Lia's BK tweets archive - 2022-10-30: Duhr, so much flavor text

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:30 PM · Oct 29, 2022 Permalink

There’s a switch to winter time so I’ve got an extra hour tonight, let’s go peek at Duhr before I have to disappear for three weeks again.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:08 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Milly provides exposition, Guillo is rude and shuts her down, so far so normal

Milly: “The Taintclouds! I learned about them at school. They’re a toxic cloud formation made up of […]”

Milly: “Take a look down there! They’re churning so much you can’t even see the other side!”

Guillo: “Your squawking is creating more turbulence than those clouds!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:10 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

The Sfida can just go through the clouds because it’s SO ZOOMY. Better than jumping down I guess?

Sagi: “With the Sifda’s engines, we should be able to push right through!”

The Sfida descending through the Taintclouds.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:17 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Nice to get confirmation about that, I suppose

Milly: “…Strange, it feels like it ought to be hard to breathe. But it’s not—the air’s cleaner than I expected.”

Guillo: “It’s been a thousand years since the War of the Gods. Most of the toxin must be gone.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:21 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Children of the Earth who are also literal children are around, and… oh no not Krumly again / already

Duhr Girl: “There’s a weird puppet with them, too.”

Duhr Boy: “Very suspicious! We’d better go tell Chief Krumly!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:25 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Milly and the Sfida attendant both heavily hint that there must be a village nearby, but also the pilot just wants to leave? Poor guy dragged into every last bit of this nonsense

Sfida Attendant: “I noticed a number of lights nearby while we were landing.”

Sfida Attendant: “Between those, and the children we saw, there must be a village around here somewhere.”

Sfida Attendant: “Are you ready to head out?”
Dialog choice: “Yes, we’re all set” vs “No, not yet”

Sfida Attendant: “W-We’re not leaving?!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:33 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

There’s a lot more of this in this game. The kids are visible on the map, then disappear into the village: less stuff left unsaid.
The village is of course good ol’ Algorab still looking gloomy.

Milly, pointing at the two Children of the Earth also visible on the Duhr map screen: “Look, see over there?”

Sagi, after the children have disappeared: “That must be where they live. Let’s go check it out.”

A mostly-grey village looking like it was hewn from stone and heavily decorated, but with no brightness to it. Title card: “Algorab, the Neglectful Village.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:34 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

The rest tomorrow because there were so very many food facts. So many. This’ll take a while.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 07:58 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Krumly is clearly panicking and trying to pretend nothing is weird. And he recognizes Guillo so hey, we’re in the right place to get some answers!

Duhr Boy: “Ah, Chief Krumly, there they are! Those strangers we told you about.”

Krumly: “That puppet… Impossible! But what else could it be…”

Krumly: “Everyone, there’s nothing to see! Nothing at all! Back to your homes.”

Duhr Boy: “What do you mean, “nothing to see”? Look at them. They’re totally weird!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:00 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

I love that it works though. Aaaah, kids.

Krumly: “These are, uhmm, guests. Yes, guests of mine. They’ve come to see Algorab.”

Duhr Girl: “Whaaaat? You mean you know them? That’s boring.”

Krumly: “Yes, very boring. Now you heard me, everyone! Back to your homes!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:01 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Sagi that was what is known as “a lie”

Sagi: “What was that all about? I don’t think we’ve met before, sir.”

Krumly: “I’ll explain later. Right now you need to come to my house. You’ll only create a scene out here in the open!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:04 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

And we get the local name for what Guillo is: “godcraft”, not supposed to talk.
Krumly’s voicework is really solid, selling the “nope, not discussing this here, oh god this is a lot” angle super well.

Guillo: “I suppose so. Look, those brats from before are still staring at us.”

Krumly: “This… this godcraft can talk?!”

Krumly: “Oh—nothing, never mind. Please, follow me.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:14 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Kamroh, huh? That also rings a bell

Guillo: “So what you’re telling us is that there’s another puppet here that looks like me?”

Krumly: “That’s right. Our leader, the Great Kamroh, has it under safekeeping.”

Krumly: “Yes, and when your puppet—we call them godcrafts—began to talk, I was even more startled!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:20 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Context for people who haven’t played EW - such as our characters, really

Krumly: “The Great Kamroh is the inheritor of all the wisdom and history of the Children of the Earth. I’m sure he […]”

Krumly: “He lives in Gemma, a village to the west. It’s not far at all. I could even go with you if you’d like.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:26 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Suuuuuure that’ll go great

Krumly: “I’d like to avoid any unnecessary panic.”

Krumly: “We Children of the Earth have not seen People of the Sky for nearly two hundred years.”

Krumly: “We’ll tell the villagers that you’re good friends of mine—and, of course, Children of the Earth, like […]”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:27 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

How very convenient! I’d argue Guillo stands out a lot more but sure. Also how “mostly” is “mostly”

Milly: “But we’re not wearing any masks! The dingbat puppet may look right at home, but not us.”

Krumly: “Don’t worry about the masks. The miasma from the war is a thing of the past.”

Krumly: “The air is mostly unaffected now. We only wear the masks as adornments.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:33 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

And now for a metric fuckton of flavor text. Is that the same book as in EW…?

Inspection text: ““The Ideal Elder, 1st Edition”. So reads the title of a book whose pages show the wear from […]”

Inspection text: “[…] countless readings.”

Guillo: “Either the reader is a diligent study or a neurotic loon. It’s hard to tell.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:33 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

It is not!

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:09 AM · Dec 02, 2020 Go

Item descriptions as dunks on characters, illustrated example:

Inspection text: “A book catches your eye... “The Ideal Village Mayor - Revised by Krumly”

Inspection text: “Looks like a self-sponsored publication.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:42 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Have I mentioned food facts

Inspection text: “Urns sealed with heavy, hard cloth have been lined up here.”

Inspection text: “A sign on one reads “Legendary Sauce: Must Be Sealed Ten Years.””

Inspection text: ““Gemma Soy”, “Algorab Sauce”, “Duhr Vinegar””

Inspection text: “It seems they’re all used on meat, and quite heavily at that.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:44 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

So many food facts

Villager: “I just got a nice-looking clucker in, so I thought I’d make a stew, but I’m out of bouillon…”

Inspection text: “Maybe I’ll just sauté it up in wine instead.”

Inspection text: “Some white, rectangular food you’ve never seen before is bubbling at it simmers.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:45 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

But also bed facts!
(Expect unfortunate crossover with food facts)

Inspection text: “An extra-firm mattress has been set atop the stone bed frame. It must do wonders for one’s posture.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:50 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

And magic facts

Villager 1: “I hear the People of the Sky have wings, but most can’t use magic at all.”

Villager 1: “I wish I’d been born up in the land of blue skies. They wouldn’t care that I’m bad at spawning fires.”

Villager 2: “The days when the Children of the Earth all possessed amazing magical powers are long gone.”

Villager 2: “Mine is only powerful enough to help out with cooking… Pretty sad, huh?”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:02 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Aaaah so that’s why we should be secretive. Sets up the events of EW, too.

Villager: “These days, more and more kids in the village are fixated on the sky.”

Villager: “You aren’t wearing masks, so people got their hopes up that you’d come from the sky.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:06 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

… except

Villager: “Hey, you three really came from the sky, right? I’m actually from Komo Mai myself.”

Villager: “Call it a sense of adventure or a love of traditional cultures or what have you.”

Villager: “So long as you’ve got a mask on, everyone is really nice. Ha ha, I’m glad I came, really.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:08 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

I really like how this thing defuses the canon it sets up near-instantly every time.
Also: water facts! Does that count as food facts?

Inspection text: “This must be the village water supply. It smells as if they’ve used chemicals to purify dirty water…”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:31 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Put a pin in that one.

Villager: “The rice will be ready in a bit. Today, we’re having boiled eggs and a mushroom quiche.”

Villager: “Hmm? Don’t worry, I’m not just using any old mushrooms I find lying around.”

Villager: “A friend of mine in Gemma gave me some the other day.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:33 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

And in that one. Food facts, meet bed facts.

Villager: “Why am I fussing with the bedding?”

Villager: “As a Child of the Earth, you should know. If it stays damp, mushrooms start to grow. It’s awful.”

Villager: “Maybe those lazy bums in Gemma let their beds get taken over by mushrooms, but not us.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:35 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Bunch more food facts. Considering that the villager in the other house was talking about cooking clucker, makes sense some are around.

Inspection text: “The veggies and beans abounding in this dish are smaller than those found above the Taintclouds.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:37 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Hey I’ve been looking for that quest magnus!

Villager: “Ugh, how come we have to live under the stupid Taintclouds?”

Villager: “They say that up beyond them the sky is blue, with white clouds! It’s so frustrating!!”

Textbox: “Obtained the magna essence [blue text] Extreme Stress [end blue text]!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:40 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

The implication here is that “not handmade” is a thing that exists in this universe. Is Alfard drowning the Sky in mediocre factory-made plates or something?

Inspection text: “This china cabinet holds an entire family’s worth of dishes comfortably. It seems most of them […]”

Inspection text: “Undyed, freshly woven cloth lies rolled up and stored here. The material is like nothing you’ve ever […]”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:44 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

More food facts, with bonus party reactions

Inspection text: “The counter is piled high with ridiculously large vegetables.”

Sagi: “I think we saw really big vegetables like this a thousand years ago… Didn’t we?”

Inspection text: “A thick brown soup with a unique bouquet bubbles gently as it cooks.”

Milly: “This is my first time seeing the real thing in person. It looks pretty tasty!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:11 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

And more… lots of veggies preservation going on. Is the mud from Capella, I wonder?

Inspection text: “These vegetables are being pickled in what smells like fetid mud.”

Sagi: “They’re starting to turn brown in there… Is that supposed to happen?”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:12 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Kids being kids

Child 1: “I’m MALPERCIO! I’m gonna eat yooou! Mwa ha ha!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:14 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

More food facts feat fetch quest. I guess yogurt can kick off fermentation…?

Inspection text: “This wine is a milky white color. The scent is an intoxicating blend of sweet and tart aromas.”

Brewmaster: “I’m making the latest batch of cloudy wine, but I’m short on ingredients.”

Brewmaster: “If only I had some [blue text] pow milk yogurt [end blue text]… But I can’t afford it. Pows are rare in these parts.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:16 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

A change of… tune, and some music facts. What would Duhr’s traditional instrument be, I wonder?

Inspection text: “Musical scores written in a strange format litter the area.”

Inspection text: “They appear to be songs written for this region’s traditional instrument.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:19 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Baten Kaitos continues to not believe in marriage as an institution, the kid perched above them snarks about bickering spouses.

Villager 1: “That was ultrapure super-duper Duhr mineral water! And you used it to wash your hair?!”

Villager 2: “If it’s that precious, don’t just leave it lying around!! And how did you buy that stuff?!”

Villager 2: “You’ve been squirrelling [sic] money away on the side! I thought we decided to cut down on expenses!!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:21 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

The shop has a million upgrade options (RIP my money actually, Guillo we need to return your mug), and this weapon for Milly that looks an awful lot like a rolling pin.

Purchase Magnus screen, focused on the Golden Cudgel: “This cudgel captivates onlookers, holding them rapt with its golden color overflowing with elegance. Its merciless coldness is apparent to any who answer the urge to touch it.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:23 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

A brief peek at Sedna since we have new parts. There are pows now! And more Very Subtle Hints

Sedna, a town clearly made of modeling clay. There is now a pow next to what looks like a dog house.

Sedna villager: “It would be nice to have a pier to go with this pond. Hey, you. Go get one for me.”

Sedna villager: “Just scour the islands, look [red text] beneath the Taintclouds [end red text], and you’re bound to find one”.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:25 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Next village!
The Neglectful / Observant dichotomy isn’t that obvious, because the flavor text here is mostly food again.

A colorful village of tiered terraces. Title card: “Gemma, the Observant Village”.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:26 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

At long last, an explanation for why powerful wizards never touch the ground

Villager: “Hmm? Hey mister, how come you’re not floating?”

Villager: “My mom said that having your feet on the ground weakens your magic.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:29 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

I STILL HATE THIS SIDEQUEST

Frightened Girl: “Wh-whoa, there! I just felt a hideous chill! What was it? What could it be?”

Frightened Girl: “But I’ve run this far! There’s no way he’ll come after me, there’s no need to worry…!”

Frightened Girl: “I can’t possibly be hearing a [blue text] heartbreaking song [end blue text] of his here…!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:31 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

There’s already a teleporter, but apparently it’s early in development and suboptimal.

Villager: “But whyyy? They’re making those magic warp devices or whatever, but…”

Villager: “For some reason, there are always weight restrictions! This isn’t supposed to be a dig against […]”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:33 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Look! It’s making exactly one kid happy and everyone else sad! Fix it, wizards!

Child 1, sitting dejectedly: “Aww, man! I want to zip-zip and just disappear, too!”

Child 1: “Why can’t I? Am I really that heavy? This is such a bummer…”

Child 2, running around: “It’s amazing! Amazing!! You can travel in a split second! And it feels great!”

Child 2: “But it only works on lightweight people! Right now, I’m the only one who can use it!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:44 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Oh so NOW we’re stealing from people, Sagi

Inspection text: “A nice ka-CHING resounded after rattling these drawers around a bit.”

Textbox: “You got [blue text] 5000G [end blue text]!”

Inspection text: “It appears that sound was a one-time occurence…”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:45 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Bed facts with bonus Sagi facts

Inspection text: “The upper bed is enclosed with a few strands of flimsy rope.”

Sagi: “A person could just fall right out like this. Isn’t that crazy, Milly?”

Milly: “Not all of us toss and turn and flop around in bed like you do, you know.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:47 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

And the promised crossover of bed facts and food facts! Yaaaay!

Inspection text: “Peeling back a corner of the flattened mattress reveals a whole bevy of mushrooms growing […]”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:48 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Some more food facts

Inspection text: “Some kind of spice-bearing, bright red fruit has been placed in here.”

Inspection text: “These vegetables have been preserved in salt.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:49 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

How do you KNOW that anyway, is it labeled?

Inspection text: “This water is used to rinse off one’s mask after being outdoors.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:51 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

The bed mushrooms are of course a key component of the local delicacy

Villager 1, sitting at the table: “Sniiiff! Snooork! This stringent smell is indescribable! It helps the liquor go […]”

Villager 2, also sitting at the table: “Mmm-mm! So tasty! Good old Gemma mushroom soup is the best!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:54 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Yeah. Let’s go with that.

Villager 3, sitting at the table: “Hmm? What is it? You want to know how this soup is made?”

Sagi: “Uhh, I think dread wins out over curiosity for me on this one…”

Sagi: “Maybe it’s best for everyone if we don’t ask.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:54 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

AGREED

Villager standing to the side: “It’s the local specialty, but I just can’t bring myself to eat that soup…”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:56 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Sorry, that sounds like the main quest, we’ve got more urgent things to do

Villager: “Krumly ran over to the Great Kamroh’s manor all in a huff…”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:57 AM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

I believe this was also the mask-maker’s house in EW. Some things don’t change!

Inspection text: “These diagrams are blueprints for masks. Most of the papers here have yellowed with age.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:00 PM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

We’ve ran into at least two villagers and three kids who are on to us, which is about 25% of the population. So sneaky.
Kay, you say? With a rather familiar language quirk? (Note the nametag)

Girl: “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anybody that you all really came down here in that shiny ship.”

Girl: “Nothing gets by the Amazing Kay. I saw you getting out of the shiny ship!”

The Amazing Kay: “But really, don’t worry. I never blab.”

The Amazing Kay: “Wuh-oh! I forgot, the Amazing Kay is on cleanup duty! See you around.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:02 PM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

YUP KNEW IT

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:58 PM · Nov 30, 2020 Go

Note the nametag. Delightful.
(I’m pretty sure Mizuti reverts right back once we’re out of sight)

Kay: “Mizuti! How many times do I have to tell you?”

Kay: “A truly great person would never show off his importance.”

Mizuti: “...Gotcha. Point has been taken.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:05 PM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

The LAST food facts, featuring Guillo being rude

Inspection text: “A generous supply of bean-like things are stored here.”

Villager sitting at the table: “Hmm? Are you are Krumly’s friends? Will you be having a bite to eat while you’re here?”

Textbox: “Obtained the magna essence [blue text] Stewed Mud Potatoes [end blue text]!”

Quest Magnus screen, focused on Stewed Mud Potatoes: “One of the Children of the Earth’s “fancier” dishes, made by dumping freshly unearthed potatoes in a pot. Crass, pass off as class. One of Guillo’s favorites. “Wench, this reminds me of you.””

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:08 PM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Now that I think about it… the food seems more lavish in Algorab? Is that what’s being referred to here, hm.
It’ll certainly be a problem in a couple decades

Villager, sitting at the table: “The Algorab villagers’ lifestyle makes it seem as though they take their duty as Children of the Earth […]”

Villager: “It’s an unsettling trend. I just hope it’s rectified before it becomes a bigger problem…”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:10 PM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Let’s see, there was an adventure book in that spot in EW too…

Sagi: “It’s a story about adventuring through the sky with wings of the heart. That’s pretty nifty.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:15 PM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Unsure I’ve got a screenshot of that specifically but there was a thing yes, well done brain

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:50 PM · Dec 09, 2020 Go

I went UUUURGH when she mentioned an adventure novel, because that Quest Magnus was all the way in Gemma Village. But luckily there’s now another one in the building.

School Principal: “I know it. You don’t have to speak. You’re after the Book of Magic mentioned in Anuénué’s legends.”

School Principal: “If you want to borrow it, bring me the adventure novel that I was in the middle of reading.”

Inspection text: “Mixed among student watercolor paintings and charcoal drawings, you find an adventure novel.”

School Principal: “Ah, that’s it! That’s exactly the adventure novel I was reading!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:16 PM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

I GUESS

Sagi, looking at a sleeping villager: “They even wear their masks to bed, huh?”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:19 PM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Whichever answer we give to the Mask Artisan, it’s met with “of course you want one! I’ll trade it for booze”.
There’d better be a way to get that stuff that isn’t magnus mixing

Mask Artisan: “How? What, now? You want a mask, do you?”

Sagi: “Well, Lia? Do we want a mask?”
Dialog choice: “I want one!” vs “No thanks”

Mask Artisan: “Whaaat, you don’t need one?! Don’t give me that! You were totally staring at them!”

Mask Artisan: “Booze, booze, booze! I want some [blue text] mountain apple wine [end blue text]! I’ll give you a mask for some!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:20 PM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

Village leaders / plot: There has been no contact between our lands in ages. This is a major worldbuilding point.
Villagers: Hey so can you get me that highly local booze that can only come from upstairs? I really love the stuff, we’ve clearly got trade routes and immigrants

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:23 PM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

This whole thing also got me a new mix recipe, Paramour’s Secret plus Mother-in-Law’s Secret, yielding “Treasure Lowdown”. Sure, I guess, Pac can eat that

Mix Recipes screen, focused on Treasure Lowdown: “Nobody knows what kind of “treasure”—but please, is that going to stop you from wanting it? Bearers of this secret knowledge are sure to receive more spoils in battle.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:24 PM · Oct 30, 2022 Permalink

And the reason that’s now in there is because since there’s a million new upgrade things available, I ended my session with a bunch of fetch quests, mixing and upgrading. I foresee another 2h of that when I’m back at that computer in three weeks.
Plot? What plot? Next time!