Seven Kingdoms: Valya
Sep. 28th, 2021 09:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Played a persuasive, unethical Ambitious Widow and married Zarad. And now I want more games where I can play a woman who MURDERED HER LAST HUSBAND because that was GREAT, added a lovely extra zing to romance scenes :D
Decided to play an Ambitious Widow background, since it's basically the opposite of Lian and has all the skills I found myself wishing I had last time: political knowledge, charm, persuasion etc.
Now to decide if she killed her husband...let's say yes, but he deserved it. The game doesn't ask if he deserved it, but I know.
She's still inclined towards logic and planning through. Maybe my next character will be a practical minded, impulsive tomboy.
ok I am pretty into responding to Zarad's flirtations by replying to each in a sexy tone with a matching insult.
...and the romance choice as he kisses your hand goodbye is to pointedly wipe your hand on your dress?? o.O
Like, how often does Valya get to charm someone by being an asshole, this is 100% her jam. And he is also a manipulative charmer so they feel well matched. Even if it crashes and burns that'll be fun to watch.
Oh god do I want to pursue Jarrad too. He's so awful but I feel like she would, and he's kind of entertainingly awful, and into being manipulated and bossed around.
Hmm. Gonna make a save point here so I can maybe come back and pursue him properly some time, and instead go for friendship, which seems safer long term.
Haa meanwhile the way to impress Gisette is by giving a charming, empty response that hides any true feelings. Ha and then to say, and mean, "it's a pity someone as charming as is inconvenienced by all these peasants dying". CAN I DO IT?? Is Valya that much of an ass? My other options are to say it but be lying, and to try and defend the peasants. And I don't have enough manipulation to pull off the lie.
Dammit this is frustrating me so much I'm going to make my character again and make sure I get ALL the manipulation points. The manipulation stat is hidden so it can be hard to keep track of, hooray for guides.
Ahhh successfully manipulated Gisette that was 100% worth it. I seem to have lost some charm points along the way which are limiting my choices a little but I can live with that.
Impressed Avalie with my manipulation skills too :D And then went and charmed all the other delegates including Emmet and Penelope because it was what Valya would do. I did avoid the romance flags with Emmet, I don't want to break his heart, just have a useful Earl friend.
Ok Valya is way more into Claremont than Lian was. She doesn't want to be, he's very politically inconvenient, but he's all wry and traumatised and they bonded about that one cold winter in Revaire when they were young.
But Zarad is also a lot more fun now, too. The boundary pushing flirt versus proper lady dynamic hits different when she seduced and then murdered her previous husband :D And he may not know about the murder but he does know she's been married, so there's no 'taking advantage of inexperienced girl' vibe.
Avalie showed up to the Zarad date to try and imply Zarad was meeting her, but she was amused when Valya figured it out and while idk if Valya is into it, I sure am.
Zarad: It is my understanding that you can't get to know anyone if you don't ever talk of anything that matters.
Valya: What a dangerous confession. Do you want to get to know me then? Properly?
Zarad: Would it surprise you if I could honestly answer that question yes?
Valya: It might if that was an answer and not a hypothetical.
Zarad: If I admit surrender, would you allow me to talk seriously?
Valya: All that is required to talk seriously is talk of a serious subject.
Zarad: *significant, serious look*
Valya: *slow, sensuous smile*
Zarad: ...my condolences on the loss of your late husband.
Valya: ..... :) *internal screaming*
Gisette asked Valya to ruin some innocent girl's reputation with a fake story and the game didn't even give me the option to say no. Guess my vague gestures towards not being a total asshole have been a little too vague >.>
Oops I totally forgot to prepare for the horse ride and all of Valya's people skills were totally useless in the face of physical danger and a spooked animal. But since Zarad was watching her he rushed in and saved her at the last minute, how romantic :)
But I did see some secrets! Afaict the reason Gisette tries to kill the MC is that she's paranoid about threats. Which is more justified with Valya than a random foreign nobody like Lian, but even Valya has no specific plots against Gisette right now, geeze.
Valya is on track to a political marriage with Lisle that would BORE HER OUT OF HER SKULL. Hopefully Zarad will rescue her from that too. Or she can have Gisette as a mistress on the side that could be FUN.
