Lia's BK tweets archive - 2021-08-14: Elnath, Cloudvents, Naos, Matar Highlands

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:22 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

To Elnath! Apparently the Imperials are doing bad stuff at the “Cloudvents”? I’m guessing that’s the Temple of Winds.
We’ll see, I expect a two-for-one deal on tragic deaths by the time we’re done.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:01 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

No one in the castle is saying anything new. The only difference is Celsica and Rambari being gone from the training grounds due to going after runaway children, I suppose.

Five knights training on top of the castle roof.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:03 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Our actual destination is the audience room, where Rambari is “doing the chin-stroking thing” and lecturing misbehaving kids.

Rambari: “You’re the king of all Diadem! You have to start acting that way, sire!”

Ladekahn: “I know, Uncle Ram. I am thinking like a king... in my own way.”

Rambari: “A king is supposed to bind his people together, not sow anxiety by running around wild!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:06 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Ladekahn is firmly the type of smartass child who is impossible to lecture, unless they decide you were actually correct.

Rambari: “Gibari, you’re just as much to blame!”

Rambari: “A knight’s duty is to protect his king, not goad him into taking unnecessary risks!”

Ladekahn: “Don’t go blaming Gib. It’s not his fault. I wanted to go.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:09 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Oh this is GOOD. Completely in character for the both of them and extra funny because we-the-player have no idea what Rambari was about to say. Perfect.

Rambari: “I’m not done yet! You’re in your twelfth year, sire. You know the saying—“

Gibari: “Yeah, so skip it. Didn’t you day there were imperial soldiers in the Cloudsvents?”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:13 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Sagi and crew show up, niceties are exchanged thanking us for Nashira, and we establish that the Cloudvents are where all the clouds come from. And somehow that is vital to the island? Okay.

Sagi: “Oh, it was no trouble. So Baelheit’s Machina Vanguard is here?”

Ladekahn: “Yes. They’ve moved in on the Cloudvents, the source of all the clouds that blanket Diadem.”

Gibari: “Kahn, what are we waiting for? If they take control of the Vents, Diadem is finished!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:15 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

What kind of choice is that!
(Not a choice, I tested, if you pick “Have a nice trip” Sagi stays silent instead and says the same thing a dialog beat later)

Ladekahn: “He’s right. We must go to the Vents. I’m sorry, but we’ll have to discuss the quaestor’s proposal later.”

Sagi: “Wait, Your Majesty. If someone has to go, let it be us.”

Gibari: “Relax, the Knights of Diadem are unbeatable.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:16 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Missed full alt text on the first image, the dialog choice is “Wait...” versus “Have a nice trip”.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:18 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Good point from Sagi though saying “I watched them break an island in half” might have gotten the point across more directly.
Also what is promachination, it’s been described as a vague political agenda and a dramatic one-time Thing with zero clarity so far.

Sagi: “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to doubt the knights’ strength, but Baelheit has weaponry you can’t even imagine.”

Sagi: “Besides. I want to talk to them first. Maybe they can be convinced to stop promachination.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:20 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

We’re given a head start, no more, and are off to the secret exit to NOT the Temple of Winds.

Ladekahn: “But that’s all. I won’t sit by and watch while they tear apart Diadem. We’ll be going in after you.”

A stone corridor with glowing blue lights and a strong, cloudy wind current going across. Title card: “The Cloudvents”.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:22 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Sagi gets his phone out and update Verus. What a good little agent we are.

Sagi: “The Machina Vanguard is in Diadem, sir.”

Sagi: “They’ve seized the continent’s nerve center. I think they’re setting up to promachinate everything.”

Verus: “Don’t do anything reckless. Your goal is to secure King Ladekahn’s assistance.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:25 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

The area’s actually rather small. The main puzzle mechanic here is strong wind gusts forcing us into careful timing and roundabout paths.
At one point we get a special boulder that resists wind and use that to not get sucked out into the void. Nothing to write home about.

Sagi: “This wind is overpowering. We won’t be able to do much of anything if we get stuck in the currents.”

Textbox: “Obtained the magna essence [blue text] Gust Boulder [end blue text]!”

Sagi: “It looks like all the Vents’ currents exit through that hole over there.”
An imperial soldier is being sucked out into the void.

A large purple boulder sliding into place to block the hole.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:28 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

For science?

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:29 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

All the way into the middle of the Cloud Passage? Ooooooof.

Sagi: “Whew, that would’ve been messy if we landed on anything besides these clouds.”

Sagi: “We might not be so lucky next time. Let’s be more careful, OK?”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:02 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

The Imperials are mostly done with... whatever it is they’re doing, and heading out.
The game, however, isn’t done throwing new characters at us without explanation. It does establish relationships, but not roles, so more confusion yay.

