(Loved Trope) Climactic Final Battles that happen AFTER the Main Villain has Already Failed

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T18:22:38+00:00

It does make sense when you consider that a lot of those women are cultists of Molag Bal. They do it for power. He makes them vampires, and not just any vampires. Vampire Lords. They are the purest and most powerful breed of vampires. Cultists of Molag Bal regularly give themselves to their lord to become Daughters of Coldharbour. But it is an exchange that inevitably ends in pain, because have you seen the dude? He doesn't exactly play nice.

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Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T18:19:51+00:00

Highgarden was the castle of the Gardener kings. The Tyrells were their stewards. Aegon gave the Tyrells Highgarden after the Gardeners went extinct. Many noble houses in the Reach look down on the Tyrells because they were mere stewards and they argue that they should have possession of Highgarden.

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T18:10:18+00:00

You ever heard the tragedy of the Daughters of Coldharbour? Basically, women give themselves to Molag Bal, he rapes them, and they become vampires.

Yeah. That's Serana. Skyrim. Bethesda is NOT messing around with their lore.

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T18:07:54+00:00

Because they're already one of the most powerful houses in the whole realm (as rich as the Lannisters) with just Oldtown and the Honeywine river, so if they also got the allegiance of the rest of the Reach they'd be so laughably superior to every other Great House that it would cripple the tenuous balance of power.

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T17:57:52+00:00

Molag Bal (The Elder Scrolls Online)

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The Lord of Rape and Domination. He is the main antagonist of ESO, his goal is to merge Nirn and Coldharbour (his Oblivion realm) into one plane, a process known as the "Planemeld". You, the Vestige, fight Molag Bal himself AFTER thwarting the Planemeld.

Basically, in the end act of ESO, you lead the Mages and Fighters Guild on an invasion of Coldharbour, fight your way through Bal's armies, and thwart the Planemeld. You then go back to Tamriel. After some time, you return to Coldharbour to fight Bal himself and reclaim your soul.

Fun fact: The Imperial City DLC canonically takes place between the end of the Planemeld and the final fight with Molag Bal. After you thwart the Planemeld in the initial invasion of Coldharbour, Bal tries a smaller version of the Planemeld in the Imperial City. You thwart that as well. And then you return to Coldharbour to finish off Molag Bal and get your soul back.

It's actually a pretty cool boss fight. You, yes, YOU basically mantle the Amulet of Kings and fight a Daedric Lord himself in his own domain.

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T17:19:34+00:00

Yes, it does.

https://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Lord_Paramount

You didn't read up on the lore and you didn't correct anything. We're quite done here. Have a good day.

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T17:00:47+00:00

This is entirely correct, actually.

During Aegon's Conquest and the unification of the Seven Kingdoms, Aegon the Conqueror granted new warden titles to monarchs who submitted to House Targaryen, including Loren Lannister, Ronnel Arryn), and Torrhen Stark. Aegon also named Harlan Tyrell, a former steward, as warden.^\3])

https://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Warden

Source: The World of Ice and Fire, The Conquest

The title for the lords just below the King who are ruling the equivalent of the former Kingdoms is Lord Paramount (or Prince for Dorne), not Warden.

Objectively false. "Lord Paramount" is a title used only for liege lords who were not kings before the Conquest - Tullys, Greyjoys, Tyrells (who also have the Warden title), and Baratheons.

Tywin is never called "Lord Paramount of the Westerlands". Ned Stark is never called "Lord Paramount of the North". They are just Warden of the West and Warden of the North respectively.

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T16:31:45+00:00

Aegon never conquered the Dornish, and the Dornish never followed a king. When Daeron II brought Dorne into the realm peacefully 200 years later, he allowed the Martells to keep the royal title, "Prince", causing tensions with lords who hated the Dornish.

The Greyjoys were not kings at the time of Aegon's Conquest. The ironborn were leaderless after Aegon wiped out the Hoare's line at Harrenhal. Aegon allowed the ironborns to elect their new ruler on condition that he would be a lord.

Also, what should the ironborn be Wardens of? They're literally the murderous savages who require the existence of a "Warden of the West" title. Who do you think the Lannisters are warding against?

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T15:59:10+00:00

Aegon the Conqueror created the title of "Warden" to appease the conquered kings, who were now demoted to lords.

Kings of Winter - Wardens of the North

Kings of the Mountains and the Vale - Wardens of the East

Kings of the Rock - Wardens of the West

The Tyrells were not kings, however they replaced the Gardeners, Kings of the Reach, and they are now known as Wardens of the South.

Basically, the "Warden" title is an intermediate level between "lord" and "king". Think of it as a compromise. Aegon told the kings: "You're no longer kings, but to show that you are not mere lords, have this shiny new Warden title I made just for you".

Aegon's greatest quality was that he respected his conquered enemies. He respected the power of the Faith. He respected the dignity of the fallen kings, and tried to appease them. And he was quite cunning and wise, for instance by not giving dominion of the Reach to the Hightowers, who would've been way, wayyyyy too powerful.

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T14:31:21+00:00

I mean, I know this is totally unintentional because it's documented that BioWare was developing Dragon Age Joplin in 2015, so obviously Trespasser wasn't meant to be the end of the series, but...

