest recesses of the French public imagination, is simply too tempting for an artist of public incitement like Le Pen to pass up.

For more than two centuries the Rothschild family — a historically Jewish multinational banking dynasty that is said to have plotted every major continental war in order to finance and profit from both sides, brought on economic depressions, arranged the assassinations of U.S. presidents and European potentates, caused the Holocaust, and sponsored same-sex marriage — has been a major and virtually universal player in France’s most sinister psychodramas. The Rothschild family’s global reach notwithstanding, this bogeyman arguably has been the most active on French soil, where ancient animosities toward high finance have combined with anxieties about national status and deeply rooted anti-Semitism.

As is typical of conspiracy theories, in the Rothschild case bits of fact fuel the fiction and lend apparent credibility to the myths.

As is typical of conspiracy theories, in the Rothschild case bits of fact fuel the fiction and lend apparent credibility to the myths. Starting from humble origins in the Frankfurt, Germany, ghetto of the 1760s, the Rothschild dynasty amassed great riches, underwriting loans to various aristocratic power brokers and sovereign governments for infrastructure development, military campaigns, and sundry other necessities. Patriarch Mayer Amschel Rothschild expanded the family empire by installing his five sons in the financial centers of his native Frankfurt along with London, Paris, Vienna, and Naples. Although, like brothers the world over, the scions of Mayer Amschel sometimes quarreled and brother Nathan in London proved to be a bully, in the end the Rothschild siblings successfully subordinated their individual differences and capacities to a common sense of fraternal purpose.

In France, by the 19th century, the name “Rothschild” had become a byword for great wealth. “He must be a Rothschild!” gushes a character in Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables, a tale of an ordinary person who projects opulence by hiring a hansom cab. From 1800 to 1900, the dynasty’s financial, political, and cultural influence was such that writer Théophile Gautier could label this era “the century of the Rothschilds.” Baron James de Rothschild’s Château de Ferrières east of Paris (built in 1855-59) was hailed the most magnificent private residence in France. (When Emperor Wilhelm I of Germany visited the place in 1871 he exclaimed: “No king could afford this! It could only belong to a Rothschild.”)

The Rothschild dynasty’s financial might allowed it to fund Britain’s defeat of Napoleon’s forces in the Peninsular War and Waterloo. In 1814, King Louis 18th returned to France from English exile with British money loaned by the Rothschilds. Similarly, Louis-Philippe, king of France between 1830 and 1848, came home from British exile with financial support from the Rothschilds, who saw him as a good long-term bet. Beautiful Eugénie de Montijo, who married Emperor Napoleon III in 1853, was a friend and ally of James de Rothschild. During the bloody Paris Commune of 1871, desperate Communards raised a loan from the Rothschilds to pay off their National Guard fighters.

One could cite many other historically valid examples of Rothschild largesse and influence in France alone. But Europeans made anxious by the Rothschilds’ successes have always overlain these bare bones of fact with fantasies that have proven even more powerful than the family’s actual riches. According to the fantasists, the Rothschilds completely “controlled” Louis-Phillipe by a monopoly on loans to the sovereign. Through their “agent,” Eugénie, they also pulled the strings behind the gaudy curtain of Napoleon III’s “Second Empire,” propelling the emperor into such ill-stared adventures as his sponsorship of a Catholic empire in Mexico.

Spreading their patronage to Germany with vital assistance from Gerson Bleichröder, Otto von Bismarck’s personal financial advisor and “House Jew,” the Rothschilds made an “agent” of the Iron Chancellor, too. With their hooks likewise into France’s foreign minister, the Duke of Gramont, the dynasty worked behind the scenes to provoke the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71), which they financed. They also drafted the postwar reparations settlement imposed on France, making it so onerous that Paris had to sell the Suez Canal to Britain to pay off Germany. (Having financed the construction of the canal, the Rothschilds controlled that too, and continued to do so secretly under the British. Thus they underwrote the abortive Anglo-French-Israeli effort to seize the canal back from Egyptian president Gamel Abdel Nasser in 1956.)

As the Suez story suggests, conspiracy theorists happily see the 20th century as a continuation of the Rothschild dynasty’s campaign for global dominance. We learn from hitherto hidden sources that this sinister clan pushed Hitler into World War II and engineered the Holocaust — the latter move a tactical sacrifice necessary to generate worldwide sympathy for the Jews and make possible the creation of the state of Israel, another “Rothschild project.” Meanwhile, in their favored stomping ground of France the family cozied up to Charles de Gaulle, whose resistance operation against Nazi Germany they supported in the off-chance that he might prove victorious.

Yet they never were able to dominate de Gaulle entirely, which is why they ended up financing numerous assassination attempts on his life. They fared better with Georges Pompidou, a sometime-director of Rothschild Frères. So thorough was Rothschild control over Pompidou that under his presidency the “RF” of Republique Française actually stood for “Rothschild Frères”! Moving on to post-Pompidou times, we learn, inter alia, that a Rothschild banker was best man at Nicolas Sarkozy’s wedding to his second wife, Cecilia, and that Sarkozy’s third match with Carla Bruni was brokered by the bank. Finally, as the pièce de résistance, we have the clever insertion of faithful employee Macron into the entourage of Hollande — this in the hope that the brilliant young technocrat might one day reject the tutelage of his official minder in Paris in favor of full-time bondage to his “real” controllers back in Frankfurt, London, and New York.

Macron’s employment at Rothschild & Co. isn’t a conspiracy theory, but a fact. In the Parisian bank, Macron quickly became known as a rainmaker. His primary skill lay not in number-crunching but in reaching out to potential clients, seducing them with his charm, sharp mind, penchant for philosophical literature (he had studied philosophy in college), and keen musical gifts. (Not for nothing was Macon also known as a “Mozart of finance.”)

The Rothschild enterprise certainly profited from Macron’s presence, but it is by no means the dominant player today that it was from 1815 to 1914, when it was easily the largest bank in the world. The family fortune is now divided among dozens of descendants and is spread among holdings in financial services, farming, urban real estate, mining, energy, and wine-making. On the other hand, by remaining a traditional family company with a focus on its clients’ interests above all, and by steering clear of such dubious practices as subprime mortgage trading, it did not suffer the debilitating losses racked up by some of its global competitors.

Nonetheless, given the pervasiveness and durability of the many stories about the Rothschilds, they will continue to be fodder for populists everywhere — especially in France, a country that has always been jealous of its sovereignty. Jean-Marie Le Pen surely understood what a rich vein in the national psyche he was tapping into when, in 1992, he warned his countrymen that “a pro-Europe and anti-France banking personality” was bragging that to achieve full global dominance “he had only one more door to break down — that of the nation.” Twenty-five years later, we can be sure that Jean-Marie’s daughter Marine will spend the years ahead pointing to the Rothschild employee Macron and accusing him of being the “banking personality” incarnate.

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