The Fernweh Saga: Book One (Discussion) [💚 Game Update, Post 1214]

[random-dude]

@EvilChani

raises hand

Raises M16 Your kind must be purged

[JBento]

I’m with Chani on this. Bash ???'s skull in with a firepoker.

[Snowflower]

TBH I’m hoping for an outcome wherein MC can end up with ??? but it’s a pretty clear bad end. Not in the way that it’s bad for the denizens of Fernweh and the ROs but good for MC/???, but it’s bad for MC (and possibly only bad for MC and ???). Like “give ??? [your] heart” levels of bad ending.

[h_neptune]

@ChiggerCat

Are Marjorie and the W in league together? I am trying to imagine how their personalities would mix together or clash; I guess the W could serve her.

Hmmmm… I’m not sure if W would serve someone like Marjorie. I can’t help but get a vibe from them of someone who likes to be in control or have the upper hand in situations, despite the fact that the whole waiter thing might make them seem subservient.

As demonstrated, for example, by what the given answer was for them for the chess ask: “they would never allow themself to be on the board.”

Or other moments like this:

• “[They shift] the Fernweh Diner takeout bag [they hold] into one hand to give you a mock bow. [They maintain] eye contact while bending ever so slightly at the waist as if unwilling to completely lower [themself].”

• " ‘… I don’t want to kill my air of mystery in one night, [Name].’ Emphasizing your name stresses the information asymmetry between the two of you."

Their irritation over an MC that guesses the first letter of their name right could overall serve as an example of this. The interaction doesn’t go exactly how they want it to go → they get snippy about it.

Even with the kiss on their route, despite MC initiating it it’s not like they’re taking control there. It’s more like the W is allowing the action. “You were allowed to initiate, but [they are] the one to end it after a few seconds that seem too short.”

And if they are serving anyone in general, I think they’re probably not doing it entirely happily and might be a little (more than a little?) resentful about it.

[ChiggerCat]

@random-dude

TBH, who doesn’t want to marry a creepily obsessed entity influencing the whole fcking town? Who doesn’t?

This may be a random question, but what do you guys think the ??? looks like?

We don’t have a character description for them (it?). I know some people think that the W and the ??? are one in the same. But for others, they think the ??? is someone/thing else. I tend to be in the camp that the ??? is not the W. 7th LI route…I’m in? Or at least I can always imagine.

@h_neptune

I’m not sure if W would serve someone like Marjorie.

I’m unsure too. I think that Marjorie may actually be very smart and intuitive. Maybe she acts the way that she does to throw off suspicion? People may write-off or tend to overlook someone who could seem off-kilter given how Fernweh is a small town such that she could get a bad reputation.

I think the cop (Warren? I believe that is right.) seemed to have experience with Marjorie.

@h_neptune

I don’t want to kill my air of mystery in one night, [Name].’ Emphasizing your name stresses the information asymmetry between the two of you."

I don’t recall seeing this one; how did you get it? The asymmetry comment is very telling that W did not seem to want the MC to guess correctly the first time. I suppose to draw out things? It reminds me of that saying about a cat and mouse game; however, I do not feel he is playing with us like ???.

That might be wishful thinking.

[Snowflower]

@ChiggerCat

what do you guys think the ??? looks like?

I think ??? will generally assume a form that it’s viewer (MC) is comfortable enough with to let their guard down around (such as Bee or the other ROs). I can see its true form being something that is firmly in the uncanny valley.

[E_RedMark]

@ChiggerCat

what do you guys think the ??? looks like?

Like Elf Root…

they are Smoking…

And I need weed! Thats how the Hippie Win!

[Lambkin]

@ChiggerCat

This may be a random question, but what do you guys think the ??? looks like?

This is such a good question! I wish I could pin down a concrete image for the ???, but I have too many contradictory, half-formed theories bouncing around in my mind to settle on something. And I think I’ve gotten used to just rolling with the ??? using others’ likenesses when interacting with the MC; I wonder if the ??? isn’t just using the ROs’ appearances to toy with the MC, but if maybe it’s a necessity as well because it doesn’t have its own true form, or its true form is something imperceivable.

