The entire book 2 wip will get a re-rewrite or just some part?
Honestly, for me the hopes for the rewrite are primarily the beginning of the book (allow some more breathing time to at least explore the fact that the mage just died and shit. Let them establish some opinions in general because they’ve just been through something traumatic) and yeah, also for anti-arcadian mages to be able to be more expressly anti-arcadian. I actually think just having the anti-arcadian route have some kind of weight to it rather than the mage’s opinion kind of flip-flopping between ‘‘these people are loathsome and i hate them all’’ to ‘‘these people are pretty cool honestly! nice’’ as the plot demands, is going to make the route a lot better: it means that your choices are remembered, even if you can’t really escape yet (which is just a necessity for the plot: you’re stuck there however you feel until you can escape at probably the end of the book, which I actually don’t mind)
Tbh, Thalia is already doing this by making Eli the person to keep the mage in line. I think it makes a lot of sense for Thalia to target the mage during the escape attempt because how the mage is going to react to her targeting Eli is an unknown to her: they probably would panic, which would be the goal of targeting Eli, but she doesn’t know how they’ll respond to that panic because panicked people don’t think, they act. It’s possible they would just become violent beyond reason and that they would just escalate further. Thalia knows Eli well enough by this point that she knows she could decide to essentially torture the mage in front of them, and while any loyalty Eli might have had before that would evaporate the second she does it they would ultimately give in to her demands because they’re absolutely terrified of the mage dying and she knows this.
On top of that and maybe even more important, going for the mage wouldn’t cause lasting damage: Eli would just immediately heal them. We’re not sure if Eli can heal themselves, and the mage certainly can’t do it for them, so hurting Eli there might actually cause lasting damage depending on if Call of the Dead actually leaves physical marks. They’d certainly be out of commission a lot longer.
I think that might be a better solution yeah, but tbh I can’t see a lot of mages not telling Eli because especially Eli-mancers would wanna take them with lol
Tbf, on the topic of the escape, I think the awkward variable you get with Eli after is weirdly handled. This was already just brought up but it seems to be left entirely out of the equation after the Jiasei arc even if you literally told them you hated them over it. I think Parivir might be trying to focus on one route at a time, though, which is fair. It’s just weird you can tell them you hate them and then go their romance route without any further mention of it.
Pretty sure making Thalia nicer and more sympathetic is a big point for the rewrite so that may actually happen.
Ngl she’s not literally responsible. She just didn’t help (directly: she did uncollar Mireil which allowed for her to inform the duke somehow, I think). Whether that’s better or worse is up to you. Still, Thalia, at this point, is more powerful than the mage, that’s simply the truth. But yeah I do think the mage should be more (rightfully) upset in an anti-arcadian route. In general the mage is surprisingly well-adjusted for someone who has suffered so much trauma, like holy shit.
I don’t think the entire book will be rewritten from the ground up, but a lot of it will be rewritten. I think it’ll be a rewrite in nearly its entirety, especially for the more character-focused scenes. Plot itself won’t be changing, the mage has to be stuck in Arcadia for the plot to work the way it was intended: I think this will just hopefully make it more bearable for anti-arcadian mc’s on top of making it easier to write for Parivir (which, I honestly do hope he ends up in a spot where he’s happy with the book: I actually don’t think the book is that bad right now (unpopular opinion maybe? lol), but the rewrite is quite necessary if I’m being honest and I’m glad it’s happening)
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Except working with them is completely unnecessary to the larger plot with a tiny bit of thought beyond shuffling your powers a bit. Which is something the MC could always figure out themself with access to the proper knowledge
Taking down the big bads and rescuing kids can be done independently of them, especially since they give off their own big bad vibes anyway.
In fact you could just go to your old friends and be like
“Hey some evil arcadian bitch who wants to conquer the world resurrected me to help but I pimp slapped her and ran off because fuck that. Anyway she showed me that there’s a central group coordinating the kidnapping and empowering or Arcadian children for nefarious purposes so I’m gonna need some resources to take care of that. Also I know where the Arcadian flying city is so we can go knock that out real quick because I need their knowledge to fix my stupid ass (and nearly usesless) Astral spirit power thing.”
Then bing bang boom the white claws are back and all the shitty new characters can die, you can also save Eli and not have him be an asshole.
And now with the backing of your powerful friends and an order of paladins, you can finally end the threat of Arcadia forever.
And also we can get rid of all those really annoying hour long digressions from the main plot to be forced by the author into interacting with a bunch of people I hate and are holding me prisoner so they can (remember they will explicitly tell you this) wipe out the only people that ever accepted you as anything more than a tool or weapon and regain a lost “golden age” of conquering sorcerer-kings
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Did you forget that one step outside of Thalia’s control will leave you in hell and agony?
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My guy
The MC was dead
When you cease to fear death pain becomes no concern.
