2012 Thrift Store Buys: DVD / Blu-Ray / Video Games

Here are some 2 videos of my thrift store buys: the first video is for DVD & Blu-Rays, while the 2nd is Video Games.

Ninja Resurrection: The Disappointment (A Review & Rant) - It's NOT Ninja Scroll

I waited years for this?

Ninja Scroll (which, was just released on Blu-Ray this month) was an awesome action movie that I enjoyed as a kid, so when I saw Ninja Resurrection on VHS, I bought it as well.  I watched the first OVA, but the 2nd I never bought, so I never saw the conclusion.  I wouldn't know until college that Ninja Resurrection used the same font as Ninja Scroll to trick people into buying it, and that it was actually based on a series of novels and already had 3 Live Action films.  Despite this, I enjoyed the first Ninja Resurrection as an interesting set-up, was excited when I finally found the DVD of both OVA's at a Movie Stop for $5.00 this year, then greatly disappointed when I finally watched the 2nd OVA.

<center><strong>Ninja Resurrection:  OVA 1</strong></center>

Let's sum up Ninja Resurrection:  OVA 1.  We learn a long history lesson about historical figures (so that the anime can the nscrew with the history in any way it pleases); the only important thing from the narration is that there is a tale of a savior of God helping turn the people and land, but if he is stopped in any way, he could instead become the next Satan.  We see an army attacked a house, destroy the Virgin Mary statue inside, then shoot a boy to death who happened to enter.  That boy is seen my his friend Okho, who cries for his death, until it is revealed that he is alive; the bullet hit his cross.  Everyone comes out of hiding and believes it is a miracle, and the boys' cross glows with light and the Virgin Mary statue is magically re-created. 

Years Later, that same small boy (Shiro) is now the head of a farmer's movement that is fighting the local government (it's situated as Farmers = Good, Government = Bad).  Shiro tells his followers not to forget that the enemy is also dying, and that they are also suffering.  Later, he tells his mentor that he will surrender himself to the government because they are without food, and victory is now impossible.  However, his mentor tells him they must fight to the death, or everything they started will mean nothing.

Every attack the government makes fails.  At a meeting describing this by the general of the army, Jubei appears, stating he will go in.  He and four of his allies attach themselves onto a kite and decent into the castle on gliders (so, apparently, this is what really happened in local history [sarcasm]) and start killing everyone.  At one point, Jubie spots some children, wall walks past them, and continues running.  Later, they are spotted by Shiro's Mentor, who kills them (if you were watching this, this is totally obvious given his per chant for smiling malevolently when no one was looking).  With the defense down, the army is also able to get through.

Shiro meets Jubei on the roof and says he will kill himself if the women and children are protected.  Jubei agrees, but then Shiro's mentor shows up with the children's heads, telling Shiro that Jubei is not to be trusted.  Angered at Jubei's (supposed) lies, Shiro calls forth the power of good and forms a dragon out of ceiling tiles to fight Jubei.  This is where we see Shiro fall, as his anger comes lashing out, and his eyes glow with hatred which he has most likely never shown before (it is also unknown whether the power he got actually came from God or Satan).  After a long battle, Jubei uses the heads of the children to distract Shiro, and in a moment of hesitation, is able to kill Shiro and knock him back into the church.

There, however, Shiro's mentor appears with his childhood friend Ocho, and tells him to have sex with her so he can give birth to Satan.  Shiro is unable to stop the consummation, but it is assumed that Shiro will return as Satan, having given birth to himself.

The only problems with the first OVA is that you get back-story on the general Jubei talks to, for no reason whatsoever, as he is never seen again.  Also, Shiro is clearly the main character.  The OVA feels like a compressed story that hints at far greater things to come.

<center><strong>Ninja Ressurection:  OVA 2</strong></center>

I can't even begin to describe how completely annoyed I was at this.  The storytelling is off the wall, characters are raped (because it's 90's anime I suppose), people are killed, and not a single thing happens.  It ends on a cliffhanger.  This is a another set-up after the initial set-up.  What the hell kind of storytelling is this?