@ChiggerCat

I don’t recall seeing this one; how did you get it?

In order to get that particular line, the MC needs to be receptive to the W in Ch. 06 in a way that doesn’t trigger their romance route. So, carrying the interaction forward without being flirtatious or shy and then agreeing to guess the first letter of their name.

If the MC correctly guesses the first letter of the W’s name. (Spoilers!)

“M…?”

Your uncertainty about if that is correct or not decreases the longer the waitress/waiter remains quiet with a thoughtful expression; her/his smile thins before she/he gives a brief huff of laughter.

“I guess a 1 out of 26 chance can’t stop you.” The waitress’/waiter’s grip tightens up on the cardboard tray so her/his nails dig into the cheap material, creating tiny indents as an outlet for her/his frustration. Guessing games have multiple rounds to build anticipation. You did too well, too fast. “Some might call that beginner’s luck; I prefer to call it good instincts.”

“So, you are M-something?”

“I am, but I don’t want to kill my air of mystery in one night, [Name].” Emphasizing your name stresses the information asymmetry between the two of you. “Maybe you can guess some more in the future.”

You aren’t exactly sure how to respond to her/his comment, but you aren’t given much time to think on it when she/he steps away and haphazardly waves goodbye.

[artless]

Playing the full game after having tried the demo some time ago and THIS IS STILL AS AMAZING AND CHILLING AS I REMEMBER !!!

And the characters are written so well, I genuinely cannot pick between B and R-- each time I try to settle on one of them in a run, the other swoops in and is just too cute
I have honestly never been so torn between two RO’s in a single COG story before, bravo really !

Thank you for writing and sharing and it’s a bit late, but congrats on the release!! This is fantastic!

[h_neptune]

@Lambkin

Your uncertainty about if that is correct or not decreases the longer the waitress/waiter remains quiet with a thoughtful expression

Mal.exe stopped working.

[ChiggerCat]

@Snowflower

I think ??? will generally assume a form that it’s viewer (MC) is comfortable enough with to let their guard down around

I think this may be true. I assumed as much when the LIs appeared in the nightmares. I believe ??? wants the MC to accept them and portrays themself in a way that would be attractive to the MC given the MC’s past responses. It still makes me wonder what or who the ??? actually is.

@Lambkin

I wonder if the ??? isn’t just using the ROs’ appearances to toy with the MC, but if maybe it’s a necessity as well because it doesn’t have its own true form, or its true form is something imperceivable.

So, your idea that the ??? uses the form of the LIs to toy with the MC is interesting. I thought, as I think @Snowflower did, that the ??? uses the LIs to make the MC feel comforted. Maybe they are instead playing or mocking the MC with the use of the LIs?

I tend to follow the idea that the true form is imperceivable or so horrific that they can not reveal themself.

Also, thank you for your hint about how to get the line!

@h_neptune

Mal.exe stopped working.

I read this at first that there was a problem/coding error with the game! (I did not get the reference–my brain was not quite awake!)

I am still amazed that @lacunafiction has not yet had to do a patch/update on the game (unlike some recent games that I have purchased, ugh so many restarts). It must mean that she is proficient at coding (I think @EvilChani mentioned in a previous post something about how clean the coding is in the game) with good betas. I’m not a code diver or seeker–I just eagerly soak up any scraps you share. She also has an amazing editor in Tiffany.

I must admit that I got irritated when I looked at the Google Play store (I have an android phone) and saw that someone recently gave the game a 1 star review because ssupposedly their game crashed. The person indicated that otherwise it would have been one of their favorite games. My thoughts immediately were: get your phone/table fixed (check your memory capacity) and don’t leave a 1-star review for your own issues. I saw a similar post on the Forum announcement thread where the issue was clearly with the reader’s computer rather than with the game. It’s safe to say after all this time, there should not be any issues with the game.

Okay, I am getting down off my soap box.

