#myth carver

[merymoonbeam]

A Tool of Creation

CC3 spoiler. You have been warned.

In acomaf we learn that book of breathings was made to control the cauldron.

“When the Cauldron was made,” the carver interrupted, “its dark maker used the last of the molten ore to forge a book. The Book of Breathings. In it, written between the carved words, are the spells to negate the Cauldron’s power—or control it wholly. But after the War, it was split into two pieces. One went to the Fae, one to the six human queens. It was part of the Treaty, purely symbolic, as the Cauldron had been lost for millennia and considered mere myth. The Book was believed harmless, because like calls to like—and only that which was Made can speak those spells and summon its power. No creature born of the earth may wield it, so the High Lords and humans dismissed it as little more than a historical heirloom, but if the Book were in the hands of something reforged … You would have to test such a theory, of course—but … it might be possible.” (acomaf)

So...only made can use its magic.

Made = Feyre , Nesta and Elain

And later in the book we learn that the book is written in Holy Tongue—Leshon Hakodesh.

She stared and stared at the Book—as if it were a ghost, as if it were a miracle—and said, “It is the Leshon Hakodesh. The Holy Tongue.” Those quicksilver eyes shifted to Rhysand, and I realized she’d understood, too, why she’d gone. Rhysand said, “I heard a legend that it was written in a tongue of mighty beings who feared the Cauldron’s power and made the Book to combat it. Mighty beings who were here … and then vanished. You are the only one who can uncode it.” (acomaf)

Might beings: Daglan/Asteri

And this is confirmed in Hofas.

Amren turned to Rhysand and said in that new, strange language—their language: “The glowing letters inked on her back … they’re the same as those in the Book of Breathings.” (acomaf)

Bryce's tattoo is in the holy language.

And later in hofas Rigelus says that it was his people's language.

“I can teach you things you’ve never even dreamed of,” Rigelus promised. “The language inked on your back—it is our language. From our home world. I can teach you how to wield it. Any world might be open to you, Bryce Quinlan. Name the world, and it shall be yours.”(hofas)

So the book of breathings can control cauldron and it can "open any world" to who can wield it.

Also in Hofas we learn that Asteri corrupted the Cauldron.

The Cauldron was of our world, our heritage. But upon arriving here, the Daglan captured it and used their powers to warp it. To turn it from what it had been into something deadlier. No longer just a tool of creation, but of destruction. And the horrors it produced … those, too, my parents would turn to their advantage.(hofas)

So asteri turned it from tool of creation to tool of destruction.

Once upon a time...cauldron was good.

Can we use Book Of Breathings to uncorrupt the Cauldron? To bring it back to its natural "tool of creation" state?

In Hoeab we learn that the book of breathings is in crescent city. In jesiba's library.

Micah loomed over her. She stretched her arm out—toward the shelf. Her tingling fingers brushed over the titles. On the Divine Number; The Walking Dead; The Book of Breathings; The Queen with Many Faces …

Do we need to get book of breathings from crescent city? Is the crossover not over yet? Are IC going to think with bryce having the language of book of breathings tattooed to her body she might have had access to book of breathings at some point? Are we going back to cc in the next acotar book?

Also it is a great time to add that Cauldron is obsessed with Elain.

“You stole from the Cauldron,” I said to Nesta, who seemed ready to jump between all of us and Elain. “But what if the Cauldron gave something to Elain?” (acowar)

The Cauldron purred in Elain’s presence as the King of Hybern slumped to his knees, clawing at the knife jutting through his throat. Elain backed away a step (Acowar)

The Cauldron seemed to realize what she’d done, too, as his head thumped onto the mossy ground. That Elain … Elain had defended this thief. Elain, who it had gifted with such powers, found her so lovely it had wanted to give her something … It would not harm Elain, even in its hunt to reclaim what had been taken. It retreated the moment Elain’s eyes fell on our dead father lying in the adjacent clearing. The moment the scream came out of her.(Acowar

Why did it give elain such powers? Does it want someone to see how it was corrupted? Does it want to turn into tool of creation state again? Does it see elain as its salvation? (As @riddlecrux talked to me about). All the others saw cauldron as a thing to be used. A thing to be control. But it was only elain who had never stolen from it as nesta did while she was in the cauldron. It found Elain so lovely that it gave her the seer ability.

And from acotar we know that elain look at things as hope.

I gazed again at that sad, dark house—the place that had been a prison. Elain had said she missed it, and I wondered what she saw when she looked at the cottage. If she beheld not a prison but a shelter—a shelter from a world that had possessed so little good, but she tried to find it anyway, even if it had seemed foolish and useless to me. She had looked at it that cottage with hope; I had looked at it with nothing but hatred. And I knew which one of us had been stronger. (Acotar)

So maybe all cauldron needs for someone to look at it with hope. Also @riddlecrux told me that in cauldron myths and legends someone goes willingly into the cauldron to destroy it. Maybe in this case someone willingly going inside it uncorrupts the Cauldron..."Through love all is possible"

And we know that Cauldron is the most important thing in acotar

“Long ago, before the High Fae, before man, there was a Cauldron … They say all the magic was contained inside it, that the world was born in it. But it fell into the wrong hands. And great and horrible things were done with it. Things were forged with it. Such wicked things that the Cauldron was eventually stolen back at great cost. It could not be destroyed, for it had Made all things, and if it were broken, then life would cease to be. So it was hidden. And forgotten. Only with that Cauldron could something that is dead be reforged like that.” (Acomaf)

And in Hofas we learn that Daglan/Asteri made the Cauldron a kill switch.

“Once we left our home world, our powers began to dim. Too late, we realized that we had been dependent on our land’s inherent magic. The magic in other worlds was not potent enough. Yet we could not find the way back home. Those of us who ventured here found ways to amplify that power, thanks to the gifts of the land. We pooled our power, and imbued those gifts into the Cauldron so that it would work our will. We Made the Trove from it. And then bound the very essence of the Cauldron to the soul of this world.” Solas. “So destroy the Cauldron …” “And you destroy this world. One cannot exist without the other.”

In my Mystic&Seers post I connected The Void and Cauldron to each other.

I managed to stand. To take one step before I felt it. The … thing in the Cauldron. Or lack of it. It was lack and substance, absence and presence. And … it was leaking into the world.I dared a step toward it. And what I beheld in those ruins of the Cauldron… It was a void. But also not a void—a growth.It did not belong here. Belong anywhere. (Acowar)

The darkness paused. “You are impertinent as well. Do you not know where I come from? My father was the Void, the Being That Existed Before. Chaos was his bride and my dam. It is to them that we shall all one day return, and their mighty powers that run in my blood.” (hosab)

And from Hofas we know that the Void is actually a blackhole.

The only force in the universe that ate light, so strong no light could ever escape it. A portal to nowhere. To a black hole. Wasn’t that the unholy power that Apollion possessed? The power of the Void. The antithesis of light.

