Tag: game-of-thrones

• The Story Continues (and Weather Talk)

  I recently learned about the abnormal heat wave that’s been hitting the UK this week. I had to use the Celsius to Fahrenheit conversion to understand it’s between 91.4-98.6°F (33-37°C). For here in Florida, the 91-93° is normal since by July and August it’s always 95-97° here (not counting any possible heat index changes). Apparently, being that hot this early in the UK is very unusual. Given that their use of central AC and fans aren’t as prominent as the USA, it didn’t take much work to understand why they’re acting like scrambled eggs in a frying fan. To all my readers in the UL, stay hydrated and get all the electrolytes you can afford — that’s all I got for ya.

  I’ve also started watching The Boys and while I’ve already seen a spoiler here and there (as well as yours truly checking some videos exploring the difference between the comics and show version), I can say this upon concluding Season 2 this morning — the show is very on-the-nose about what it’s critiquing while the comics is a mix of both subtle and heavy-handed critique. If I’ve learned anything, it’s this — I’ll likely walk away from its conclusion feeling differently than several viewers and that’s mainly because I don’t like to trend ride on reactions. I’ve seen how people reacted to the finales of Game of Thrones and Stranger Things and while some of the critique was valid, some of the reactions were obnoxious and reeked of folks that couldn’t just put their phones away while actively watching…but on both of those shows, I watched at a faster rate and either weeks or years after they ended to have my own conclusions. I don’t think the outcome will be any different for me with this show. I almost can’t wait til Berserk ends up with an ending that’ll have Griffith fans whining and bitching. I’m of the belief that, in the same way Guts ultimately won their duel when he left the Band of the Hawk (Griffith’s sword broken in half and him being left in disbelief), I think something will lead to a very familiar conclusion. I don’t think Miura’s story will end with sparkles and rainbows but I do think that Griffith will somehow have all of existence turn the tide against him, where his powers will betray him, Falconia will turn on him and the kingdom of which he attained at the expense of others…will come falling down.

  Speaking of writing, month’s chapter of Drafts is almost complete and as usual, it’s not hard for me to have some musical references to bleed into my writing. It’s probably one of those things that I’ve enjoyed both in manga (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure) and video games (Guilty Gear) and it’s inevitable that it would just show up in my work. Letting that story’s world breathe on its own with each chapter has its own quirks, which I appreciate because I wouldn’t want that format to necessarily invade the writing of FireFrei.

  Speaking of which — within the past week or two, that 7th chapter has experienced more writing and thankfully its conclusion approaches. I’ve also realized that the notebook of which I had been using to write it is starting to run low on pages. This means that chapter 8 will bookend the volume. This also means that I’ll have to make this volume’s story arc have a conclusive ending. Do I think it’ll be the end of Emmanuel Lucifer’s saga? I’m not sure but I certainly don’t want to have it linger on some speculative cliffhanger. FireButt, more or less, had that already and I don’t want it repeat that type of finish.

  June is also coming. I love that House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres on 6/21. 2 years ago, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree also releases on 6/21. There’s something about that date now that has ushered an itch to return to the Lands Between and the Land of Shadow. Maybe it’s nostalgia or perhaps a sense of missing that world that Miyazaki and GRRM blessed us with, along with the memorable boss fights and shenanigans…but the call to revisit it with a brand new character is strong indeed.

  Lastly, let’s talk Florida weather. Usually, it’s in the late 80s and early 90s at this time but being in the mid-90s not counting heat index? It’s been little off. Usually by July is when we’re consistently in the mid-90s and August getting clapped with latter 90s. That being said, this whole year, everyone talked about Florida being in a drought…until Mother Nature entered the chat. Every few days since almost 3 weeks ago has had rain. Matter of fact, the other Sunday, we got some monsoon rain in Tampa that I hadn’t seen in a very long time and since this past Sunday, it’s been strongly predicted that it’ll rain at least once every day. The weird bit for me is that usually our rainy month is July but for me, as Omgitswicks would say on Facebook, “This is Florida’s pre-heating phase” — and that’s the truth.

  05/27/2026

  drafts, elden-ring, FireFrei, game-of-thrones, George RR Martin, kentaro miura, life, ron322, the boys, Writing

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• Enjoying the Hiatus.

