Valley Twins - Tumblr Posts
Psst
hey there
GUESS WHO CRAWLED BACK UP FROM THE DEPTHS OF HELL
MEEEEEEEEEEE
page 6 is now out! (At least I think it’s page 6)
I drew the sillies
It’s pancake day at the Valley Elder household!!
Things I wanted to draw but just didn’t have the patience:
Pancake landing on the moth’s head or getting stuck on the ceiling (where have we seen that before??)
The moth just absorbs the pancakes through the light in their chest
Sah and Mek the Valley Elders
Regrets
(If you ask me, I still have no idea how I eventually ship these two.)
Why I love How Sky Portrays Death
Before I start, I go into detail about death and loss, and description of the afterlife and dying and examples of it in sky and a little mention of religion irl.
I wrote this while sleep deprived if this makes no sense, i'm not sorry
Take this all with a grain of salt as this is purely my observation and interpretation
To many, death is scary, unpredictable, and inevitable. Death is frightening because it represents the end of life, the loss and grief it brings, and the uncertainty of where we will go. Every religion has its own version of the afterlife, from our soul moving to a new body, places ranging from rewarding good and punishing evil, to simply being nothing. Death is scary because we'll never truly know what lies beyond or what awaits. It's complicated ,heavy, and it's something that many have delved deeper into too. I only bring this up because the sky not only answers, but embraces death. How? Let's take a look.
Orbit
Sky's interpretation of the afterlife is perfect. "All are given breath by starlight," as stated in the intro mural, everyone ends up back in the stars someday, becoming spirits that travel to this small part of the galaxy. They even seem to become one with the light and stars if they so please. And it's relaxing; it's soothing.
They know it exists.
Spirit's have shown from the beginning of the game that they can descend and ascend whenever they please. See all TS's, Grandma, and event spirits like Yeti, who appear briefly during Feast to cast a snowman spell before ascending. According to this logic, orbit is widely known because ancestors were bound to descend to explain what happens. And spirits aren't gone from their loved ones' lives; they're still present. They're not gone and can visit anytime they like; it's not hard for me to imagine them visiting others during holidays and events.
Gravestone's
In every social space, there are gravestones for every base-game ancestor. What's interesting is how they're laid out; unlike regular graveyards, which are organized in a line, none of the graves are uniform, some being lengths apart. This is very clear in Prarie, with one near the closet and another nestled in a cave; even irl graveyards that are less uniform don't tend to put burials that far away, but Sky does. It almost seems like an ancestor could've possibly chosen the placement themselves. You also have the special burial site at the 8-player door, a working elevator and all, the graves have their own little buildings and stones draped in gold, implying a ceremony as we know. Not only that, but Valley's way of honouring death is extremely interesting.
Let's talk about Samekh's temple
Valley really demonstrates how death is viewed—not in a morbid way but in an honourable way. The hallways of both races are lined with gravestones, with the exception of some open spaces. When compared to decorations such as the eight-player door, the gravestones themselves are painted in gold. They're unlike any graves seen so far, and you can argue that these were reserved for champions, and if so, I feel like the halls would be packed considering this is the valley of triumph, but no, there are still a few open spaces. Which makes me adore how there are gravestones in the twin's temple.
Their temple is the only one that not only has gravestones inside, but is lined with them! And considering their position and how we know they play a big role in the sky as leaders, to the point where they have a temple, it makes the fact they share it as an ancestor's final resting place so heartwarming to me. They were under no obligation to place gravestones; they could have dragged the banners down, added more statues, or even designed something similar to Daleth's temple like the murals we see, but they didn't. They allowed the room with their shrine to be a graveyard, they value their people's lives; they regard it as an honour, and whether those are the graves of champions or ordinary people, they value them all the same.
And it still hurts.
Even in the sky, where the question of death is answered, it still hurts.