And you know how Elain was when she came out of the Cauldron?

She had been always so full of light. Perhaps that was why she now kept all the curtains open. To fill the void that existed where all of that light had once been. And now nothing remained

The power of the Void...The antithesis of Light.

Elain got rid of that murkiness in her eyes. When Azriel understood what was wrong with her.

It made sense, I supposed, that Azriel alone had listened to her. The male who heard things others could not … Perhaps he, too, had suffered as Elain had before he understood what gift he possessed. He asked Elain, “There is another queen?”

Elain blinked and blinked, eyes clearing again. As if the understanding, our understanding … it freed her from whatever murky realm she’d been in.

Maybe thats all Cauldron needs. So maybe we just need to get rid of the Void, to make sure Cauldron returns to its natural state—a tool of creation.

Also in my Mystic&Seer posts. I looked up what Mysticism is.

Mysticism is popularly known as becoming one with God or the Absolute, but may refer to any kind of ecstasy or altered state of consciousness which is given a religious or spiritual meaning. It may also refer to the attainment of insight in ultimate or hidden truths, and to human transformation supported by various practices and experiences.

Cauldron is the absolute. We looked up that above.

The hidden truths part.

When theia and fionn overthorwn the daglan they didn't learn all their secrets.

They fought the Daglan and won, she went on. Using the Daglan’s own weapons, they destroyed them. Yet my parents did not think to learn the Daglan’s other secrets—they were too weary, too eager to leave the past behind.

And Cauldron made Elain a seer. Maybe to see to learn the other secrets The Daglan had?

We can't even ask Amren because her timeline doesn't even match.

In acosf we learn this.

Rhys shook his head. “Only vaguely now. From what I’ve gleaned, she arrived during those years before Fionn and Gwydion rose, and went into the Prison during the Age of Legends—the time when this land was full of heroic figures who were keen to hunt down the last members of their former masters’ race. They feared Amren, believing her one of their enemies, and threw her into the Prison. When she emerged again, she’d missed Fionn’s fall and the loss of Gwydion, and found the High Lords ruling.”

The problem is how can she go into prison when there was no...prison.

Silene made the prison what it was after she returned from Crescent City. So before fionn's fall...there were no Prison. Actually theia ruled from the Prison Island.

Our home had been left empty since we’d vanished. As if the other Fae thought it cursed. So I made it truly cursed. Damned it all.

One after another, I hunted monsters—the remaining pets of the Daglan—until many of the lowest rooms were filled with them. Until my once-beautiful home became a prison. Until even the land was so disgusted by the evil I’d gathered here that the islands shriveled and the earth became barren. The winged horses who hadn’t gone with my mother to Midgard, who had once flown in the skies, playing in the surf … they were nearly gone. Not a single living soul remained, except for the monstrosities in the mountain.

So even Amren doesn't know. She is even confused in hofas.

Amren picked at an invisible speck on her silk blouse. “It’s murky. I went in before …” She shook her head. “But when I came out, there were rumors. That a great number of people had vanished, as if they had never been. Some said to another world, others said they’d moved on to distant lands, still others said they’d been chosen by the Cauldron and spirited away somewhere.”

So who is better to learn these secret than a Cauldron Made seer?

Also in hofas we learn that Cauldron sits on top of Ramiel.

“The Cauldron,” Nesta said hours later, pointing to yet another carving on the wall. It indeed showed a giant cauldron, perched atop what seemed to be a barren mountain peak with three stars above it. Azriel halted, angling his head. “That’s Ramiel.” At Bryce’s questioning look, he explained, “A mountain sacred to the Illyrians.”

And from Acosf we know that nobody went to look at what lies under ramiel. Sure enough Eris says "secrets". Maybe like daglan secrets???

Eris shrugged, and Nesta knew Cassian monitored his every breath. “There are three of them, you know. Sister peaks. This one, the mountain called the Prison, and the one the Illyrian brutes call Ramiel. All bald, barren mountains at odds with those around them.”

Eris gave him a mocking smile, but continued, “Unsurprisingly, the Illyrians were never curious enough to see what secrets lie beneath Ramiel. If it, too, was carved up like the others by ancient hands.”

What if there is more to under ramiel than we thought? What if its a secret Daglan hideout? I went into detail and what could have inspired it in my Wild Hunt post if you want to read it.

Also we know from acosf that Enalius tried to stop the "enemy" from reaching the stone on top of Ramiel.

Emerie’s eyes shone. “Long ago—so long ago they don’t even have a precise date for it—a great war was fought between the Fae and the ancient beings who oppressed them. One of its key battles was here, in these mountains. Our forces were battered and outnumbered, and for some reason, the enemy was desperate to reach the stone at the top of Ramiel. We were never taught the reason why; I think it’s been forgotten. But a young Illyrian warrior named Enalius held the line against the enemy soldiers for days. He found a natural archway of stone amongst the tangle of boulders and made that his bottleneck. He died in the end, but he held off the enemy long enough for our allies to reach us. This Rite is all to honor him. So much of the history has been lost, but the memory of his bravery remains.”

It was forgotten? Or was it never learned? What if it wasnt The stone the daglan was trying to reach but Cauldron as we know it stood on top of Ramiel? What if they were trying to reach that?

We also learn more about Enalius in hofas.

“You are no creator of mine,” Azriel said coldly. The Starsword gleamed in his other hand. If they bothered him, if they called to him, he didn’t let on. Neither hand so much as twitched. The Asteri’s eyes flared with recognition at the long blade. “Did Fionn send you, then? To slay me in my sleep? Or was it that traitor Enalius? I see that you bear his dagger—as his emissary? Or his assassin?”

The Truth-teller was Enalius's dagger. How did Azriel come to possess it? And we know that after Enalius's dead Fionn took possession of it as it was his friends dagger.

My father had never shown himself to be giving—long had he kept Gwydion and never once offered it to my mother. The dagger that had belonged to his dear friend, slain during the war, hung at his side, unused. But not for long.

And we know that Elain used the TT to kill the King of Hybern.

But as a black blade broke through the king’s throat, spraying blood, I realized someone else had. Elain stepped out of a shadow behind him, and rammed Truth-Teller to the hilt through the back of the king’s neck as she snarled in his ear, “Don’t you touch my sister.”

So how did Elain stepped out of a shadow?

The asteri under Prison says Azriel doesnt know it use—its full potential.

Vesperus took another step, steadier now, and smiled past Bryce. At Azriel, at Truth-Teller. “You don’t know how to use it, do you?” Azriel pointed the dagger toward the advancing Asteri. “Pretty sure this end’s the one that’ll go through your gut.” Vesperus chuckled, her dark hair swaying with each inching step closer. “Typical of your kind. You want to play with our weapons, but have no concept of their true abilities. Your mind couldn’t hold all the possibilities at once.”

