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Post by Oneiros on Jan 18, 2018 8:49:36 GMT
OR: "From the ashes"It seems Melanie was able to find Jude Perry after all, though the Archivist might wish she had remained a story element... Lovely work as we see into the mindset of an acolyte of Desolation, and learn her story of self-improvement. Lots of juicy information and a very delightfully disconcerting performance from Ms Perry's VA. A dense episode for back references too, as we hear tell more of Agnes Montague and get a potential lead on Michael Crew. So, what new red string connections do we have for the corkboard? And where does the Archivist go next, because for all his determination, he still sounds a bit lost... P.S. Please spare a thought for the editors, who had to listen to that final scream over and over and over again to get the tone right 
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Post by hyoscyamus on Jan 18, 2018 10:03:00 GMT
Ouch, our Archivist still makes bad decisions. The starting bit made me laugh too, but it seems she was quite right with her comparison. I wonder how much is burned, "just" the hand or more? Wanting knowledge even though it (literally) will get one's fingers burned is another good indication why he was chosen as the Archivist, though.
Very intriguing episode and performance from everyone! *hands over some virtual tea and cookies for the editors* XD
I also wonder whether he really doesn't realize that he's already feeding Beholding the whole time? Or did he just want confirmation? And, as others in the Patreon comments mentioned, that he can compel people to give information is neat. Reminds me of what Melanie said: "He's awful, but at least he listens." Even though she really disliked him she came back for statements and information.
The insight into the Lightless Flame/Devastation lot is interesting as well. A very good depiction and analogy for glorified base destruction for destruction's sake.
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Post by archangel1313 on Jan 18, 2018 10:57:13 GMT
What happens when Tzeentch and Khorne cultists go to the park
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urchin
Right Honourable Poster
Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.
Posts: 52
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Post by urchin on Jan 18, 2018 15:25:55 GMT
I love how everything is getting tightly connected. Jude Perry explained the events of Burnt Offering (ep 37). I wonder if she has one of the bodies that was being made in Uncanny Valley (ep 87)? She was there burning down the forest, at least. The name Orsinov came up again, as it did in Uncanny Valley. I believe we first heard it in the post-statement notes of Strange Music (ep 24). Strange Music obviously connects closely to Uncanny Valley for both dolls and the calliope, but what is Orsinov's place in it?
We now know that the different beings sometimes collaborate with each other, which is going to make sorting out motives a lot harder. We have confirmation that Elias is aiding Jonathan in some sense, but that doesn't mean they're both serving beholding. Though it's circumstantial, it's worth noting that in The Eyewitnesses (ep 82), Elias gives Daisy's statement, he doesn't compel her to give it. Jonathan has previously compelled a statement from her, so she's not immune. It's not conclusive, but I think it's a point in favor of Elias's motives being something other than serving Beholding. Maybe he's in with The Stranger, or at least he's in favor of whatever The Unknowing ritual is? Gertrude did talk about that ritual in her recording of Uncanny Valley, which was less than a month and a half before Elias murdered her. Not conclusive, but my current best guess.
Oh yeah, also, what was Agnes Montague's place in everything? Everything related to Hilltop Road is still full of unknowns.
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Post by danae149 on Jan 18, 2018 20:12:01 GMT
My days of questioning Jonathan Sims' survival instincts are certainly coming to a middle. How in the world is he going to explain having a badly burnt hand to Georgie? Great episode, though. June was the perfect mix of awful and intriguing.
Interesting to hear that Michael Crew and Michael aren't one and the same, too. It'll be interesting to see where that conversation goes! (Please, Jon, wear rubber soled shoes or something.)
