Part 23: 15.B: Loyalty - Part 3
Gfy
: Finally!
: Something else catches your notice in the sky, this time… strange new stars shimmering about the ones you recognize.
: …The Greater Titans have returned.: Some of them… and merely in spirit, not in form, but… those dark stars are a portentous sign. Though they may light your way, beware the path which they illuminate, Reader.
: Going forward, from here until the end of the game, we’ll have the option to ‘invite the influence of the Titan Stars.’ I mentioned this way back in the very first update that we’ll be dealing with these eventually.: Supergiant Games have always incorporated a system in their gameplay to increase the challenge of the standard gameplay, and in exchange, giving the player goodies – typically just experience. In Bastion, it was Idols; in Transistor, it was Limiters; and here, it’s constellations.: If you’re watching along in the videos I upload with the updates, you may have noticed that I have the tendency to kind of steamroll the competition (with the exception of Sandra that one time). Even on the Heightened difficulty, Pyre isn’t exactly the most demanding of games if you know what you’re doing. So, of course I’m going to be using all of the Titan Stars as they come available to me. A story isn’t very relatable or entertaining if the protagonists don’t experience any obstacles in their journey, after all!: So, let’s see what we’re currently working with.
: As you can see, their effects vary from constellation to constellation, and the reward that we get for completing a Rite with them active is similarly balanced. Arizech gives us an additional 3% more Enlightenment if we prevail, whereas Yslach’s challenge is considerably more intense and gives us an additional 10%.: Also, can I just point out – way back when we first heard of Yslach, against Udmildhe and the Withdrawn, I compared it to Lavos from Chrono Trigger.
: I can’t be the only one to see this resemblance, can I?: In any case.
: Bring it on, fuckers.
: The winged exiles of the Essence take position opposite your own companions, and their leader soon asserts herself.
: Pamitha! Come forth. No trickery this time.: She appears as asked, though remains silent as her blood-sister studies her for a time. Tamitha then reaches for her mask.
: …You look weary to me, Sister.
: …Oh? Too little sleep, I guess. I do get rather anxious sometimes, on the night before one of these things. It can be a lot of pressure.
: Understandable.
: Soon enough, Pamitha cuts through the tension, her tone light as ever.
: So, given further thought to my proposal, then…?: what: …I have.: …And…?: …And, I think that now is not the time for talk. Besides… your comrades there, surely you give them pause. Even now, they must be questioning your loyalty.: why would I do that Pam: Pam
: What…? But, I…: Oh, cut it with the stammering, Pamitha. It is very unbecoming, you know that. And you be sure to tell those comrades of yours what you proposed to me.: She dons her mask once more. As she rejoin the other exiles of the Essence, Pamitha hesitates before returning to your group.
: You did what?!: That I would keep her up-to-date about our progress, and that she could take my place, if ever it was time for me to go.: You’re spying on us?! And you’re trying to sabotage us!: But you don’t have to worry. For one thing, she refused. And, for another… well… I’d better tell you later. For now, remember, you can count on me.
: Well, fuck me sideways.: It’s time for another vote on who to bring into our next Rite, this time against Tamitha and the Essence. Our options this time are Hedwyn, Rukey, Mae, Ti’zo, and Sir Gilman.: And Pamitha.: We’re going to do the voting a little differently this time: rather than making it first to five, we’re instead having the vote last 24 hours. Hopefully, this way, the vote won’t be left at the mercy of the night owls, and the people that only pop in during a certain hour of the day will have an opportunity to cast their vote.: Remember, though: you can choose any three of our available players, and the order you vote for them matters!