True abilities? All possibilities? There is more than just creating a portal to nowhere with gwydion? Maybe that's how Elain could step out of a shadow? The "unknown" abilities of the Truth-Teller?

Also Autumn king says this:

“The Starsword is Made, as you called it.” He waved an idle hand, sparks at his fingertips. “The knife can Unmake things. Made and Unmade. Matter and antimatter. With the right influx of power—a command from the one destined to wield them—they can be merged. And they can create a place where no life, no light exists. A place that is nothing. Nowhere.”

As @offtorivendell theorised in her mating bond theory. Did the Asteri messed with the mating bonds too?

Can the Truth-teller unmake a mating bond? As it looks the cauldron was corrupted? It even ties to Book Of Breathings and what it said in acomaf:

Unmade and Made; Made and Unmade—that is the cycle. Like calls to like.

And don't ever forget that...

"What if the Cauldron was wrong?" 🫡

#elriel #cc3 spoilers #cauldron #my brain hurts #I wrote all this and accidently deleted it so this is the second post that I had to rewrite #Im dying #hofas

[polkadotmotmot]

Steve Carver - Adieu Stony Myths (Landscape with Cheddar), 2023 - Acrylic & alkyd on solid wood panel

#up

[elizabethrobertajones]

Dean & Cas Are In Love

A hopefully one day conclusive study of these assholes, hopefully told as briefly as I can.

[it went fuckin canon? Rendered useless in my own job. Posting these gifsets from my drafts for @mittensmorgul​ who can make better use of them than me.]

-------

Unfortunately my lack of rewatching has rendered me unable to say if that “I need you” is the first between them but it FEELS like it. It definitely sent us on the Carver and later Dabb era need vs want train, along with within Season 8 the I Need You of the crypt scene being the whole peak of the season’s Destiel and a defining moment they’d keep hashing out in various forms for the rest of the show with strong references back to that moment rather than as per 7x23 having such a moment between family (I remember writing out the differences in a very long post another time so I’ll not go into it too much here because I’m 4-5 years out of practice in the theory). 

Anyway. Dean’s optimism vs Cas’s grim fatalism. His insistence they have a joint home they both belong to. Together. Dean turning rather desperate and aggressively insistent that he’s going to do this and Cas’s brick wall turning him more and more desperate to underline it. 

The wordless look as Cas realises he has to change his tactic and go along with Dean, probably realising the horror of now having to travel with him for however long, to get the forbidden taste of his company. And then at the end of the trip, Dean will be made to turn around and watch Cas disappear because of course they’re reenacting a myth here, and Cas is seeing in that exact moment that Dean is his Orpheus and grimly says “I understand” not as an agreement to go with Dean’s plan, but in understanding he has to act like he’s going along with it just to get Dean home safe.

#8x02 #or 4 who knows #destiel #dean n cas are in love #Dean and Cas are in Love #my stuff #lizbob gifs

[punknicodiangelo]

Rick Riordan is a cishet white goyische man. We knew this. But you can see this in his writing, no matter when. Yeah, he's grown, but he didn't grow astronomically.

In this post I'll be talking about how history, women, queer people, and POC are handled in Rick Riordan's YA novels. I'm Jew-ish, very queer, and was socialized as a girl, but I'm white so POC tell me if I overstep or get anything wrong and feel free to add!

Also this is long af, way longer than I intended, so under the cut it goes!

The Pact and Wars

I think I've talked about this before (cannot find the post) but the way history is handled is so racist and antisemitic. Wars are not because of their real reasons, but instead conflict. WWII is made to be because Hades, Zeus, Poisiedon, and their kids had another spat, instead of the fascism and racism that really caused it. The Civil War, instead of being about racism, was made to be about a fight between the romans and greeks. The wars we see in series have no connection to real world events, why couldn't the old ones be the same? It also deminshes the accomplishments of real people. For example, Harriet Tubman is said to be a daughter of Hermes. To me, this says a black disabled woman can't do great things without great blood in a world where that exists

Annabeth

Annabeth is a girl boss, and this would be great, if her writer wasn't a cishet man. Being strong is equated to being mean, physically and verbally. When she thinks Rachel likes Percy, a guy she isn't even dating, she gets pissy at them for even hanging out! She constantly demeans Percy and hits people who anger her, including Percy, and this is treated as cute and quirky. And then her trauma is dismissed and diminished by a boy who went through similar treatment. Sorry Percy also was hurt by who his author is, but it makes things worse with Annabeth's portrayal. Also she once says people don't take her seriously because she's blonde. During HoO. With Piper and Hazel right there

The Hunters

The Hunters of Artemis, in mythology, are a group of women and sometimes men who joined Artemis to escape the deeply misogynistic culture at the time, and there are sapphic undertones to much of their myths! In the books, they're portrayed as man hating, romance hating, and functionally aroace. Hippolytus is completely ignored. Zoë is constantly talking down to Percy without giving him a chance and makes probably the dumbest decision by choosing Bianca for the quest in Titan's Course. Jo and Emmie were kicked out for finding love. I'm aroace. I love aroace rep. I'm overly weary of (cis white) men. But the way the Hunters are written is so similar to how angry anti-SJW youtube saw feminists

Nico

Nico is forcibly outed in one book and in the next gets a boyfriend with literally no personality or relationship with him up to that point. The drawbacks of shadow travel so clearly align with disability. He's also obviously depressed and deeply traumatized. Yet Will gives him no medical autonomy, something we disabled folk have to deal with all the time that's really very ableist. I love Nico, but the way he's portrayed just isn't great

Sadie and Carter

Sadie and Carter are biracial and look wildly different. This is good representation from what I've heard, but not how it's different or some incidental stuff. Carter, the boy, has dark skin and dark, coily hair, while Sadie, the girl, has pale skin, striaght blond hair, and pale eyes. This plays into colorism where darker people are seen as more masculine, as does Carver being the host to the god of war. Sadie is also a young girl who's put into a relationship with a god who kinda bullied her at the start. Carver is also in a relationship with a person who was hostile, but she gets better so I'll let is slide

Leo

Leo is latino, and stereotypical at that. Je is constantly flirting with everyone and looked down upon. As a Leo who is not an astronomical Leo, he deserves better especially when you consider c//leo

Piper

"I'm not like other girls" girl who's hailed as absolutely gorgeous. She was born on a rez that didn't exist at the time which just goes to show the lack of research. Her eyes are kaleidoscope, which is a trait none of her siblings, or her mom, have. She's cut off from her culture enough to not know the significance of feathers but has plenty of memories of her grandfather who lived on the rez. Also, she's a cleptomaniac. I love Piper, I like how she's representation for a person who was cut off from her culture and longs to know it despite living with her bio family because I and a few friends are the same, but Piper is still a stereotype. I also feel like the veganism plays into the whole spiritual nature stereotype, but I'm not sure so don't quote me

