Lurker > Eerieka

Battler: You already got it memorized?
A: Fuck off, Axel.
(We talk for a bit about KH2 which I have been playing at a mutual friends house. Arria doesnt like Axel, but our mutual friend loves him. Im still undecided.)

Erika: Its an atlas
A: yes, that is a thing to look up places. Also, it shows ALL the places. Good luck narrowing it down.
K: I think shes already narrowed it down.

The game shows a conversation between Natsuhi and fantasy characters while showing us the background of Kinzos study.
A: There is a distinct part of me that hopes Natsuhi doesnt actually go into the empty study and talk to a corpse
K: It might be happening!
A: Like, I hope this is just for us readers.

I love watching this scene of Natsuhi talking to Ronove, Virgilia, and Beatrice and imagining them literally as Genji, Kumasawa, and Sayo. Well, to be fair Beatrice is still saying some stuff about how Krausss money scheme might bear fruit, and I imagine Sayo has no hope in that lol.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

A: Now Im going through every word thats been repeated throughout this series!
K: I mean its been said like 3 times, but Ive pointed it out every time
A: *look of anger and madness*

Arria noticed something strange on the wall in the background picture. It looked like a picture of a man riding a stick horse in front of a red moon
A: that or hes fucking something
K: I have no idea what this is
A: Someone invoke the Zoom In trope right now.

Day 31 (8/24/18)

We start with Hideyoshi laughing.
A: thats an odd way to start the game. But not the worst! Compared to some ways weve started out, Hideyoshi laughing is fairly harmless.

Rosa and Battler talk about the epitaph and one of the lines she talks about is different from what we remember wtf?
This epitaph has some line in the tenth twilight about how this journey is the first and last time the Golden Land will open, but the line were used to (and the line in the wiki) says: On the tenth twilight, the journey shall end, and you shall reach the capital where the gold dwells.

More discussion about the 10th twilight.
A: Yes because we keep 10 tons of gold and the philosophers stone a mile away from a random fishing village
Rosa says she knows Kinzos hometown
A: Oh my god you are a whore. Just tell us!
K: I think shes keeping it a secret so she can get the gold
A: I know, but from my perspective, I want to know!

A: And thank you Rosa, for throwing the theory of this is just a journey of life to death a bone.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