  It’s been awhile since I’ve streamed — either on YouTube or Twitch. In the process, I’ve taken time to enjoy the little moments of life. I feel as though my body has said, “Take time to read and to sleep. It’s okay to not be plugged into the digital world and enjoy the present”.

  I still feel as though my body is readjusting to not streaming. There are playthroughs I started and either haven’t finished or haven’t taken a full deep dive on. For some of us, gaming and streaming is a means of socializing while also sharing our enjoyment of a game with others. When you’re a night owl worker who’s also a noon time parent, life is tricky. I also believe the pandemic changed social living as a whole for me. I also understand that everyone’s time is varied. It’s for this reason that at times I’ll stream but in case you miss it, I’ll have the edited version of the livestream and share it with everyone. If there’s a session where I feel more prone to upload to YouTube and edit beforehand, I’ll stream on Twitch instead to have more editing control. As a game streaming creator, I’ve always had an inner debate on my approach and usually it would also depend on the game in question.

  In the process of this hiatus, I’ve continued to write monthly for Drafts again and thus far, the April chapter is coming along further than the last 3 months.

  I am also somewhat stuck in terms of FireFrei’s 7th chapter but I’m certain I will inject something into it to advance the story to eventually drop that novel by Winter.

  My mind has also been entertaining some artwork again and likely revisit some key images from my previous game playthrough as a means to make new merch for my Threadless merch store. It’s been a while and I miss it.

  I’ve also recently finished reading A Game Of Thrones and it definitely gave me the impression that D&D did strip a lot of the fantastical elements of Martin’s literary world in the manner akin to how the movie Troy stripped all the Greek mythological magic that surrounded the story of Homer’s The Iliad. Game of Thrones’ 1st season arguably could’ve been 2 seasons at 8 episodes each to give you a full adaptation and scope.

  Before I jump into A Clash Of Kings, I’m invested currently in continuing to read Fire & Blood as a means to be up to speed on everything that happened before A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. For all the flack some fans gave House of the Dragon’s 2nd season, I’m deep enough in the book’s reading to understand that, unlike the A Song Of Ice & Fire books, you’re informed in-book that you have Mushroom’s version of events and the Septon’s versions and that ultimately the reader has to interpret and determine what parts of their versions of events are true and what is a stretch.

  On that premise, I now believe that House of the Dragon retained some of the Septon, some of Mushroom but also other things of what the director & screenwriter think may have happened and in doing so, trying to carve out the rest of the story in a way to connect to the world of Game of Thrones as we know it (hence Daemon tuning into the Weirwood and all the visions of the Night King). You can like it (or not) but seeing the narrator of Fire & Blood informing the reader gave me a more fresh perspective in that regard. When Martin said that seasons 3 & 4 of HOTD may not be his own story anymore, he’s right to believe it but knowing what we know, it’s okay for it to be its own so long as the essential story beats that lead to the end of the book’s story are maintained (one of which being all the dragons dying, which is the ultimate outcome of the Green & Black divide).

  I’ve also gradually put myself back into working out at home, which is tricky given all the steps and activity I already have logged in from just work alone. From my un-dusting of my personal training brain, I know that stretching my calves and lower back are important, as well as stretching my upper back, given that I often have my chest out all the time to where my body always wants to bend over to even it out whereas other people that work have the opposite (being rounded all the time and struggling to straighten up). This is one of those cases where, once you understand how your body works and what’s required, you’ll know how to readapt and realign.

  04/12/2026

  Art, ASOIAF, drafts, Fire & Blood, game-of-thrones, george r.r. martin, health, house-of-the-dragon, life, ron322, update, Writing

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• Game Of Thrones through the Eyes of Elden Ring Pt. IV: Jon Snow and the Tarnished/Elden Lord!

  “Godhood would be Miquella’s prison. You must kill Miquella. Grant him forgiveness.” – St. Trina

  Those were St. Trina’s last words. We, the Tarnished Elden Lord, would confront Miquella and his Consort Radahn at the Divine Gate. Our goal was to stop his Age of “Compassion”. The premise is that it would be compassion in light of Miquella having abandoned his Love. Compassion enforced through bewitching and enchantment instead of the love you abandoned is manipulation and madness. That isn’t benevolence, that is totalitarianism masqueraded as a Messiah. This is why I had to vanquish Miquella and Radahn. It’s why Ansbach told us to become Lord, “not for gods but for men”. We’re not to rise in Lordship for self-indulgence. We are not to be the puppet of divine beings. We rise for the service of a world that has fallen under the watch of these gods.

