I am a huge high cloud quintet enjoyer so it may surprise you to learn that I absolutely hate the quest “Clouds Leave No Trace”.
let me explain. I will admit that a lot of it stems from my issues with Jingliu as a character. I appreciate that she’s meant to be cold and detached, but what bothers me is that although she says considers herself to be a sinner alongside Yingxing and Dan Feng, she constantly acts like she’s better than them, criticising them, acting as if their choice was an easy one while hers wasn’t. Her humility feels incredibly insincere, and she becomes very difficult to empathise with as a result.
then there’s the quest itself. I split it into three parts.
one: redundant infodumping
For the first part of the quest, Jingliu, Dan Heng and Yanqing travel to different parts of the Luofu so Jingliu can bid farewell to her past home. It’s basically a plot device for her to drop some lore about Yingxing and Baiheng, which is fine on its own, but the problem is, none of the information she gives is new. All of it was stuff we could already figure out from character stories and other in-game text.
the second issue with this part of the quest is Dan Heng’s presence, or rather, lack of it. Considering he’s the main character tying the quintet subplot into the main story, you’d think he’d be important to the quest focussed on them. But he’s just… there. He says and does pretty much nothing. You could cut him from the whole quest and it wouldn’t be any different.
In fact, Dan Heng also suffers greatly from the timing of the quest. If we look at the voice lines for IL, it’s obvious that he’s a snapshot of Dan Heng shortly after this quest, since he knows Blade is the one who made Cloudpiercer. Ichor Of Two Dragons also seems to take place at the end of this quest. This is an issue because both release in version 1.3, making the quest which takes place in version 1.4 feel like a regression in his character development when actually the story was for some reason out of order.
part 2: Dan Feng gets mischaracterised to hell and back
This is the worst part of the quest by far. Jingliu does her self-righteous monologue and nails the coffin shut by giving the most biased description possible of the Sedition.
she first says that Dan Feng was trying to revive Baiheng. Dan Heng’s and Jingliu’s character stories reveal that this is probably not the case, and that his actual goal was to create another high elder,
she also says that the reason Dan Feng did what he did was selfishness and an inability to accept Baiheng’s death. She fails to mention the fact that the Xianzhou treated him like a convenient weapon instead of an actual person, that he hated how many innocent people died in the war between Aeons, that his people were going extinct because of said war, that he hated how he gave the Xianzhou the power to cause so much death, that he had probably attempted less dramatic rebellions in his past lives to no avail, that the high elder succession was incredibly screwed up and he didn’t want to have to pass that burden on to his next incarnation (granted that lasts part’s only implicit). Not to mention that she didn’t actually bear witness to any of the events she described, only the aftermath.
part 3: Blade monologue
This is the only redeeming quality of the entire quest
he acknowledges that Dan Feng and Yingxing weren’t simply upset with Baiheng’s death, but with the unfairness of everything in general
he expresses genuine regret
and the way he looks up to Jingliu after she tortured him is the only time where that story genuinely presents her as someone who’s done terrible things, showing how she managed to break Blade so badly that he feels thankful for it
in conclusion, do not play this quest if you want to actually understand Dan Feng as a character
body language descriptions please?
(eg: she cocked her head)
thank you 💗💗💗
Body Language Descriptions
-> feel free to edit and adjust pronouns as you see fit.
She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, her fingers tugging nervously at the fabric as she struggled to find the right words.
They bit their lower lip.
He looked away, unable to meet her gaze, a clear indication of his guilt.
She absentmindedly rubbed her neck.
He chewed his nails, a nervous habit that he couldn't seem to quit.
They rubbed their hands together nervously.
He tightened his jaw.
She felt beads of sweat forming on her brow, betraying her calm facade as her heart raced.
Their fists clenched at their sides.
He tapped his fingers rhythmically against the table, a clear sign of impatience as he waited for her to finish.
He rolled his eyes, the gesture full of exasperation as he dismissed her words.