That's so true, Popcorn Fairy. I hate her and love her in the same heartbeat.

~~~

A lot of talk about the epitaph riddle, but I know Arria cant solve it since she doesnt know Japanese or Chinese. She still tries though.
K: there was a small subtle hint about Kinzos hometown when we played a few weeks ago. Do you have any ideas?
A: *thinking* No
K: its fine. Dont worry about it. Even if you know his hometown, youre still far from solving the riddle
(Also, I just noticed Arrias computer has a Made in Taiwan sticker on it lol.)

A: I have a thought, but its a little disturbing. Lets keep going and hope something disproves it.
(later)
A: Is it her grave? The first Beatrice. The one who died giving birth to the second Beatrice?
K: Maybe.

Bern says that piece-Battler is smart in this game because shes controlling him.
A: Oh man, what a great line.

Shes still going nuts about the epitaph, but specifically the mysterious 11 letter word. I told her it was a single English word, just because I wanted to see her squirm a little. She was starting to think of multiple words or Japanese words.
A: *bites her computer*
(later)
A: *counting letters on her fingers and falling short*
A: GOD DAMN IT
A: You said it was English?
K: Yeah
A: NYAAA *cat scratching motions*
I think shes lost her mind.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Erika says her catch phrase
A: Im going to get sick of this, arent I?
K: Probably.
A: Shes why everyone hates Mary Sues!
K: Youll hate her, then youll love her, then youll hate her so much it becomes negative and spirals back around to love.
A: She crosses the line twice. Impressive.

Battler says he was waiting for more hints about the epitaph that never came, then he stopped thinking
A: The game is calling me out.
Bern: Im going to solve it!(later) I only had to fish through a few hundred Fragments
A: I dont know if thats sarcasm or not.

Then they take Battler to the Sea of Fragments, apparently
A: Every time I think I know where the game is taking me, its like NOPE (veers hand in opposite direction)
A: Also, this game just went full Persona. Were in a Sea of souls, or something like it, and we have ominous chanting

The game uses a special effect where everything spirals to represent looking at new Fragments
A: This is giving me motion sickness by proxy
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Then Erika finds Beatrices portrait
A: Ooh, do we get a new portrait?
K: Not yet. Actually, I could probably show you the Ep 5 portrait now
A: Im assuming its Erika.
K: You assume correctly! (I show her a picture)
A: Awwwww, how cuuuu- OH MY GOD!
K; *cackles* I was waiting for it. I was just thinking And shes going to see it in 3, 2, 1, yep.
A: Like is it implying she killed Beatrice and took her spot?
K: I guess so.
(I think the hand is actually supposed to be Battlers hand in marriage in ep 6, but whatever. Could also represent Beatrice.)

Eva gets excited when Erika talks about how the riddle is OBVIOUSLY meant to select an heir
A: Youre so transparent it hurts

Hideyoshi talks about some old Sengoku guy who killed off a bunch of pretenders to make sure his chosen one became heir.
A: You have NEVER done that in Crusader Kings, right?
K: *cough* Nope, never

Erika: The epitaph casts doubt on Krausss position as successor
A: Hey dont bring the epitaph into this. He casts enough doubt on himself.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Erika goes on about chopsticks being amazing
A: I agree! I love chopsticks
She has a bit of a cat lip
A: I like that she went full cat

Arria laughs as Erika jokes about using chopsticks next, which is soup. She even points out that Erika should know soup is next before the game mentions it.

Jessica gets jealous
A: Aww, she wants attention. Talk about catty
The other cousins tell her to use good manners
A; Is it wrong Im imaging her eating with her hands? Also, she picks up the knife Ee ee ee (screeching knife noises), I know how to use this! I swear!

A: Good thing no one gave Maria a letter today with Erika here. Ahem. Welcome one and all, dear guests. YOU WILL ALL NOW BE SACRIFICED TO BEATRICE. Except you sweetie, youre fine. PREPARE FOR YOUR MURDER. Not you, dear. Just go up to your room and wait.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

A: Apparently Battler is happy to see a female and Jessica is sucking on a lemon
K: lol, its a Ryukishi staple.
(I showed her a picture of Mions original sprite with a 3 face)

K: Since Erika is the detective, one thing to keep in mind is it means Battler is not the detective.
A: Alright.
(I don't think she got the entire implication of that, but it's fine. She'll figure it out).

I wanted to pay close attention to the part where Battler introduces everyone in the room, so at the risk of letting her know that something suspicious is happening, I told her let me read it carefully.
Arria goes NUTS trying to find the secret. She eventually thinks it has to do with the part where Battler says Were all Ushiromiyas here when of course some of them are the servants. I let her believe that.
I see what Ryukishi did here. Shannon is behind Erika so she doesnt ever see her.

A: Its severely creepy to me that several pieces are aware they are just pieces on a board

Now its dinner and Erika is eating hors doeuvres
K: Hors duvs-dees
A: *snort* What the fuck did you say?
K From this video:
I showed her a few more for kicks. These videos are also why I pronounce schadenfreude as skooden-frooty.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Long awkward silence after she reveals her name is Erika
K: *sucking on teeth*
A: Oh dear. Your hair is WAY too blue for you to be named Erika
(I hate the color blue lol)
K: Im sorta okay with it, actually. Shes probably my favorite fictional Erika

A: I want to see her full picture (She goes into the profile before Erika appears there)
A: Its so floofy! Shes wearing Kaylees dress from Firefly and a funeral wreath on her head

Lambda asks Beato if she disagrees with adding another piece. She says nothing, of course, but her sprites face changes slightly
A: She may not say anything, but that looks says fuck you, Lambdadelta.

Then Lambda explains a bunch of stuff about Erika and makes a lot of red truths
A: This is Ryukishis way of giving the middle finger to everyone trying to make theories right away.
K: Like you?
A: Like me
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Kanon is oddly pissed about Gohda serving tea. I think hes actually mad he has to consider a extra person in his murder plot.

Rudolf: Mom always told us to be nice to girls
A: Im sure thats not how she meant it. And since youre Rudolf, I know its not how YOU meant it
Kyrie: Maybe, but dont make it your lifes motto
A: Thank you, Kyrie.

Eva suggests meeting Erika together as one big group
Rosa: Wouldnt that be a bit scary?
A: God, I cant imagine. 12 people being like HIIIII (claws at me with big eyes) right after drowning might terrify me

Genji: Furudo-sama
A; Why do I feel like that name is familiar?
K: Because it is?
A: *thinking for longer than she needs to be*
A: From this?
K: From Higurashi actually
A: Ah. Her human form, or something like that?
K: Something like that.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Battler questions what the whole purpose of the game is
A; The epitaph?
K: I think he means this whole thing. The game between him and Beatrice. Why did she bother setting it up?
A: Ah I dont know.

Battler: I will play your game, Beato
A: Youre sounding too much like Kinzo.

Then back to the island and everyone is trapped by the storm
Kyrie: Nobody can run away now
A: You are entirely too pleased about that.

Apparently Arria got a Steam achievement after Erika showed up near Maria. It was called You arent alone.
K: Achievements?
A: With a creepy fucking name!

Natsuhi: Is the visitor a man?
A: You realize that from Genjis perspective, that makes you look horny? Oh dear, Krausss pills didnt come before the storm! What ever will I do?
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Then Ronove shows up
Natsuhi: who are you?
A: In my head canon, you fucked him 19 years ago.
Then Gaap shows up
A: I wasnt expecting you. Not sure how you fit into this mnage a trois

Ronove calls himself Genji of the magic world.
A: This whole episode is the clue bat. Like Beatrice is like wham! And Ronove is like Can I borrow that? Wham!

Lambda continues to be bitchy. Arria has probably said youre a bitch about a thousand times today so Ive kinda stopped writing them down.
A: I know she showed some of those earlier scenes for a reason. Like, where everyone was and all the underlying bullshit. Shes just being a brat

Lambda laughs
A: And you laugh like a child who needs a punching
K: *laughs* Wow. Because THAT'S something you do to kids
A: *laughs harder* It is when you work retail Okay, that was a dark part of my brain. Youre in time out, Dark Arria!
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

MariaTaylor posted...

it's been so long that I honestly can't even remember how I'd rank the episodes. I remember liking 5 and/or 6, and overall feeling like the series peaked somewhere in there?

I agree with this, too. I hated Ep 6 when I first read it, but whenever I reread parts from it, I realize how amazing it was. It might be my favorite now, with 3 and 5 vying for second place.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

I <3 Ronove.

Yeah, Ep 3 was good the first time I read it and better the second time. Love it.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Battler chats with the cousins
He laughs ihihi after Maria says something about how she should talk about Ange being sick and having the runs
A; Your laugh is almost as bad as the witches. Just throwing that out there
Battler: Oh right, girls have marshmallows come out of their butts
A: Dear god what the fuck am I reading. Im sure theres porn of this somewhere, but Im not sure I want to find it.
K: Im pretty sure Ive seen it.
Battler: And now Anges marshmallows have turned to syrup
A: What the FUCK is this? Ryukishi, put the cocaine down!

Game: Natsuhi gazed at this (charming?) chat through the hall
A: Sometimes I think Ryukishi accidentally left his notes in and forgot to delete them.

Then Natsuhi speaks with Genji
A: Have you ever had a thought that you think about saying, then you realize its JUST wishful thinking? Like. No! You! Stray thought! Sit down!
K: Were you imaging them fucking?
A: Im just saying, what if she fucked him 19 years ago and had a bastard son? I dont think it happened, I just like to picture them fucking.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Arria just sent me this text:

Arria: "Damnit. I just rang up a woman named Maria and now I have that ridiculous song stuck in my head."