Before I start to sound like someone who has had their dreams crushed, I'll give you the synopsis.  First, Jubei is relaxing while two kids (a brother and sister [Onwei]) catch fish and play in the water.  Jubei suddenly remembers the two kids that were killed.  Their father returns and chastises the girl for being a tomboy, and his son for doing servant work.  Then, what follows is plot exposition (and this is in addition to the lengthily historical info that happens before the anime even starts).  Apparently, the local Shogun wants all girls of noble birth ages 15 - 22 to appear in his city, and I immediately realize it's for a virginal sacrifice.  After a long dinner scene, we cut to morning, where we see the female that cooked them dinner (Ohina) to be a fighter that defeats everyone around her.  She then spars with Onwei and they battle to a standstill.

Jubei trains everyone at this place, in case you are wondering.  He also wants to quit fighting.  He is now clearly the main character this time around.  Jubei's father and mentor train him in a flashback.  Jubei had just killed some men, and his Father/Mentor tells Jubei to attack him as if he is anyone else.  Jubei doesn't try to kill him, so Father/Mentor stakes him in the eye and tells him not to rely on strength alone, and that he used his knowledge that he would hold back to defeat him, then banishes Jubei.  Jubei doesn't like his lessons, but apparently agreed with them, because in the first OVA, he sticks out the heads of the children to distract Shiro to deal him a killing blow.

Also, why did Jubei kill Shiro?  Apparently it was because it was his duty, but it appears in the first OVA that he is almost a mercenary force or something.  It's not really explained.

Anyway, the good character set-up for Jubei's character is now pointless because Jubei in now removed from the rest of the OVA.  You heard me right:  the main character is gone from the rest of the story.  He sends Onwei (who clearly has a crush on Jubei) & Ohina off to the city, then leaves to investigate on his own, which also seems to mean, "I don't have anything to contribute to the plot anymore."  Hell, even Onwei & Ohina, who we have JUST ESTABLISHED, are gone from the rest of the OVA. 

The OVA does a total 180, as we see a guy who ran through the forest in OVA 1 then smile at the end as if he was a villian, now doing something unvillian like, drawing pictures of Buddha while surrounded by evil looking statues.  It's never explained what he is doing or why.

Then, we get a rape scene to introduce the evil demons.  Well, these aren't demons, they are 3 of the 6 masters of some fighting styles that are now evil for no reason whatsoever other than to show people that they are experienced badasses and that no one can touch.  I guess they are expected to be obstacles for Jubei to overcome and show that they are actually a viable threat, if he ever got to fight them.  One of the other demons (I don't care at all to name them or look them up, I really stopped caring at this point) kills a ninja who was spying on them, then is staked with multiple swords.  Instead of dying, we see the swords in his body push themselves out, while his intestines swirl up and cut people (yes, you heard me:  deadly killer intestines).  One of the ninja escapes, but it looks like he escapes because a third demon-ninja-fighting-style-master interfered.  Did they want him to get away?

That ninja reports to Jubei's Mentor/Father and we find that he still hates Jubei, but also thinks his follower is drunk for stating who the people that killed everyone were.

Next, onto a long and boring resurrection scene.  We see Ocho from OVA 1 give birth to Satan.  It's not pretty.  There is some smoke, some skin movements, some hair extending out of her body, and then it explodes (this takes over 10 minutes, by the way).  Shiro/Satan returns (I assume it's Shiro, he just sort of screams) and then gives his 3 followers a green glow of power (except for Shiro's old master, who just praises Satan and watches with glee the entire time).  We later see one of the follower demons that just powered up standing in the middle of a busy street festival, and then he starts killing everyone by cutting them up with his sword.  The other two followers do this as well.  People are killed for a few minutes, then the 3 fighting-style-not-zombies jump toward the screen, followed by Shiro/Satan; and then it just ends.

What the hell was this?  Why did you do a set-up of a set-up?  Why did you draw out the narrative of the resurrection for half of the entire OVA?  Why are the characters missing?  Why does this feel like 2 different writers when 1 writer is credited for both OVAs?  Why was this the last OVA?  The story is not continued anywhere, I checked.  On Wikipedia, the stories of the Live Action films are completely different (even though this is technically a sequel to one of them).  Also, Wikipedia, states that Ohiro is the girl that is raped.  If that's so, what was the point?  Why set her up as a fighter only to have her now dead?  And furthermore, where was Onwei if that was the case?  If the Demons are actual positive historical figures, were they corrupted?  If they are just lifeless husks, why do they have personalities and speech?  The characters were entirely pointless, as was the entire OVA itself.  Nothing is explained, not even Satan/Shiro's motivation or what he is.  Does Shiro have the powers of Satan?  Or, is he Satan's mindless Avatar?  Did his soul merge with Satan?  Why does he only grunt and scream?  How are we supposed to figure out what Satan/Shiro's plan are other than just killing everyone that exists?  The one thing that does get explained (the Sata/Shiro resurrection) is long and takes up way to much screen time.  At one point I realizes there was no way this would finish and I was already expecting a cliffhanger that would never be solved, but I was still pissed about it when it happened.

