I just wanted to say that it always astounds me in your writing that the mages motley could be interpreted as that goofy sort of wizard aesthetic(all the shapes and colours, etc) but every time I see it in the ice plague I’m like oh no they’re BACK. Genuinely scary
Tbh even I imagine it as a kind of goofy wizard aesthetic. It’s very jester-esque! It was literally based on jester clothing, and I think if Master Mages weren’t such villainous ‘if I’m wearing my robe it means I’m probably going to kill someone or save a whole bunch of you’ assholes, it’d be the stupidest thing.
I kind of love how they’ve turned the Mage’s motley into something like... really intense. I always think also of Howl’s cloak in the animation of Howl’s Moving Castle, which also has diamonds on it.
But yeah gotta love the branding on those Mages from the School of the Staff. Just smh at them because everything they do is so extra.