Blain spills juice on Valya's dress so she slips something he has a mild allergy to into his soup, and Gisette gets a servant to spill tea on him. Power couple.
Looks like Valya failed to nab Lisle, probably for the best. Her options for husband are Claremont and Zarad. Zarad is more appealing but I might come back and check out Claremont later.
There's a scene in Zarad's last romance scene before the matchmaking decision where he 'proves he knows everything' by giving a sweet, flattering description of the MC's backstory. Which in this case involved saying that he knows, and understands, that she married someone she didn't like to help her poor, feckless family and made the best of a bad deal. And like...he doesn't SAY he knows she murdered her shitty husband and is cool with it, but I am taking that as his polite way of doing so, because it's sweeter that way.
And now Gisette is subtly suggesting that Valya and she be lovers while married to convenient men. Let's see what happens if she agrees!
Valya asks the Matchmaker why the Isle natives put up with all this and she says that Katiya convinced them everyone would benefit from the resulting peace, but these days more and more people doubt it's worthwhile.
Haaa asking the matchmaker about Gisette gets the reply "You can't get married and she cares more about politics than love, so I can't see how she can be relevant to your happiness"
...lost my nerve, went back and told Gisette we should just be friends. I want to do Zarad's romance properly first, I think. Gisette is such a trainwreck.
Aww if you pick the right choice she's all stoic and bittersweet about it. Otherwise she hates you forever lol. HOORAY FOR WALKTHROUGHS.
The equivalent of Lian being poisoned is Valya being blackmailed to murder someone like she did her husband. Which she objects to mostly because the blackmailer is so incompetent they could both easily be discovered haha. And so she decides to hunt them down :D
Zarad don't flirt with other girls in front of Valya AT YOUR ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT >:( She very clearly doesn't like it and stomps on his foot, which he is into.
He says he's a terrible singer but his father decided to make Zarad's mother his second wife because he heard her singing and wanted to keep her voice to himself. Then Zarad sings love songs to Valya very badly and she is entirely charmed.
Awww I figured out who murdered the servant but even with a walkthrough didn't have enough knowledge to get him to explain and confess :( Another game!
Haha aw Valya finds Zarad cheating servants at cards, but only so he loses and they win. Also he figured out the murder weapon by investigating the dead body, which Valya was too squeamish to do herself.
And it was only at this point that I realised that one reason I like Zarad/Ambitious Widow is it reminds me a little of Gen/Irene from The Queen's Thief.
Avalie, just before the trial: I can't remember the last person I've been so excited to dance with. And to finally get you as my dance partner...but for a song I have no interest in dancing to.
Valya: Then we shall have to accept this song is not ours and dance again soon.
Avalie: I will look forward to a proper dance :)
:D
Awww. Gisette voted innocent! Because she loves me! Also, afaict she's the real murderer, but that's kind of by the by. With their different sets of skills and flaws, Lian and Valya did about equivalent jobs of proving the legal case, but Valya also used her manipulation skills to get a 11 to one innocent verdict by appealing to the jury's emotions :D
Time for the play. Hmm. Cynical main character or villainous minor character...lets be the cynic with a heart of gold, with Zarad playing her love interest.
Valya has discovered who was blackmailing her! It's...Count Grellwyd!!!
Who the game has never mentioned before but apparently he's some Revaire noble she hates. Sure. Oooh and I have to decide if she wants to murder him. Let's not, Zarad would know and be sad.
Haaa so I just got a subtle shovel talk from Lisle regarding Valya's friendship with Penelope. Looks like he noticed what an asshole she is haha. Guess that's why he didn't want to propose. Fair!
PLAY SUCCESS! Valya had great fun making everything run like clockwork with a few well timed snarky remarks, and Zarad had fun helping out as her love interest. She had some stage fright but not enough to ruin things, and I like how her slight tendency to nervousness shows up from time to time.
And of course now the dumbass is attempting to dump her for her own good. And like, yes, the Corval court does sound pretty cutthroat, but Valya is from Revaire. He's all I AM NOT WHO I SEEM MY HANDS ARE STAINED YOU DO NOT KNOW THE THINGS I HAVE DONE and I can just imagine her grabbing his face and hissing "Are you under the impression my husband died of natural causes?".