So, yeah, OVA 1 has potential, but OVA 2 destroyed every ounce of the potential it had.  I am not surprised that the next OVA was cancelled after this one came out, and after watching it, I'm glad I'm angry about it so that I don't care, otherwise, I'd be silently wishing for the remaining OVA's which would never come, which is a rant for another time.

Dishonored Story Playthorugh: Mission 3 - Find Emily: Revisit The Previous Level

Mission #3 – Find Emily:  Revisit The Previous Level

                Emily is being held at the Golden Cat, a bathhouse (or brothel, let’s face it).  As soon as I begin, I realize I’m starting in the same spot that I started my last mission.  Now, however, the door to the main street is sealed shut, and a giant Watch Tower with automatic guns is shooting at tons of people fleeing in the distance.
  

                I try to see Granny Rags, but her house is sealed shut from both entrances.  I explore some rooftops and find a dead homeless man, and then eat all of his food.  I hope I don’t get food poisoning.  How am I able to eat this bread if it’s days old?  Shouldn’t it be as hard as a brick?  

I then teleport onto the Watch Tower and find I can easily remove the Whale oil to stop it.  I then vault over the wall and disable all the guards in the vicinity, afraid that killing them will be too messy.  I explore the scientist’s house again, only to find there is a dead body, and some guards inside.  I find nothing of interest.  I return to the streets and reprogram the Wall of Light because I want to see some guards fry.  Hilariously, one guard tries to throw a grenade at me, only for it to evaporate into the wall.  He slowly approaches the Wall 3 times, as if thinking about very hard about his decision and basing it on what he has seen already, then just decides, screw it, runs into the wall, then evaporates into dust.  What school did this guard go to?

I vault back over the wall I came (I don’t want to go forward, there’s another tower that doesn’t look easy to get by) then go across the bridge where I notice the man that had died previously on my first mission here, waiting for his lover at the dock so they could escape.  I then realize in horror I never told his lover that he had died.  How could I have forgotten that?  How many nights has she wondered what happened to him?   

                I then realize I haven’t really used the Heart on any City Watch or Overseer’s yet.  I just decide not to use it unless it’s on someone important.

In the streets I am suddenly attacked by someone I can’t see--it’s people with the same powers that I have.  Not only that, but they are dressed exactly like those who killed my Empress!  I try to slow time, but one of them has the same idea, and I see that one of them is slowed, but the other is not.  I barely manage to kill them all and survive.  What disturbs me most, is that the Outsider gave me this power.  Did he give it to them as well, or did they get it in another day?  There haven’t been any books on the subject lying around people’s homes open to that exact subject.  Did the Outsider kill my beloved Empress and then give me powers to fight the killers he hired as some sort of sick game for his amusement?  

                I return to the Distillery to learn that the bottleneck street gang lost half their men with the ‘poisoned’ elixir.  Instead of attacking me on sight, however, this time they just rudely allow me to pass.  I laugh as I hear about the problems they have, and wonder if I should kill them all.  I meet with Slackjaw, and he tells me I can help him if I get info on his man Crowly, which I already picked up while at the scientist's house.  I learn that someone (other than me) is killing his gang.  He gives me a key that will get me over to the Golden Cat easier.  He then tells me he can ‘kidnap’ the Pendletons for me.  He won’t kill them, he’ll just take them somewhere.  Is he going to sell them as slaves?  Torture them?  Brainwash?  It’s never made clear, but I want to kill them anyway, so I reject his offer.  He also asks if I can find out the combination to the Artist’s Building’s safe (god, this guy is needy—how does the gang ever get anything done?)

