I’ve been stalled early in the story to the point of missing most of a day’s actions, because I’m struggling with the choice to do something that feels out of character for my PC (working for the tax inspector instead of investigating what’s up with the rats) or skipping a significant portion of the story.
I know it’s probably not that important in the long term. But by playing in character I’ve missed out on big segments of some Exceptional Stories before (I’m thinking here of the 12:15 from Moloch Street, which landed much more poorly for me than it seems to for most because I skipped an important bit in the middle), and it never sits well. If it were a case of two paths to choose - like ‘pick between more tax content or more rat content’ - I’d be fine with it. Or ‘do the tax content first, or do the rat content first.’ But in this case it’s ‘get all the content, or miss out on some of the content for no reward.’ There’s a ‘right’ choice, and it’s the one I wouldn’t naturally take. So I feel like I’m being told I’m wrong for having an image for my character that doesn’t match the story.
I’ll probably make my decision soon (probably by finding a way to justify doing the out-of-character thing), and the story has been fun with the little I’ve gone through so far. But it feels like I’m playing wrong either way, either by denying myself content or denying my picture of my character, and I just wanted to get that off my chest.
If Mr Stones can commission prison bars from the same qualities that bind us to our position in society ala Lowells Locks and Cages, they can come up with handcuffs for LBs.
I’m probably the only person who sided against the rats, and the story feels like it’s screaming at me for making the wrong decision in terms of how abruptly the story just ends. I regret absolutely nothing. I know exactly what happens after death in the Neath, and quite frankly it has nothing to do with the Bible and everything to do with being eaten by a Judgement. So I’m neither impressed by faith nor the alternative of what amounts to the Infinite Tsukuyomi, but for rats given the ultimate fate of the God-Eaters in Sunless Skies haven’t convinced me dreams are a viable way to stave off death indefinitely.
Very interesting to see a story that began in Mask of the Rose playing out here! I wish I had a Ferret so I could see the relevant tie-in. I enjoyed this! I’m not Christian but I’m happy to see whose who do believe keep their faith progressive and inclusive and I’m happy to help the rats do their thing!
Honestly I don’t disagree, but it’s kindof just part of the setting unfortunately :/ Like I think I’d have liked if maybe it didn’t ever get so heavily baked in, but since it is firmly and important part of the world personally I like that we got to explore a REALLY weird part of it in this one!
I’ve been playing the game a long time and am quite used to the devils and souls and bishops etc. But I don’t remember a lot of other lines like this: “Our Lord Christ was a human, and we can feel Him in our souls,” the Archbishop replies. “We rats still have reason to find value in His teachings and His sacrifice. He died for our sins too.”
I suppose the difference is that devils and souls and such are real within the fiction of the setting, while Jesus and the Christian God are the realm of faith. The Church of England is still the Fifth City’s established religious institution, and they’re always going on about the Jesus stuff - we just don’t usually see it.
Actual Victorian literature is simply drenched in the religious stuff—far more so than FL as a whole is, on average. I think it’s a good thing that we get the occasional story that leans into that aspect of the setting.
If anyone wants a book recommendation, “The Way of All Flesh” by Samuel Butler is a hilarious and trenchant social satire that absolutely tears the overweening, hypocritical piety of his Victorian contemporaries to shreds. One of my favorite novels.
Despite good writing, definitely one of my least favourite stories. Made me do too many things I had no interest in doing. And everything to do with religion is just not my cuppa tea.
