Maria de Anoun, huh? Had to reread a bunch of chapters to check if I was remembering correctly, and yes, she was the one that first introduced Cattleya to the cult, and therefore Louise to Magdalene. And she was so nice to the Carmine Countess when they were at the cult meeting together too, especially after she mauled her bore of a husband way back when and it seemed like Catt was feeding off of her (with her permission, of course) at that one meeting.

I guess Cattleya is going to be... unhappy when she finds out who was the one to take Baelogi up on her offer to betray Magdalene, the rest of the cult, and by extension her sister the Overlady. Not sure if she'll like what kind of retribution Cattelya will likely want to visit on her after they get is whole Baelogi thing sorted out.

Guess she didn't think this whole betrayal thing out, though I guess the second thoughts and hesitancy she had after Baelogi revealed what kind of "enhancements" she'd bestow on her perspective High Priestess kinda proved that already.
I think that to some degree, Maria's betrayal happened because of her relationship with Cattleya. From her words, it seems that Maria had a somewhat misguided idea of what happens between dark goddesses and their high priestess:
She pulled down her hood, and began to unfasten her dress. "My goddess! Baelogi! Take my body! Change it as you will! I will be your highest of priestesses, your chosen one!"
This reads like she was expecting lewds to go along with the unlimited power. Where would she get such ideas, if not from the nights when Cattleya came to visit?

Well Eleanor joining the fray is pretty much guaranteed, as she probably counts as a full heroic party all by her lonesome. However I'm thinking it's a 50/50 chance that Guiche and friends show up for an unexpected reunion with Louise and hopefully for the safety of pretty much everyone involved a miniscule chance that Karin shows up with or without the hubby.
I haven't actually played the game, and this is the first playthrough I'm watching, but having progressively more powerful groups of heroes show up the longer you take sounds like an interesting mechanic. It would add an element of urgency to the mission that a simple timer at the top of the screen would not be able to convey. Also, more heroes would make the mission easier, but would also steal your wrongfully-pillaged loot.
 
Feels more like a season climax than a story climax to me. First season was the "getting started" arc, this season is the Amstreldamme(sp) arc, and I would assume the next season would be the one where the Council gets overthrown. Or it might just end with Wardes getting dealt with.
I did say that it seems like there's too many plot threads with no obvious tie in for this to actually be the end. However Overlady isn't broken up into an explicit "book" or "season" format where there are several separate thematically connected arcs. It's been largely self contained "levels" until we got to the Baelogi thing which has been several levels long. It's a significant outlier unless I'm forgetting something similar happening earlier in the story. Also isn't Wardes the only council member left after Marzipan?
 
I did say that it seems like there's too many plot threads with no obvious tie in for this to actually be the end. However Overlady isn't broken up into an explicit "book" or "season" format where there are several separate thematically connected arcs. It's been largely self contained "levels" until we got to the Baelogi thing which has been several levels long. It's a significant outlier unless I'm forgetting something similar happening earlier in the story. Also isn't Wardes the only council member left after Marzipan?
There's still the chief justice dude who seems to be the leader of the council and is the guy who has been hitting his idiot servant on occasion.

Also there have been a few arcs lasting several chapters and spanning multiple levels. The Baelogi thing isn't new, but I do think it's been the longest.
 
There's still the chief justice dude who seems to be the leader of the council and is the guy who has been hitting his idiot servant on occasion.

Also there have been a few arcs lasting several chapters and spanning multiple levels. The Baelogi thing isn't new, but I do think it's been the longest.
That would be the Duc de Richelieu (or however it's spelled), who I think was named Richmond or something in canon, but that might just be me remembering info from fics too much. But yes, he is the Chief Justice and de facto leader of the Council.

Just checking previous chapters on FFN, apparently I did spell it right, and his first name is Armand-Jean, which I think is the actual name of the historical Richelieu.
 
Last edited:
That would be the Duc de Richelieu (or however it's spelled), who I think was named Richmond or something in canon, but that might just be me remembering info from fics too much. But yes, he is the Chief Justice and de facto leader of the Council.

Just checking previous chapters on FFN, apparently I did spell it right, and his first name is Armand-Jean, which I think is the actual name of the historical Richelieu.
Also, he's a Blackadder pastiche.
 
I'm pretty sure the fact that we barely know anything about Richelieu and that he's sorta the leader means that he's going to be the most difficult boss of the council, even though ES went for the Dark Goddess boss fight.
 
I have to wonder how much Louise's order not to die is involved in Magdalene's survival of being stabbed in the back, given that Magdalene mentioned being able to feel the curse, and magic can do some pretty strange things in pursuit of fulfilling itself.

Of course, even if it doesn't, I wonder if Magdalene will credit it to some degree.
 
