Tales from the Storm Discussion

[KageTokage]

Just the fact that Sadu is the only woman Magnai has had any prolonged interaction with makes it seem likely to me that something's going to happen between them that might at least soften their view of one another enough to make them getting together in the future seem like a more realistic prospect.

I'd find it more amusing for him to end up with someone who's stern and tough like his sisters then meek and humble like Cirina.

[Alleo]

It's interesting that you have brought this up. I've always kind of head canon my Wol as being the daughter of Hydaelyn AND Zodiark, but nobody, not even my character or the Ascians know this. But it would explain the strange vision of the dark crystal at the end of 2.0 and would be a huge plot twist lol. The WoL having to fix mommy's and daddy's problems would be funny :P

Thats totally my headcanon too. Kinda like we were created at the beginning and since then slept within our mother and she only released us because we are her only hope left. Really hoping that if the WoL is no normal human, that it will be something like that. Magnai probably felt it and was afraid of the wrath from Zodiark. :'D

I agree with Theodric about Hien. Sad that he is missing even though he is a really important character. They could have written his thought about losing his mentor or about Doma itself. Maybe they could have made four stories for each region.

In a strange way I do kinda find MagnaixSadu interesting but at the same time they would need lots of work to feel like a good relationship because even in the last scene together they disliked each other and this story did not change that in any ways. Just going and saying that they suddenly like each other would just feel like a poorly written fanfiction. I kinda would leave this open-ended without any true pairings but with some scenes that kinda hint at them.

[Cilia]

The thing about Magnai and Sadu's "relationship" is that it's actually quite fitting for the legend. Azim and Nhaama started out fighting but eventually came to love one another. The first part's already there; we just need to get the second, though it will require character development on the part of both Magnai and Sadu.

They already have a tendency to bicker like an old married couple, and there are many conventions and clichés pointing to them potentially developing a relationship. Though again, they need to get over their pride, Magnai needs to let go of his notions of a fairytale romance, and Sadu needs to show an interest in romance period before anything can come of it.

I'd find it more amusing for [Magnai] to end up with someone who's stern and tough like his sisters then meek and humble like Cirina.

Honestly, that's probably more likely to work out in the long run. Magnai is so fixated on finding his "ethereal maiden" who is a "gentle dancer in the morning mist" he's not thinking about what's best for him. He'd likely get bored in a relationship with a submissive wife pretty quickly, and if he's going to rule the Xaela as khan needs a strong woman who will challenge him. As much as he might not want to admit it, someone like Cirina is a poor fit for Magnai... unless she shows more backbone from time to time.

As mentioned though, Cirina has a crush on Hien anyway, and was more scared of Magnai than anything else (as most women are).

[Kyran-Varlsen]

So all this was Magnai buying into his own myth? The guy is a bit of an enigma. Equal parts warlord and primadonna.

[YianKutku]

So all this was Magnai buying into his own myth? The guy is a bit of an enigma. Equal parts warlord and primadonna.

I think so, yes.

I've always been a bit confused (in an irritable way) by his actions during the MSQ. First he corners us after Bardam's Mettle with fierce-looking warriors to effectively kidnap us, then he gives us tasks with the clear implication that we are not allowed to refuse, then when we complete the tasks, he says "oh, you were never prisoners, you were always free to go whenever you wanted".

Which made me wonder if he really has no idea that threatening people is not how you're supposed to ask people to do things.

[Cilia]

Magnai's problem is his massive ego stemming from his god complex, which is itself a product of Oronir culture. As he is strongest among the Oronir, culture says he is Azim, and he's let that go to his head. The Oronir respect his strength, but almost everybody else (myself included) can't stand Magnai because of his arrogance. No matter what he does it's right, because he's the mortal incarnation of Azim.

That same arrogance is what's holding up his love life; because Magnai is so fixated on his perfect vision of what his Nhaama should be, he's unwilling to open his eyes and see that someone like Sadu, not Cirina, is what he really needs. Someone who will keep his ego in check, not bend to his whims like everyone else. If Magnai could put his ego aside, he wouldn't have this problem - but he won't, so he remains set on his "ethereal maiden who dances in the morning mist."