I enter the Artist’s building, but the thugs here don’t know about my alliance and try to attack me.  They pay with their lives, and then the rats eat them while I inspect the safe.  I look at the safe and realize that the gang is completely stupid (and realize why they can’t get anything done).  There are 999 possible combinations on this lock, and when the number is correct, the door will open automatically.  All they needed to do was spend 1 hour trying all the combinations.  I could do it, too, but it’s not worth my time.

I leave, only to find guards patrolling where I had previously knocked everyone unconscious.  Did they all wake up?  I search the place I dumped the bodies, only to find them gone.  Did the rats eat them?  Do they eat unconscious bodies?  Have I inadvertently killed everyone in my quest without realizing it?

I see that the Wall of Light is no longer under my control.  I then back around, and find a former Art Building employee thank me for saving her and give me a key to the abandoned Art Gallery Apartment (which I already broken into).  When did I save her?  At first, I thought she was the one who was assumed of witchcraft that got away, but that wouldn’t make sense, as she was two blocks over.  In the person’s exact location last level, 4 thugs killed a City Watch guard, then got into an argument over how they were splitting the spoils, and 2 of them teamed up and killed the other two (what was odd was that they used alcohol to breath fire at each other).  However, there was no innocent girl to save there.   I know I do a lot good, but I would like to at least know how I did it!  I then realize that it was probably possible to break into this building the previous day.

I knock out some guards, and then reprogram the 2^nd Watch Tower to shoot anyone it sees, which seems pointless since the streets are empty. 

Continue To "Chapter 3 - Find Emily: Golden Cat Bathhouse"

Return To "Mission 2.5 - Killing The Religion: Corruption"

Dishonored Story Playthrough: Mission 2.5 - Hearing My Allies Thoughts / Searching Everywhere

Mission 2.5 – Hearing My Allies Thoughts / Searching Everywhere         I start out by opening my heart (the item I have, not my real one) and using it on all my allies. I find out lots of interesting things about them, such as learning that Cecillia (the common maid) was a seamstress at a rich location, Havelock’s brother died when he was 9, and that Lord Pendleton’s servant (Wallace) lost all his belongings in the flood (which might explain why the heart later says he steals a few coins from Lord Pendleton). Some things it tells me are a little disturbing, such as learning that Piero watches Callista bathe, and that Havelock has killed many whales and people for profit and pleasure.

      I explore the area, only to realize that my heart tells me there is 1 rune somewhere nearby; it says it’s only 5 meters away through a wall, but I’m sure I’ve been everywhere except through the 2 locked doors. I give up and explore the large tower, but can never find a way into the rooms above.

      Luckily, an easier rune is where I swam everyone that accomplished nothing 2 days ago. I see there is a catwalk up above before I jump in, and try to use my new wind powers to blow away the wood above me, but nothing happens. Maybe I have to get more powerful, or God has deemed that no one can exist in this space.

      I find Cecillia, and she is being told my Pendleton’s servant that she must learn to bow and do things properly for the nobles who visit here in the resistance. She is pretty annoyed, saying that everyone is equal here. However, she quickly walks away from his annoying ways. I really don’t like Wallace. At least Pendleton, while he does seem to talk down to others, never comes off overbearing or pompous; you would think his servant was a noble, too. Later, I talk to Cecillia, and she asks about my relationship with the Empress, and quickly retracts it. I would actually like to know the answer to that, as I think I forgot about it in prison.

      I explore the large tower, and try desperately to use my Blink power to get to the very top where I can clearly see an open door. I think there is only 1 place to stand, but my Blink never gives me an arrow indicating it is safe to go. I can see there are holes in the floorboard in the room itself, but Blink won’t allow me up there either, and Windblasts won’t blow away the floorboards. Having to give up a 2nd time, I finally decide to get some sleep.

      When I try to get to Havelock, I run into Wallace again. He is getting on the maid for not doing enough cleaning, while she claims that this place would fall apart without her. Later, one of her comments says, “Mrs. Pendleton; no, I don’t think so.” This leave me to imply that she might have slept with him, was thinking about him, or the argument that I ran into was somehow involved in it. Too many options, so I just forget about it.

      Also, Callista is talking to Piero, but they are having a really awkward conversation. She says he’s pretty nice and, yes, she is slightly attracted to him, but he just doesn’t know how to talk to a lady. I try to talk to Piero to help him with his problems, but he’s only interested in upgrading my items. So, I spend all my money upgrading all I can. Did I really steal $2,500 gold? I obtain my double-zoom and the capacity to carry more darts.