Kira: "(music note emoji) My witch it golden dreamer it's magical gohda chef. (music note emoji)
Arria: "Ooh, I have a new Umineko theory! 6 years before, Battler dropped Maria on her head. This caused her to become a witch obsessed villain who has been manipulating everyone's darkest desires and thoughts leading them to commit murders in the name of "Beatrice" who was probably her loving, friendly nurse when she was in the hospital."
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Reg posted...

That is definitely not the OP theme used in the original PC version

I've been rereading the Steam release with a friend who's playing the game blind and it played Majo to Suiri no Rondo for Eps 1, 2, and 3, but it played the original Umineko no Naku Koro ni (the song/OP by that name) for Ep 4. It played Occultics no Majo for Ep 5, so I think Chiru uses all the original OPs. When we started Ep 5, I was a bit concerned it would play Inanna no Mita Yume because that one is SUPER spoilery and I might have made her turn away when it played lol.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

This one (and yeah, Ganon, don't click on it because your related videos area might have spoilers:



This one was made for the PS3 release, I think. Or at least the only versions of it use PS3 sprites.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Bern: Where were you?
Lambda: Ill be wherever you want to be
Bern: Then go hide in that cupboard
A: *snort* You sorta brought that upon yourself

Lambda and Bern talk about how they want to eat each other
K: Theyre just lesbian-ing it up
A: That is a raging yeast infection! Please, nobody do ANYTHING they just suggested.

They do their Magic the Gathering thing
A: Oh my god. Theyre so cute and so evil. Like a pack of Papillons.

K: So any thoughts about Natsuhis phone call?
A: First off, Lambda is a fucking drama queen.
A: A part of me wants to write it off as Natsuhi is fucking nuts at this part. The headaches, the delusion. There might be a brain tumor or something wrong with her. On the other hand, I feel like thats an easy out. I dont think the caller is Battler for a variety of reasons, but to start with, I think its because communism was a red herring. Second, they make it sound like she abandoned a child, but that seems unlikely because she was so desperate for a child. That person would have been at least 19 years old, so older than Jessica. Like, part of the plot has been about the child race between Natsuhi and Eva. Even though Eva won the race, Jessica is still the heir. I doubt Natsuhi would have tossed her first male heir to the waves.
K: (I am struggling to not laugh)
A: I suppose there could have been an accident, but I think its just something Lambda is throwing in to fuck with us.
A: Did he ever say her name?
K: Not in that one (I was thinking about another phone call with the whole seasons on cards thing). I think he only called her Okaa-san
A: So are we sure it was meant for Natsuhi? Maybe the phone call is for someone else.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Now were with Natsuhi and her first phone call with the Man from 19 Years Ago.
Arria chuckled at the picture of a potted plant again
K: By the way, I hope you have your thinking cap on.
A: My thinking cat?!?
K: yes, a thinking cat.

Natsuhi thinks that speaking to a man is scandalous
A: I was initially thinking it would be Battler, and that made thats sentence all the worse
K: I will warn you its Battlers voice actor, but it may or may not mean anything. They had to get someone to do the voice

Natsuhi answers, but its silent. The clock ticks
A: This fucking clock, man

The man speaks
A: Im glad you told me it was Battlers voice I would have gone insane trying to figure that out

When all is said and done, Arria just tosses her arms like What the fuck was that?
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Now Rosa, and this time we have the sprites that include her other outfit.
A: Oooh, nice!

Rosa talks to Rudolf on the phone. I laugh every time I see this fucking picture of the phone, which includes a picture of a potted plant. I told Arria that it makes me laugh every time.
A: I was wondering about that too. Ill just say Rosa is special
K: Funny thing is this same art is used for Natsuhis phone in a little bit
A: The whole family is special!

Game: Rosa had a note that said DZL with Maria
A: What?
K: Uhh Disney Land? (I then remembered) Oh! No, its Delzney Land.
The game actually says it a line later
A: I swear were not breaking any copyrights! Don't sue me, Mickey Mouse!

Rosa then set up a fight with Maria so she had an excuse to not go to Delzney Land and so she could talk to Rudolf
A: God youre a fucking bitch.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Agreed. I thought what Kyrie suggested was nothing compared to what Kasumi did last episode.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Then to Rudolf and Kyrie
I had mentioned to her earlier how I classify Uminekos into three categories: epic, calm/peaceful, and witchy. Fishy Aroma is playing now
A: Witchy music?
K: Oh yeah. The first time this song played was in Ep 1 when Maria read Beatrices letter at dinner. The first time when shit got real.

Kyrie acts evil
A: Yeah, I think Im not far off in my idea that if they are responsible for any murders, it was her idea

Game: Kyrie smiled reassuringly, and perhaps a little coldly
A: Those are two adjectives which do not normally go together!