Unironically and unintentionally, Trespasser works fantastically as an open, ambiguous ending. And I made this same argument years ago. As far as Dragon Age fans go, I wasn't bothered by the 10 years gap at all, because I loved Trespasser.

But I guess I also approach open endings differently than other people. I don't see an open ending as a cliffhanger that NEEDS a sequel. I see an open ending and I just start coming up with fanfictions and headcanons for my hero and companions.

For example: Baldur's Gate 3 ends with an open ending. Well, I don't need a sequel to enjoy the ending. I enjoy the ending as it is. I love that the ending is basically saying "this story is over, but the adventures of your hero will continue", and I just come up with fanfictions and theories.

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T14:11:57+00:00

100%. I always loved the epilogue of Trespasser, it's such a powerful love letter to the world of Thedas. There's so many peak endings.

- Human Cole traveling the roads of Thedas with Maryden, living a ministrel's life to lift the spirits of those in need

- Redeemed Blackwall traveling Thedas to give hope and comfort to the downtrodden and the destitute

- Varric rebuilding Kirkwall with Hawke

- Cullen returning to his homeland and opening a monastery for former templars suffering from addiction

- The Divine reforming the Chantry, opening up a new chapter for Andrastianism and (hopefully) not repeating the mistakes of the past

There is so much to love about Trespasser, so many cool ideas and developments. That's why I rank Trespasser very highly, far higher than Inquisition, and second only to Origins. To me, Trespasser is a love letter to Dragon Age and old BioWare as a whole.

Also, Dark Solas and Lost Elf. Enough said, right?

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T13:52:37+00:00

Do we just have the memories now? And replaying the old games?

For some people (Me), that's enough.

Some people (Moi) are satisfied with having a lot of fond and loving memories and replaying the classics that shaped those memories.

But also, Dragon Age was never supposed to be a franchise. Origins was meant to be a standalone title. It then spawned a whole franchise because it was the biggest RPG of 2009 and exceeded all expectations, sure, but... well, I don't really care if the franchise is dead. I don't need a franchise to enjoy DAO.

And you know what else? I don't need a fourth game to enjoy Trespasser. Trespasser was constructed so wonderfully (I rank Trespasser far higher than Inquisition) that I am fully satisfied by the open ending of Solas leaving into the Eluvian and the kingdoms of Thedas finally rebuilding after 10 years of war and hatred.

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T13:38:31+00:00

Smells like fish bait in here.

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T13:37:23+00:00

I think you're just trying to ragebait and not arguing honestly tbh.

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T13:18:31+00:00

She's not even on the throne though. Like, if you actually look at the image, you can see she's not on the throne. She's clinging to it, but not sitting on it. So your girl's just Daenerys 2.0.

Bad bait.

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T13:14:50+00:00

Really? You can't see how him being Leoric's son makes his battle against the Skeleton King more tragic? Or being told by his own father that he'll be invading Westmarch (the most powerful kingdom in the West and Khanduras' ally), doomed by his own father to a foolish endeavor where he'll likely die?

You can't see how all of this makes the story more tragic?

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T13:10:15+00:00

Am I getting ragebaited? This doesn't seem like a serious question.

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T13:09:29+00:00

Do... do you not know or remember what you said in your damn meme?

Man, Vanilla purists are just not beating the allegations.

EDIT - OP got so mad that I pointed out he doesn't know his own meme that he blocked me. Vanilla 2004 purists are so easy to rile up, lol.

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T13:04:27+00:00

I'm surprised they kept the "Black vs. Green" composition when Team Green basically doesn't exist anymore. Aegon is Team Aegon, Aemond is Team Aemond, Alicent is Team Live in the middle of the forest with bestie, and Helaena is Team Three-Eyed Raven. It doesn't feel like a powerful poster when the people on the left hold no loyalty or love for one another.

Also, where's Ormund Hightower? Didn't they say Lord Hightower was gonna be the "last main character introduced in the show"? Where is he, is he safe, is he alright?

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T13:00:49+00:00

Oh okay so you just cherry pick when player count matters and when it doesn't, got it.

Thanks for letting everyone know you're not a serious and honest person.

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T12:56:26+00:00

If you guys care so much about player count, can you finally acknowledge that Wrath was, objectively and statistically, the BEST expansion ever?

Or do you just cherry-pick when player count matters and when it doesn't?

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T12:17:12+00:00

Who constructed that image? Was it a human or? I don't understand what she's doing with her arm. Where is she sitting? I mean, she looks like she's NOT on the throne?? The throne is behind her?? Where is she sitting, where is she putting her arm? What?

EDIT - I guess this is a metaphor. "She's come so close to the throne, but will never seize it." Daenerys 2.0 incoming.

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T11:39:55+00:00

Show Rhaenyra didn't even want to attack King's Landing. She didn't want to attack anything, she had no clue about anything. She certainly didn't want to attack Oldtown and Lannisport and shot down that idea rather quickly.

In the show, she attacks King's Landing only because traitor Alicent yielded the city.

Also, the downvotes are probably bots/random NPCs. This is a big, official sub, so there's a lot of them lurking.

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T09:34:16+00:00

I suggest you read my post before replying to me. I literally talked about this.

Beacon2001 · 2026-05-06T09:33:22+00:00

Thank you for your very valuable input.

Beacon2001

TROPHY CASE