a couple more screenshots!
Dragonborn have to half-squat for most photomode kissing poses, so i thought it'd be cute to make some height-difference friendly poses haha
So, I'm in the Underdark and exploring one of my favorite zones in the game: Lenore de Hurst's tower. It's so beautiful and so full of grief and exploration is so richly rewarded and the design is so thoughtful...
But what I noticed on my umpteenth playthrough is how Lenore could very well have been writing about the whole plot of the game (warning: heavy Durgetash tinfoil conspiracy below the cut).
The first piece of literature that you come across once you enter the tower is Evil's Ascent. You only that it's titled as such if you interact with it. Otherwise, it's just a dusty book.
This the only poem you can recite to Bernard, the arcane automaton at the top of the tower, that's not written by Lenore. If you do recite it to Bernard, it triggers immediate combat. My theory is Lenore's own play that we come across in the higher floors of the tower is her response to Evil's Ascent. She may have not been too fond of it, thus why she basically uses it as an aggro trigger for Bernard. In fact, its description all but states that it is a story that overstates its importance.
Thematically, this is the most obvious telling of the Absolute plot. The Dead Three plan to snuff "the light of every living thing" by turning them into mind flayer. They also plan on eventually betraying each other "so that one can thrive." Clearly, this is Evil's Ascent.
But with further exploration, we see Lenore sets out to write a different story. Her drafts and attempts of it are scattered throughout the tower.
We find the full play in her bedroom titled The Roads to Darkness.
Three friends on the roads to darkness — the Dead Three Chosen.
Soreth can be read as either the Dark Urge or Orin. But they fit more in the play with the Dark Urge who lost their memory, as they are asked, "what do I know of you? And you of me?" Their teeth are "sharp as blades" — a direct indication of the Dark Urge, the only character who heals from eating humanoid flesh and a canonical cannibal.
Soreth is further cemented as the Bhaalist and Rysia the Banite when Soreth tells them to approach "out of love for me, not love for blood and steel." The mention of steel connects Rysia to Gortash.
The leaves Amphius as Ketheric who has eyes "black as Shar" and is "pale as death."
Another interesting detail is Act 1 beginning precisely ten years before the Prologue. Orin's Manifesto where she vows to serve Bhaal is dated ten years ago. According to Murder in Baldur's Gate, Bhaal's return was also ten years ago.
This is the most complete version of Lenore's play, but we also see its earlier and abandoned drafts scattered throughout the tower. The first one we discover as a threadbare book.
If you recite these lines to Bernard, this is his response:
He then gives you a ring which gives you access to the tower's basement and its most powerful items.
Metaphorically, this is demonstrating that trust and vulnerability is necessary to one oneself and find strength — a theme that is present in all the origin characters' storylines.
Another draft we see is on a note next to the Githyanki disk that allows you to decipher the Tir'su cipher.
If you recite these lines to Bernard, this is his response:
He stops talking in iambic and finally calls you by name instead of a title: Lenore, a name associated with a lover lost too soon. The play-acting is stopped and both actors allow themselves to be real, if only just for this moment to give comfort. In this moment, you are Lenore.
A fascinating detail is that note says "hands" instead of "hand," indicating that they're talking to multiple people. I interpret this mirroring the player character waking up alone and vulnerable, and finding guidance and comfort through their companions.
Of course, there's also the durgetash interpretation where these are lines of Soreth talking to Rysia and them finding comfort in each other for the briefest of moments in their roads to darkness.
You find Bernard's head given to Gortash by Ketheric in Act 3 with a note saying that "it's clearly the kind of clockwork jiggery-pokery you enjoy." All Ketheric's other missives to Gortash are either warning him or threatening, so I assume sending the automaton head also doubles as a sort of threat.
On the topic of durgetash, there's also this last piece of parchment found next to Bernard and surrounded by pieces of broken machinery.
Gortash being an inventor. Gortash keeping a scrapbook of letters between him and the Dark Urge. Gortash having a garment that makes him immune to fear because he's "never been that brave." A small poem without a name for a person without a name...maybe?
Bernard gives you a greater healing potion for reciting these lines, which could mean nothing.
Recommending @stygiusfic new fic about Durge regenerating into a lizard after his death -> wind back the touch of death - stygius - Baldur's Gate (Video Games) [Archive of Our Own]
It's so funny ! ToT
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