Noxalas!

[schneefink]

Perhaps ironically, it was people mentioning their gaming history on a Hades podcast that made me interested in trying out other games, and then I remembered that I already have Pyre from that gaming bundle in the summer, so I started it. Only took me three days and I loved it. It's gorgeous! And has interesting characters and such good tropes, found family and sacrifice and all that good stuff. The magical basketball was also fun. (Small complaint, could have been more queer. At least they fixed that in their next game. And I ignored most of the background mythology.)


Day 1:
I started playing on easy mode, because why not, I'm not here for the technical challenge. So I won all of the first rites! The first exile to be sent home was Rukey (because I felt it had to be one of him, Hedwyn, or Jodariel, and I didn't want the latter two to leave yet.)
In the second liberation rite, which was meant to send Jodariel home, we faced the Essence and Tamitha, and I had Pamitha as part of the triumvirate. During the fight Pamitha wished for her sister to win, so I had her play deliberately badly to make that happen. First loss, but totally worth it, story-wise. So soon after they talked and Jodariel finally agreed to conduct a rite together with Pamitha, Pamitha destroys a chance for her to return! (Not completely on purpose, but she definitely could have done better.) The Reader knows, but Jodariel and the others don't. Delicious.
I really like Volfred's plan, btw. Not just freedom for individuals, but actual dismantling of the unjust system, very nice.
The art is gorgeous. The blackwagon! <3
And all the bits and pieces of worldbuilding, like Jodariel's horns etc., beautiful.

Day 2:
Jodariel finally went home! I miss her but she deserved it.
And we met Oralech, exciting. Very curious where that storyline will go.
Next Liberation Rite I nominated Ti'zo, because I haven't unlocked Shae's backstory yet, Pamitha didn't deserve it, I didn't want Hedwyn to leave yet (sorry Hedwyn), and the others weren't worthy. But we lost :( Second ever loss, boo. Against Manley Tinderstauf, ugh. And that was right after we found out that the stars are disappearing and our chances are limited. I loved the chance to do an inspirational speech btw.
And I think this was the first time there wasn't a break of several months and instead the next Rites started immediately – no wonder everyone is getting tired.
So then after that I finally decided to practice more with Sandra and do all the Scribe Trials I can. I'm also getting used to Volfred and Bertrude. Our latest rite was against Udmildhe, invoking Yslach, and thankfully we won. Next attempt I'm definitely nominating Hedwyn; after that we'll see how many more chances we'll have.
My favorite subplot is the Lone Minstrel and Celeste, very few interactions but still.

Day 3:
Äaskdfjsd
Played to the end. That was beautiful.
Hedwyn was liberated next, though he felt very conflicted about leaving his friends behind. Then Shae, fittingly in a contest against the Fate. She wondered if the Scribes still had more to do for her Downside but the Reader thought maybe the Scribes had things for her to do in the Commonwealth, for Volfred's Plan.
And then for the final Liberation Rite, which we won again, I had nominated Pamitha, who could have gone but told the Reader to go instead, and I told Oralech to go and so he did. I have so many feelings about these five minutes alone, the Reader anointing Pamitha so she can find out what more there is for her, Pamitha deciding to let the Reader go instead and then the Reader not even taking that opportunity (because she'd already made peace with having to stay Downside) but instead giving it to their opponent, I wonder how Pamitha felt about that.
And before that there was that beautiful moment when Volfred and Oralech faced each other in the final Liberation Rite where Oralech asked Volfred to concede, and Volfred asked if Oralech would follow their plan and Oralech said no so Volfred denied him – what if Oralech had said yes, would Volfred have stopped fighting or even supported him? How would the others have reacted to that?
(Third fighter in the final Rite was Bertrude, btw. To the end I wasn't that good at team play but those three did do okay together.)
And before the final Rite, Sandra asking the Reader to take the Crystal with her! Soo much great relationship potential there.
I loved all the epilogues too. Next play-through I definitely want Tamitha and Pamitha to end up in the same place to see if there's a chance of reconciliation (I wonder if there would have even been an attack if Tamitha hadn't returned.) And the reason why I didn't anoint Volfred for the last Rite was because I thought he was needed more Downside, and from the epilogue it seems I was right, that was nice.

I both want another play-through to discover all the other outcomes immediately, and keep this one in mind a bit longer, choices. Instead of starting a new game I played a few rites in versus mode, that was fun too. (And one Pyre ritual takes much less time than one Hades run.)

I wanted to read all the fic next, but I remembered that there were more games in that bundle and got distracted playing "A Short Hike," which is very nice so far and doesn't require much thought, which was perfect after a long day at the office. I too want to have a vacation and just wander around on a mountain/island all day, but alas. (I will have a vacation week in February! I'm not planning to do anything except sleep and read and play and cook and maybe bake and write, I'm so looking forward to it.)

Comments

[dhampyresa]

There's a Hades podcast? Interesting.

I hope you get to have a great vacation!

[schneefink]

More than one, afaik! I listened to Hidden Aspects.

Thanks, I'm optimistic :)

[dhampyresa]

There really are podcasts for everything. The world is amazing :')