Kyrie implies some stuff about yakuza digging up information on the family
A: Wow, I knew you were dark, but this is creepy as fuck.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Theres a scene with Genji, Kanon, and Shannon talking about having to keep the secret of Kinzos death again this year.
Kanon: Im sure youll screw up right away Shannon. You should skip that day.
Sayo seems like he really wants to get out of the real problem at hand. But Genji says they have to both work that day. Shannon says shell do her best. Oh man this scene is great on a reread. Arria doesnt see whats really happening, of course, so shes just reading through it obliviously.

Hideyoshi and Eva are talking and Hideyoshi goes off talking about Sengoku era stuff
Game: Hideyoshi likes the Sengoku era and likes to show off his knowledge of its commanders
A: I like how this is a character trait we have never seen before
K: To be fair, how often has he had a chance to talk about the Sengoku era?

Hideyoshi: Its dangerous to keep a body hidden. I dont think Krauss would do it just to get all the inheritance
A: No, but he could have other reasons. Like Oh, we done fucked up.

Hideyoshi: We need to make sure we meet with Father this year
A: Youll get your chance! *evil voice*: In the afterlife!
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Battler then helps Beatrice take a drink of tea. He talks to her, wishing shed be back to normal
A: Wow, that was an old trauma I didnt think Id be reminded of. Some movie I had to watch with grandma, I think The Notebook or some Nicholas Sparks novel-movie. The husband had to take care of his Alzheimers-ridden wife. This scene just reminded me of that.

Natsuhi walks back home alone
A: This is fucking depressing

A: Maybe this is where some of my anachronism philosophy is coming from. Titanic: Ship Out of Time. Or Adventure Out of Time, I dont remember. That was about going back in time to fix your mistakes.
(internally: Kinda reminds me of another game I plan to have Arria play I wont say the name because its a spoiler, but Im sure some of you know what Im talking about. A game about a sinking ship and fixing your mistakes in the past.)

Natsuhi talks to Kinzo and Beatrice in the study
A: Its sad how actively delusional she is, and she admits it.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

I pointed it out to her at some point after Virgilia was introduced. We both read Inferno in our dark edgelord days, but never really touched upon Pugatorio or Paradiso. I only found out about Dante's Beatrice since I looked up some stuff after reading Umineko the first time.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Man it's cute watching people be introduced to the red text for the first time.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Bern: Lambdadelta, the one telling the story interprets this scene.
A: So Im guessing episode 8 will be Battler as game master when he finally shows us the truth of what he remembers.

Bern: Lambda hasnt said anything about the number of people on the island
Bern: But Ill say this: (red) Natsuhi is drinking tea all by herself
A: Because Bernkastel is a bitch.

A: This whole chapter seems like a lesson in stop sugarcoating your bullshit. Accept it and move on.

Battler says something about a blade being a tool or a weapon
K: Didnt you just say something like that about pliers?
A: I said that because I was focused on one little thing and not looking at the big picture!

Bern laughs evilly
A: thats the worst. Like, that made the hairs on my arms rise up.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

My friend's reaction to that scene was hilarious

Beatrices letter: youre too inelegant for this intellectual night.
Arria: WOW, youre a ****
Letter: (paraphrasing): Your parents were morons, and youre a moron
Arria: The gloves are off, the claws are out, and hooooly shit.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Bern gets a new sprite with her hand outward. She also has an evil look on her face
A: Ah, theres your evil face. I knew you had it in you somewhere.

Bern: If you have compassion, kill them all at once. Thats what killing is.
A: Thats a great sentence. Er, two sentences, whatever. Props to you.

Bern: (red) Unless this game is resolved, you will never be released.
A: That goes back to what I said earlier about him already being dead. And plus, at this point the reader is so invested that they have to know how it resolves
A: Thats a nice dig at the theory, myself, and Battler. Nicely player, Bernkastel.

Battler: Was she hurt because I hurt her? If I didnt think I hurt her was she never hurt?
A: This is a VERY disturbing thought. This is about a woman who cant fight back an a man who actively wants to damage her. Then you think of Kinzo who was all lock you in a cage and there are some rape-y undertones here. What if Battler did something bad and he was too young to understand? Or what if he lived to be an old man and hes thinking back to his life of sin? I dont think I could handle if our protagonist was an evil murderer, rapist, and whatever else.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Did a bumpbot just use a post from my Umineko topic? That's uhh... might want to be careful for spoilers there.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

