Part I. Phantom and Crimson Solitaire but the part where Dr. Eve is reading where the mission is situated + history + collectibles
Instead of Dr. Pinkie being the actual loremaster that I expected given their superiority in everything that ever happens with the game, I have reclaimed the role (at least when it comes to IS2) and that includes all my assumptions about whatever has happened and is happening in it.
First of all, while re-reading the previous post I made about Shalem and Phantom, I realized that, wait a minute, where the hell is this even situated?
Apparently, Gaul. Which I have been able to understand is basically France, but gone because they were too sassy. Something of that sort. My understanding before versus now.
Second of all, it's not Gaul itself, the place we stumble into is a castle in Calais-Blason. That is a part of Gaul formally, now it is a part of Northwestern Victoria. After the war nothing was left of it because of devastation and because all the people either fled or died.
Phantom was told by the Crimson Troupe that he was born in Calais-Blason and was taken by the Troupe after a flood Catastrophe swept through the area.
We don't really know if that's true or not though.
Then there is a description as we enter the loading screen of the castle that states:
A castle hidden within the woods constructed under the auspices of a Gaulish noble who perished in the war a few years after its completion, leaving it derelict. But a mysterious group has been calling it home recently...
I'm about to eventually figure out who the noble is and we know that the mysterious group is The Troupe. Their 'Blood Diamond' is Phantom and during some investigating of his memories, he was attracted my goodness knows what machinations to re-visit his old home. Our job is to, you won't believe it,
Gaul's story in general is as straightfoward as it can be based on the Wiki. It was an empire ruled by a family of Liberi located between Victoria, Ursus, and Leithanien. Gaul was so influential that its grand nomadic capital, Lingones, was nicknamed the "Capital of Terra".
Gaul was primarily known for its expansionism, and it reached its peak during the reign of its last Emperor, Corsica I, following the implementation of the "Second Economic Reform Act," a new codex that drastically strengthened Gaul's military.
No surprise there, since Corsica I came to lord over the country because of his military prowess and the rewards he's gained over the years of serving. He was putting all of his military power into expansionism when demand had grown more than what the land's riches could produce. Like any time in history, he thought that it's time to knock on their neighbours' doors and tell them their time is up.
Big mistake. What kind of professional, a military veteran looks at this man and in return says 'I can take him'. Like any monarch, outraged by the Gaul's proposition to become a vassal state, the Witch King refuted by turning all Gallic envoys in Leithanien into lifeless statues. That's how we ended up with the Gallo-Leithanian War.
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Pinkie: "I'm starting to believe you didn't read the story of Lingering Echoes."
Me: "Which... I didn't."
Pinkie: "There you go!"
Me: *Appalled*
Pinkie: "We will pick up the pieces left during Zwillingstürme Herbst."
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That wasn't enough. Gaul also attempted to invade Victoria – which almost resulted in a complete defeat and annihilation of the latter, forcing Victoria to give up its northwestern colony that would later become Columbia.
In 1053, Victoria, under the leadership of King Frederick III, formed a coalition with Leithanien and Ursus to oppose Gaul, leading to the Battle of the Four Emperors. The war ends with Gaul's total annihilation, Lingones (the Capital) is wiped off the map, and the victors taking over Gaul's former territory.
The fall of Gaul is often considered the most tragic event in Terra's history. During its time, Gaulish culture was considered influential, but are now slowly fading to obscurity. Some collectors sought to preserve Galic relics while bakers and wineries tried to replicate the original Gaulish formula, but the latter are unable to match the original. With their homeland lost, many Gauls were scattered across Terra, and their nobilities were forced to serve the victors. Still, there are some Gallic restorationists who attempted to steal Gallic relics on display in museums in order to rally the surviving Gauls and bring the empire back to life.
Which leaves a lot of questions for where the current Victorian storyline is going to go, because I think most of the land and the people now consider themselves victorians. Granted, their descent remains marked, so here's a list of Gaulish people.
... Clément.............
To note before I go reading the collectables, here's the most metal thing I have ever seen being done in Arknights so far.