I'm pretty sure the fact that we barely know anything about Richelieu and that he's sorta the leader means that he's going to be the most difficult boss of the council, even though ES went for the Dark Goddess boss fight.

Of course he is. He's a social boss, and Louise already has to rely on Liquid Courage buffs to pass mid-game challenges. And while overdosing on the stuff leads to hilarious cutscenes, it doesn't actually help you pass the check.

I have to wonder how much Louise's order not to die is involved in Magdalene's survival of being stabbed in the back, given that Magdalene mentioned being able to feel the curse, and magic can do some pretty strange things in pursuit of fulfilling itself.

Of course, even if it doesn't, I wonder if Magdalene will credit it to some degree.

She still has the Velliere blood. It could feel that the day is Sunday and that outside is a holy place, so it decided rather firmly to stay home.
 
Of course he is. He's a social boss, and Louise already has to rely on Liquid Courage buffs to pass mid-game challenges. And while overdosing on the stuff leads to hilarious cutscenes, it doesn't actually help you pass the check.
I heard from someone that there is a secret cutscene if you OD on Liquid Courage towards the end of the "Crown Henriette" route and are still on the crush stage of the romance. The reactions of the various people who can be present for to scene are supposed to be pure gold.
 
I heard from someone that there is a secret cutscene if you OD on Liquid Courage towards the end of the "Crown Henriette" route and are still on the crush stage of the romance. The reactions of the various people who can be present for to scene are supposed to be pure gold.

Fettid Route is non canon
 
Fettid Route is non canon

That's an easter egg. The Fettid route is what happens if you give her the wedding dress and then acquire a groom outfit (the only place where one can be found is almost impossible to reach, though).

If you find it and you have Fettid with you (wearing the wedding dress), you are treated to a cutscene where another Minion puts on the outfit once you're back in the Tower and then decides to hold a wedding. Somehow, the newly wed couple then spontaneously develops the ability to procreate. Witnessing this proves so traumatising it sends everyone in the Tower (who isn't a Minion) into complete mental breakdown. We don't get to see what happens immediately afterwards because the game fades to black at this point.

We are then treated to a glimpse of the "future" where the explosive population growth of Minionkind has resulted in them conquering the entire world (including the entirety of Hell), with literally every other species having been rendered extinct.

Only Heaven is still safe, but the angels can do nothing except stare in slack jawed horror at what the world has come to. And in the last few seconds we are treated to a scene of Minions attempting to build a "Boomy-Boomy Ship That Go Boom" (basically a rocket powered by Reds) under the guidance of Gnarl, which will finally allow them to invade Heaven.


After a parody version of the credits play (basically all of the names are in Minion), you are suddenly brought back to the main game, and the whole thing is revealed to just be a vision. Louise immediately destroys the outfit out of horror.
 
Last edited:
This reads like she was expecting lewds to go along with the unlimited power. Where would she get such ideas, if not from the nights when Cattleya came to visit?

Well, it was more that she was expecting a kick-ass demonic form with wings and horns and probably to get taller and maybe even put on more muscle. And Jessica certainly can talk about how annoying it is to have your wings unfold from your back when you're wearing a dress (which is why Jessica tends to wear things with slits in the back and a specially designed bra that stops her wings getting caught in the straps which is super-embarrassing when you're trying to do a demonic transformation and get all tangled up[1]).

Unfortunately, she did not do her research into the kinds of demonic forms the Blind Watchmaker grants. Never ask for immortality from Baelogi, because you have 50-50 odds that she'll either turn you into cancer, or turn you into a water bear.

[1] Izah'belya keeps her wings out all the time so designs around them, even if her wings are a bit pathetic and she has to strain to make them big enough to actually fly with. Izah'belya is not a very talented succubus, which is why she got her degree in Business Management at university instead. Even though Gnarl would argue that this makes her notably more evil.
 
Even though Gnarl would argue that this makes her notably more evil.

Yeah but Gnarl is prejudiced against Evil that doesn't involve paperwork, so it's not like we can trust him to be objective on this.

(which is why Jessica tends to wear things with slits in the back and a specially designed bra that stops her wings getting caught in the straps which is super-embarrassing when you're trying to do a demonic transformation and get all tangled up[1])

I wonder if Izah'belya's half sisters get around the problem by not wearing anything underneath to begin with :p
 
Last edited:
I wonder if Izah'belya's half sisters get around the problem by not wearing anything underneath to begin with :p

The idea that succubae don't need support is an idea mostly spread by male demonologists. Especially if she's physically active and flying.

She can get away with it if she's just being summoned to laze around inside a summoning circle - even if men never appreciate how much effort goes into looking interestingly bad for a summoning - but if she's going to be flying any real distance, a sports bra is the only real choice to prevent chest pains.

