Can we just take a moment to appreciate the genius design decision of having Corvo's health potions be the literal elixirs that prevent the rat plague?
It takes what could've been a simple gameplay mechanic that nobody would've thought twice about and grounds it in the world and the lore. It explains why Corvo is never at risk of contracting the plague, despite coming in closer contact with it than the vast majority of people - he's chugging these things multiple times a day. It also explains why random people would keep these things stashed everywhere - it's not just loot for you, the player, to be rewarded with, it's their actual supply of life-saving medicine.
And when you think about it that way, it makes every moment you casually snatch an elixir from someone's nightstand a little more impactful. You're not just topping up on health potions, you're literally stealing the only method by which people can be kept safe from the plague. In low chaos, you'll end up not needing most of the ones you come across by the end of the game, because you'll be staying out of combat. But in high chaos, you'll be taking them a lot more. Which means less elixir to go around, and therefore, more people dead from the plague.
I used to think that the increase in weepers in high chaos was mainly down to Corvo leaving more dead bodies lying around. But I think that this is an even more potent explanation. Because of course going around and hoovering up all the elixir in the city would have consequences. And who are the people who have the least access to elixir to begin with, from whom stealing it would take the greatest toll? The poor, obviously. Who you most often see becoming weepers. What a game.
tangentwithtanner
ellievsbear
discoholicmusic
theartofmadeline
turnnoffyourmind
origamiaround
areudirty
pixelskylines
kianamaiart
gracieabrams