She let out a heavy sigh, the sound heavy with resignation as she faced the inevitable.
He threw his hands up in defeat.
He leaned forward in his chair, eager to hear more, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
She raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical as she questioned his intentions.
She tilted her head slightly.
He watched intently, his eyes wide with wonder as he took in every detail of her story.
He stood tall with his shoulders back, projecting confidence even in the face of uncertainty.
They sat on the edge of their seat.
She gestured wildly, her hands moving animatedly as she tried to express her excitement.
He stood with his hands on his hips, exuding an air of authority and control over the situation.
They held their chin up high, projecting self-assurance even in the face of adversity.
He crossed his arms over his chest, a defensive posture that spoke volumes about his discomfort.
He braced himself against the wall, a protective stance.
She folded her hands in her lap, a sign of restraint as she fought the urge to speak.
They shrank back slightly, their shoulders hunching as if trying to make themselves smaller in the face of criticism.
He held his breath momentarily, steeling himself for the inevitable conflict he sensed was coming.
She covered her face with her hands, overwhelmed by the situation as she tried to block out the world.
She furrowed her brow in concentration, her mind clearly racing as she tried to solve the problem at hand.
She nodded slowly, processing the information, her expression thoughtful and contemplative.
He stared blankly into space, lost in thought as he processed what had just been revealed.
He drummed his fingers on the table, the rhythmic sound a sign of his deep contemplation.
She tapped her foot lightly, her mind racing.
He paced back and forth, his restless energy manifesting in the constant movement as he considered his options.
She bent forward, her elbows resting on her knees, a sign of intimacy and engagement in the conversation.
She swayed slightly from side to side, a subconscious display of her nervous energy as she waited for the verdict.
He bounced on his toes, his excitement palpable.
She jumped up and down, a spontaneous display of her joy that couldn’t be contained.
Once when they were fifteen, after Nell had been betrothed to Robb but before they’d come to Winterfell, a summer snow had frozen solid part of the Short Spear of the Saltspear that led up to Barrowton. It was more creek or stream than river, but Dana had gamely coaxed Nell out onto the ice all the same, and they’d raced down stream, sliding and shouting and laughing, confident that it would hold them, for they’d seen deer crossing it the day before, and confident that even were it to crack- well, the water was only five feet deep!
— Dana IV, Haunt/Hunt by @dwellordream
My girls 🥹 (they make me violently sob)
Based of these designs by me:
Nell looks a lot like my Barbrey here, but I think I kinda like it
My headcanon of Nell having bangs will never die
Guys… I think this blog has turned into a haunt/hunt fan page… how did this happen…
Did a small sketch of my fav asoiaf oc xdd @dwellordream
> sees complaints that a female character looks "too masculine" or "like an ugly lesbian"
> ask if we got an actual butch character or if shes just a normal looking woman that isnt wearing make up and a dress
> person is visibly confused, i start explaining the difference between actual butch presentation and dress and a woman simply dressing comfortably to avoid indecent exposure
> person laughs and says "she straight up looks like a guy, i can barely tell her apart from the actual men"
> google the character
> shes just a normal looking woman that isnt wearing make up and a dress
While lethal injuries often take center stage, non-lethal injuries can create lasting effects on characters, shaping their journeys in unique ways. If you need a simple way to make your characters feel pain during a scene, here are some ideas:
Sprained Ankle
A common injury that can severely limit mobility, forcing characters to adapt their plans and experience frustration as they navigate their environment.
Rib Contusion
A painful bruise on the ribs can make breathing difficult and create tension, especially during action scenes, where every breath becomes a reminder of vulnerability.
Concussion
This brain injury can lead to confusion, dizziness, and mood swings, affecting a character’s judgment and creating a sense of unpredictability in their actions.
Fractured Finger
A broken finger can complicate tasks that require fine motor skills, causing frustration and emphasizing a character’s dependence on their hands.
