Lia's BK tweets archive - 2020-11-18, cont: Corellia's Palace

Lia @liareplaysbk · 03:49 PM · Nov 19, 2020 Permalink

Let’s catch up with the last bit from yesterday! SO MUCH TALKING.
On dragonback, we head back to Anuénué where all* the (utterly unelected) world leaders have assembled.
*Rodolfo from Sadal Suud comes up later.

Corellia: “I’m relieved to see you safe and sound, Xelha.”

Xelha: “I failed, Your Highness... I failed you all...”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 03:52 PM · Nov 19, 2020 Permalink

I don’t like this bit! It makes sense on first go, because Xelha is then not responsible as far as we know.
But once we know that she KNEW exactly what Kalas was planning, well... It’s not her fault, it’s his, but she could probably have stopped it all.

Ladekahn: “Don’t talk like that, Xelha. You did all you could.”

Calbren: “You did more than anyone else could have...”

Corellia: “What happened out there is not your fault. You shouldn’t feel guilty for what happened.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 03:55 PM · Nov 19, 2020 Permalink

We regain control to talk to everyone separately.
It’s neat and awfully convenient that this sets up both a crisis situation and a justification for no visible change in most locations. There is no war in Ba Sing Se.

Guard: “Many of my comrades have died in combat outside the safe protection of these walls.”

Guard: “Should we let our citizens know the truth? Is it right for us to keep the citizens in the dark as to what is [cont]”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 03:57 PM · Nov 19, 2020 Permalink

JRPGs at large, especially old ones, have to be very good at suggesting scale - of crises, of towns - while having extremely limited means to show it.
I personally prefer contrivances like this that let my brain fill in the gaps to shoddy attempts at large environments.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 04:01 PM · Nov 19, 2020 Permalink

This is a better approach to expressions of guilt!
Rather than plain dismissal, “we don’t have time right now” is much more pragmatic and grounded.
Calbren is also quite directly responsible due to Lore Reasons so he’s not wrong to blame himself some.

Calbren: “I never imaged that my Mélodia, of all people, would have such horrible ambitions...”

Calbren: “I know of no apology befitting such an oversight, yet I ask your forgiveness.”

Corellia: “Now is not the time for lament and regret.”

Corellia: “We will have plenty of time for mourning and reflection, should we survive, and prevail...”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 04:02 PM · Nov 19, 2020 Permalink

Lore Reasons are related to this. Calbren saved her life when she was ill... by using the End Magnus, which messed up a thing of two.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:42 PM · Nov 09, 2020 Go

Another breadcrumb: Mélodia’s parents succumbed to illness years ago, and she only narrowly made it. This will turn out to be VERY important.

Random NPC: “Lady Melodia has become such a healthy young girl, that it’s hard to believe she had a near-fatal illness.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 04:05 PM · Nov 19, 2020 Permalink

BUT WHAT IF WE JUST TALK THE BONKERS MURDEROUS CULTIST OUT OF BEING EVIL THO
(Not gonna work, we’ll have to break her toy for good before we have a vague shot at getting through)

Ladekahn: “The Queen’s words ring true. We must join forces, and resolve this crisis as soon as possible.”

Ladekahn: “We have no time for feelings of guilt, Duke Calbren!”

Calbren: “... I understand. I must get Mélodia to realize the destructive consequences of her actions.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 04:08 PM · Nov 19, 2020 Permalink

Bunch more updates: the Empire has been thoroughly taken over, there are clusters of demons everywhere, but the good guys are managing because getting the early warning out did do some good. Hurray.

Ladekahn: “Mélodia and her men seem to have brought the Imperial capital, Mintaka, under their control.”

Ladekahn: “Minions of the darkness have poured into our world through a dimensional vortex. They’re only [cont]”

Ladekah: “[cont] attacking us in small groups, but causing havoc nonetheless.”

Ladekahn: “Luckily our ample defensive preparation has kept the damage to a minimum.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 04:11 PM · Nov 19, 2020 Permalink

The three witches are the ones who were waiting for Xelha in the fortress, which isn’t necessarily super clear at this point.
Rodolfo is assumed to be hiding. Can’t recall if we find him if we go back there, we’ll see.

Ladekahn: “The three witches have been helping us counter as well.”

Ladekahn: “Lord Rodolfo of Sadal Suud has holed himself up in his mansion, in a state of panic, no doubt...”

Corellia: “Which is understandable, in a way, given the circumstances...”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 04:15 PM · Nov 19, 2020 Permalink

But things aren’t as bad as they could be!
(The inhabitants of Mintaka might disagree, what’s left of them)
The things are somehow STILL not fully unsealed and we have time yet to avoid the worst. Yay?

Corellia: “Most likely because the seal on the End Magnus have not been completely removed.”

Corellia: “The End Magnus contain the power of five ancient gods. Releasing this power is not an easy task.”

Ladekahn: “We must act immediately. For soon Malpercio will be fully awake, and his minions in Cor Hydrae Castle [cont]”

Ladekahn: “[cont] may launch a full-fledged attack.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 04:17 PM · Nov 19, 2020 Permalink

Oh, right, THAT silly plot point.
I couldn’t recall why the rest of the party was locked up and not dead, IIRC that’s it. They’ve somehow gotten strong enough to serve as seal-busting power batteries or something.

Corellia: “Still... I wonder how Mélodia intends to release the End Magnus...”

Corellia: “She would need powers rivaling those sealed within.”

Corellia: “Who in the world would have that kind of power?”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 04:21 PM · Nov 19, 2020 Permalink

Main quest pointer: interdimensional cracks that Imperial ships were seen close to, so probably where everyone is.
I give this contrived / 10.
The goal here is to push you to revisit all the islands, obviously.

Corellia: “The appearance of the Cor Hydrae has created small Interdimensional Cracks - five in all - near each [cont]”

Corellia: “We have received sightings of ships from Mintaka heading for each of the cracks.”

Corellia: “Your friends were likely taken on board those ships, and are probably held in or around the cracks.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 04:24 PM · Nov 19, 2020 Permalink

No help available, but we have the magical player-spirit with us, so it’ll be fiiiiiine.
Also we apparently have power rivaling the gods’ now, surely we don’t need any of those guards just standing in the throne room all day.

Corellia: “Xelha... regretfully we cannot spare any troops to aid you in the rescue. I wish it was otherwise...”

Xelha: “I understand, Your Highness. I’ll be fine.”

Ladekahn: “By yourself? Are you sure, Xelha?”

Xelha: “I am, Your Majesty. My Guardian Spirit will accompany me.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 04:26 PM · Nov 19, 2020 Permalink

And so the next section begin: we’re getting free travel, a million minor chores to do, and four interdimensional cracks to go yank people out of.
There’s an intended order, which I’ll try and reverse for funsies and character preferences.
See you later for the first bit of that.