A: The entire Ushiromiya family is symbolic of a life, death, and rebirth theme. And their bird is like a Phoenix. I dont know if thats intentional
K: I think Ryukishi intended that sort of imagery.

A: Im also thinking about how Ryukishi drew characters the way he wanted. He seems to do very little without ulterior motive. The clothes the characters wear on the game board look like how a child remembers things. My memories of adults from my childhood are a jumble of colors and most of them are fairly bright. Look at Krauss; his suit is a mismatch of red jacket and pants with a blue shirt and a yellow tie, maybe this isnt one memory but several a dark brown suit misremembered as red, the under shirt and tie from another outfit cobbled together in an incomplete jumbled memory. What if the sin is Battlers perceived guilt about something that happened. Maybe his sin was he caused everyone and himself to die 6 years ago. Guilt strong enough to keep a soul bound to earth for 6 years. Not survivors guilt precisely but more of a if I had been better at X smarter when Y happened maybe everyone would be okay. A dead soul chewing through incomplete and garbled memory looking for an explanation of tragedy and with that explanation release onto either the next life or some sort of paradise. Early Battler refuses to see a great many things. He clings childlike to the idea that no one in his family is capable of evil, and is tortured for it but as he starts truly thinking and lets go of some of his naivety the torture stops and things seem to be getting slowly less awful.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

This next update was a much longer and thorough conversation that was difficult to type up, especially since Arria had to say her thoughts right away or else they'd vanish.

Theres a song playing, Im not sure what its name is, but its like a cute Toy Box-esque version of Tsubasa. Part of it is like a waltz or a rondo (dude I dont know musical terms, I might be talking out my ass) and it think it got Arria thinking.
A: Random thought. The sin they talk about with Battler, I wonder if it has something to do with his stubbornness. This whole story is a rondo, them going in circles again and again and again until someone wins. Hes very blind to some things right in front of him, so maybe hes being punished either by himself or by others, for some act of stubbornness or stupidity in the past.
A: Youve mentioned this has references to the Divine Comedy in it. Battler started in hell, then into purgatory, and now hes reaching heaven.
K: Okay.
A: Does that make the girl on the balcony God?
K: Im not sure what youre getting at.
A: The conversation between the two Beatrices last episode. One told the other to rest. One was God and the other was Battlers goal. God told Beatrice to give it a rest and let Battler move on to the next level.
A: You play a game to win something. You dont just play for no reason. Maybe its just for the prestige of winning. What if this is to make Battler not a complete monster? I mean, we see him in a sympathetic light a few times, but hes done some stupid shit as well. To the point youve had to warn me a few times when hes about to be a dumb fuck.
A: His treatment has changed so much as well. Initially he was tortured and led naked on a chain. Now hes being served tea. What changed? It was Beatrice, now its Bernkastel and Lambda.
A: I feel like Im looking at a pair of pliers in a dungeon and wondering what theyre used for. Theyre just a tool.
K: Thats a deep and philosophizing thought (sarcasm, but a little confusion because I wasnt sure what she meant with that pliers comment)
A: Sorry. Im having a Philosophy 101 moment.
A: Or this could all be the fever dream of a dying man.
A: you see characters go from utterly horrible like Beatrice, the Stakes, Evatrice, Ronove, and now Lambda and Bern. They guide Battler for a while, then the dance moves on and they give him to the next guide. Theyve gone from antagonists to nothing. Theyve moved on. Theyre not evil, theyre just guides showing Battler through hell. Maybe Bernkastel and Lambda will be his guides through purgatory or heaven or whatever level were at.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Battler: If youre trying to trick me again, it wont work
A: You can that, but you just fed her tea out of pity.
Battler: Shouldnt you be calling me a dumbass or something right now?
A: no, because it would be proving you right. The trap wouldnt be sprung at the right time.
Battler: The jokes not funny anymore!
A: Dude, I hate to break it to you but I dont think shes fucking with you this time. I mean she is, but not in the same way.

Battler: Laugh! Just like youre doing with Natsuhi over there!
A: Please dont go full Tidus on us here. I swear to god if you start A HA HA HAing I will be done with this game. Because THAT was traumatizing

Yukari Tamuras voice comes in and trolls Battler
A: Hello, Lambda. Err, not Lambda. The other one.
Bern appears
A: Bernkastel! Thats your fucking name.

They talk about how this was a torture game
A: Reminds me of this: (Princess Bride To the Pain scene)
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

The Halloween party is probably my favorite twilight. So fun!
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Arria has been making some jokes about Natsuhi being sexual with others. I wonder how she'll feel during THAT moment when Bern and Erika actually accuse her of sleeping with Kinzo.

