Here I'll go through each page as the Skills point out interesting details, though I'll skip the front cover; it's simply an edited version of the one in-game.
Encyclopedia [Medium: Success]: However, I will point out that the cover depicts King Frissel I — the last suzerain of Revachol — as dead, having sprouted antlers. Frissel was deposed and executed by communists, whose symbol is a pair of antlers and a star...the dots connect themselves.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Perception [Easy: Success]: The illustration used is concept art of the fishermen's shacks, to the west of Martinaise.
Empathy [Medium: Success]: Above the shacks, you see the word 'Méncompetent' — a cheeky pun from the designers. Now it's a Table of "Discontents" — no doubt in reference to their discontent with the state of the world. Or the lack of funding from their readerbase.
Conceptualization [Challenging: Success]: You recognize the names Exilus Bücher and Nasteb Encalada-Bernal, the pen names of those two university communards that meet above the Capeside Apartments, but the others seem to be even more fictional. The mononym "Dobrevardo" stands out, though...
Logic [Medium: Success]: ...didn't Call Me Mañana tell you something about Dobreva and Abadanaiz? Interesting.
EDITOR'S NOTE
Perception [Medium: Failure]: The image behind them is of the headless FALN rider, a plastic rendition similar to the statue by the lorry drivers. It's unclear how this urban legend connects to their plea for funding.
Electrochemistry [Easy: Failure]: It looks cool, man! That's what communism is all about: Looking cool.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
Inland Empire [Easy: Success]: The black letters are echoes from another world; the Dutch Anarchy magazine number 066, 1996. They have been flipped, cut, and edited to suit a broader purpose; they are not there for you to read them.
Encyclopedia [Medium: Success]: The article titles are real, though, plucked straight from Elysium. Uncle Sport refers to Sapormat 'Sport' Knezhinisky, president of the SRV. Despite rumors of Samaran news all being propaganda, their president's near-pathological obsession with physical fitness means he probably did wrestle a bear or two.
KUNST UND KULTUR: ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Logic [Trivial: Success]: C.S. obviously stands for Cindy the Skull, if her face being obscured by a skull and the red paint weren't enough clues.
Perception [Formidable: Success]: It's hard to spot, but behind the interview text you can just make out the words of her most recent piece, Un jour je serai de retour prés de toi ('51, red-dyed fuel oil on concrete). And are those radiocomputers above the radio play reviews? How appropriate.
Encyclopedia [Medium: Success]: "Comrades at the Table" is a clear reference to the radio roleplaying show, "Friends at the Table". Instead of tuning in to participate in the game like Fortress Accident, listeners would instead passively tune in to an ongoing roleplaying campaign played by the show's hosts.
Conceptualization [Challenging: Success]: The other two are pure fiction, though they play on radio show name conventions. One could argue that "Vespertine Oranjese" is an oblique reference to "Orange is the New Black", but it's nothing more than a half-coincidence. Probably.
KUNST UND KULTUR: TIPTOP TOURNÉE
Perception [Easy: Success]: This slick-looking page depicts a motor carriage having knocked over a communist figurine from its pile. The designer clearly took pride in its conception.
Empathy [Trivial: Success]: They're proud of the whole thing, brother!
Encyclopedia [Medium: Success]: You recognize the phrase "cultivating plasm" — Steban and Ulixes must be referencing Ignus Nilsen's theories on Infra-Materialism. Plasm is described as a politicized energy that could be harnessed in a variety of increasingly fantastical ways; you're unsure what its cultivation would mean for a popular car race.
LOCAL CONCERNS
Endurance [Easy: Success]: It's almost over. You can feel it.
Composure [Challenging: Success]: Thank god.
Logic [Medium: Success]: It says the aerial shot of the dockworker's strike was taken by Evrart Claire? Clearly a fabrication designed to uphold the man's benevolent facade. No wonder you found it in the secretariat's couch on the way to his office.
Conceptualization [Easy: Success]: To reiterate, though: This replication of La Fumée has absolutely everything described in-game. Its length has been reduced for ease of printing and the creator's sanity, and a few details like subheaders and authors have been added for perceived authenticity, but it is scarily accurate. Everything described has been preserved in the transfer from Elysium to Earth.
Volition [Formidable: Success]: This is shockingly thorough for a costume that will be seen hundreds of times, and recognized five or six. This was made not for attention, but out of a deep love for the work that inspired it.
Empathy [Challenging: Success]: Or perhaps a deep love for communism?
Electrochemistry [Easy: Success]: You only see this kind of acute hyperfocus in something so trivial from fat cats with ADHD, or yourself after finding that bottle of Speed Saint-Batiste PREPTIDE and throwing back a couple pills. Your throat feels dry.
BACK COVER
Encyclopedia [Easy: Success]: Two symbols are featured on this back cover: The insignia of a star and antlers, and dried may bells, both of which became synonymous with communism during the Turn-of-the-Century Revolution of '02.
Shivers [Formidable: Success]: I used to be @shenaniglenn. I still am. The pockets of me that are strewn about the city remain, but they've remained quiet for years now. A young boy peers down into a storm drain, transfixed as the water collects and swirls outward. Where are you going, young ocean, and may I join in?
Half-Light [Easy: Success]: This is too much. Pack it up. Got to go.
Drama [Challenging: Failure]: Sire, dost thy loyal readers deserve not a performance for thine toil?
Half-Light [Trivial: Success]: OUT.
[Thank you for reading. If you skipped to the end, thank you for skipping to the end.]
Just gonna reiterate that I‘m active on my sideblog, jona3d.
You will find (debatably) good posts from me there!
I'm also on twitter. I don't post often there either, really I never post anything, but I'm still doing art and making movies and whatnot. I would never leave tumblr in full. Cheers ily
Bea would like to issue a statement that, on the matter of her previous husbands’ untimely deaths, she was cleared of all suspicion and she really wishes everyone would just drop it jeez ugh can’t they all see she’s in mourning
Thank you to @shenaniglenn and @homocryfromthedarkness for the questions!!
gummygunk
stormborns
pixelskylines
turnnoffyourmind