On a different note, if the MC is allowed to romance the ??? will it be a tack on to one of the other LI routes? Or, will it be its own route? I think Aelsa mentioned a LI lock-in in Book 2. I wonder if the ??? will be one of the options?

Here is an interesting ask I saw on Tumblr that is heated about the ???: Tumblr ASK

I was surprised that so far no one has tried to say: ‘the ??? has silver hair’ or ‘Maybe they have pointed ears and a tail?’. Instead, we all made it/them creepier. I do wonder if it will have a ‘normal’ form too.

@artless

I genuinely cannot pick between B and R

I echoed this when first playing; Bee stole my heart, but then I have to have R as a best friend. I love them both!

[Cat-Toes]

@ChiggerCat

On a different note, if the MC is allowed to romance the ??? will it be a tack on to one of the other LI routes? Or, will it be its own route

I’m thinking it will be added to another ROs route.

@ChiggerCat

Instead, we all made it/them creepier.

Now I just want ??? to be incredibly normal.

[Snowflower]

@ChiggerCat

that the ??? uses the LIs to make the MC feel comforted

Not so much “make MC feel comforted for benevolent reasons” as “trying to lull MC into a false sense of security by using the image of someone MC likes”. But then again I’m not a big fan of ??? as more than a malevolent force (I’m especially not fond of it being an RO for anything other than an achievement-granting early death for MC)—as an antagonist it’s wonderful.

[Lambkin]

@ChiggerCat

So, your idea that the ??? uses the form of the LIs to toy with the MC is interesting. I thought, as I think @Snowflower did, that the ??? uses the LIs to make the MC feel comforted. Maybe they are instead playing or mocking the MC with the use of the LIs?

I think it may be both, and that one doesn’t exclude the other. The ???!ROs’ appearances in the Ch. 03 nightmare felt a lot less comforting and more like the ??? was playing with/taunting (?) the MC, or at least doing a very good job at unnerving/unsettling them (shoutout to ???!B for taking first prize with that XD). While in the Ch. 08 nightmare, there was an obvious effort made to lull the MC into a false (?) sense of security by appearing as a welcome, familiar face (which I feel is supported by the line ‘The cloche delivery was designed with you in mind, or at least who your mind wanders to.’ from Ch. 13). I am curious to see what the ??? will do going forward though since, regardless of how the MC reacts to the ???’s attempted touch (resist, avoid, or accept), it’s revealed that the ??? isn’t the RO(s). I wholeheartedly agree with what you said further up about the ??? wanting the MC to be accepting of them and their assigned role since the ??? is much less cutting toward MCs who comply.

@ChiggerCat

Also, thank you for your hint about how to get the line!

No problem. I’m happy to help.

@ChiggerCat

On a different note, if the MC is allowed to romance the ??? will it be a tack on to one of the other LI routes? Or, will it be its own route?

I’m not sure if the ??? will get a full romance route, but I can tell you that there is a variable called ‘questionable_interest’ that is tracked if the MC accepts the ???’s touch in the Ch. 08 nightmare, so maybe it will be something that can influence the trajectory of whichever romance route the MC is on.

[ChiggerCat]

@Cat-Toes

Now I just want ??? to be incredibly normal.

I don’t think that you are going to get your wish…!! Or at least it would be an unexpected twist if you did.

@Snowflower

anything other than an achievement-granting early death for MC

I saw in the stats there is a heading: Status-alive. I don’t know if Aelsa would be so cruel as to have attraction to the ??? result in an early death for the MC? I do agree that they/it are a wonderful antagonist. The attraction that @Lambkin mentioned could be used to further the antagonism.

@Lambkin

shoutout to ???!B for taking first prize with that XD

Wholeheartedly agree with you on that assessment. My Daisy was quite afraid of her Sweet Bee during that nightmare. But, she did realized that that wan’t her Sweet Bee; he would never act that wrong…that unsettling.

Yes, ??? seems to cherish a compliant MC.

@Lambkin

so maybe it will be something that can influence the trajectory of whichever romance route the MC is on.