Frank

The only confirmed greco-roman demigod without dyslexia is also East Asian. I think the stereotyping is obvious it doesn't help that the only two Asian characters before him, Ethan and Drew, were antagonists. He was infantalized while fat and then had a magic glow up for... no reason, really, but that matters less here. Also he's dating a seventh grader as a tenth grader basically and I'm trying to not spoil stuff but the end of the Tyrant's Tomb is bullshit from a lore perspective imo

Hazel

She's a black girl whose parents both had very dark eyes and hair, yet her eyes are gold and her hair is paler than her skin, and both of those last two are described as looking like foods. Again, she is the age of a 7th grader. See Frank. And this may be the fandom's fault, but it seems she's always either infantalized or adultified from what I've seen

Will

All we know about Will Solace in BoO is that he's attracted to men and a medic son of Apollo. I bet you didn't remember he was at the Battle of Manhattan or that he's counselor because all his siblings died. And that's a lot of kids. Also he calls Nico nicknames he doesn't like. See Nico for further criticism of Will

Alex

Alex is called the adjective form of a slur multiple times. I could talk about how the grammar of that sucks, but *gesturs vaguely.* She gets transphobia from nearly everyone and disowned. I thought fantasy was supposed to be escapist, personally

Other stuff

Samirah is a hijabi, but we see under her scarf at least once and that feels really disrespectful, especially considering how observant she is of other stuff. Only women or close family (brothers, direct descendants, or direct ancestors) can see a hijabi's hair. Even if Magnus, Hearth, and Blitz are like family that usually isn't enough. She should have gotten a regular valkyrie's cloak imo. Some stuff feels off about Hearth but I'm not D/deaf so I'll hold my tongue on that as I'm not sure. Lavinia could use more yiddishisms in her speech and I'm curious to know what sect she was if her rabbi wasn't cool with her being a lesbian, but they do exist so *shrug.* There's probably something I missed with Reyna and Hylla, I feel like there is, but I can't remeber so it just gets an honorary mention

@afrolatinozuko

#rr crit #anti frazel #anti caleo #anti percabeth #anti solangelo

[luminousstardust]

Constellations for each member of Bells Hells!

As I started making my level 10 Imogen dress, I wanted to have the constellations I painted on there to have meaning. While looking up some constellations and the mythos behind them, I realized that a lot of them actually related to a lot of the members of Bells Hells, and wanted to have them all represented on her dress!! Along with a couple key NPCs.

So, here’s the list:

Imogen - Andromeda

This was the first constellation I added to the dress!! According to my friend who is very into astronomy, Andromeda’s mother bragged about her beauty, angering the greek gods and causing Andromeda herself to nearly be sacrificed for her mother’s mistakes. I feel like this ties into Imogen’s life very neatly, as Liliana’s involvement with Ruidus and the Ruby Vangaurd have definitely had a more negative impact on her life so far. And, speaking of Liliana…

Liliana Temult - Cassiopeia

Liliana is the only true NPC to be featured on Imogen’s dress, because the comparison of Andromeda and Cassiopeia to Imogen and Liliana was too good to pass up on! I also have Liliana’s constellation on one side of the dress and Imogen’s on the other for optimum heartbreak…💔

Laudna - Ophiuchus

Speaking of placement… Ophiuchus as Laudna is right next to the Andromeda constellation on the dress 💜🖤. Ophiuchus is a greek healer often associated with bringing people back from the dead, which Laudna has done twice now. He’s also associated with snakes, which is a fun little nod to Laudna’s snake ring.

Fearne - Capricornus

Fearne being placed next to Imogen and Laudna is also intentional - I could not separate the witchy bitches!!! Capricornus represents, just like Fearne, a horned half-goat. I chose this one not only because it matches Fearne’s physical satyr presentation, but because her Fae nature is so key to her character and her relationship with the world around her.

Orym - Scutum

And right next to Fearne is her bestie, Orym!! While Scutum doesn’t have much mythos attached to it like the other constellations, it’s name means shield in Latin, which is just SO Orym. Not only is his own sheild very important to him, but Orym often utilizes his battle maneuvers in fights to protect other members of the party, so he is kind of like a sheild himself.

Dorian - Lyra

OF COURSE I had to include Dorian!! And put him right next to his sending stone buddy. Lyra was an obvious choice for Bells Hells’ bard, since the constellation represents Orpheus’ lyre. But I also chose this with the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in mind, because Dorian’s separation and inability to “see” the rest of Bells Hells at the moment hurts me sooooo much. Hoping for a reunion eventually!!!!

Chetney - Caelum

Seeing the Caelum constellation, which translates to “the chisel,” is actually what inspired me to pair constellations to characters in the first place. A chisel constellation was MADE for Chetney!! Not only do I love love love the idea of a carver using their tools as weapons, but I absolutely ADORE that Chetney uses those same tools to make little personalized wooden crafts for his friends. He cares more than his grumpy old persona lets on!!!!

Ashton - Hercules

This one feels as though it may be a bit on the nose, but as the tank of the party I chose Hercules for Ashton. I feel like Hercules as a very strong mythical character represents all of Ashton’s strength - the physical, the internal, and the mental. Not only are they an incredible fighter, but having to deal with their chronic pain and emotional anguish requires a great deal of strength. Not to mention what team Issylra have been going through recently, and how he’s done his best to be, for lack of a better term, a rock for his friends.

F.C.G. - Libra

The Libra constellation represents a scale, a form of balance, which is why I chose it for F.C.G. With his healing abilities and love of emotional counseling, F.C.G. brings a unique balance to a party of heavy hitters who don’t necessarily love talking about their emotions. Also, their newfound religion promises to bring a new perspective to the party amidst their moral conundrum with the gods, which I’m excited to watch play out.

Bertrand Bell - Corvus

Last but certainly not least, the man who inspired the name of the Bells Hells himself! Corvus, the constellation representing crows and ravens, was an obvious choice for Bretrand. Not only was taken by the Raven Queen himself, but his girlfriend, Lieve'tel, was a cleric of the Raven Queen, so he feels intrinsically tied to the Matron. And as morbid as it was, Bertrand's death really set the Bells Hells off on the chain of events that has spiraled into the story we know today.

…And that’s it! I may add more constellations in the future (I have a few in mind for some of the guests, but I don’t want it to get too cluttered), but we’ll see! I’ll definitely post more when I finish Imogen’s whole level 10 outfit as well. Thanks for reading!

