Entangled in the Spider's Web

At this time of year I always think about the last day of the Kingsglaives.

I draw pictures imagining that there may have been peaceful days for them.

man i wish castle village to be released i have so many theories and questions ://

My theory is that they argued about how magic should be learned/practiced. All mages we see are very traditional, to the point where they're stuck in the medieval ages technology wise, while Qi uses all sorts of modern tech in his business. Maybe at some point they argued which type of magic was the best, the one that constantly used new unproven techniques or the one that perfects already accepted paths?

1) they are unfamiliar with modern technologies

One of my theories about why Castle Village (and, I’m sure, other magical societies) doesn’t use the technology and inventions of ordinary cities and settlements is that the leaders (the Ministry of Magic or someone even higher up) simply forbid it and make it seem as though magic far surpasses technology, while also emphasizing tradition and all that.

Their motive? They fear the combined power of magic and technology, which would quickly lead to humanity’s self-destruction. Just as the Elves brought about their own downfall when their level of technological development reached its peak.

The Dwarf mentions this in their Mature 10 ❤️ event, worrying about humans and saying that they and the Elves are very similar. At the same time, the description of the Elvish Jewelry found states that “no Elvish bones have ever been found,” so they weren’t “destroyed” like killed by a massive technological/magical explosion or something else — otherwise their bodies would have remained, and over time, their bones and scraps of clothing would have been left behind. And given that there are living Elves in Ridgeside Village and they have their own kingdom somewhere very far away, I tend to think… that the Elves “disappeared,” not in the sense that they went extinct by their own actions, but that they were transported somewhere else, or even to another world. To humans, dwarves, shadow people, and other creatures, the elves have vanished or “gone extinct.”

And Farmer was lucky enough to stumble upon the elves, since fate had brought them together. Several times, in fact — with Jio and the lost princess Undreya.

But yeah magic. Either the Ministry fears consequences similar to those faced by the elves, or it’s simply clinging to tradition and reluctant to change anything.

Mr. Qi, it seems, has a completely different opinion and considers them backward old men who are afraid of innovation. Whereas he and Farmer are living proof of what can be achieved by combining magic and technology. Btw I wonder if the creation of Apophis was a mistake on Qi’s part or intentional… 👀

I want to add to the Ministry of Magic vs Technology by raising another theory and that's control. In vanilla Stardew we don't truly see how far the modern technology has gotten, especially when compared to real life, but we know there are video games and the internet. Also that computers are popular enough where they are spread wide in the workplace, take the cutscene of farmer working at Joja for example, Sebastian working from home on his computer and even the farm computer. (In expanded we see Morris with a laptop, which is more advanced then the older styles of pc from the vanilla)

Considering the internet already exists in this world, the spread of information becomes much easier with it, a group of people that are informed are harder to manipulate and control. That's why authoritarian governments in real life make it so difficult for the average person to educate themselves and others.

Without the combination of magic and technology is not only easier to prevent people from innovating and makes them cling to tradition, but it's also easier to make sure they know only what their leaders want them to know.

Now about the choosing sides, I particularly am interested on all types of magic. I'm a firm believer in that are no such thing as "bad/evil" magic, it only depends on what the intent of who casted(?) was and the consequences.

This is more unlikely, but I would love to be able to help resolve their conflict, simply because I think both sides could benefit from the other and I want to learn all types of magic.

Forbidding the iranian team coaches from entering the country and forcing them to direct the game from MEXICO through a tv

Players from non european countries being stopped and searched like criminals with dogs

Deporting african referees just because of their nationality

Forbidding interviews from being spoken i'm languages other than English and forbidding journalists and players from speaking their native languages

México City was "modernized" to be appealing to tourists, not functional to people living on it. We have a housing crisis, gentrification issues, several problems with public transportation, and the government has tiptoed around those to prioritize appearances.

Madres Buscadoras, groups of mothers that search for their missing family members, have been ignored and criminalized by the president, attacked by cops guarding the stadium, alongside other protesters like farmers, teachers and students. Students and reporters were arrested without explanation, threatened with violence (women with sexual violence) and then released.

Adding to this, the number of missing people in the country is 133,000. Twice the capacity of the Azteca Stadium. Families tried to raise awareness by pasting posters with the faces of their missing people around the stadium. The governor of Ciudad de México sent workers to take them down.

To avoid "showing a bad picture of the country" streets around the stadium are being closed, hours before the games, in order to deter protestors. People living in this area (like myself) are unable to move freely.

Our president, Claudia Sheimbaum, on one of the morning reports, said México is happiness, said we don't have issues, criminalized the protestors and said they want to show a bad picture of México. Avatar fans actually compared the report to this same scene, the "There's no war in Ba Sing Se" scene.

An abandoned theater in Rochester, New York. Formerly a pornographic theater, then just a facade after the Walgreens next door gutted it to use as a warehouse. The Walgreens with it's shampoo and baby formula and half of the store locked in cages; the contradictions stare into you. You go because it is the nearest pharmacy, close in walking distance for you and your disabled loved ones.

The Walgreens shuts down and it too, is now just a vacant facade, next to a vacant facade. You stare into the large windows meant to advertise it's contents, now only showcasing absence. A wide open space with torn up floors. You think about how perfect the location could be for low income housing, for squatting, for anything other than standing as a constant reminder of the city's failures to her people. The parking lot is empty, save for the occasional cop car, to ensure no one uses the lot or the building for anything at all. The cop ensures the space will stay as useless as himself.

They add letters to the theater's marquee; a reminder and encouragement of surveillance. "If you see something, say something. In progress call 911, over and done call 311." They board up the doors, ensuring that the space will stay in it's intended form: empty, useless, an eyesore that reminds everyone of their place. The freshly boarded up door has been emblazoned with a message from those who lack.

It also means wearing things they might not approve of. Using accommodations that they might not think you need. Not falling for their guilt trips. Eating when you’re hungry, not when it suits them and their idea of your weight or health. Making your own friends instead of seeking the stamp of approval from them.

Of course, some parents are stricter than others, and some use abuse to keep you from expressing yourself. But do what you can, even if it seems small.

Otherwise, when your parents are no longer in the picture, you’ll try to find it somewhere else to get validation. A strict boss, an abusive partner, a selfish friend.