It hurts when Mindful and a Tearful miner witness the deaths of their friends, Tearful having to bury their own. It hurts when Teabrewer returns with herbs for their loved one who died while they were away, so much so that they become anxious when they leave anyone alone, as seen in their info card. It's horrifying to know how many ancestors died in the war with no way to escape, faced with the fear of death every day.
Death is still scary in Sky, and I love it for that. Even when you know where you'll go, you still value your life; you don't want to die, and you don't want to go. But when that time comes, when you choose to be one with the universe, or roam your home with your star-kissed body, you'll never be alone. And that's why I adore the way death is depicted:
Because it's bittersweet.
POV: you're meeting the Valley Elders for the first time and they both want your light 🕯️
It is time that I caved in to one of my most persistent brainrots, ever 😭 I love these sillies so much
Yeah so what if i post the video here, then what 🤨
Making a post because I CAN'T be normal about them and those HCs have been begging to be let out 🤸
Little disclaimer before I start, I will be referring to Kakashi hair twin as Sah, and he, and flat hair as Mekh, and she or they, because that is how I see them personally. The names aren't canon, but I like to use them as they seem to fit. These HCs are also my own and you may disagree, but they are based on my own analysis of subtle things found in the game, and expanded upon.
So let's start with this:
The appearance and ' mask '
When it comes to the mask part, it is moreso relating to Mekh. But let's start with Sah:
Sah's Personality: Sah's personality is on the confident, playful side. He's very much of a jokester, and tends to make jokes almost out of anything, which might make him seem silly or simple minded. This is not entirely true, as Sah is very talented, incredibly skilled, athletic, and a major visionary. He tends however to focus on the big picture of things rather than on the details. He would be described as someone whose heart is quite pure and honest, as it doesn't hold any sort of presumptions or hidden intentions. He says things as they are, and sometimes may come off as blunt. He values honesty to the point that almost everything about him might be laid out on a silver platter. He might get competitive at times, but not to the point where it might tarnish his relationship with his competitors ( namely his twin ). Speaking of which, the fact that they are so complementary is seen as an advantage to him, and he strives on the fact that they build off of each other. He is quite aware of his own limitations and weaknesses, but he never lets this come in his way. Although a prideful person ( and rightfully so ), it does not lean into boastfulness and condescension. Any kind of boastfulness would mostly be playful exaggeration. He might be a little over-dramatic, at times.
Mekh's Personality: When it comes to Mekh, her personality is mostly reliant on the mask. Much like Sah's, her persona is very theatrical, flamboyant and seemingly confident, as well as prideful ( and rightfully so ). While Sah seems to surpass Mekh in rapidity and agility, which doesn't undermine her own outstanding capabilities, she seems to surpass him when it comes to estimation, observation, and strategy. She seems to be more serious than her brother, and pays great attention to the way that she is perceived, especially when she is in the company of others. Her behavior might differ greatly when she is alone with her brother, or in the presence of other orders or sky kids. It seems that a lot of effort is put into appearing as approachable and likeable. Mekh might often act as the voice of reason and focuses on the utmost details rather than the big picture. She also gets competitive, but often to a fault. However, she might often cover up her feelings of defeat with a forced joke, or another challenge. And this is where the mask part ends.
Now, this is purely based on my own headcanons. I thought such a dynamic would be incredibly interesting considering they are siblings; well, two parts of the same star, amirite? So, enjoy!
Unmasked :
When it comes to Sah, there is not much that can be said about a mask, because his mask isn't false, per se. What can be said however, is that he may be repressing a massive amount of things and covering it up with a go-with-the-flow attitude, with humor as a way to deal with things he would rather not think about. All of this doesn't mean that he is not a hopeful person; on the contrary. He very much clings to hope so much that it may be to a fault, stopping him from facing the reality of certain things. He would rather not face them, as he knows that they may weigh him down considerably.
The mask part concerns Mekh much more, since the mask is a sort of imitation of Sah.
Let me explain.