~~~

A: And this explains why she has constant fucking headaches. It has less to do with Krausss stupidity and more to do with oh fuck did I make sure this was set up and is that glass in the right spot and yadda yadda and it all builds up.

Natushi: Kumasawa is the Witch of Feigned Illness
A: You are such a catty bitch but I love it.
Natsuhi: She calls off work on family conferences
K: Maybe she just doesnt want to deal with that shit
Beatrice: Shes a higher level witch than you realize!
A: Thank you for your subtle use of the clue bat. (She then imitated the motion of taking a baseball bat and smacking someone with it) Do you understand this story yet!?

Scene change. Ronove is making tea for Beatrice and Battler
A: Im a butler. I buttle. I like how Ronove went from big scary demon to here are your scones, madam.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Day 30 (8/9/18)

We open with Beatrice in the rose garden in Natsuhis flashback
A: I forgot how beautiful you were
K: You kinda sound like Kinzo there
A: Ill see myself out.

Beatrice compliments Natsuhi on her hard work of making an illusion of Kinzo. She took steps to make sure it looked like Kinzo was around at various points such as saying he spoke with someone, or he left a glass somewhere.
A: You know what this reminds me of?
A: The library mysteries when we were young. They would set up all sorts of ridiculous scenarios at the library for kids to solve. It would be stuff like oh look at these footprints hidden here! Looking back on it, its probably not as impressive as I remember it being.
A: And youre right. This is making me like Natsuhi again. Like, just how fucking crazy she is. I hope at the end of this, her husband was willing to pet and cuddle with her because shell need it.

A: And thats why for these conferences they always bring the same servants. Its people who Natsuhi trusts to keep the secret. Kanon was in that scene earlier, and I suppose Shannon came with him.
(I almost had a coronary here, but I realized Arria meant Shannon was probably on the island the same day Kanon was when Natsuhi first told everyone to keep up the illusion of Kinzo)
K: Yeah, she must have found out around the same time Kanon found out.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Actually I mentioned that to her once in Ep 1 or so when we started out, and she joked that she "was lucky to have English down most days."
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Reading right now! Arria is trying to solve the epitaph again despite what I've said about it being impossible unless you know Japanese...
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

tomorrow!
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Let me put it this way... the portrait of Beatrice in the mansion is always the same portrait. It would probably venture into spoiler territory to explain any deeper.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

bump
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

The changing painting is just an effect for the readers. Characters in the story still see the original portrait

ahaha.wav is best laugh imo
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Thursday seems so far away.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Thanks for bumping, Raka
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Bump
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

And just like the characters, it shall be revived and enter the golden land... next week!
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Krauss mopes over Natsuhi not liking his nuts (pun intended)
A: Awww, Krauss had a soft side, too.

Natsuhi and Beatrice talk some more about being birds in cages
A: I do like the conversation between these two
Reminds me again of Tyltyl and Myltyl or whatever their names were

Its getting late and Arria is getting tired. Well stop it here.

~~~

And that's all I have, and it's gonna be a week before Arria and I hang out. D: I'll keep the topic bumped until then.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

TheRock1525 posted...

Tressa just went Mrgrgr.

Time to return this game.

Haha, I just saw this.

Not as obnoxious as the way H'aanit and her clan speak imo.
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

I finished Ophilia's chapter 4 so I could switch her out of my party. I didn't realize the credits would roll and the game would pretend to be over lol. No, game, I want to finish everyone else's story too!
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise

Now Hope is playing. Aww yess.

Then Natsuhi eats patis
A: Did we look up the right thing? This sounds totally different!
K: I dunno. Maybe this curry has the fish sauce in it?
A: These dumplings sound good. Id eat them!

Beatrice talks about tea some more
A: This is her thing and I love it. I like tea too!

Flashback to Natsuhi and Krauss in Taiwan
Arria immediately has to look up areca nuts
A: This section is really testing out google-fu

Krauss: Father likes areca nuts!
(And Arria misses it. To be fair, did too on my first readthrough)
(Also to be fair, I dont think theyve said that theyre in Taiwan. I think youd just have to know where areca nuts are popular.)
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Account created-9/10/04. Just a normal GameFAQs user/leprechaun
Ramza: rofl. Rofel: You say my name? -Eise