Less of an RPG and more of a dating sim with stabbing in it: Let's Play Loren the Amazon Princess!

That was one heck of a fight.
Against Krul and the orcs? Yes.
I know we were tryin' to not fight the whole army, but it sure felt like we did. Didn't it?
Yeah, what's up with that?

What indeed?



This LP has given me a new appreciation for the side characters. Ramas has some great lines.

Loud and clear, buddy. Loud and clear.

Amukiki's got our third Krul-aftermath chat buried under a few other scenes, one of which is a jealousy confrontation. I think it's so the heart points for that can make up for not choosing him - frankly, I think it'd be a lot better if rejecting someone actually made the heart points go down more than one; it's really hard to get off someone's path once you're this solidly on it.

Speaking of which, Loren's at 4/5 hearts, so she's got another conversation coming up herself. I've already transcribed most of that, so I might as well give y'all something substantial to read while I get to work on Amukiki and the jealousy chats. Amukiki and Karen have a pair coming up starring each other, since they're the only two who are currently at 5 hearts. Any preference as to which one you'd like to see first?

Elenor decides to hang out with Loren in a rare moment of downtime. She's gotten used to standing near her in her capacity as a personal servant, and then in her capacity as second-in-command. Loren wants to know what she's doing there, but Elenor… doesn't really have an answer.

You came over to me for no reason?

…Yeah, kinda. Elenor doesn't understand why she's so bitter all of a sudden, and wants to know why. She's never objected to all the hovering in the past.

We are not friends.

Ouch. Elenor's… not even sure how to react here. She's never considered Loren a friend herself. But on the other hand, she's never considered Loren not a friend. She's not usually so sensitive about their relationship; so maybe she thinks that Elenor's been getting too forward for a servant.



Oh. That explains it. Elenor pinpoints this as a bad case of the tsuns. Poor girl, even if her point isn't entirely unvalid.

Loren…?
Go. Spend time with someone else. I allow you.

Her voice is wavering despite her firm expression.

No, I'm all settled and everything. Too late now.

Loren gets all flustered and what are emotions for a minute before going back to her usual grumpy face.

Fine. Waste your free time. It is not mine, so I don't care.

They stand near the fire in increasingly awkward silence as Elenor gets her internal monologue on. Said monologue is mostly about how cool and sexy badass Loren is and now fighting side-by-side with her feels just like having a conversation with an old friend. During battle, it doesn't feel like they're a princess and her servant at all, and now that's bleeding over into their daily lives.

I vote for Talk About The Weather, just to find out what hilarious awkwardness that could lead to.

War seems like it might actually get Loren to relax some. ...that seems ironic, but she is an Amazon...

Agreed. Talk about the weather!

No talking about the wather. Let's talk about being sweaty and covered in blood like normal people.

Talk about war, unless Loren has figured a way to punch out the weather, then we should talk about that.

Talk about the weather because Elenor is probably going to have some good lines.

Talk 'bout the Weather- maybe, if we're lucky, we can talk Loren down from this whole 'Amazon Princess' bit and convince her to take up meteorology- I mean, doesn't that just have a better ring to to it? Loren, Meteorological Princess!

WEATHER IT IS. This scene's almost completely void of dialogue, as it turns out.

Good weather today.

Loren stiffened from her voice. She did not except to be spoken to, especially so casually… It was frivolous, too. Practically insulting to engage in such banter with the Princess of the Amazons.

She heard the sky crack and she looked up to see dark clouds rumbling overhead. It was about to rain.



Elenor had just realized the absurdity of what she said, trying too hand to instigate a conversation to realize how mistaken the statement was.

Slowly, she cracked a smile.

A stray drop from the sky landed on her cheek, and she broke. Elenor started laughing loudly, wiping the rain away.

The sound caused Loren's stern face to melt away, and her chest to shake. She realized soon that she was laughing, too.