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Post by hyoscyamus on Jan 18, 2018 23:59:15 GMT
We now know that the different beings sometimes collaborate with each other, which is going to make sorting out motives a lot harder. We have confirmation that Elias is aiding Jonathan in some sense, but that doesn't mean they're both serving beholding. Though it's circumstantial, it's worth noting that in The Eyewitnesses (ep 82), Elias gives Daisy's statement, he doesn't compel her to give it. Jonathan has previously compelled a statement from her, so she's not immune. It's not conclusive, but I think it's a point in favor of Elias's motives being something other than serving Beholding. Maybe he's in with The Stranger, or at least he's in favor of whatever The Unknowing ritual is? Gertrude did talk about that ritual in her recording of Uncanny Valley, which was less than a month and a half before Elias murdered her. Not conclusive, but my current best guess. We continue to follow different leads.  I really like seeing what you make of the clues! It'll be very interesting to hear what is up. (Maybe we're both completely off track. XD) I still think that Elias is able to "see" such intimate and hidden knowledge of a person is an indicator for Beholding's powers only. He's not the Archivist, though, so whatever his title and position is doesn't necessarily warrant the same powers. But I think since he's far more inaugurated his power is more far reaching. Maybe Jon could do the same would he follow Beholding in earnest. Like in video games: Archivist Level 1 = +10 Listening, +20 Stubborn, +20 Curiosity, -30 Survival Instinct --> Archivist Level 2 = +10 Listening, Compel Information --> Archivist Level ? = See secrets of people Leitner did say that Gertrude and him were planning to burn down the Archive. And Gertrude had cut every eye out of any pictures and book covers in her home. Also the hidden library in Alexandria from #53 Crusader was presumably destroyed a few month after Walter Heller gave his statement and Gertrude urged him not to tell anyone else what he was doing there or what he told her. I presumed Gertrude destroyed the old archive and whatever the being in it was. As previously said, all of this makes it very clear to me that Gertrude was against Beholding as well as against other entities. And this together with an active plan to destroy the Archive is a more than good reason for Elias to kill her without being in league with any other power. Leitner also sought a certain file with information about the Unknowing and said to Elias that he should especially wish to foil the plans of the Stranger, to which Elias replied that they will (just obviously without Leitner's help). This also speaks more for wanting to battle the Stranger and it's emissaries. And a good opportunity to throw Jon at the enemy for EXP. XD But who knows?  Gertrude speculated that the being in the library may have been another Archivist. And in #23 Schwartzwald we hear that the children played by going down the stairs to Johann's tomb until they were "seen". The mother of one of them was killed by something the men raiding the tomb never spoke of. It sounds to me like there was another being like the one in the library of Alexandria. So are these beings summoned or made guardians of Beholding, similar to servants of other powers like the NotThem! or the Angler-fish, or are they old Archivists that stay in their Archive to guard it? I wonder what Jon could become if he chose to serve for real? So far it still can go either way, questioning to go against everything like Gertrude did or deciding to be a servant. (Also as said before, I'd be kinda in favour of the latter, but...) My guess is that Agnes was becoming a servant of the Lightless Flame very early and started the fire that killed her father. The box under the tree in the backyard seems to be a source for Agnes power, that's why she died after the content was destroyed. What I don't get is why there were Spiders coming out of the Apple. Just like the Tooth-Apple from the Anatomy teacher these don't quite fit yet. But Jude Perry is evidently much older than she looks and like all Devastation worshipers she can mold her face/body like warm wax. Or at least everything that was destroyed when they burned themselves. So Agnes did the same and this is why her age seemingly didn't add up. Perry is an interesting character, but her motivations and that of her fellow servants is, for all the fervour she exhibits, quite shallow in my eyes. It's fitting that they are like living candles, setting things aflame so as not to burn out themselves. Agreed so much! XD Oh, also an interesting question - I expect Jon to go to a hospital after this. Is he still insured? If yes that's a clear sign he's still employed by the Institute and part of the crew. On behalf of the ones in charge at least. Would also be fun to hear Georgie's reaction and the sure to follow berating. XD On another more or less unrelated note, Beholding reminds me of Hermaeus Mora from TES.   Would most likely be extremely funny to hear Jon's reaction to something like that. XD |
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Post by Mister Donkey on Jan 19, 2018 6:39:34 GMT
I thought the burried box was part of the table, which belonged to the Web. The Web and the Lightless Flame are fighting. When the box was burried it stopped some aspect of the Web. When the box was dug up that aspect was freed. Then Agnes maybe had to sacrifice hersel to stop the Web again?