The Last Empress-Consort of Gaul: The wife of Corsica I, also known as the Natator. She chose to stay in the Gaulish imperial palace upon hearing the news of Corsica I's death and killed the invading enemies in a suicide attack by plunging an Originium shard into her body.
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Pinkie: "So can we assume all catboys are Victorian?"
Me: "Uh-- Well, I think so?"
Pinkie: "Because, we already know all Perro are from Bolívar, and Ursus is a thing."
Me: "Yeah, sounds the part actually. Officially, all Felines are Victorian."
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Collectables I found cool, so i want you to know.
Banshee's Kiss
Outsiders make extraordinary displays of bravery that far surpass their normal abilities. However, as one of the few male Banshees out there, this has become a far too common sight to Logos.
You could lie to me and tell me that belongs to Logos and I will believe you. I don't understand a lick of what this signifies though. Maybe it is connected to death, maybe it is connected to music, or to the fact this is a relic of the Death Cult (The Troupe).
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Actor's Jewelery Box
A box containing all kinds of shattered jewelries. The young lead actress wore these jewelries and stepped onto the stage, in the end falling from its highest point.
Absolutely terrible, actually. Nobody will understand the reference but this reminds me of how Lumine fell off the stage in Off-Script by Jules and Amarettiii. Great scene, wonderful timing in what is happening before that. Genshin brainworms shall always swarm me when Arknightsing and vice versa.
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Fissured Restraints
It seems this sturdy band was once used to restrain something terrifying… Help…
????????????????????????????????????????
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Godmother's Token
A laurel of bones, the token of a Sicilian noblewoman. This symbol of order will smooth the turbulence of all desires, for conflict is not allowed. Genuine or counterfeit, it still demands you to kneel.
Laurel. Of. Bones.
Dude...
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Worn-out Group Photo
Do you know someone in the photo?
These are Gopnik and Hellagur as far as I can see.
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Writer's Tongue
The playwright penned his creations with a quill and his own blood, and for himself he devised an ending in which he perishes in a sea of flames.
Something something it has to do with the ending but I have not gotten to any ever thus... I will be reading that later.
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'The Whisperer in Darknight'
A black vinyl. DO. NOT. TOUCH. IT.
I played Darknights memoirs, you have no excuse to keep me away from it. Unless it's... who collected Vynil out of the Penguin Logistics? Was it Emperor himself? Croissant? I don't remember but my hands are up, you can see them.
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Gold-Plated Dice
The gold-plated die has one side representing life. As for the other nineteen sides…
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Emperor's Favor
A very sharp letter opener. It was one of the favorite possessions of the last Ursus emperor, and as such it was very rarely used to actually open letters.
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Silver Forks
One for dealing with actors who botch their performances, one for dealing with incompetent playwrights, and one for anyone who needs it. The Chief will not tolerate any mistakes on the table.
The more I learn about the Troupe the worse it just gets.
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Damaged Revolver Cyllinder
She never capitulated, even after enduring countless trials and tribulations. Her muzzle belched tongues of flame that burned like an angry sun, and the glow above her head was brighter than the daylight itself. Buried here is Outcast, our friend.
Outcast? Who is Outcast? *Googles*
Oh.
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Kryo: "She is past tense."
Me: "She is a 'was'."
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Rusted Razor
If you cut yourself with this, you know what will happen.
Is this allowed? Is... Is this allowed? What do you mean- Yes we all know what happens with a-- goodness me.
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'Brilliant Lament'
His blood yet flows. He has never left this place.
Whose...? Whose???
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White Flower Crown
A floral veil used in Vampire rituals. Its once vibrant redness has been sucked empty, leaving nothing only a pale white color.
Oh, pretty!
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Dancer's Bracelets
The audience breaks into applause as the well-trained dancers waltz around the traps on stage. None of them are aware of the brushes with death the performers have just been through.
The trauma just continues. Thematic.
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This is just a set of pastries without context, I love the food in Arknights.
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Broke Mask
He’s wearing the mask. Is he the one who’s speaking or is it the mask?
Oooo it's Phantom. We Phantom enjoyers know when we see the mask.