After they were both drenched, they locked eyes almost like they did after each battle. Loren's eyes bounced once and then looked away with a thinning smile.

I'm pretty sure I've seen a line like that in the Lyttle Lytton.

Maybe it was a bit of good weather, after all.

I honestly misread that line as "talk about her" instead of "talk about war".

Now, let us ruin that moment of camaraderie with a tricky question!

Why do the Amazons have slaves? If they are so capable, why need anyone else to do work?

A sharp division of labor allows for greater specialization among the upper classes... Or at least that's what I'd say if Elenor weren't basically doing the same kind of work a high-status Amazon like Breza would. I have no idea what the Amazon economy's like in terms of like... everything but battle related things and booze, but you have slaves working as palace guards and combat instructors and getting sent out into the arena and working as bodyguards, so obviously it's not like Sparta in which all they do is support the warrior class by producing food.

In most societies like that, the ruling class absolutely does not ever want let the slaves learn how to fight, and even moreso, does not approve of any sort of mindset in which physical violence against said ruling class is acceptable. Remember the character creation? You can be involved in the arena, which okay fine, Romans did that, but it was mostly fighting against other gladiators - other slaves, criminals, foreigners. Not actual citizens.

You can be the main combat instructor, and if you're allowed to fight against the princess, you're probably allowed to thump other young Amazon nobility to boot. You're allowed to be a royal guard or bodyguard, and obviously that means you're allowed to strut your authority and enact violence upon more than just other slaves. You can learn how to make weaponry, and the PC did this on their own time, albeit for their mistresses' benefit. You're a slave, but you have enough freedom to just walk into a blacksmith's, say "hey I wanna make a sword and surprise my boss, will you teach me how this works?" and that's just... an ordinary thing that can happen. Most lower-class rebellions involve farming tools repurposed as weapons for a reason, and that is that you don't ever let the oppressed masses get their hands on proper weapons.

tl;dr Slavery is kind of weird in Lorenverse



She may be nicer these days, but she's still the Amazon Princess and has an ego to match it.

But as it stands, only half of our children are so made.
I had no idea Amazons could give birth to two different species all together.
Species? What? No, Amazons may birth women or men.
But the way you treat either is so wildly different, it's almost funny. Not ha-ha funny… Okay, maybe not funny at all.

Please note that this started out a conversation about slaves in general and then turned into a conversation about male slaves specifically. Once again, I suspect that Saren's supposed to be the default protagonist, although to the game's credit, it's hard to tell most of the time. Unlike certain games that give you three love interests for a straight guy and one rather so-so love interest for a straight gal and don't let you romance the sexy sword-dancing bard with the cool face tattoos.

Because they are different.
Are you so sure?

And then Loren just turns around and leaves. That's… one way to finish an argument.

Wait, so is this conversation implying that the Amazons are 1) a non-human species, which 2) gives birth to both male and female members, but 3) raises only the female children as citizens while making the male citizens slaves?

I mean, nothing about #2 and #3 is particularly odd--it's a standard gender-reversal of how women are treated in especially oppressive societies--but I thought Amazons were just, y'know. Human. A different set of humans from the rest, with a different culture, and some posturing about being the best race of humans, but still human.

Alas, Haer'dalis, why you gotta be so awesome yet so unavailable?

(Though, TBH, I was more interested in the sexy asian bounty hunter/rogue. He brokoro my poor kokoro... ｡゜(｀Д´)゜｡)
Disclaimer: If I misread the game reference, please disregard the above and color me embarrassed. (⌒▽⌒)


Back on topic: I think it's just the way the Amazons view themselves. Biologically they'd classify as human but they'd count themselves as Amazons first.

That species crack was Elenor's joking response - implying that the way they consider men, they might as well be a different species entirely.

That said, everyone certainly seems to consider the Amazons a non-human species, whether they are or not. They themselves refer to the Empire citizens as humans, often in a rather contemptuous fashion, the elves don't really consider them as humans in terms of faction either, and Saren's mixed blood comes up in a few conversations a few times. He passes as an Amazon sometimes and a human (i.e. Empire human) other times, depending on company.

I think biologically, they're just another race of humans, but socially, they're not the mainstream Empire humans, so nobody actually thinks of them as human including themselves. It's not entirely clear where the Nomads fit into this. I don't remember them being referred to as humans at any point, and Krul did work closely with elves at some point during his history.

I figure that if there weren't blatantly non-human intelligent species out there they'd group the Nomads and Amazons in with the humans. But in this world there's lizard men and goblins and elves and dwarves and orcs, some of whom look almost like humans but for minor cosmetic details, some of whom can interbreed, and at this point the lines between species and race start blurring a lot so they just decide that this specific group counts as human and everyone else doesn't.

Loren is being sniffed.



Nope. Trouble sits down in front of her.

Be gone.

It tilts all three of its heads to the side. N O P E.

Elenor!
Yes, ma'am?
How do I get rid of it?
You don't like Trouble?
Why would I like him?

It whimpers. Intelligent dog.

Is it hurt?
I think it just wants attention from you.
How do I give that?
A pat on its heads, maybe?

Loren tentatively reaches out, and is promptly slobbered on.

Vile dog!
Go now, you've had your fun!

Elenor proceeds to laugh her skinny elven ass off in the background, while Loren stalks off to clean up, holding the slobbery arm far away from the rest of her body. It's not like she hasn't been up to her elbows in demon guts before. Fussy princess.

PUPPY~!



And yes, if Loren can't handle the puppy, then she's really no love interest of mine. Puppy puppy~

Just a question for anyone who remembers, since I don't: is this scene the same with Saren?
I, ah, may be writing Dora shipping fic.

Good thing there's a Yoshimo romance mod as well as a Haer'Dalis romance mod!

I've heard good things about the Haer'dalis romance mod. Someday when I'm not taking so many classes I'll have to boot up BGII again.

The Haer'Dalis mod is my favoritest romance ever and you already read my tl;dr review of it (even though that didn't even cover every single thing I like) so I'll refrain from reposting it all here.

Mods and I are not destined to be, it would seem. I haven't had a PC for something like six years, and even then it didn't have internet access. Maybe next time I'm in the market for a computer I'll look into one for all the delicious gaming possibilities.

I'm pretty sure that the Dora scene's the same for Saren, though it might be different for Friendly/Forceful personalities.

I'll definitely have to boot up BGII again sometime soon. (　＾∇＾)

(Now back to your regularly scheduled Amazon Princess. Sorry for the derail!)

This thread exists for derailing. Doing Amukiki's in kind of a weird order because of maximum continuity.



He's been trying to act like he's no longer bothered by the outcome of the battle, but Elenor can see right through him.

You did a good job.
I did not win.

You were doing fine up until your opponent started blatantly cheating. Don't worry about it, man.

You're alive.
I'm… glad.

Awkward silence is this game's subtitle. Amukiki's not sure where to look all of a sudden.

Well, don't get all mushy on me. Bye.

Elenor turned and took a step away before a strong hand on her arm brought her to a halt.



Amukiki's grip on her arm loosened and he looked away. Finally, Amukiki turned and left Elenor standing there, wondering what just happened. Elenor felt her chest with her hand.

If we'd fought Krul instead of throwing him to the orcs, he would have gotten offended and lost us a heart point instead. He's got at least seven potential hearts and we only need five, though.

And then I got distracted by Date Wars.

It is being downright uncannily IC for me.



And speaking of dating and wars....



This is a promising start to a conversation out of the blue. He's even initiating it! Elenor jumps and blushes.

You talking to me!?
I have seen you, many times.
Many times, what?
Watch me.