Heughes: “Will you be all right, Nasca? We need you to stay here on watch.”

Nasca: “... Yeah. I can handle it, now that I’ve got the “new ride.””

Heughes: “Shanath, isn’t there some way I can stay behind?”

Shanath: “No, Heughes. You should know better.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:08 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

I detest this style of writing, it hurts my brain. We get webs of relationships, established in a ham-fisted way, but (IMO!) no reason why we should care about those new faces just yet.
Anyway Sagi and crew show up, interrupt the whole mess, and immediately get insulted.

Valara: “Are you that worried about your baby brother?”

Valara: “Whatever you say. But don’t forget I was the one who got your brother his new toy.”

Shanath: “Oh? What a surprise. If it isn’t the quaestor’s lapdog.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:12 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

I both like how plain Shannath is in his evil and do not believe for a second that things are going to stay that simple.
Also WHAT are you turning to machina? The island? What? How?

Sagi: “Explain yourself! Why is promachination so important to you?”

Shannath: “By turning the world to machina, the Empire can conquer it.”

Shannath: “Why, yes. Isn’t that the whole point? Don’t be so dense.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:15 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Obviously he personally doesn’t have time for our nonsense, so we get to fight the trio. They get a bunch of particle effects when setting up and yell MACHINA a lot but are really unremarkable bosses with no flair to speak of.
Not done yet, obviously, heavy artillery time.

Shannath: “I don’t have time to pursue this conversation.”

Shannath: “Heughes, Valara, Nasca! Show our guests a little attention.”

Fight screen, our characters facing Nasca, Valara and Heughes.

Heughes: “Nasca... Get the machina arma.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:23 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Ladekahn, Gibari, Rambari and Celsica arrive, and Shannath immediately puts a sword under His Majesty’s neck and checks another square on his Cartoon Villain Sentences Bingo.
HOW VERY SURPRISING

Shannath, looking smug: “It seems the tables have turned. Now, if you’d all be so kind as to take a step back.”

Shannath: “Try anything funny, and His Royal Prepubescence dies.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:24 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Forgot to mention this room actually is the Temple of Winds BTW. But nobody’s calling it that yet I guess? Continuity issues would be just fine if the timeframe wasn’t so... small. Oh well, we’ll see.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:29 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

[Cw: illustrated blood]
Cartoon villain intensifies.
Rambari rushes in, somehow gets run through with the sword, but gets back up anyway.
Not the order I expected things to happen in but not surprising, sorry Gibari, hope that won’t traumatize you or anything

Shannath: “Actually, let’s just skip that part, since there’s no reason to keep him alive, really.”

Shannath, getting rushed by Rambari: “What?”

Gibari, after Rambari collapses: “Pop!!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:33 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

[Cw: illustrated blood]
Shannath pulls out a gun and shoots Rambari A Lot. Like, A LOT. “Makes Ayme look reasonable” a lot.
Aaaand Celsica starts doing a particle effect oh no I was really hoping to be wrong there

Rambari, dying: “The Knights... of Diadem... never back... off!!”

Celsica, distraught, surrounded by a purple cloud: “No! Sir Rambari!! Uh, nooo!!!”

Celsica, turning into a large black cloud: “NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:42 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

It’s another giant monster. Shannath and Nasca are... almost blasé to a frankly disturbing degree.

Shannath: “Drrr, why now?! Even Malpercio should know there’s a time and a place.”

Nasca: “All I have to do is kill it, right?”

Shannath: “That’s right. Do what you do best.”

Shannath: “Valara, Heughes! We’re leaving!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:45 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

The machina arma does its thing, let’s ignore that ‘Kahn is definitely in the firing line AND in the blast radius and should be very dead.
Monster dies, Sagi screams, here we go again?

The monster swallowed by a huge pink explosion.

Milly: “Oh, no! Don’t tell me, Sagi... Not now!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:47 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Here we go again. Nice of Ven to be a convenient reminder of what we were doing.

Sagi, eyes closed: “Ready...? What am I getting ready for again?”

Ven: “Did you forget we’re going to see Wiseman?”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:49 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Guillo being wise? Something’s definitely very wrong.
Celsica’s not just in trouble, she’s mega-dead as far as we can tell.

Sagi: “Dammit! Celsica’s in trouble! I have to go back!!”

Guillo: “Calm yourself, Sagi. When we go back is out of our control.”

