VN Ren'Py Eternum [v0.9.4] [Caribdis]

[Cherubin25]

It's implied by Cari on Discord that taking the Founder's artifact will lead to a bad ending in the future.

Ok, so there is no bad ending for it yet. The way it was worded it sounded like there is already a Bad Ending which happens way after the respective choice.
(But then again, I think this is a very obvious choice)

 

[Ashira13]

Could you tell me? With a Spoiler of course.

I use a Walkthrough for Eternum anyway. I also watch the wrong scenes and IMO most choices are super easy, but some might be a bit cryptic.

don't remember all of them, but if you choose the any other gift than the necklace to Annie in your first visit to Eternum. Annie will die and lose her level in the Andromeda server.

 

[Mutation8888]

It's implied by Cari on Discord that taking the Founder's artifact will lead to a bad ending in the future.

I would think it would actually be an artifact the Founder uses to control others at opportune moments.

 

[Dorfnutter]

Yeah, I figured that. I think so much more could have been done with it though. Missed opportunities in storytelling. I have no doubt there will be something interesting in store either way though.

Feels like it would invalidate the open-ended nature of the Collector whodunit if he made the artifact a mandatory story item tho. At least that was the vibe I was getting from Cari's posts about the matter.

 

[Mutation8888]

Feels like it would invalidate the open-ended nature of the Collector whodunit if he made the artifact a mandatory story item tho. At least that was the vibe I was getting from Cari's posts about the matter.

Possibly. The artifact just seemed like it would be far more useful as a plot device than a sex toy.

 

[Finuee]

Could also be prescience/future sight territory since the Syndicate - like Idriel - seems to be associated with Limbo, and we know from Idriel's infodump that that place is disconnected from the normal flow of time so it makes sense why they may have knowledge of both the inevitable and the preventable (though due to being disconnected from normal time their actions may not have any lasting effects hence why they need people like Orion to make said lasting choices).

Edit: Also future sight and prophecy lines up with the whole Greek myth theming of the entire story so far, what with their stories basically being about people trying to fight against prophecy and shit (and mostly failing).

That is very true, and it might very well be that. But there was some lines by the syndicate guy similar to "this time around" or something like that, if I recall correctly. And somebody else (I'll be damned of I remember who) also mentioned something similar in this update. That's what made me think of circular time. Which would also align with some Greek philosophers, too.

 

[Finuee]

Yep, quite possible. Or due to choices that the MC makes, a set of events will occur that he may not like, leading him to make other choices he also may not like. Hearkens back to what The Founder was asking him about whether he would sacrifice innocents for his loved ones and how that is considered helping others...

That's true. Would still be compatible with both Dorfnutter's theory of prescience and mine of circular time, though.

 

[Finuee]

I had noticed a lot of Greek terminology and names, such as the nymph Calypso, a name indicating "to keep hidden," from an island called Ogygia who trapped Odysseus for seven years. Also Orion, The Hunter. Also, connections with Alex's fascination with constellations, of which many are named after Greek figures.

There's also the fact that the dev's chosen nick is Caribdis, yet another Greek mythology reference.

I also have a bit of a theory regarding the sacrifice of innocents or loved ones that The Founder indicated. The MC has Polyjuice potion and a Xerox artifact. I get the feeling that someone is going to use the Polyjuice potion to appear as Calypso or Calypso to appear as someone else to hide her (to keep hidden), and the Xerox Artifact will be used to sacrifice someone without actually sacrificing them for real. This would fulfill the entire change of expected events that Idriel keeps bringing up as a coin toss that always comes up heads until the MC states tails for instance. It would be hilarious for Calypso to be captured again only to wind up not actually being the real Calypso while the real Calypso is hidden as someone else and at the MC's side.

It would be interesting if the thing that was "different this time around" were to be the poly juice potion hehe...

 

[Cherubin25]

don't remember all of them, but if you choose the any other gift than the necklace to Annie in your first visit to Eternum. Annie will die and lose her level in the Andromeda server.

Does this lead to a Bad End? Aka the game is over or you lose a path? If not, I would not really count that as significant.

 

[Mutation8888]

There's also the fact that the dev's chosen nick is Caribdis, yet another Greek mythology reference.


It would be interesting if the thing that was "different this time around" were to be the poly juice potion hehe...

I had noticed that the developer chose Caribdis, the sea monster/whirlpool that destroys everything in it's wake.

Interesting that the name Idriel as an Elvish name is often a masculine name. In other uses, it can be a female name and is often equated to one who seeks change.

 

[Dorfnutter]

That is very true, and it might very well be that. But there was some lines by the syndicate guy similar to "this time around" or something like that, if I recall correctly. And somebody else (I'll be damned of I remember who) also mentioned something similar in this update. That's what made me think of circular time. Which would also align with some Greek philosophers, too.

You're probably thinking of Idriel's glass talk, which to me sounded more like her observance on the inevitability of change in a system despite seemingly beginning with the same parameters, and not a damning reveal of the universe being timelocked in some sort of groundhog day scenario (something which I am not really a fan of because that would imply that Orion is just THAT dumb for not having a sense of deja vu throughout the whole story and that the Syndicate is just as dumb for letting the loop continue for far too long). Something something Battlestar Galactica something something Head Six's Law of Averages something.