Elenor's body turned ice-cold as she tried to recall if she had truly been spying on Amukiki. Unfortunately, her memory recalled several moments when she had watched Amukiki train, or eat, or even just stand around. She hadn't thought that it was noticeable, however.

His abs have that effect on people, I'm sure.

Do you not trust me?
I…

There's a choice here to the effect of "Naw that's not it you're just a HAWT STUD is all" vs "No I sneak around spying on everyone don't be silly". I'm not even going to put it to a vote this time.

Aren't you used to being gawked at by your adoring fans? With a body like that, I know you've had many.

Amukiki kind of… straightens up his posture and suddenly has no idea what to do with his hands. He has no idea how to deal with a pretty girl who he likes hitting on him and it is adorable. Both of them have come down with a case of whoops things just got awkward.

Was that inappropriate to say?

Kinda but it was totally worth it.



Deer in headlights. She totally caught him off guard there.

Yeah, that was inappropriate… Oops. Hah hah.
Excuse me.

She turns and walks briskly away. Amukiki seems to be leaning towards "well okay it was inappropriate but in a pretty good way will you say that again" and calls out to her, but she's feeling too humiliated to go back to him.

Elenor has her best 'Oh, god I asked out Amukiki in front of the entire band, and he sorta shot me down' face there.
I know that face well.

Their more actiony games like Loren here and Planet Stronghold are solidly oriented towards both with perhaps a slight bias towards the dudes (especially the straight dudes; some of those outfits). I don't think it's an intentional bias, if that helps. Fuck, maybe it's because Saren's human and not because he's a guy. Or maybe it is; the reversal of traditional sexism is kind of a big theme and maybe that's why Saren gets a lot of the focus.

He does get something of a special extra-sequel-hook ending if you pair him with Loren to the point where it was going to be the canon ending and the starting point of the sequel for a while. I'm... not actually sure what they're planning for the sequel right now, but if they let you carry over even a fraction of the relevant decisions it's gonna be hella ambitious... On the other hand there's like twenty different love interests and alternate outfits and shit, so hell yeah it's ambitious.

Flower Ship is a little weird since it's basically a low-key VN Harvest Moon with a male version and a female version... but the male version was made first and is the only one advertised on the main site sidebar. I mean, it's not advertised as a male version specifically and it sure as hell doesn't sound like one, so if you click on it you'll see Winter in Fairbrook right next to it and ready to buy.

Taking a break from Amukiki for a short interlude. Draco is engaged in important wizard business, by which I mean he is trying to pet all three of Trouble's heads at the same time.

Such sweet little doggies! Yes, you are!
Sweet? This thing?

Haters gonna hate.



I'm kinda jealous now, but I'm not sure which one I'm jealous of. Trouble wags its firey tail and looks up at Draco adoringly. They seem to have bonded.

A very short interlude indeed.

*swoons*

Oh, Draco. You adorable, adorkable darling. We need to introduce you to that nice Corwin from the other thread.

The fashionable blonde guy with possible half-breed angst going on? I'd ship it.

I would ship that like the HMS Surprise, if you know what I mean, and I think you do.

(Or, I don't know, maybe like the HM Sloop Sophie. Always did like that ship. It had character.)

These things always break my heart a little. Such is the price of the path known as ROMANCE EVERYONE.

Amukiki's default jealousy chat triggers when he notices Elenor leaving the forest laughing with one of the love interests he doesn't have a special confrontation with - in this case, Karen. I'm not sure what Elenor and Karen were doing together out there. I think this scene was written with Saren in mind, given that both his exclusive love interests hang out with him in the forests a great deal. I guess if it's Karen or Loren they decided to go out and shank some goblins together? Maybe they were off hunting black moon beetles or something.

In any case, Amukiki doesn't look hostile at this flagrant crit to his emotions, but he does look outright hurt. This is naturally a huge damper on Elenor's mood. Karen heads off back to her tent, thus making the ensuing conversation less of a dramatic clusterfuck.