  That is where we begin the discourse regarding Game Of Thrones’ Jon Snow/Aegon VI. As I’ve said before, seeing it through the eyes of Elden Ring is a different vibe. The story of A Song of Ice & Fire/Game Of Thrones would lead you to think initially that Rhaegar Targaryen’s seed came only from Elia Martell. Elia is the sister of Prince Oberyn, who also was known as the Red Viper. While Winds of Winter has yet to be released, the show gave us a revelation. It revealed that Rhaegar didn’t rape Lyanna Stark. Bobby Baratheon led us to believe this. Instead, Rhaegar married her in secret. Aegon VI was born to her instead of Martell. Ned would be given Aegon VI to raise as his own bastard son. No one knew he would be the next heir apparent to the Iron Throne. In addition, this would make Jon/Aegon VI the physical embodiment of Ice (Stark) and Fire (Targaryen). Even if Daenerys & Drogo’s son had been born, Jon/Aegon would get first dibs. This is similar to how Rhaenyra had first claim despite Daemon still being alive. The difference is that unlike Rhaenyra, Jon Snow is born male. By tradition, no one would contest a King but would be conflicted with a Queen. This is a theme explored in Fire & Blood/House of the Dragon.

  Jon may not have been the one to execute the Night King to end the Long Night. This event looked like a curse upon the Lands Betw— erm I mean Westeros and eventually Essos. However, he did have an alliance with Daenerys. She brought her forces and everyone under him to face the great evil. The Forest Children created this evil. Their false belief was that it would lead them to defeat The First Men. Jon mostly avoided the politics of the Lands. However, his character demonstrated the Flame of ambition up to his assassination in Season 5. This ambition went beyond being a perceived bastard. He showed a willingness to lead those who were being trampled on, starting with his befriending of Samwell.

  There is a parallel here with him and our Tarnished that aspires to be Elden Lord. We emerge from among the dead into a land divided by a shattering war. The war is due to a queen gone mad (Marika). She went mad because of the assassination of her beloved son Godwyn. We have to somehow make it to King’s Landi— erm I mean Leyndell to become Elden Lord. None of it will happen without facing many opponents along the way. This also includes the possibility to choosing to be Lord representing different principles and viewpoints.

  The GoT version of Jon, upon resurrection, may not have wanted the Iron Throne. He also hesitated to be King of Winterfell. He was, before assassination, a willing Lord Commander of the Night Watch. In similar manner, the Tarnished didn’t ask to be called upon by Grace to seek the Elden Throne. However, he is ushered to do so. It just so happens that how you want to rule will be your choice.

  The range of possibilities start with being Lord for Those Who Live In Death. This is through the mending rune of the Death-Prince. We’d be the equivalent of being the Night King.

  You can also spread the Blessing of Despair. In this state, everyone in the land is afflicted with the Omen curse. As a result, the Erdtree will cease to have life returned and recycled from it. This will destroy the Erdtree over time and cause gradual depopulation.

  There’s pursuing the Perfect Order, where upon Goldmask’s revelations, you seek to rule on the premise of justice and honesty.

  Age of Fracture is where you simply take the Throne and whatever happens happens.

  Becoming Lord Of Frenzied Flame is outright succumbing to the power of the Three Fingers. It means burning everything down to ashes.

  Lastly, the Age of Stars. This involves helping Ranni. She is the one that had her half-brother Godwyn’s soul assassinated while having her flesh discarded. You help her open the path to ascend to godhood with you as her King Consort. This also ends the existence of Marika and her Golden Order. You would then rule from the stars with Ranni, under the guidance of the Moon. All life in The Lands Between (and arguably Land of Shadow) would decide how to govern themselves. They would also dictate how to rule themselves, for better or worse.