In reality, Mekh seems to have a deep complex of inferiority issue. Although they are meant to be ' one ' , Mekh doesn't see this the same way as Sah. While Sah sees as complementarity, she sees as inferiority, and often feels second to him. Despite her genuine care and love for her brother, she is often consumed by feelings of jealousy and envy. Both twins admire the other, but while Sah might openly admit it, Mekh would think twice and thrice before even admitting to it. Mekh's admiration for Sah bleeds into envy, and the desire to BE the person that one admires. Her competitiveness might often gnaw at her, and she takes any defeat to heart, while Sah may brush it off and use the opportunity to build off of a loss. Mekh is an over-thinker, and to a fault. While this makes for great observation skills, it also narrows her field of vision to her own perception of things, rendering her more selfish than her brother in that regard. But once again, all of this is hidden behind a mask; this turmoil of emotion is unknown to Sah, although he might subconsciously be aware of it to a certain extent.
Unlike most people with a self-centered view, Mekh is deeply self-aware, and often resents her own feelings and incapacity to take things as freely as her brother.
Her strengthened ability to see also renders her incapable of ignoring detail, and thus being struck by the harsh reality of things. Unlike Sah, who represses the things that weigh upon him and clings to the tiniest bits of hope, Mekh is incapable of doing so and struggles to see hope in what seems to be an eternal cycle of life and death. Her resentment might even lead her to attempt to drag her brother into her own, darker view of the world, since she cannot seem to elevate herself to his level. This competition between them seems to be one-sided, and wholly internal, as once again, this is internal turmoil that she does not share. In fact, she may tend to be extremely cryptic about things, which frustrates Sah, who values honesty and just blurts things out regardless of their nature. Mekh always thinks of repercussions, and fears to expose any sort of weakness that might be used against her. While Sah wouldn't hesitate to show vulnerability, Mekh would never allow herself to do so, as she fears that her mask may drop, and her deep insecurity may show.
Made a video about my previous post detailing some headcanons about them !
If you want to read the more detailed version, there it is: https://www.tumblr.com/manuellarts/736988735045074944/making-a-post-because-i-cant-be-normal-about-them
Mekh cannot stand it when Sah tries to act smart 😩 . . .
Fallen stars .•° ✧
⎯⎯⎯⎯
Were we chosen only to fall?
Were we risen to the skies only to get a better view of the world that we shattered before our eyes?
Were we given the power to build with equal power to destroy?
Have we seen the Light only for it to be taken away?
Perhaps is it the price to pay for the pride that has blinded us, and the greed that has consumed us.
But why do they have to pay the price of our mistake? Are they the light of a newfound hope, or are they reborn into darkness as part of an eternal curse?
Was watching the world crumble not enough retribution?
⎯⎯⎯⎯
I cannot express how much I love this game, and how invested I am in discovering and understanding the lore behind it . . I wrote a little something to accompany the picture, because that is one character I am particularly fond of 💞
more of my favorite twins 🫶🏻 if that ain't everyday life for siblings idk what is 😞🫵
I really needed a VISUAL for all the bits of lore so I did it myself 💃I hope to have enough motivation and time to work on more of this because . . I need it and i love it
Eden; The Eternal Return
It's the first time I attempt something like this, but . . I have always wondered if the Elders ever felt any sort of guilt regarding what Sky kids would have to endure, in order to bring Light back to the Kingdom. It is my personal headcanon that Mekh sees this as some sort of eternal curse, and that the world is somehow bound to this endless cycle. . . Because, the Storm is still raging, and not one has been able to put an end to it.
Hope you enjoy!!
When your sibling doesn't engage in the usual back and forth of insults . . The game changes entirely 🫶🏻 happy days of love skykids 💕!
Dubbed version of the video I posted a few days ago ! I tried to make their voices sound as accurately as possible to what I envision :) hope you like it!
Second part of the Elders' Meeting ! I've really enjoyed voicing this one, and my wrist is broken but . . It was so worth it ! I really want to dive in more into what could've happened before the Shattering, and the events that led up to the end..