      I never buy the ability to see through walls to find people, or to see their field of vision This feels like cheating to me. Plus, it might be too easy with it. At least this way I feel some real suspense when doing a mission, and actually have to be careful doing my job.

     Havelock wants me to check out a noise in the sewer to see if it’s a Weeper or a nosy Overseer. I find the rune I had given up looking for and kill some zombies…I mean, Weepers. I put them out of their misery because they can’t be saved, and they aren’t really living anymore anyway.

      I met the Overseer I saved (Teague Martin) and worry about some possible friction about working with an Overseer since I clearly have the powers of their enemy–the Outsider. However, he tells me that we are all equal here and have to do what we can. I gain some respect for him in his handling of this situation.

      I then learn that the journal we stole from the High Overseer stated Emily’s whereabouts, and that she is being held by Pendleton’s two older, twin, brothers. They must be killed for kidnapping my beloved Emily. I learn that time is not on my side. The Lord Regent will most likely ‘find’ Emily and say he saved her, just to get in good with the city. Also, apparently, Pendleton says that the Lords are getting to the point that they will soon have a vote or what to do with who is in power if Emily isn’t found soon. So, the Lord Regent is not yet in full control? Who would they put in power if they start a vote? I start to care less and decide it’s time to save the daughter I never had.

Continue to "Mission 3 - Find Emily: Revisit The Previous Level"

Return To "Mission 2 - Killing The Religion: Corruption"

Dishonored Story Playthrough: Mission 2 - Killing The Religion: Corruption

I find Overseer Martin chained up in humiliation. I free him and he thanks me. I wander around the streets, then find I can Blink up to the 3rd floor of Campbell’s house. I sneak in through the window and quickly take out 5 guards in succession. This stealth thing is getting easier. I then find a book that details how to place a mark on an religious member who is an outcast. I realize I can use this on Campbell, but don’t want to; this corrupt bigot needs to die.

      Having found his room, I hear him talking to Callista’s uncle. I quickly run to the glasses of poison, and switch the drinks. I want the Captain on my side. I go out the window and watch the action. Campbell starts talking, then suddenly chocks and realizes he is dying. Campbell begs the Captain to get his journal, but doesn’t finish his sentence. Then, the Captain calls forth help, and demands that they close the place down to find a murderer. The Overseers say they will control their own house, and the Captain and one of his men fight off the Overseers and escape.

      I explore the rest of the house and find Campbell’s secret room that you can only access by pushing a button in a status of himself. I’m glad this guy is dead. He has a hidden room in the basement with a mattress where he meets with woman. Hilariously, one of the Overseer’s has been watching him through the window and was warned to stop in a letter I found.

      I enter the back of the Campbell house and find many guards patrolling with dogs. I also see the sheer evil of the Overseers. One of their own has a sister accused of witchcraft. The others say they don’t get special treatment just because she’s related to one of them. They kill their overseer member and his sister gets away. Then, I come across an Overseer who starts coughing. The other 2 members near him accuse him of hiding the plague from them immediately. He says he’s fine, and coughs again. They kill him while he tries to defend himself verbally.

      Listening to their stupid fears of the plague, I wonder if anyone even knows the symptoms of this plague. It is just coughing? He could have had the common cold, but everyone is so freaked out. Since I’ve been in prison, half of the city has died, and now it looks like the other half will too, but not from the plague.

      In one room I find a device that Sokolov has invented; it plays a musical tone that renders my powers useless. This is very disturbing and I hope I don’t see much of these in the future. I explore many of the houses around here even though my boatman is only a straight line from the door I entered to get here. I can’t help it; there is gold here to use so that I can buy better upgrades in addition to finding ammo and other gear to help me in the future.

      As I get to the boat, I am almost spotted by someone. However, as soon as I hide, they seem to take a page from the guards in Thief and say, “Must have been rats,” and “must have been the wind.” Maybe it’s just a natural thing to say when you don’t know what a noise is.

Continue To "Mission 2.5 - Hearing My Allies' Thoughts / Searching Everywhere"

Return To "Mission 2 - Killing The Religion: The City"

Dishonored Story Playthrough: Mission 2 - Kill The Religion: The City

Mission 2 – Kill The Religion:  The City

     One of the first things I see now that I am released from prison, and it’s the City Watch dumping bodies from a bridge into a boat below.  One of them says “I think that one moved,” but they toss it over anyway.  “Well, it’s not moving no more.”  Great.  I’m so glad I used to work with these type of people.