  Book version of Jon, however, always longs for being respected, to rule and do so from the Iron Throne. These are also known traits of someone of Targaryen lineage. The liberties the show took from Season 6-8 weren’t outside the realm of possibilities. They align with the kind of turn of events Martin could write. In his reveal of being a Targaryen/Stark offspring, Jon had various choices.

  Given his experience with Yigrette and being alongside the Wildlings, he can just be away with them. He wanted to live out being free of all the politicking and Lord/King stuff. This possibility would leave everyone to their devices. It would’ve shaken things up for everyone else. He lived free.

  He could’ve kept his crown as King of the North. He even might’ve kept aflame the bond Starks and Targaryens once had. This would end the animosity and even stay Sansa’s sharp demeanor towards Daenerys at bay. From the start, Sansa also had ambitions of being a Queen one day. The presence of another Queen upon the Iron Throne wouldn’t allow this. As a result, this possibility would be the most likely to lead to division among the Stark house.

  Jon joining Daenerys in sharing the Iron Throne would’ve been perceived as an actual “vanilla ending.” Many seemed to have wanted this outcome. However, it would likely have led to in-fighting. Some of the kingdoms, if they had someone ambitious among them, would then attempt to rebel. They would rebel the way Bobby Baratheon did.

  Jon having done what he did to Daenerys but opting to take the throne would’ve caused some uproar among Essos. This would be especially among the remaining Dothraki and remaining Unsullied. While Westeros would support Jon, he would face a war with Essos. Conversely, all those who were free in Essos would then hear word of a fallen Daenerys. They would see it as an opportunity to re-enslave the people she freed. It would’ve led to backlash from everyone that followed Daenerys. They would think all the hard work done by Daenerys would’ve been for nothing. They would see those free cities in Essos becoming lands of enslavement. They would think all the hard work done by Daenerys would’ve been for nothing.

  Jon’s decision to not take the Throne, despite his birthright, may have been the safer path. The 3 Eyed Raven is a being that can see the past, present, and futures. It also has the ability to manipulate the past (see Hodor). This would set up an interesting late story confrontation. If Samwell finds news regarding the sinister manipulations of the Raven in Essos, he will likely tell Jon Snow. He would inform Jon about a possibly resurrected Daenerys. This news would potentially ignite a fire in Jon Snow. He’d have to no longer hide away in exile. Jon would find a way to resolve a mess that was long weaved together by the 3 Eyed Raven. Bran had no interest in kingship. Yet when chosen, he accepted with a sinister grin. Viseris I accepted his election stoically whereas Bran replied simply with, “Why do you think I came all this way?”, leaving us to ponder if the appointment of him as King was orchestrated by Bran the whole time. He didn’t have to disclose his discovery of Jon’s true identity. He knew well the chain of events that would have dire ramifications. Yet he did.

  It’s this book/TV hybrid of Jon Snow that parallels our Tarnished aspiring to be Elden Lord/Lord Of Frenzied Flame. Multiple outcomes but how the character pieces their world and ambitions together that determine how things will end. Like Jon Snow, we had to slay a Queen gone Mad. Like Snow, we had to slay a would-be King. Miquella was loveless yet would rule compassionately? He bewitches all life under his whims. That is just absurd hubris, flying in the face of sense. This isn’t a 1:1 ratio but just enough parallels to understand how similar the Tarnished and Snow are. Both have destiny thrusted upon them and upon their journey’s end, decide how their world will move on.

  Tune in next time. I will discuss Arya Stark along with the Faceless Men. We will also explore parallel elements of the Black Knife Assassins.

  In the meantime, I’ll be reading Fire & Blood. So far, it’s a deep but fun read. This book has led me to believe that FromSoftware needs to patch Bale. They should enable him to fly higher. He should have a bigger fire range and hit much harder with a bigger hitbox. Balerion the Black Dread flies so high, he looks like a tiny fly on the moon. Then he speed travels to the ground with absolute destruction in hand.

  09/29/2024

  aegontargaryen, analysis, asongoficeandfire, conclusions, eldenlord, eldenring, endings, fantasy, fiction, fireandblood, game-of-thrones, gameofthrones, godslain, house-of-the-dragon, houseofthedragon, identity, jonsnow, parallels, ron322, shadowoftheerdtree, tarnished, tv

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