Guillo: “As long as we’re here, we’ll just have to let matters run their course.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:50 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Also that kid definitely has a tail

Sagi facing a child who definitely has a cat-like orange tail.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:11 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Strategy meeting or thinly disguised lore dump? Who can tell

Thoran: “You’re serious, then? You really want to go straight to Wiseman?”

Seph: “Yes. The world is finished if we don’t. This “promagnation” plan of his is insane.”

Pieda: “It’s true. He’s even turning the essence of people into magnus.”

Thoran: “It was fine when we were just changing objects to magnus. Even I thought that was pretty useful.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:13 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

File this one under “I KNOW WRITERS WHO USE SUBTEXT AND THEY’RE ALL COWARDS”

Thoran: “But what kind of fool treats a human being the same as an object!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:15 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

And right back to headache-inducing unclear lore trickle.

Seph: “People rely too much on their hearts.”

Thoran: “Tell me about it. All they think about is making their hearts stronger.”

Seph: “That’s because with a strong enough heart, you can wield magic, soar through the air—anything you [...]”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:17 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

This, right here, makes very little sense right now but feels like a looooot is going to hinge on it. Especially with the nature (hearts, Spirit) vs machine stuff going on in current time.

Pieda: “And once that power has ahold of you, you start doing terrible things.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:19 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

I was worried this was gearing up for a fat joke about food but no! It’s simple and lovely.
This Wiseman clearly needs to take Consent And Bodily Autonomy 101.

Ven: “How am I going to hold someone’s hand without my body?”

Seph: “We have to make Wiseman see that. We have to put an end to promagnation.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:24 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Our crew is about as confused as we-the-player are. Yay.
I wonder how this lands if you haven’t played EW? Because EW’s plot ends up insisting SO MUCH on how being turned into magnus makes living creatures come back... wrong.

Milly: “Hey... They kept talking about “promagnation”—what does that mean?”

Milly: “There’s no way anyone from our world could turn a living creature into magnus.”

Guillo: “But you saw it yourself when we first came here. The people with hearts but no bodies.”

Milly: “So what we saw there was the essence of people—their magnus?”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:26 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Relevant EW lore dump this way:

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:38 PM · Dec 07, 2020 Go

We first get reminders of what we learned in Alfard: Georg and Larikush were colleagues, born in Azha, recruited to make military stuff like the Iron Beetles and Battleship Goldoba we’ve been destroying.
We then to straight into... core worldbuilding concepts, WOO.

Larikush: “We were recruited by the Empire around twenty years ago, and began working on military research.”

Larikush: “But there was also another project we were assigned to, one that was kept strictly confidential.”

Larikush: “What you know today as the Magna Essence is a technology originally established ages ago by the [cont]”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:28 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

I think I’d missed that one last time. Not a fish? A WHALE, maybe?

Inspection text: “This painting depicts a creature leaping out of the water.”

Milly: “It’s... not a fish. I wonder what it’s called.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:31 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

... Seph is mega-dead isn’t he

Quis: “Be careful, Seph. Don’t do anything foolish.”

Thoran: “No one’s going to do anything crazy with you and Seph’s wedding coming up.”

Seph: “Sorry... I won’t do anything foolish, Quis.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:32 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Thoran is also mega-dead

Girl: “Thoran! Bring us back presents! Promise!”

Thoran: “I promise! Just wait and see what I dig up! You be good now.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:34 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Everyone leaves, and... world map! Exciting. It labels it “Unknown Land” when saving so that’s not helpful.

The party leaving with their “friends” from the other world.

Unknown Land map, focused on West Cujam.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:37 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Hey there’s a new area let’s go explor-
(The caretaker does not let us pass at all)

Unknown Land map, focused on The Matar Highlands.

Caretaker of Matar: “The [red text] heartfall rain [end red text] of the highlands is said to melt the hearts of unwary travelers.”

Caretaker of Matar: “Monsters are on the prowl as well. I strongly recommend you turn back.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:39 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

Heartfall rain? What’s wrong with the ra- ah. After less than a second Sagi shows signs of exhaustion like when you dash too long, and after a bit he collapses, the screen goes white and the caretaker gets us back up.
... Does Guillo even have a heart?

Sagi on the ground, the screen fading to white.

Caretaker of Matar: “That was a close one. If I hasn’t been making the rounds, you all would have died.”

Caretaker of Matar: “I have to keep watch around here because of folks like you. Stop being foolish and go home, son.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:41 PM · Aug 14, 2021 Permalink

And after a quick peek in the Sandfeeder’s nest to get some nice-smelling sand back to a kid in Naos whose clothes stink due to the endless rain, we wrap up for the day.
Next time... mostly revisiting the Unknown Land areas to check, then Cujam? We’ll see!