               

       I see a Wall of Light, which is a wall of electricity that will disintegrate anything that walks in front of it.  I instead go the other way and find two guys just walking about.  I don’t know why they are here when the City Watch is just a few paces away.  I point my heart at one of the men and it says he reports his friends to the Lord Regent.

     I make my way into a house and find Granny Rags, an old woman who has her house suddenly attacked by the Bottle Neck Gang.  She says if I help her, she’ll give me something, so  I place a springwire trap on the ground then open the door.  It kills one, and then I quickly make short work of the others with my sword 

                

     Granny Rags gives me a bone charm, then asks if I can help her take care of the street gang itself by poisoning their illegal elixir they make.  I think about it as I make my way through the city.  I walk through the city streets, avoid people, and end up accidentally saving a shopkeeper, who gives me some good deals; even the heart agrees with me on that one.  I further explore the city and find two thugs having a disagreement with two other thugs (they think one of them is stealing money from a City Watch corpse), with the group that was doing the accusing killing the two they accused.  This city has gotten so disgustingly evil since I’ve been gone.  I decide to end the lives of the two people remaining.

                

I make my way to a scientist’s house who has some rat poison I can steal to poison the elixir supply of the street gang.  There are also questions about how the rat plague appeared, since most rats seem to have started in the inner city instead of the docks.


     Leaving the scientist’s house, The Blink power comes in handy when jumping around out of view, but I still take the time to enjoy the scenery and look for any possible wall I can mantle and climb over.  I constantly look for other ways to walk, jump, fly, & yes, even fall. 

I make my way back to the Distillery.  I am told that I should not enter, and retract my steps.  Luckily, I find that I can walk on the pipes above and sneak past them all (no one ever looks up).    I hear people talk about someone who could move very fast and wears a mask; but I haven’t been here yet, so I don’t know who they’re talking about.  The Outsider has given many people these powers before, but for what purpose?   I quickly find some secrets inside, steal many valuables, then search for the elixir to poison.  I finally do the deed then quietly escape without being noticed.

     I return to tell Granny Rags the news, and find she has built a totem to the Outsider.  The Outsider suddenly appears out of nowhere.  Is he following me everywhere and watching me non-stop?  Is he tracking everything I do to make sure I complete a task for him?  In Thief, the Trickster watched over Garrett for a while so he could get him to steal an artifact for him (both creatures are enemies of the church and considered the true evil by them, mind you) so I am suddenly worried he is keeping tabs on me for a reason.  But, he speaks so calmly it’s almost like he cares about Granny Rags when he says she used to be very famous, so much so that many people vied for her hand in marriage.

           

     I have fun knocking out guards in the middle of the street, and then I reprogram the 2^nd Wall of Light and purposely cause a commotion.  Two guard runs toward me and are quickly vaporized.  Another guard looks at me and tosses a grenade, but it evaporates.  He walks slowly, then stops, slowly, then stops, slow, then stops.  Hello, you’ve seen 2 friends and a grenade vaporized; do you really want to come after me?  Finally, after his 3^rd stop, he growls impatiently, draws his sword, and runs directly at me in a rage.  I watch his body explode into ash.  These guards are not very smart.   Anyway, with the street now mine, I make my way to the Overseer property.

Continue To "Mission 2 - Kill The Religion: Corruption"

Return To "Mission 1.5 - Secrets & Stealing"

Dishonored Story Playthrough: Mission 1.5 - Listen To People’s Inner Secrets & Steal Their Stuff

Mission 1.5 – Meet The Allies / Search People’s Rooms
Playstyle 1: Whatever

      I am told to meet the man in charge of the group still loyal to the Empress (Loyalists). Instead, I swim around the entire docking area. I am immediately damaged by sources unknown. Are there piranhas in the river? I swim around the left tower, but find nothing but colorful scenery (I’ve been in prison for 6 months, I needed to partake in the air and view the surroundings I had missed—though finding rare items washed upon the shore seems plausible, too). I then start searching the entire Loyalist house and steal people’s things (I told you, I can’t help myself). The gold is so tempting, and so shiny– and when I get close to it, IT GETS EVEN SHINIER!