... but if he put his ego aside he wouldn't be the Magnai everyone loves and loves to hate, would he? (Personally I'm fine with that, positive character development is always something I look forward to.)

[Theodric]

I'd prefer Magnai to remain as he is. Far too many characters in various settings have had their charm ruined by pairing them with another character that leads to them suddenly becoming meek and humble or just accepting of being pushed around by an overly aggressive partner. All in the name of 'love'.

Regardless, Magnai isn't human. He belongs to a race that doesn't conform to modern day ideals or even the ideals of the more civilised races/factions within Hydaelyn. Nor should he, if we want the non-human races to be distinct.

[Waliel]

If one is going to cast Sadu as a tsundere, I'd say she's going to go the classic tsundere route - starts out fiery and defiant, but eventually cools into her role as Magnai's love interest instead of flip-flopping between "fiery" and "lovestruck" like more contemporary tsunderes. That said they'll need to do it quick, since they "only" have 4.1 - 4.x (4.55) to do it.

Mayadere (https://vndb.org/g631, https://vndb.org/i219), clearly.

[Alleo]

I'd prefer Magnai to remain as he is. Far too many characters in various settings have had their charm ruined by pairing them with another character that leads to them suddenly becoming meek and humble or just accepting of being pushed around by an overly aggressive partner. All in the name of 'love'.

Regardless, Magnai isn't human. He belongs to a race that doesn't conform to modern day ideals or even the ideals of the more civilised races/factions within Hydaelyn. Nor should he, if we want the non-human races to be distinct.

The problem is, that even if they dont conform to modern day ideals they still need to feel love towards each other for it to happen and the story seems to show that love is a part of choosing your partner even for the Oronir. So if they dont at least change a bit then realistically this relationship would not last. (And someone like Sadu is not even interested in a relationship right now so a lot needs to change to make that even happen)

Also there is a middle ground between someone staying a static character, thus never changing (which is mostly boring in fiction imo) and someone being suddenly completely meek and pushed around. I mean he could even stay mostly his current self but maybe threat his "love" a bit better. Having two headstrong characters could end in disaster but if both of them start to respect each other and at least threat each other better, then this could still be a good one. In a way if Magnai does not change he would just become the aggressive partner that you wrote in your post. He would be the one that would push the other one around. Depending on who the other character is, then this would mean that this one would loose their character in the name of love. So the best outcome imo (if they even go that far in the game) would be, that both partners change a bit to respect each other and create a healthy relationship where nobody is bossed around because they would be on the same level. This does not mean that Magnai as a whole has to change big ways.

[Cilia]

I'd prefer Magnai to remain as he is. Far too many characters in various settings have had their charm ruined by pairing them with another character that leads to them suddenly becoming meek and humble or just accepting of being pushed around by an overly aggressive partner. All in the name of 'love'.

Regardless, Magnai isn't human. He belongs to a race that doesn't conform to modern day ideals or even the ideals of the more civilised races/factions within Hydaelyn. Nor should he, if we want the non-human races to be distinct.

I never said Magnai should become meek and submissive; that would make him a bad fit for Sadu. What he needs to do is put his ego aside and get over his vision of what his perfect Nhaama should be. The gentle, submissive types (like Cirina) are more scared of Magnai than anything, and understandably so. He wouldn't treat them like an equal, making any such relationship doomed from the start.

Despite wanting a gentle and docile Nhaama, Magnai would likely find a relationship with such a woman unfulfilling. Someone like Sadu - someone who isn't afraid to stand up to Magnai's ego, who isn't afraid to tell him when he's being stupid, who isn't going to take his BS - is what he needs, because that is the sort of person he won't have a choice but to treat as an equal in the relationship.

The tragic thing is that what Magnai really needs is right in front of him, but he's too egotistical to see it.

As for "conforming to modern day ideals," Magnai clearly shows a very human longing for romantic love. If he cannot find a lover who will treat him as an equal and he can (will have to) treat as an equal, the relationship will ultimately be self-destructive on one end and doomed from the beginning, modern day ideals or no.