Lakshmi Creeps Me Out

[Kemiko]

They're no different to me than temporary transmutation spells. The WoL has been temporarily turned into a frog, chicken, spriggan, minimized to the size of tinker bell, a fire breathing toad, ghosts, etc. They'd have long been turned into thralls hadn't the echo been a convenient shield.

If such temporary infatuation, which needn't be sexual - it could be comfort or seeing someone motherly, bothers because of your characters sexuality you could easily rationalize it as the primal taking the form of whatever your character finds appealing.

Note: The princess in Shisui you refer to also has an attack called Volcanic Flatulence. That is far more disturbing to me. Fiery levels of farts capable of upheaval and burns.

[Jaywalker]

I think you're dramatically misreading the nature of these spells.

To be "seduced" or "charmed" doesn't always refer to sexuality or romantic attraction. Especially given that Ramuh has the spell as well, we can pretty reasonably infer that the idea isn't "suddenly your character wants to get nasty with the beard" or whatever. Wouldn't be tonally or thematically consistent, plus I mean honestly that is not a design that lends to sexy as a concept anyway.

(Alas poor Ramuh, his days as a hottie are far behind him.)

A person can be seduced by an idea or ideology or a cult of personality. A person can be "charmed" in the sense of "enchanted" or "made loyal to something they would never otherwise be". It is mind control. Mind control as a concept is part of the deliberate horror of primals through the whole concept of tempering. Ifrit, Leviathan, and Lakshmi in particular are huge examples of this.

Ramuh imo is interesting in particular given his narrative role and how he operates in the context of his song lyrics. He acts as the ultimate judge and essentially calls for WoL to confess and be punished for their worst sins. I'm not talking sins in the sense of any specific religion here either, but as the worst things a person could ever do. Being seduced or charmed by Ramuh, I think, reflects more that the WoL has bought into this principle and is being drawn toward Ramuh (in a sense of awe, very moth-to-the-flame) and the process of judgment. The Ruby Princess I think has something similar going on, it's not insignificant that she's surrounded by boxes that can transform the player into a withered crone, but frankly I don't have a totally clear understanding of the symbolism in that dungeon atm so can't delve as well. Lakshmi ties to the idea of being seduced by a fantasy of joy and peace that can never actually exist. The presence of lotuses in her fight references both the Eastern idea of lotuses as something beautiful growing out of something hideous (the dream born of tragedy and suffering) and the Western concept of "Lotus Eaters" from the Odyssey who waste away mindless but happy in their delusion.

I don't think it's a matter of thinking too deep/too hard for you so much as you're doing it in the wrong direction. It's like if you are at spot X on a road like this:

Y_________X__________Z

You need to go one line's length away, the lines are equal. Your destination is Y but you go to Z instead. You've traveled the right distance, but it's wasted effort when you move in the wrong direction. Same principle, the depth of thought is fair but misapplied. You're barking up the wrong tree imo.

[JunkhogMakison]

Who's to say how Lakshmi appears to your character when she uses that ability? Her whole concept is about beautiful but false appearances.

I actually like that idea! Instead of being attracted to her as a being the spell makes Garoth be attracted to what he personally sees as beautiful and alluring in which case would be a hulking God monster.

So it's not really being attracted to her it's being attracted to what you personally love then when the spell snaps you see her and then back away.

That's a good way of looking at it I never thought of it like that.

☆☆☆☆☆ stars for you ^_^

[Jaywalker]

I dunno "rest your head on bosom" is pretty direct with its message XD lol

One last addition, tbf we got loads of bosom jokes from FFXIV. Nophica's bosom is also a big thing lol.

But in the instances both come up I actually think it refers more to the idea of a lady chest. A sort of an old time-y gesture of comfort by resting your head on a mother's heart.

Gotta remember boobs don't just exist to be sexy to others. They can be sure, but ultimately they're just part of the female body and biologically they're around so babies can eat. Lots of ways to interpret that scene.

[i3oi3o]

If the Charm/Seduced theme make you uncomfortable, What about Mind-Control/Brainwash/Soul-Interference ?

[JunkhogMakison]

I think you\\'re dramatically misreading the nature of these spells.

To be "seduced" or "charmed" doesn't always refer to sexuality or romantic attraction. Especially given that Ramuh has the spell as well, we can pretty reasonably infer that the idea isn\\'t "suddenly your character wants to get nasty with the beard" or whatever. Wouldn\\'t be tonally or thematically consistent, plus I mean honestly that is not a design that lends to sexy as a concept anyway.

(Alas poor Ramuh, his days as a hottie are far behind him.)

A person can be seduced by an idea or ideology or a cult of personality. A person can be "charmed" in the sense of "enchanted" or "made loyal to something they would never otherwise be". It is mind control. Mind control as a concept is part of the deliberate horror of primals through the whole concept of tempering. Ifrit, Leviathan, and Lakshmi in particular are huge examples of this..

I don\\'t think it\\'s a matter of thinking too deep/too hard for you so much as you\\'re doing it in the wrong direction. It\\'s like if you are at spot X on a road like this:

Y_________X__________Z

You need to go one line\\'s length away, the lines are equal. Your destination is Y but you go to Z instead. You\\'ve traveled the right distance, but it\\'s wasted effort when you move in the wrong direction. Same principle, the depth of thought is fair but misapplied. You\\'re barking up the wrong tree imo.

They\\'re no different to me than temporary transmutation spells. The WoL has been temporarily turned into a frog, chicken, spriggan, minimized to the size of tinker bell, a fire breathing toad, ghosts, etc. They\\'d have long been turned into thralls hadn\\'t the echo been a convenient shield.

If such temporary infatuation, which needn\\'t be sexual - it could be comfort or seeing someone motherly, bothers because of your characters sexuality you could easily rationalize it as the primal taking the form of whatever your character finds appealing
.

I hope I\\'m replying correctly it\\'s hard to respond to multiple people. Thank you two so much for your responses. I actually never even considered looking at it the ways you two are describing.

Being under a spell can mean many things, and it doesnt really mean your being charmed by the end user but rather your under the infatuation of being with something or someone you love the most.

☆☆☆☆☆
☆☆☆☆☆
For both of you lol

[Cheremia]

i'm a female, play a female and am not into girls.

And i get charmed a lot by other females.

It's just magic.

[Insertcoins]

I'm odd as if it were up to me I bone the crap out of her AND the light statue that's in the shadows trailer fighting the man character. I dunno why.. but they are both hot and bangable to me. T.T

[Derio]

Its just magic. And its temporary not permanent.

Probably the most awkward is having to rub lotion on Hilibrand. That was the most uncomfortable, but it wasnt complain worthy of an entire thread.

[Gula]

Never play a SMT game then because Marin flippin Karin.