Road Rash
The raw, painful skin resulting from a fall can symbolize struggle and endurance, highlighting a character's resilience in the face of physical hardship.
Shoulder Dislocation
This injury can be excruciating and often leads to an inability to use one arm, forcing characters to confront their limitations while adding urgency to their situation.
Deep Laceration
A cut that requires stitches can evoke visceral imagery and tension, especially if the character has to navigate their surroundings while in pain.
Burns
Whether from fire, chemicals, or hot surfaces, burns can cause intense suffering and lingering trauma, serving as a physical reminder of a character’s past mistakes or battles.
Pulled Muscle
This can create ongoing pain and restrict movement, providing an opportunity for characters to experience frustration or the need to lean on others for support.
Tendonitis
Inflammation of a tendon can cause chronic pain and limit a character's ability to perform tasks they usually take for granted, highlighting their struggle to adapt and overcome.
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I've been getting at lot of House of the Dragon videos on the toktik and uh...i don't really know why? Maybe I just liked too many cool edits.
So, of course, I've heard a lot about the Velaryon boys: Jace, Luke and Joffery. And I'm always constantly amused by the people who actually care about their legitimacy. I have a whole blog post on my (official) blog planned so I wont go into detail here but...it makes me laugh that people care so much about hair colour.
Hair colour is no real proof of anyone's parentage. Not even the Baratheon children. We only know they aren't Robert's because Cersei tells us in a very, very vivd way.
...Like there are some things you should keep to yourself girlie...
Back to my point, hair colour is not the key to the answer of 'who's the daddy?'
"After all." I said to myself, "Arya is the only Stark child that has the 'Stark look'. Are we suggesting that Catelyn Tully successfully cheated on Ned at least four times?"
but as I was laughing about that, a thought occurred to me. Just a little thought that made me go 'oh...oooh!'
(bit of a disclaimer here, this is just a little conspiracy theory. It's meant to be a laugh, don't take it too seriously.)
In the space of one rebellion, Ned Stark returns to Winterfell with two sons: Robb Stark (with his surprise war bride Catelyn Tully) and Jon Snow (with the mysterious Wylla/or Ashara Dayne). This is potentially a rather conservative number compared to some men in Westeros, but it's still interesting because getting pregnant in one night is a low percentage.
So either Ned Stark has the aim and timing of fucking Zeus, or things are not as they seem.
We don't give Brandon Stark enough time. Ned and Lyanna constantly haunt the narrative, and Benjen is always off doing his own thing. Even Rickard Stark has his Southron Ambitions™ to ensure we're all...intrigued by him.
But Brandon is usually just left as a hotheaded fuckboy. And that's not wrong but it's definitely reductive.
He stormed King's Landing because his sister had been kidnapped. He threatened the heir to the throne because his little sister had just disappeared. He lost his life trying to save his father from being burnt alive.
His family is clearly very important to him.
Brandon broke it off with Barbary Dustin to get married to Catelyn Tully, because that was his duty. And part of that duty would be...having children.
Let's all be entirely honest with ourselves, Hoster Tully would do anything to ensure that his daughters married into Great Houses. He even made it a condition for his help in the rebellion. So I can completely imagine him ignoring Brandon walking down the corridor to Cat's room one evening if it would guarantee that his grandson would one day be Lord of Winterfell.
After all, Brandon was in Riverrun prior to Lyanna being kidnapped, preparing for the wedding. It's not entirely impossible. He and Cat are getting married soon, there's no reason to wait...
But then Brandon is murdered. By the King. And Catelyn is wed to her future husband's younger brother.
And even if they did consummate the marriage, that doesn't ensure that Cat would get pregnant...with Ned's child...
TL;DR - there could be a high chance that (at least in one universe) Robb Stark is Brandon's son, Jon Snow is Lyanna's son and Ned Stark spent the first five years of his marriage curled up in the corner thanking the Old Gods and the New that both boys take after their mothers.
Relevant gif: