Like, I'm sorry, but I honestly, genuinely can not get behind Miquella's whole plan in the DLC if what he did to Mohg was part of that plan, whether the idea came in later or was part of the plan all along.
The bewitchment, the manipulation. Whatever he did to Mohg in life, and the ensuing defilement in death... The suffering Radahn went through, the devastation Malenia unleashed in his name -- the fact that Malenia was used in such a way, as a weapon. The Blade of Miquella...
Admire the sword for its capacity to protect; not for the amount of blood it has shed...
Miquella's Age of Compassion was a doomed thing - The wild dreams of a deluded child.
Like, there's a TON of issues that I have -- but looking at Mohg... Dear god, Mohg...
What happened with Caelid ought to be enough reasn to take up arms against Miquella and whatever his idea of compassion entails.
When it comes to Mohg though, I'm looking at that in the perspective of someone who did come to love him...
The fact that Ansbach, who was so willing to run the moment the enchantment broke, couldn't bring himself to leave because he wanted to know what happened to Mohg. And the moment he DOES learn, it cements his decision to stay and fight, even though it likely meant his death - and ultimately did...
That... Says a lot.
And dammit, so what if Ansbach is biased -- so is Leda. So is Freyja. How would YOU feel if someone you knew - who you were loyal to - hell, I WOULD go so far as to say someone you loved - was used in such a way as Mohg was? Could you POSSIBLY blame Ansbach?
Mohg was no saint. He wasn't innocent. But he WAS a victim. And I had argued that he was worthy of compassion, in spite of everything he HAD done -- even before the DLC confirmed he WAS bewitched. The truth of it just makes it hurt all the more.
He WAS deserving of compassion, but was instead used as a sacrifice - the manner of which was incredibly cruel for someone who was supposedly known for his kindness.
I suppose there's a certain irony, in a way. People were hellbent on avenging Miquella and the Haligtree upon finding out that Mohg was the one who abducted him. And people were eager in going after Mohg once it was confirmed that yes, he needed to die to access the DLC.
Some have had a change of heart. Others still believe that Miquella was justified in the way he used Mohg -- which, again, how compassionate could that possibly be?
The fandom is full of Needle Knight Ledas and Sir Ansbachs. With some Jerrens and Freyjas off to the side. In the end, all I can say is...