I can’t wait to see. My Daisy will not go for the ???, but I may allow Belladonna to give them/it a whirl. Who knows?

[Cat-Toes]

@ChiggerCat

don’t think that you are going to get your wish…!! Or at least it would be an unexpected twist if you did.

I don’t think its going to happen either. I just think it would be hilarious.

@ChiggerCat

saw in the stats there is a heading: Status-alive. I don’t know if Aelsa would be so cruel as to have attraction to the ??? result in an early death for the MC?

There is of course also the same status for the ROs… I think its far more likely the ??? takes out the competition than the MC.

@ChiggerCat

My Daisy will not go for the ???,

I think the only one of mine that might go for ??? is Naomi, but I’m not sure I can do that to B. I’m also still greatly considering a run where MC is super mean and makes all the bad decisions, so I might do it on that play through.

[ZealousImagination]

Anyone else notice that Mrs Doran seems to be orchestrating meets between you and Mal? She recommends the diner, volunteers you for the search, and orders the waffles. She knows something…

[ChiggerCat]

@Cat-Toes

I just think it would be hilarious.

It would be! If we all suspect that it/they are something unimaginable and then they are just perfectly normal perhaps good-looking considering all of the LIs but still. I do have a theory the ??? has multiple forms, which seems popular.

@Cat-Toes

I think its far more likely the ??? takes out the competition than the MC.

I believe I once saw a post about there being something worse than death? It was ominous. I agree that those statuses may be tampered with. We likely are more afraid for the characters than for our MCs, ha. (I have soft spots for Sweet Bee and R especially after the first book.)

@Cat-Toes

I’m not sure I can do that to B.

The ??? along with Bee would be interesting! It may be one of the scariest combinations if we received a sneak peek during the nightmares. I was curious as to what pairings people are doing with W, or if they are going to solo W? From Tumblr, it seems like R and W are common for the tension.

@ZealousImagination

Mrs Doran seems to be orchestrating meets between you and Mal?

Oh lord, what if… what if the MC is going for S and W at the same time?! Who would Mrs. Dorran pick to support–her child or whatever angle she could be working with W. (@Lambkin, this is you, I believe.) @ZealousImagination I had never noticed the trend until you mentioned it. I am now very curious if this is happenstance or something more. W seems to keep tabs on the MC in book 1.

.

[Lambkin]

@ChiggerCat

I believe I once saw a post about there being something worse than death? It was ominous.

This ask?

Also, from the end of Chapter Eleven

The rows of icons that perfectly match Fernweh’s snake-like emblem fade away as Board members hastily log off until only one remains alongside her own live, web camera feed.

“Lois, I’m sorry to hear about your daughter/son…”

“She/He is only hurting, not dead,” Ms. Verner dismissively retorts rather than accept the questionable sympathy. She doesn’t trust it.

“Isn’t that worse…?”

@ChiggerCat

Oh lord, what if… what if the MC is going for S and W at the same time?! Who would Mrs. Dorran pick to support–her child or whatever angle she could be working with W. (@Lambkin, this is you, I believe.)

Yes, this is me. I didn’t catch that many of the encounters with the W are brought about by Mrs. Dorran either, but now that @ZealousImagination pointed it out, I can’t unsee it. I believe she would support her child; after all, the way she softly encourages the closeness between S and the MC throughout Book One is so hearteningly genuine. (But Mrs. Dorran does seem very eager for the MC to answer the door. Is she just very excited for B to have those Fernweh Diner Belgian waffles, or does it have more to do with the meeting between the MC and the person delivering the waffles (if it’s not both)? (Wait. Oh no, there is also the fact that the W makes that revealing comment referencing the MC’s room theme if the MC accepts the offer of their name and number, so could their knowing really be as simple as Mrs. Dorran having told them? (Ah, even if there is some kind of communication going on between Mrs. Dorran and the W, I still have faith that her care for her child means she would support them above anyone else.)))

[ZealousImagination]

If she really is setting up the MC to meet with Mal, what does she know? I wouldn’t think its anything sinister, which might be another reason for me to think Mal isn’t evil