#reblogs appreciated since i spent a lot of time on this post / dress :)) #imogen temult #imogen temult cosplay #critical role #critical role cosplay #critical role fanart #kinda! #bells hells #bells hells cosplay #painting #cosplay #sewing #tays cosplays

[ot3]

hi i'm stalking you and your orv tag and I came across the one where u and sash talked about the metaliterature and philosophical/theoretical present in orv https://ot3.tumblr.com/post/646102842844872704 here and I just wanna know if you have more of these from the top of your head? Sorry if this is a tall order, you don't have to answer this rn!

i outsourced this one to sash. everyone say thank you sash.

sash — Today at 7:55 PM okay. a little bit late but i've been giving it some thought.

i think the biggest Thing in orv in terms of philosophy is poststructuralism, and you're def going to find ideas by roland barthes in it (e.g. the classic "death of the author", or the idea of cultural phenomena as modern myths from "mythologies"). like, orv deals a lot with escaping clear categorizations and rejecting binaries + meaning of a text being generated from a network of related stories, rather than being intrinsic to one specific work. and those things are arguably the key characteristics of poststructuralism (though take this with a massive grain of salt bc it's notoriously difficult to define due to its very nature). i actually had an essay about this in the works but don't ask me when i'll finish it, it's currently languishing half-written in my google drive.

that aside sing shong namedrop quite a lot of literary works/philosophers. off the top of my head:

anna croft's zarathustra --> nietzsche's "thus spoke zarathustra" (i've seen a reddit essay that delves into this one in particular) theater dungeon endboss --> "simulacra and simulation" by jean baudrillard lsk's faction called "nouvelle vague" --> french art film movement from the 50s aileen makerfield's "etika clock store" --> POSSIBLY a reference to spinoza's "ethica" but do not take my word for this, it's just a wild guess fourth wall --> bertolt brecht's verfremdungseffekt hsy's --> "the neverending story" by michael ende outer gods/hounds of tindalos --> h.p. lovecraft (particularly sp --> nyarlathotep)

ofc there's also ysa's haruki murakami, han kang and raymond carver thing which. maybe that's a coincidence or just meant to highlight ysa's highbrow tastes but it's…. Something. in the epilogue, judith butler, roland barthes (or at least "mourning diary") and pierre bourdieu are mentioned by name as well. [8:00 PM] so like. there's A Lot. orv is juggling a million references at all times, some of which are super obvious (like journey to the west, wizard of oz or the book of revelations) and others are ??? who knows. they even like to draw connections to their other webnovels which is becoming even more relevant in the side stories.

sash — Today at 8:05 PM i have seen someone on postype talk about daniel dennett, walter benjamin and rené girard in relation to orv as well but i don't know much about them so i'm unsure if it's a case of sing shong planting explicit references that i have missed, or if op was simply doing "normal" analysis. point is that 1) sing shong love their french philosophers 2) if you want, you can find Anything in orv. there is a sheer endless amount of stuff to pick apart.

#omniscient reader's viewpoint #orv #shoutout to sash for being much more well read than i am

[mask131]

The book of all books

If you are an avid reader, if you are a book lover, if you are a recurrent visitor of libraries and bookshops, if you are a collector of rare books, or if you are a fan of the hilarious literary comic strips of @myjetpack​ , this book is for you and I cannot advise you enough to try to read it at least once.

“The City of Dreaming Books”. A wonderful, hilarious, fascinating, bizarre fantasy adventure created by famous German author and illustrator Walter Moers. I read it in French, but an English translation exists - and you, lucky English-speakers, can even read the sequel to this wonderful novel, “The Labyrinth of Dreaming Books”, which is currently unavailable to non-German speaking Frenchies like me. Of course, if you can read German, I also suggest you try to enjoy these marvelous tomes in their original language - but even if you do not understand the text the bizarre, crazy, demented but deeply charming and hypnotizing illustrations of Moers are enough to plunge you into a twisted, inventive, genius world of puns, obsessions, beauties and treacheries. 

What is the story of “The City of Dreaming Books”? It is quite simple. They are the memoirs of an elderly lindworm scholar, Optimus Yarnspinner, retelling the greatest adventure he lived in his youth (I am using the English translations for the names - given everything is a pun in this world, the names change from language to language - in French it is Hildegunst Taillemythes, Hildegunst Myth-carver, and in German Hildegunst von Mythenmetz). As a young dinosaur-man of barely 77 years, Optimus is an avid bibliophile and aspiring author, who, on the death-bed of his mentor, inherits a manuscript. Not any manuscript: the manuscript of the best novel ever written in the history of the fantasy world of Zamonia. Reading this breaks you soul, makes you feel every emotions in the most intense way possible, and leaves you a forever changed being. 

This discovery prompts Optimus to search for the mysterious author of this manuscript - a brilliant young man that was last seen decades and decades ago, trying to have his novel published, in a town called Bookholm, where Optimus goes to investigate. Begins a exploration and investigation tale in this grand city at the center of the book industry, a quest of unnerving discoveries, hilarious encounters, heart-breaking tragedies, goofy plot twists and sordid crimes, in the beating heart of the literary arts - in the City of Dreaming Books, where reading can kill, and authors can become gods... or devils. 

The most intense pleasure brought by this novel is the universe of the titular City, the fabulous, fantastical, mind-blowing creation of Bookholm (Bouquinbourg in French, Buchhaim in German), a fantasy city that is all about books. Five hundred second hands bookshops, a million or so semi-legal book shops, with six hundred different publishing houses, fifty-five printing businesses and twelve paper factories. It is the city where all young authors go to get published, where all famous authors go to be recognized, praised and criticized, where all old authors go to die. All the books of history passed at one point by this wonderful city, where all the shops are centered around reading.

The opticians only give prescriptions for the best reading-glasses. All the alcohol and drugs sold are designe to enhance the reading experience. The pastries are shaped like books, the wood-carvers specialize in building bookshelves and book-holders, every pub has a public reading instead of an happy hour, and there are entire shops merely selling bookmarks. Linguists work in laboratories, dissecting words like animals, and book-binders are this city’s equivalent of trained surgeons. Scientists of Bookholm even go as far as to practice their psychological or biological projects in relation to literature - such as how one species’ literature was influenced by their biology, or the reverse. There are no big sports match - but rhyming competitions in literary salons. And the firemen are excepted to save the books first, the people afterward. 

The other great charm of this novel being the whimsical, medieval bestiary-like, borderline-surrealist fantasy world it takes place in. Zamonia is a recurring setting of Moers, who wrote other fantasy books taking place in this “time of myths and legends” supposedly taking place millenias and millenias before the history of the world as we know it today - when there was more continents than today, and when mankind was but a planetary minority believed to be more legend than reality. In this book every character is unique, ranging from talking animals, humanoid reptiles, yetis and giant worms to extremely alien and cartoonesque species that could be coming out of a UFO. Being familiar with the Germanic European folklore can help, since many mythological and fairytale creatures can be found back in those pages (the very protagonist is a lindworm, and in other places German bogeymen such as the rye-wolves can be encountered). All of course, with the unique and strangely superb illustrations of Moers, of which I offer you a quick sample. 