The MC spent a whole life in constant pain, he can handle it for a bit while he figures shit out
And also has access to the a person wielding the power of a literal god
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That’s not… entirely true, I think. Arcadia provides a lot of the information the mage needs to do these things. The Mage would not have found out about Kantena by themselves, or about Eli being in trouble, etc etc etc. That was info found by Arcadia, not the mage. Especially when it comes to Eli the mage would not have had ANY information. Not to mention the mage was dead, and had to be resurrected by someone. Idk I think Arcadia and being stuck there makes sense for the plot I only wish there were more choices (and impact) to going ‘‘hey I really really don’t like this. don’t wanna be here. hhhh this sucks’’
Thalia’s method of torturing the main character leaves them literally unable to move and presumably will have them DIE if it lasts long enough. That’s why Eli freaked out as much as they did lol. Because the mage could die.
Yeah and so does Thalia. Thalia is objectively more powerful than the mage right now. That won’t last forever, and the mage might be getting close to her power level, but for book 2 she’s more powerful.
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Okay
And dying matters to them because…?
Seriously there’s a choice that says “being dead was great” and yet the MC flip flops between that and OMG PLEASE I HAVE SO MUCH TO LIVE FOR
Realistically, a person who was already angry about being dragged back wouldn’t cooperate so that they dont get killed
Me? First time she told me no I would’ve put a knife in my chest and told her she either frees me or derails her own plans and I go back to sweet oblivion.
Either way, I win.
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The saintess has access to the power of the God the arcadians worship
That’s who I’m talking about
I know how painful and hard rewriting can be.
My hope is that @Parivir is doing this rewrite for himself and to address issues that he has with his vision, and not as an attempt to mollify a group of fans who are upset that this second book was not ideal for them.
I have my views on the different factions and characters within each. Yet, at this stage of writing, none of that matters because I still do not know Parivir’s entire body of work.
I hope to be able to enjoy whatever Parvir decides to show and release, because his writing has always brought me entertainment and joy, no matter if the setting is Arcadia (or Arcadian arcs) or the prior place and arcs of book one.
Always remember, folks: Eli is best girl. 
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Cool, have a mc who doesn’t care about dying, but there’s the fact that if the mage dies the story is over. Like if they act on that the story ends. But the main point of my statement there is that the mage cannot just suck the pain up and walk over to the Param homies, it’s not gonna happen because they’re paralyzed in pain on the floor, even if they’re completely fine with dying.
Tbf I think a suicidal mc tag could be interesting and in general want a less-well adjusted mc (HOW ARE THEY THIS WELL ADJUSTED??? seriously how??? like bro i respect the perseverence or whatever but huh? let them be traumatized, as a treat), and i think there should be less flip-flopping between opinions for them, but also, again, they die and the story ends. Going ‘‘well i’ll just die then’’ cannot be entertained unless you want an early ending, I guess.
Yeah and you can’t do that, because you’d just die and the story would end: Thalia would not derail her plans. Meta-wise, I also think asking the author to currently write two entirely different books (one where you leave and go back to Param, one where you stay in Arcadia) would just. be a ridiculous amount of variation for a book 2. Like again those are two entirely different books at that point. It’ll happen in book 3, but not right now.
Keep in mind that those two hypothetical different routes (Param and Arcadia, and maybe even an in between/neutral so make that three routes for the ‘‘ideal’’ book 2) would also all have variation depending on choices. That is asking for more than is reasonable right now, in my opinion. Yes, book 2 should be fun to read even for people who dislike Arcadia. I don’t think that should automatically mean ‘‘the mc gets to escape and you’re never stuck in Arcadia’’, both because of workload on the author (this isn’t Fallen Hero guys) and because a book can be fun even if the main character is in a bad spot.
I think, again, that a big way to make it better would be adding in more choices and consistency for the mage to dislike/hate Arcadia, and for making that a more impactful thing on the book itself. In that case, the plot stays consistent for all of the different ‘‘routes’’ (pro, anti, neutral) so that book 2 is still a consistent line (and book 3 can be the ‘‘diverging point’’ so to say), but there’s still good variation between the routes in book 2 and the player’s choices are respected and built upon without being railroaded into liking Arcadia. Which. The author himself expressed that a part of the rewrite was making the book a bit less rail-roady. A certain amount is necessary because you will be stuck in Arcadia, but I think the rewrite will ultimately improve things.
Based opinion, I think it’s honestly fine to have opinions on this but the rewrite is in progress and will probably improve things, and I will honestly enjoy the book regardless.
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Okay, I can respect that then and think it’d be an interesting solution to this problem.