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Post by hyoscyamus on Jan 19, 2018 20:03:13 GMT
I thought the burried box was part of the table, which belonged to the Web. The Web and the Lightless Flame are fighting. When the box was burried it stopped some aspect of the Web. When the box was dug up that aspect was freed. Then Agnes maybe had to sacrifice hersel to stop the Web again? Ah, a part of the table? I need to relisten to the episodes. Thank you, I forgot about the part when she was going away with her fellow worshipers to the ritual before her death. |
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Post by Oneiros on Jan 23, 2018 11:20:13 GMT
Oh, also an interesting question - I expect Jon to go to a hospital after this. Is he still insured? If yes that's a clear sign he's still employed by the Institute and part of the crew. On behalf of the ones in charge at least. Would also be fun to hear Georgie's reaction and the sure to follow berating. XD On this, just a point that this is set in the UK - you don't get health insurance (unless it's for private healthcare) from your employment, we have 'free' healthcare under the NHS. So John would be able to get emergency treatment without necessarily having to be employed by anyone or produce insurance documentation for verification. |
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Post by hyoscyamus on Jan 23, 2018 20:00:53 GMT
Oh, also an interesting question - I expect Jon to go to a hospital after this. Is he still insured? If yes that's a clear sign he's still employed by the Institute and part of the crew. On behalf of the ones in charge at least. Would also be fun to hear Georgie's reaction and the sure to follow berating. XD On this, just a point that this is set in the UK - you don't get health insurance (unless it's for private healthcare) from your employment, we have 'free' healthcare under the NHS. So John would be able to get emergency treatment without necessarily having to be employed by anyone or produce insurance documentation for verification. Oooh, thanks for the info! I thought healthcare in the UK was kinda similar to Germany, but it's quite different (the emergency treatment sound s better in the UK). Clear research fail due to lazy on my part. But he will also need money sooner or later. And I doubt he will mooch everything off of Georgie, so he might need to somehow access his bank account sometime soon. I guess? If there's added paycheck funds despite time away or lack thereof then that would be confirmation. And before I forget to say it again, I really like how both RQG and MA include non-binary characters and non-heteronormative relationships (as it should be, but sadly still isn't often enough in both RL and fiction). Also something I forgot to mention in my excitement before - hearing a bit of the caustic tone of our Archivist from the beginning when confronted with mockery was awesome! And that he can't really bite back sarcastic quips in time even in the face of enemies. That's probably what Basira found to be so funny about him (I certainly do). Combined with his still awkward stumbling around for answers he reminds me a bit of a cute puppy who tries (and fails) to look intimidating.  Will be very interesting to see the "puppy" all grown-up, full of amassed battle-scars and dangerous. At least I hope that's what will happen. |
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Post by hyoscyamus on Jan 30, 2018 7:06:16 GMT
So, um, I had more thoughts sneaking their way into my brain about two of the subjects discussed earlier. 1.) What if the monster-eye-beings guarding the Archives are made from people who tried to get away from Beholding's grasp? I mean, the more I think about it, staying to guard an Archive even after it's abandoned seems more like a punishment. Of course the powers are all horrors and don't care (maybe don't even understand) how awful the fates they inflict on their victims are, but still. What if Tim continues to try to get away and instead of being killed by Elias for being unfaithful/useless to Beholding he's made into one of these things to guard the Archive forever? 2.) Since the Archivist can compel people to give him answers, this power is really handy for other jobs. "Oh, hi, mister suspect relative, please tell me about the cruel axe murder that happened! Did you do it?" -A long, detailed confession later - "See, detective Daisy, I'm really much more useful alive! Please don't kill me and bury my mutilated corpse somewhere!" °A° |
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I really like seeing what you make of the clues! It'll be very interesting to hear what is up. (Maybe we're both completely off track. XD)