Personally I find that amusing considering that she seems surprised Orion really went off rails with that alley incident back in 0.7, despite goading him prior to that to defy fate. Really makes the theory that there are two Idriels (one controlled by the Founder, the other the real one on Limbo) running around sound less farfetched (tho I personally don't subscribe to that theory and just think that Idriel is simply just mentally far off the deep end due to being trapped in Limbo for gods know how long and she simply couldn't talk properly anymore because she's in perpetual Oracle mode).

 

[Leinad_Sevla]

Given Orion's recently newfound resolve in being loyal to the LIs and that this arc would be better used to get even closer to Caly instead, I sure as hope that Cari wouldn't waste that on getting Orion's dick wet with some no-name maids who may or may not turn into Thanny shish kebab later on.

I have a feeling that Lorelei will be more important to the plot and the MC. For Calypso to even mention her name and then for her to show up at the end of last episode foreshadows at least something interesting happening with her. I could see Lorelei's father and his guards having a fight with Thanatos and the MC helping them. That may well be a turning point keeping the MC from getting his neck stretched as well as earning brownie points with Lorelei and Calypso. I actually predict that the MC will have a sporadic interdimensional teleportation as he is trying to save Calypso and Lorelei. Would be interesting to see what transpires with the three of them temporarily stranded in a random place until they figure out how to transport themselves back to a recognizable area.

You´re probably right, and Cari shouldn´t waste a lot of time making a scene outside of the current love interests. I still see a chance that Callypso will get a scene, with or without those elven maids.
As for the story around the Elven Kingdom, I feel like we´re going to see a big development of lore about this unexplored part of Eternum. Callypso has told us a few things during our trip to the Wild West server, but now that the MC is actually there, Cari could go all out on the lore dump. We could very well spend half of the update in the Elven Realm.

 

[Finuee]

You're probably thinking of Idriel's glass talk, which to me sounded more like her observance on the inevitability of change in a system despite seemingly beginning with the same parameters, and not a damning reveal of the universe being timelocked in some sort of groundhog day scenario (something which I am not really a fan of because that would imply that Orion is just THAT dumb for not having a sense of deja vu throughout the whole story and that the Syndicate is just as dumb for letting the loop continue for far too long). Something something Battlestar Galactica something something Head Six's Law of Averages something.

Personally I find that amusing considering that she seems surprised Orion really went off rails with that alley incident back in 0.7, despite goading him prior to that to defy fate. Really makes the theory that there are two Idriels (one controlled by the Founder, the other the real one on Limbo) running around sound less farfetched (tho I personally don't subscribe to that theory and just think that Idriel is simply just mentally far off the deep end due to being trapped in Limbo for gods know how long and she simply couldn't talk properly anymore because she's in perpetual Oracle mode).

I was thinking less of groundhog day and more of Empedocles' theory of time being cyclical. I think it was Empedocles, though I could be mistaking him for some other philosopher. I'm any case, if it's the whole of time being cyclical, they're wouldn't be reason for a deja vu. But that theory is not a hill I'm willing to die on, just a thought that is probably wrong. If it was indeed Idriel (and I don't doubt you for one moment), then that makes the comment extremely unreliable.

 

[DoomsDay4]

This game is a masterpiece, it's my first VN, and can't wait for the next update. Don't even want to try another VN,
I don't see how it could match this level of writing and quality.

 

[The_Man_With_No_Name]

I was thinking less of groundhog day and more of Empedocles' theory of time being cyclical. I think it was Empedocles, though I could be mistaking him for some other philosopher. I'm any case, if it's the whole of time being cyclical, they're wouldn't be reason for a deja vu. But that theory is not a hill I'm willing to die on, just a thought that is probably wrong. If it was indeed Idriel (and I don't doubt you for one moment), then that makes the comment extremely unreliable.

The closest thing I remember about the syndicate referencing events that are to come is the girl who hands Orion the letter saying it must be opened not now but later for things to go right.

The letter in question containing a chant from esoterica to break mind control. Sort of lends credibility to the thought that Idriel and her supporters trying to seed certain variables at certain times so things go just right.

I am curious on the nature of the voice speaking in Orion's head telling him something to the effect of "you have to remember, don't believe his lies" when offered The Amulet of Blair

 

[The_Man_With_No_Name]

Personally I find that amusing considering that she seems surprised Orion really went off rails with that alley incident back in 0.7, despite goading him prior to that to defy fate.

Probably more a case of her thinking "No not like that!"

She still needs him healthy.

 

[Leinad_Sevla]

Yeah, about that...

View attachment 4661780

So the artifact won´t affect the story ending? I think I kept mine.

 

[Dorfnutter]

So the artifact won´t affect the story ending? I think I kept mine.

Note that he's referring to the duplicator from the Collector whodunit event, and not the Amulet of Blair that the Founder offers.

 

[PhlebasThePhoenician]

Ripples is similar in some minor ways but think more "Back to the Future" vibes. I was pleasantly surprised when I finally tried it after I played Eternum. I was also looking for something worthy after Eternum.

It's incredible how Ripples' author reaches outstanding levels in rendering and animations using the old and relatively unsofisticated HS1 tool.

 

[Mutation8888]

It's incredible how Ripples' author reaches outstanding levels in rendering and animations using the old and relatively unsofisticated HS1 tool.

Very true.