Him talking about not having believed love was a thing before was pretty cute though. This would all be a lot more annoying if Valya was some sheltered ingenue instead of also a manipulative murderer.
Now to choose between "Attempt to convince him that you aren't bothered by what he's done and are happy to join him in the dark" and "Attempt to convince him that whatever he has done, he isn't the terrible person he thinks he is, and together you fill find a better way"
Because, like, Valya isn't against murder, but she would rather avoid it if possible, and it seems to make Zarad sad. Let's see if the game thinks she's nice enough to pull off number two.
NOPE. Oh well, into the dark we go!
Valya: Your worries are unfounded. My hands are already dirty, Zarad. I understand doing the harsh things. I don't judge you for it. You said you were looking for a partner. Well you can have one in me. A real partner. One who understands. One who doesn't flinch.
Zarad: I suppose it's fitting that the fact you never said or did that most people would which I always liked so much about you would come back to bite me in the end...or not the end. I don't know.
He gets uncharacteristically flustered and leaves, saying he needs time to think.
This isn't the most beautifully written romance I've ever played, and the writing tends to assume Valya is rather more Feisty Nice Girl than she actually is, but the dynamic is still great. There needs to be more otome where you play a woman who killed her husband.
Week 6
Ooh, to run the ball or not run the ball. Let's see what stats are required and if they're attainable.
...ok this is super confusing, but eh, failing didn't hurt too much last time.
Aww letter from little sister Emmaline saying the parents are lying about needing more money and Valya should go off and find happiness instead of always sacrificing herself for the family.
Cute letter from Zarad's little sister saying she hopes Valya is a good sister, or at least 'a good bad sister'. "I tried to sneak on the ship with this letter but I got caught. Now I am in TROUBLE. I hope you come and save me soon!"
Aww Zarad apologies for dumping her and explains that he was sure she wouldn't marry him if she knew the truth about him, and wanted to forestall that rejection. He's Corval's spy master, but beyond that, secretly prioritises Corval ahead of his father and elder brother, so being his wife would be super dangerous. But Valya is up for that!
Spent SO MUCH MONEY ON THE BALL, including a large amount of the extra gold I coerced out of the butler on extra finery for Valya.
Lunch with Avalie! She is not sure how to just hang out, but warns Valya she doesn't want to talk about girls or boys. She seems to be aroace! Which is not exactly ideal representation, imo, but she is at least pretty unapologetic about it.
Awww Valya admits to being worried about being a bad dancer at the ball, so Avalie drags her into a dance, not only taking the man's part but playing at being so boorish that Valya keeps bursting into laughter.
Alas I lack the prerequisite knowledge to become her political ally, having failed to see a few important scenes, so I will be COMING BACK TO THIS. Instead they have a cute game of this universe's equivalent of chess/go.
WAIT. ZARAD WRITES THE SATIRES. AMAZING. And you can help him come up with ridiculous plots on a date :D
Zarad it's very cute you created a distraction so you could sneak into Valya's window to offer a good luck gift of pretty earrings for the ball, but she already bought the most expensive pair available using money she embezzled from the ball fund.
Eh, she can wear those later.
WTF
I JUST....
Ok before I get to that, Avalie lured Hamin and Claremont to the ballroom with a note about adventure and being in distress, respectively, and then persuaded them to take turns helping her practice dancing, and now I kinda ship it. Aroace people can have exceptions ;P
ANYWAY.
AFTER THAT.
Valya faced the assassin, so I got her to try to seduce him, and I think she just got STABBED???? AND THEN AN ACHIEVEMENT CAME UP SAYING SHE WAS DEAD?????
OH MY GOD SHE DID DIE
NEGOTIATIONS COLLAPSED. WAR. BLOODSHED.
WTF??????
I scrolled back and saved before the choice once I saw which way the wind was blowing, and thankfully if I picked "Scream bloody murder" he once again tripped and died like on Lian's path.
But I hope that's a bug! Valya should be able to try seducing people! She's very good at it and it usually works out great!!
Anyway. Time for the ball now she's not dead any more!
I didn't think Emmet and Valya would work as friends but it's actually pretty cute. She likes being able to relax around him, and he has no idea she's anything but a nice girl who enjoys his company.
Aw yess, Belle of the Ball. I should hope so, considering how much of the Isle's money she spent on her outfit.