      I also start reading through everyone’s personal journals; I do want to know about the people that have helped me. A poor whaler was defeated by the struggles of city life (was that the boatman?). I also learn that they wanted to free me for some time. Am I just an instrument to further the plot—their plot against this new nation?

      I meet up with Admiral Havelock (the leader of the Loyalists) and a noble named Treavor Pendleton. Pendleton says everyone is equal here, but I heard on his Victrola (I’m sorry, Audiograph; damn, I really read those Thief novels too many times while I was in prison) that no one understands he has problems, even though he’s heard ordering champagne from his servant as he says this.

      Admiral Havelock tells me they fight to take back the city from the Spymaster, who is now the Lord Regent and ruler of this city. I want to believe these people, but I could just be used again. Havelock tells me to talk to their inventor and get some rest, as if I’ve already decided to join them. I want to speak up for myself and tell him just because he busted me out doesn’t mean I’m going to instantly join him, but I find that, after having not talked to a single person in prison for so long, that I can no longer speak.

      I speak to the inventor, Piero. He has a bit of an ego trip. Reading all his papers, I find that he thinks himself superior to Sokolov, and believes his plague elixir is better. His papers give off lots of aggressive tendencies and hostility at not being recognized, as well as displaying feelings of inadequacy. I wonder if the Loyalists know how much of a dangerous man they are harboring. It is only a matter of time before he invents something dangerous (like robots that run on steam and shot canons from their arms) or turns into a villain to fight against us just to show us all how brilliant he is. I’m going to get close to this guy so that when he snaps he still considers me a friend.

      He shows me lots of tools and gives me a mask. Sweet; like Garrett, I now have a mechanical eye that zooms. This will be helpful is spotting whether or not people are facing me when I try to sneak by them. Since I am famous in the city, he recommends I wear it. He also has lots of tools that seem tailor suited to fit me. Has he been building all this since I was in prison, just for me?

      I find a letter from Havelock stating to Piero that they don’t have much money, and to stop requesting so many things. At least now I have a reason to justify my klepto ways; I can now say it’s for the greater good (new sweet gear). I already angered Havelock when I stole some of the gold from his bar and started chucking bottles into the air. Though why Peiro couldn’t find out that an item he needed was in the dumpster in the alley next to his house, I’ll never know (how long had it been there? It looks like this trash has been this way since the plague started—leave your workshop and explore the outside world around you!). I also run into Callista, who says her Uncle is the Captain of the guards, and wants to know if I could save her Uncle from Campbell’s plan to kill him. Apparently, he is the only person in the City Watch that is uncorruptable. I wish I knew if she were telling the truth, as I feel that I should know this since I did travel with this man for 4 months.

      I then try to explore the tower, but there is no way inside. Realizing I’m completely trapped, with no doors to leave and find out how this connects to the city, and no walls to mantle over, and realizing that I did just break out of prison and was running for life and am possibly exhausted, I go to bed. Hopefully, tomorrow, I can begin my quest to look for Emily and keep my promise to Jessamine.

      I wake up, but as soon as I walk outside, I find that the entire world is gone. All that exists is a blue haze filled with crumbling buildings and…a whale? It is here I meet the Outsider of legend. He gives me a power called Blink, which allows me to move at distances with great speed. I use it to explore the back of every building, and even the rocks near every building and corner. However I am not careful and fall into the abyss. Luckily, the Outsider teleports me back, saying that I cannot die here in my dreams.

      I see a construction of Jessamine’s death. Why are you showing me this? I also see Emily being held by 2 guys, and the Lord Regent playing with a map as if controlling everything like a chess game. All of them are completely frozen. What are these images? A few are just people getting killed or crumbling buildings and I wonder what they have to do with anything. The Outsider also gives me a magical heart that tells me the secrets of places and people when I point it at them. Garrett had a talking body part on his adventure–an Eye–but luckily, my magical talking object doesn’t make sarcastic quips at me; it just tells me the truth. It also tells me where magical runes and charms are so that I can call forth other magical powers. The Outsider says I have the potential to change this city, and looks forward to watching my actions.

      When I awake, I find the tattoo still on me. And, I move incredibly fast though the air. I now have powers, powers which I can use to save Emily and avenge my Empress.

Continue To "Mission 2 - Kill The Religion: The City"

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