Who's spying on who now?
Do not fret. I do not care how your culture selects its mating partners.

Elenor is slightly offended. Even if he's not entirely wrong here.

Mating partners? Excuse me?
I cannot be more plain with my words.
Is that what you think I am doing… with Karen?

Saucy implications of being out in the woods "gathering firewood" aside, the romances are all pretty chaste up until endgame. Except for Chambara's. And I guess Elenor did kinda cop a feel on Karen that one time. But it was a platonic feel.



You could read this as mildly homophobic, but I'm choosing not to. It's nice to see a male love interest who isn't all "fuck yeah, hot sexy lesbians can I watch". He views Karen as a legitimate rival here instead of objectifying her relationship with Elenor, and while he is being really fucking prickly about it, we have been outright leading him on, so I can't criticize him for taking it personally.

Then why remark on my behavior at all?

That being said, Elenor never made any explicit commitments. She's been flirting with everyone and their granny, sure, but she's not going to be guilt-tripped over it.

Because you are worthy of more.
More what?

More abs, clearly. I'm going to run that joke into the ground and you can't stop me.

If you were a Nomad, you could choose from the greatest warriors, and bring your clan honor from such mighty kin.
You don't consider Karen a great warrior!?

I like how she said as much to Karen's face herself just recently, but the second anyone else says a word against her, she's ready to throw down. Amukiki is silent for a moment.

You are worthy of a man.

Okay, now that IS getting pretty heterosexist. On the other hand, he says exactly the same thing about Saren and Loren, so maybe he's… just… sexist… Yeah that's not really helping, is it?



Well... voting; let's get to that.

This is an amazing phrase.

Also, ask about Nomad tradition. Because we want to at least understand where he's coming from, right?

Yeah, ask about tradition.

His Hello Kitty pasties are peeping at me through the option boxes. Watching. Judging. (;° ロ°)

So, uh.... Lets be polite and ask about Nomad tradition.

I will be contrary and say REJECT but that's because "worthy of a man" makes me bristle. We are not playing someone who needs to be rated on his stupid nomad culture scale and deemed "worthy" of anyone! We are our own, uh, Amazon sort-of-slave warrior/healer personage! Yeah!

I kinda want to see Karen's route, so Reject.

Reject, pretty much for the reason fadeaccopli said. I dislike being looked down on or pitied because I might be interested in a girl.

You people and your incessant need for ties. I'm going to arbitrarily decide to ask about tradition, since Karen won't lose any hearts from that - she's not present, you see. Also since I'm doing these out of order rejecting Amukiki wouldn't actually bring him below five in the end.

If I were a Nomad, how would I court a mate?

This actually throws Amukiki off somewhat. He wasn't expecting her to be so… forward. But man, have you ever spoken to Elenor? She's usually pretty discreet but all her flirts with Amukiki are basically HOOO MOMMA CHECK OUT THOSE MUSCLES I'D BANG THAT LIKE A DRUM aw shit did I say that out loud

You would speak to their clan leader.
I see why you are confused about other cultures' mating rituals. Yours has none.

Wow, rude. Although it's pretty poor as explanations go. How do you realize you want formal permission to court or whatever if you don't speak to them? Although I guess Amukiki is basically a genderflipped runaway bride so I guess his perspective'd be skewed.

We do. It is put into motion by the clan leader.
And if a Nomad did not have a clan?

They make meaningful eye contact. Progress!

Then… the Nomad would be free to do as he wishes.

Meaningful… silence.

That's not so bad.

Elenor, could you get any more ambiguous/non-committal? God, she's worse than Beau in the Kitty Love thread. At least he was only leading on two boyfriends. Elenor's got that plus three girlfriends and I'm not sure how many of them know about each other. Amukiki and Karen both know about the other one, and Mesphit and Loren both know about Amukiki but not vice versa, and I'd place decent odds that Chambara knows about everyone else and is hoping she'll get to watch.