Only a competent hostess?? She gave you people fancy food! Expensive decorations! Gisette brought wine and I don't think it was even poisoned!! Hmmph.
Week seven:
Thank god I can skip through more of the boringness this time.
Haha aww except the dialogue is different because Valya managed to manipulate everyone to be on better terms. Ok, suffering through all that bickering last time does make it more satisfying to see the delegates getting along this time.
Haha oops trying to improve human rights in Corval just heightened tensions. Guess Valya is stuck with living in an orientalist harem stereotype :/
Still she did successfully encourage a strong union between Corval and Hise, which will directly benefit her and Zarad. There was also the option to send asshole Blain as a peace ambassador, I am definitely going to have to play an evil warmonger at some point.
And now she has the chance to TORPEDO CORVAL COMPLETELY by REVEALING ZARAD'S SECRET SPY WORK, wow. Pretty sure you only find that out if you're engaged, that is a HARSH MOVE and she is NOT DOING IT.
Haha oops Skalt and Wellin still hate each other though.
Oh hey the game broke, turns out the broken variables only show up when you screw up, it was just that Lian screwed up every time >.>
Haha oops but Lian did have the ability to make suggestions based on medical/historical etc knowledge, while every time Valya tries she is revealed to not have the knowledge to back it up. Point one for nerds.
So Valya just...says a bunch of empty but charming pleasantries. And it works! Point one for empty manipulators :D
Haa oops a tournament was a bad idea since the Wellin men can't handle the idea of being beaten by women.
Avalie don't sneak into Valya's room with wearing a mischievous expression and bringing breakfast, you are breaking my heart.
Avalie: You look terrible, darling.
Valya: As always your tact astounds.
Avalie: My honesty is the greatest compliment.
Valya: I know.
They spend an hour gossiping and cheerfully trying, and failing, to discover each other's secret plans. Aww.
Haha aww Gisette shows up in Valya's room and says she has always seen herself in Valya: they are both intelligent, ambitious, underestimated. Just what Revaire needs. Gisette's favour is the reason Valya was chosen as delegate.
Gisette: You have been able to see things I have not, meet people I have not. If you are the woman I think you are, you will know what is important. You will know the things I need to protect our future.
Valya: *bewildered expression*
Gisette: *sigh*
I'M SORRY GISETTE. MAYBE MY NEXT CHARACTER WILL KNOW WTF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
Valya has no more clue than Lian where all this conflict between the Revaire delegates is coming from, and so has no way to fix it. Though she is at least more aware how odd it is, since everyone was chosen for being on the 'right' side. Good time to move to Corval, I guess!
Avalie if you keep complaining that you never encounter anything scandalous when you unexpectedly visit Valya, she and Zarad are going to stage a tryst just for you. There may be a goat.
Awwww she just wanted to say she trusted Valya and sees her as a friend, and got all self conscious about it and ran away afterwards. I bet she would have great fun working with Zarad when she visits Corval like she said she will.
Awww and there's a cute shared breakfast because Valya is friends with all three unromanceable female delegates. Avalie said her next stop will be hanging out with Penelope in Wellin, that'll be interesting.
Haha Avalie points out that there's something unique about anyone who can be friends with her and Penelope and get Cordelia to open up and be herself.
Having enough influence to actually change things made week 7 less boring. Mostly things ended up much the same but Corval and Hise are forming a joint merchant fleet, and Corval got the better end of a bunch of agreements. Valya didn't focus enough on her own interests enough to build much personal extra wealth, but she's a rich baroness marrying a prince. She'll be fine.
THE END
Luckily encouraging Zarad to the dark side didn't seem to affect anything, though I can see it coming up in the epilogues once they're written.
Plans:
Jasper romance + Weaver scenes + Avalie allyship
Gisette romance (evil, manipulative sheltered princess?) after knowing all her secrets
Make a lot of bad decisions and see what happens
Try creating characters to romance Lyon and Claremont, they seem like they could be fun with the right mindset
Jarad, god help me?
Lisle, just for research for the Cordelia/Penelope fic I'm vaguely pondering? With Ria on the side?
I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WEAVERS EVEN ARE, just that they seem important. And Jasper seems tied up in...whatever that is, and you need those scenes to be Avalie's ally, so. Seems like a good thing to go for next! Unfortunately all the Jasper guides I could find have gone offline, so I'll have to figure out the requirements and choices from the general spreadsheet.