But let’s return to the books! Because this book is about books, all books, and literature, and book-selling, and the love and hate of books. Everything is described with such lavish details and such an imaginative mind - it is the most book-loving fantasy work I have ever read. And it is not without its dark side... Because in this world, there are demonology books, and cursed books, and trap-books designed to kill those that open them, and poisoned pages straight out of “The Name of the Rose”, and obscure literary-alchemists practicing strange editing experiences in the depths of the night, summoning golems of paper and demons of inks... And many of these forbidden and dangerous books are locked up in the catacombs below the city, a gigantic and ancient labyrinth that is regularly visited by the Book-Hunters, terrifying and deadly warriors trained to survive the treacherous paths and many deadly traps of the catacombs, so talented in their quest for books they can identify the nature of a tome merely by its smell. 

Because the catacombs of Bookholm are filled with some of the most precious treasures one can imagine. Books of times so ancient they are forgotten ; first editions thought to be lost to the world ; manuscripts that never saw the printing press ; prints with typos so rare they become worth a lot of money... These are precious treasures for a city where dubious dwarfs sell the blood of authors under their coat, and where the finest and most renowned book-shops sell books the same way high-class, luxury-brand clothes sell their products. 

And even beyond books, Moers keeps sliding here and there absolutely fantastic little stories, fleshing out the world - ghost legends and fairytales and imaginary geography - to keep us entertained while our sympathetic but also very unfit for adventure (he is a young author after all) has to make his way throughout scheming critics, bloodthirsty book-hunters, excentric dragon-witches, toasts of bees, haunted wines and criminal book-collectors.

And all that I describe... IS BUT THE FIRST PART OF THE BOOK!

I do not dare say more of it, out of fear of spoiling the surprise for you - but if you are a bibliophile, go check this beautiful novel. Let yourself sink in a world where books are law, justice, art, food, drugs and life, let yourself sink into a fantasy adventure with an ordinary bibliophile and aspiring author as a hero for once, and fall deep, deep into the depths of the labyrinthine catacombs of the books that dream but never die... 

#the city of dreaming books #walter moers #literature #book love #book passion #bibliophilia #german literature #fantasy book #fantasy literature #book recommendations #books about books

[writing-in-sin]

SAKATA GINTOKI HC: ORIGINS & PARENTAGE

Loosely based on the Kintarou myths & RL history:

For the longest time, Gintoki didn't know who his parents were until he had help from Hijikata in unearthing his origins

soon they discovered that Sakata Gintoki is the only son to Takasu Kaidounosuke & Takasu Yaehisa. That both of his parents were of the merchant class within Edo's old caste, a family of wood carvers who were originally from Kyoto

Gintoki's parents decided to move after a family quarrel with Yaehisa’s greedy & bitter older brother who was looked over by Yaehisa’s father to give the family business to Kaidounosuke when he married into the family

Not wanting anyone to inherit the family business & knowledge, the brother sent people to kill Gintoki's parents. While Kaidounosuke succeeded in defending his pregnant wife, he was killed by the hired help

Once Yaehisa escaped, she hid herself at Mount Ashigara

To avoid attention & capture, Yaehisa gave birth to Gintoki in the pools of Yuuhi Waterfall & died shortly after when the stress of being hunted, grief and childbirth caught up to her

unknown to Yaehisa, the source for Yuuhi Waterfall is an altana spring which is one of the main contributors to Gintoki's stronger than average physiology along with his father’s physique

#gintama #sakata gintoki #gintoki sakata #sakata gintoki headcanons #ginhiji #hijikata toshiro #toshiro hijikata #toushirou hijikata #hijikata toushirou

[steddiebang]

When it feels like Heaven, I wanna bare my teeth | E | 110,690 words

Author: @vicecapitain on Tumblr / @vicecaptain5 on Twitter / @vicecryptid on IG Artist: @stacetanicpanic on Tumblr / Linktree Beta Reader: @suitupbatman on AO3 / @thesewingskeepmesafe on Tumblr Beta Reader: @kaspurrcat on Tumblr / @kaspurrcat on Twitter

Legend has it that in the depths of Shades State Park once dwelled a bat-like being said to steal people away. Now a mysterious stone effigy lies dormant in the forest, believed to be the creature trapped in slumber. If you perform the proper ritual you will see one wish come true, however, were you to fail or disrespect the entity, a curse will befall you and you will be snatched in the night. That’s the myth of the Shades Snatcher.

Dustin Henderson believes the legend. And has a wish.

In hopes to save Hawkins orphanage, his home, he reaches out to the Snatcher, unaware there’s more to the tale than an urban legend. Like a cryptid that can take human form who they decide to keep and name Eddie. Despite their caretaker Steve’s reservations, he too grows fond of the creature.A story about found family, love, the meaning of being human, and the one rule to the universe: what you give comes back to you.

Change is some kind of death.

[Fic (Art Included)]  |  [Art(Banner)] | 

Pairings: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Background Robin Buckley/Nancy Wheeler Characters: Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Dustin Henderson, Max Mayfield, Lucas Sinclair, Erica Sinclair, Eleven, Barbara Holland, Chrissy Cunningham, Wayne Munson, Robin Buckley, Nancy Wheeler, Will Byers, Mike Wheeler, Jason Carver, Jason’s goons, Corroded Coffin guys. Tags: Alternate Universe - No Upside Down, Cryptid Eddie, Caretaker Steve, Hurt/comfort, Found Family, Animal/Feral Creature Characteristics, Temporary Character Death, Minor Character Death (mentioned), Period Typical Homophobia, Homophobic Slurs, Mentions of Hate Crime, Jealousy, Human/Monster Romance, Monster Fucking, Top Steve Harrington, Bottom Eddie Munson, Wing Kink, Gay Eddie Munson, Bisexual Steve Harrington, Mutual Pining. Trigger Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Homophobic Slurs, Mentions of Hate Crime

#steddiebang23 #steddiebang23 masterposts

[vicecapitain]

When it feels like Heaven, I wanna bare my teeth | E | 110,690 words

Author: @vicecapitain on Tumblr / @vicecaptain5 on Twitter / @vicecryptid on IG Artist: @stacetanicpanic on Tumblr / Linktree Beta Reader: @suitupbatman on AO3 / @thesewingskeepmesafe on Tumblr Beta Reader: @kaspurrcat on Tumblr / @kaspurrcat on Twitter

Legend has it that in the depths of Shades State Park once dwelled a bat-like being said to steal people away. Now a mysterious stone effigy lies dormant in the forest, believed to be the creature trapped in slumber. If you perform the proper ritual you will see one wish come true, however, were you to fail or disrespect the entity, a curse will befall you and you will be snatched in the night. That’s the myth of the Shades Snatcher.

Dustin Henderson believes the legend. And has a wish.

In hopes to save Hawkins orphanage, his home, he reaches out to the Snatcher, unaware there’s more to the tale than an urban legend. Like a cryptid that can take human form who they decide to keep and name Eddie. Despite their caretaker Steve’s reservations, he too grows fond of the creature. A story about found family, love, the meaning of being human, and the one rule to the universe: what you give comes back to you.

Change is some kind of death.