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It doesn’t even take more than a single epilogue screen
*yeah so everyone died because the MC was the linchpin to the whole strategy
Also it’s kinda funny because you can guarantee the boss lady who was so assured of how powerful and smart and just oh so in control she was would be absolutely shook to see the guy she spent a whole ass year resurrecting just cut his throat right in front of her just to spite her
I think my biggest problem with it is this fucking trope I absolutely hate
you know how you powered up to beat that unstoppable villain in the first one?
yeah well heres the person they work for who’s 50 times as powerful and now you’re back to where you started in the first one
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Look I wouldn’t even care about the being enslaved in Arcadia if the story wasn’t spending every other page with my character telling me how much he loved it and how much fun he was having and then the next page vowing eternal revenge on Arcadia to the 15th generation
Or the new companions
*hey falco I hate you
Okay I hate you too
*hey yurui you ever touch me again I’ll fucking kill you
Okay I won’t do that anymore
Next chapter:
*fuck falco why would I help him
No but he really really respects you and loves you
*yurui proceeds to talk about how she really wants to climb in bed with you and how good and gentle a man you are despite multiple death threats
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You will eventually be able to beat Thalia. You just can’t do it right now. You will be able to eventually, because Thalia is a killeable character in the massacre route.
I think a big part of the rewrite might be adressing this honestly. Like, again, please take into account that there’s a massive rewrite going on right now and while idk how much I’m allowed to actually say on the matter I will say that it sounds like it’s adressing the issues a lot of people have with the book right now. Railroading was adressed in the post announcing the rewrite and it was adressed as an issue, and although the main plot won’t change a lot of other things surrounding it (in terms of like, the anti-arcadian route lacks actual substance/depth and doesn’t stick problem) probably will.
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Better be fixing the new companions too because they are very not good
Yeah the first book railroads you too but at least the companions were morally upright and redeemable
Like the new people are literal fucking assassins that willingly work for an insane woman with designs of world domination and yet they try to act superior.
You’re also supposed to like them while they willingly uphold your slavery. In fact they engage in justifying and reinforcing it and then act surprised when you’re hostile to them.
Though it is funny when they still act like you’re their friend even though I’ve openly shown nothing but hatred and aggression
Its like Astrid in the keeper series
Choose every negative response in regards to them
relationship: 67
Fucking how lmfao
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Even outside of their allegiances, I’m really not a fan of the Arcadian group as people, especially F being all in on a plan that relies on actively preventing children from being rescued from the torture zone so they can be used as live bait
Like this character spends the entire game telling MC they hate them and wish they were dead and then uses a bunch of kids as live bait, wow, what a likeable character, I’ll definitely feel bad about turning on them the second I get the opportunity
Edit: I know this is what the rewrite is working on fixing, but Y and F really don’t come off likeable and sympathetic to me.
To elaborate on why I don’t like Y, I think they’re either completely spineless or just paying lip service to not being a murderer. The fact that every time MC questions the necessity of violence their response is “I don’t like it either but the boss says we have to” is like, if you really don’t like it, do something about it? MC has their neck in a proverbial noose the entire time, what’s Y’s excuse for going along with every random act of violence/live child bait plan?
Either they do think it’s wrong but aren’t willing to stand behind that or they don’t think it’s wrong to kill people for cash and send children into the torture zone as live bait which brings them right back to where I’m at with F.
Also they can’t take a hint, I’ve picked the stop touching me options every time I get the chance and they keep doing it along with terrible pickups, like, stop. They’re coming off creepy, not charming.
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I’m gonna go off topic here.
Was anyone impressed with Ilya’s change at the end of the demo? I played a noble hearted “damn the consequences” mage that tended to clash with Ilya’s pragmatic stance, so it was a surprise to see her adopt that same “damn the consequences” attitude to try (and successfully) save that kid, a bit of a departure from the more pragmatic woman we knew during B1. Something that would leave my mage both stunned and very happy.
If that comes up when we get the reunion between the 2, my mage is definitely telling her how proud of her he is. He’s also probably going to feel a little giddy that he could “drag the pragmatic one to the reckless side” if you catch my drift, lol.
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If I’m remembering correctly, I think the scene kinda mentions Ilya emulating MC when she does that - at least if MC had a personality similar to the one you mentioned.
I might be imagining that though lol
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Yeah, I think it’s only if your MC behaved like that does she grows to be less pragmatic.
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Personally I’ll try to live up to my name as the Demon of Sienan and having goody goodies only as companions would be annoying pretty fast, so I can appreciate that they would not berate me all the time for all of my future decisions.
I also see them more as soldiers than assassins, E and Y do all of the killing with what seems reluctance and what they thinks is a necessity for their people to rise again, while F seems indifferent about it and doing it as their duty, rather than all of them getting enjoyment out of it or having profit as a sole motive, they also look at the bigger picture rather than just act at any moment so they don’t feel like any disorganized mercenaries/thugs/etc, this is just my thoughts though.
I don’t really have all that much of a problem with Arcadia, like they did resurrect me and now I have no real loyalties to no one at that point so I’m not entirely against helping them, yet I would not trust them and would be waiting to see if they just want to use me as a disposable tool once all is done or not, so all of my interactions so far with them are wary and curious for now, the moment they try to betray me though I’ll kill them, Nyx’s arcana will be helpful in such an endeavour.
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