I mean, come on. Male demonologists never think about how with each wing beat, her wings are pushing her torso around. It's as bad as jogging. And let's not even get started on air currents and wind resistance. Strapless dresses are a no-no. And getting bugs down your front from flying through a cloud of insects is something most succubae try to avoid because it's like totally gross feeling.
 
Somehow I feel that can't be true, considering who would actually control said industry. I'd wager the root of the issue started on the mortal world, patriarchal biggots that the powers that be are there.

It would make sense that material in wider circulation in the mortal world would be edited to pass censorship with minimal bribes, so no obvious undermining of the "moral order" can be included. Like that demons can have similar everyday problems to humans. The unedited stuff on the other hand is going to end in the hands of people with deep pockets and maybe even the sense to keep a lid on it. Both unconductive for creating a wide spread stereotype in the consumer base, which I'd imagine to be weighted towards the middle class which can mostly afford only the edited material.

I would then posit that they swallow the sold image wholesale, because they are detached enough from hard physical labor but have enough lesser mages included that they just nod along when they are told that succubae have magical self supporting chests.
 
To be fair, most succubae will not want to be caught flying, or exercising, ruins their image (well, most).

Gliding is something else entirely, but you need a good bit of starting altitude/velocity and/or heat currents from some strategically prepositioned heat sources to pull it off, and if you're using magic why not just levitate?

Izah is more likely to use a parachute. The corporate kind. Why fly when you can pay someone to fly you?
 
To be fair, most succubae will not want to be caught flying, or exercising, ruins their image (well, most).
I can't help but feel they're missing out on a major potential market here.

I mean, every successful Succubus must maintain a ruthless exercise regime to maintain the appearance of effortless beauty, and the perfect sculpted body. Now, how many mortal woman would sell their souls to have that same look?

The current Succubus Summoning market is thoroughly dominated by pervy old wizards that want the Succubus for obvious, and tragically cliche, reasons. But think how well they could do if they expanded into the female market as personal trainers.
 
To be fair, most succubae will not want to be caught flying, or exercising, ruins their image (well, most).

Gliding is something else entirely, but you need a good bit of starting altitude/velocity and/or heat currents from some strategically prepositioned heat sources to pull it off, and if you're using magic why not just levitate?

Izah is more likely to use a parachute. The corporate kind. Why fly when you can pay someone to fly you?

Ah, I believe you may be confusing Abyssal media for the tomes of demonologists.

Within the Abyss, female demons are acutely aware of the lengths that the top figures in the Abyss go to maintain their figures, and the journals are full of paparazzi sketches of one powerful demoness or another working out in a sports bra by jogging, flying, or fighting slaves in their personal gladiatorial arenas. After all, it's only poor, lower-class demons who are Gluttonous these days (though things were different in the past) and these days Lust, Pride and Envy are in the ascendency and all of those demand personal perfection. Rich demons are the ones who can afford personal trainers and the like - it's a mark of conspicuous consumption. Sure, powerful demons will dress up impractically for formal events, but in day to day life you just wear something more practical, whether it's a leather apron when you're jabbing tormented souls with a pitchfork, or the black robe, white undershirt, and cravat of the practitioner of the Blackest Art.

By contrast, many demonologists are single men who avoid socialising with others and instead obsess over their imported books written in strange foreign runes, filled with lurid drawings of demonesses. Many of them get in big arguments with other demonologists about which summons is a better wife candidate, and express the sentiment that the other person's favourite is a terrible choice. They expect certain standards from their succubae - they have to look suitably pure and nothing can break that illusion of depravity, they need to dress in totally impractical outfits, and they often don't understand that the pictures in tomes of demonology are just drawings and artistic liberties are taken.

Izah'belya honestly finds business management much less stressful than the eighteen months she spent as a summons before university. It's much easier buying bulk orders of souls and employing others to do the dirty work than having to cater to the whims of some bespectacled demonologist who thinks because he taught himself the Black Tongue to read tomes he can actually speak it properly. Oh, sure, a few top succubae are mega-rich because of it, but the working conditions are exploitative even by the standards of the Abyss and your agent and your manager (and your mother) take most of your earnings. Life as a low-ranking demonic servant sucks, and most never get their big break.
 
Many of them get in big arguments with other demonologists about which summons is a better wife candidate, and express the sentiment that the other person's favourite is a terrible choice.

I think there are nearly as many arguments about which demon lords make the best summons, which often get nonsensical. A lot of demonologists are so obsessed with "power levels" and "feats" that they tend to ignore or put little weight in other considerations.

Also, a lot of arguments pitting Karin of the Heavy Wind against various demons, at least in the past few decades. Those are just dumb, because the answer is always the same.

By contrast, many demonologists are single men who avoid socialising with others

It's kind of telling that most demonologists feel the need to dress up in impractically elaborate, identity concealing costumes when arranging to meet with other demonologists in person.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top