[Fic (Art Included)]  |  [Art (Banner)] |

Pairings: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Background Robin Buckley/Nancy Wheeler Characters: Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Dustin Henderson, Max Mayfield, Lucas Sinclair, Erica Sinclair, Eleven, Barbara Holland, Chrissy Cunningham, Wayne Munson, Robin Buckley, Nancy Wheeler, Will Byers, Mike Wheeler, Jason Carver, Jason's goons, Corroded Coffin guys. Tags: Alternate Universe - No Upside Down, Cryptid Eddie, Caretaker Steve, Hurt/comfort, Found Family, Animal/Feral Creature Characteristics, Temporary Character Death, Minor Character Death (mentioned), Period Typical Homophobia, Homophobic Slurs, Mentions of Hate Crime, Jealousy, Human/Monster Romance, Monster Fucking, Top Steve Harrington, Bottom Eddie Munson, Wing Kink, Gay Eddie Munson, Bisexual Steve Harrington, Mutual Pining. Trigger Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Homophobic Slurs, Mentions of Hate Crime

#steddiebang23 #steddiebang23 masterposts

[merymoonbeam]

Koschei's box

While rereading the acotar books I noticed something.

Book of Breathings is described as a box.

The box would be heavy—and cold. Who are you, who are you, who are you— I flexed my fingers and cracked my neck. I am summer; I am sea and sun and green things. “Come on, come on,” Amren murmured. Above, water trickled over the stones. Who are you, who are you, who are you— I am Tarquin; I am High Lord; I am your master. The box quieted. As if that were answer enough. I snatched the box off the pedestal, the metal biting into my hands, the power an oily smear through my blood. An ancient, cruel voice hissed: Liar. And the door slammed shut.(Acomaf)

The box—the Book—was silent. Then it said, Like calls to like. “Open,” I gritted out. Unmade and Made; Made and Unmade—that is the cycle. Like calls to like.(Acomaf)

And we have Koschei's onyx box which we know from Elain. And koschei is a...sorcerer.

Elain shifted her face toward him. Another blink. “They sold her—to … to some darkness, to some … sorcerer-lord …” She shook her head. “I can never see him. What he is. There is an onyx box that he possesses, more vital than anything … save for them. The girls. He keeps other girls—others so like her—but she … By day, she is one form, by night, human again.” (acowar)

But Vassa’s freedom would end. Lucien had said as much months ago, and still visited her often enough that I knew nothing in that regard had improved. She would have to return to the lake, to the sorcerer-lord who kept her prisoner, sold to him by the very queens who had again gathered in their joint castle. Formerly Vassa’s castle, too.

And from bone carver we know he is a death-god.

“They are death-gods, girl,” the Carver hissed. “You are immortal—or long-lived enough to seem that way. But my siblings and I … We are different. And the two of them … Stronger. So much stronger than I ever was. My sister … she found a way to eat life itself. To stay young and beautiful forever thanks to the lives she steals.”

So...I went to look at what Book of Breathings was from. It is from Egyptian Mythology.

The Books of Breathing (Arabic: كتاب التنفس, romanized: Kitab al-Tanafus) are several late ancient Egyptian funerary texts, intended to enable deceased people to continue to exist in the afterlife. The earliest known copy dates to about 350 BC.[1] Other copies come from the Ptolemaic and Roman periods of Egyptian history, as late as the second century AD.[2] It is a simplified form of the Book of the Dead

So what if the box koschei has is not a box at all but a book like book of breathings? What if he has a spell book? He is a sorcerer after all.

And in that egyptian myth part I added it says the book of breathing is a simplified version of the book of dead. What if koschei has the book of dead...he is a death-god???

🫡🫡

#koschei #koschei's onyx box #book of breathings

[catnipster69]

fic: Myth and Legend

Myth and Legend Published: 2023-11-12 Words: 9,309 Chapters:1/1 by catnipster

Rating: Explicit Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Category: M/M Fandom: Supernatural (TV 2005) Relationship: Dean Winchester/Sam Winchester Characters: God | Chuck Shurley Additional Tags: Witches, Tentacle Monsters, No Tentacle Sex, Season/Series 12, Discord: The Winchester Gospels: A Wincest Writing Discord (Supernatural), Love Potion/Spell, Fuck Or Die, Bottom Dean Winchester/Top Sam Winchester, Frottage, Blow Jobs, Anal Sex, First Time Language: English

Summary:

Dean found one of the Supernatural books written by Carver Edlund in a used bookstore, but unlike the rest of the texts he was familiar with, this one seemed like pure fiction. Fast-forward seven years, and this case involving a tentacle porn message board, witches, sex spells, and yes, saving the world with the power of gay love, started to seem a little familiar. You know, like déjà vu. Or like a crazy book supposedly written about your lives.

#catnipster on ao3 #spn fanfic #wincest #my posts #my fic #myth and legend

[vivmaek]

MERCURY IN THE 4th HOUSE; Observations

These are the people who have their own at-home library. They have shelves lined with books, and their walls are covered with posters and pictures of their favorite interests rather than family photos. They grew up in a home that promoted intellectual growth. Both of their parents are highly intelligent and always took a logical approach when handling matters, including emotional. Debates and deep discussions were common amongst the dinner table growing up. Their parents always played devil's advocate rather than giving them straight advice, believing that their children are capable of coming to their own conclusions. These types excel within education and academic settings, to them they feel at home here. Teachers and professors are especially fond of people with this placement, oftentimes their personality or appearance reminds their teachers of family members. The value system in which they grew up under has a huge effect when it comes to decision making and on their thought process. They often dwell on the past, which is easy for them to do as they have an excellent memory. They remember every word that's ever been spoken to them since childhood, and these words cut deep. Emotions often get in the way of logic for people with this placement, their emotions and thoughts are intertwined. They have a huge interest in folklore and myths. They are curious about traditions and like to study history. An understanding of politics comes easy to them, and they are rather diplomatic themselves. People with this placement are good at using past knowledge to inform themselves about the future. They’re also the types who get really into crafts when each holiday comes around. They’ll take the time to fold napkins in a fancy way for Thanksgiving dinner, and they get particular over the placement of ornaments on a Christmas tree. (They’re also the most skilled pumpkin carvers!) The aesthetic of their home is rather eccentric. There are a lot of details to take in, these types like to collect many random objects and then present these things around their house proudly. They like to showcase their adventures and personality through the home. At every corner of their house, you will find something that is bound to stimulate the mind. They probably own well over a thousand little trinkets. It is a good idea for these individuals to live in a walkable neighborhood, or in a town that fosters a true sense of community.

#mercury in the fourth house #astrology #astro community #astrology placements #astrology tumblr #birth chart #astro observations #astrology observations #astro notes #natal placements #natal aspects #natal chart reading #natal astrology #natal chart #birth chart readings #birth chart analysis #birth chart aspects #mercury #mercury placement #mercury placements #the fourth house #mercury astrology

[mossytrashcan]

Unrelated but I was thinking about Koschei for reasons (I was reading about proto indo European pantheon and it turns out 'Fire God formed in water' is a myth researchers think they mightve had and it remonded me of Vassa) and am I allowed to say how funny it is that like, Koschei is so directly named after a myth. Like Bone Carvers his own thing and Stryga is technically got like The Three Fates/The Witch in Hansel and Gretel vibes, and then there's Koschei who is basically just the guy from the myth including the title. ALSO protoindoeuropean pantheon speculation is dope BTW you should research it its fascinating

Bold of you to assume I haven’t already researched it. I fucking loved anything protoindoeuropean as a kid, the folklore FUCKS

Anyways, personally I would’ve loved it if SJM combined Lanthys and Koschei together into one character. I think (no shade to ACOSF and it’s enthusiasts) instead of the rehab/whatever plot we got, we could’ve gotten to see a little brief corruption arc w Nesta and Koschei

Cuz like imagine a story where this deathless death god found out about cauldrongate and was like psychologically manipulating Nesta into gathering all of the troves (his soul bits) so that she could 1) become his queen/weapon, 2) make him all powerful, and 3) become a literal shield for him because the gang would have to kill her to kill him

(gonna unprofessionally ramble in the tags because I need to brainstorm about this lol)

#this probably sucks ass but I genuinely love the Koschei the Deathless myths sauuur much #like how fucking dare you throw him in there casually #anyways I need to work out the wrinkles in this hmmm #I know I’m bomb at pitching stories but there’s stuff missing and I need to work it out yknow #but yeah drop the mortal queen who’s evil thing cuz honestly who gives a fuck #also no shade to the rehab thing it was v relatable but also clearly a background for super sex #it could’ve been set up in the christmas special too #like oooo look something’s weird with nesta what could it be #and then also instead of there being too much free time for cassian to come off as an asshole #maybe he’s like trying to get thru to her or something #maybe it could be a literal retelling of the koschei story where the guy fucks his ass up for his lover #yeah that’s good see I just need to brainstorm in live time #sjm critical #THIS ISNT ABOUT HER I SWEAR IM JUST PITCHING #also also you could tie in nesta’s grooming for grooming #like in a sick way this is what she was raised to do #her wacky grandmother who def existed to make her story more sad laid the foundation for this #and now she has to like break that cycle and reaffirm that NO she doesn’t need to exist for old men #she deserves something better and epic #idk man I’m going crazy sorry

[daffodilsonnet]

Elain theory

I just started a chaotic reread of the SJM books yesterday, starting with ACOMAF, and something jumped out at me this reread, that has led me down a rabbit hole to a potential Elain theory. Also, questions raised that I will include at the bottom of the post.

Theory: Elain can, and will, be able to wield the power of the Cauldron, using The Book of Breathings (and potentially wielding the Dread Trove), because it (The Cauldron!) will allow her to. 

ACOMAF:

“When the Cauldron was made,” the Carver interrupted, “its dark maker used the last of the molten ore to forge a book. The Book of Breathings. In it, written between the carved words, are the spells to negate the Cauldron’s power--or to control it wholly. But after the war, it was split into two pieces. One went to the Fae, one to the six human queens. It was part of the Treaty, purely symbolic, as the Cauldron had been lost for millennia and considered mere myth. The Book was believed harmless, because like calls to like--and only that which was Made can speak those spells and summon its power. No creature born of the earth may wield it, so the High Lords and humans dismissed as little more than a historical heirloom, but if the Book were in the hands of something reforged...You would have to test such a theory, of course--but...it might be possible.”

ACOWAR:

‘The Cauldron purred in Elain’s presence as the King of Hybern slumped to his knees, clawing at the knife jutting through his throat.’

‘The Cauldron seemed to realize what she’d done, too, as his head thumped onto the mossy ground. That Elain...Elain had defended this thief. Elain, who it had gifted with such powers, found her so lovely it had wanted to give her something...it would not harm Elain, even in its hunt to reclaim what had been taken.’

ACOSF:

“Like calls to like,” Amren countered. “You were Made by the Cauldron. You may track other objects Made by it as well, as Briallyn can. And because you are Made by it, you are immune to the influence and power of the Trove. You might use them, yes, but they cannot be used upon you.” A glance to Elain. “Either of you.”

And, as everyone probably knows by now, The Book of Breathings is off-world, in Jesiba’s forbidden books library in her antiquities firm in Crescent City.

Elain went into the Cauldron before Nesta. Other than ACOSF, when she calls out Nesta for being aware and unaware of her trauma, we never truly get a glimpse of what she actually went through. Judging by how the Cauldron reacts in her presence, I’d say homeboy is crushing hard on her. She has powers (plural), so she has more than Seer powers. I personally think she has Daemati powers, and some other people have proposed that she may even have healing powers,  as well. I think that, based off the text, it is entirely plausible that Elain will graciously ask the Cauldron if she could please wield it’s powers, and because that ancient sucker is smitten with her, it will gladly do what she wants it to do.

Further Questions

Who is the Cauldron’s “dark maker”?

How, and where, did Jesiba acquire the Book of Breathings?

What did the Cauldron mean by “the hands of something reforged”?

Since Elain and Nesta are immune to the influence of the Trove, when used by others, does that mean that someone will attempt to use it on one or both of them?

The Bone Carver described the Book of Breathings as containing spells “written between the carved words”. This is never adequately explained (and I find Amren’s explanation to be dissatisfactory, in light of my scrupulous rereads). What did he mean by that?

When we do get Elain’s book, how many boxes of tissues will we need, and how many cups of honey lemon tea will we consume to deal with all the screaming of “WTF, SJM?!?!?” that will no doubt occur?

#acotar #acomaf #acowar #acosf #crescent city #elain #elain archeron #nesta #nesta archeron #amren #the bone carver #jesiba roga #feyre #feyre archeron #rhysand #lucien vanserra

[winnie-the-monster]

“How am I doing?” I ask.

“Oh, the hard parts are over, my darling. You are a brilliant boy, you know. They have shown me the tapes from the other procedures where the Carvers tried this. Oh, how clumsy the other Carvers were, how weak the other subjects. But you are strong and I am brilliant.” He taps my chest. “Your heart is like that of a stallion’s. I’ve never glimpsed one like it before. You were bitten by a pitviper when you were young, I assume?”

“I was. Yes.”

“I thought so. Your heart had to adjust to counteract the effects of the poison.”

“My uncle sucked most of the poison out when I was bitten,” I say.

“No,” Mickey laughs. “That’s a myth. The poison cannot be sucked out. It still runs through your veins, forcing your heart to be strong if you want to continue to live. You are something special, just like me.”

“Then I will not die in here.” I managed.

-Red Rising

#reading #current read #books #book quotes #quotes #pierce brown #red rising series #red rising saga #red rising #darrow of lykos #mickey