Actually let's see what achievements I've done and what are left. Especially because sometimes the notifications goes too fast for me to read.
Feel free to stop reading now, this is long and boring, and I don't say anything interesting afterwards.
Not Done:
Made a character with Hise background
Made a character with Corval background
Made a character with Wellin background
made a character with Arland background
You received all the possible invitations during your first week
Successfully completed Hamin's week one event
Successfully completed Jarrod's week one event
Successfully completed Lyon's week one event
Hosted a very successful afternoon tea
Hosted a perfect afternoon tea
Hosted a very successful musical
Hosted a perfect musicale!
Hosted a very successful Lecture.
Found all possible week one secrets
Met your unfortunate end after falling to save yourself during the challenge: group ride (Challenge mode)
You were saved by both Prince Zarad and Prince Hamin during the challenge: group ride
You were saved by Hamin during the challenge: group ride
You lead your team to victory during the Ship Race
Your team won during the ship races
You discovered all the secrets you can find in the second week.
Received every possible present in week 3
Proved yourself excellent at picking presents.
Impressed the Matchmaker with the friendship you have inspired.
Impressed the Matchmaker with the romance you have inspired.
Impressed the Matchmaker with the respect you have inspired.
Impressed the Matchmaker with your perfect insight.
Failed to impress the matchmaker during the third week and you were sent home in disgrace. (Challenge mode)
Impressed the Matchmaker during your second interview.
Completely impressed the Matchmaker during your second interview.
Successfully uncovered who was behind your first assassination attempt.
Invited Lyon for a successful day together.
Invited Clarmont for a successful day together.
Invited Ana for a successful day together.
Invited Hamin for a successful day together.
Invited Lisle for a successful day together.
Hosted a successful Game Night.
Hosted a perfectly successful Game Night.
Hosted a successful Midnight Picnic.
Hosted a successful Midnight Picnic.
Hosted a successful Girls night.
Hosted a perfectly successful Girls night
Unlocked Lyon's Romance Path
Unlocked Hamin's Romance Path
Unlocked Lisle's Companion Path
Secured Jarrod's interest.
Secured the Grand Duke's interest.
Discovered all of the secrets during week three.
Done:
Finish creating a character
Made a character with Jiyel background
Made a character with Revaire background
Read the history of the Summit
You met with the matchmaker, it did not go well
You earned the maximum amount of insight during the welcome feast!
Successfully completed Anaele's week one event
Successfully completed Emmett's week one event
Successfully completed Lisle's week one event
Successfully completed Clarmont's week one event
Successfully completed Zarad's week one event
Successfully completed Gisette's week one event
Hosted a perfect lecture
Succeeded in the first challenge: the self-introduction.
Succeeded perfectly in the first challenge: the self-introduction.
Successfully recruited a full team for the ship race
Successfully completed Avalie's first friendship event
Invited Emmett for a successful day together.
Invited Zarad for a successful day together.
Saved yourself during the challenge: Group Ride
You were saved by Prince Zarad during the challenge: group ride
Successfully completed Penelope's first friendship event
Succesfully completed Cordelia's first friendship event
Impressed the Matchmaker with the approval you have inspired
Unlocked Clarmont's Romance Path
Unlocked Zarad's Romance Path
Unlocked Ana's Romance Path
Unlocked Emmett's Romance Path
Secured Gisette's interest.
Secured Ria's interest.
...and then there's SEVERAL MORE PAGES not in the list I'm working from, and I have almost none of them /o\ The ones I do have are to do with the ball and play, finishing the Revaire blackmail plot, and finding out about Zarad's writing. Also, dying, yay me.
Ok, I'm too sleepy to figure this all out now. Tomorrow I have a date with a spreadsheet. Fun!
Played a persuasive, unethical Ambitious Widow and married Zarad. And now I want more games where I can play a woman who MURDERED HER LAST HUSBAND because that was GREAT, added a lovely extra zing to romance scenes :D
Decided to play an Ambitious Widow background, since it's basically the opposite of Lian and has all the skills I found myself wishing I had last time: political knowledge, charm, persuasion etc.
Now to decide if she killed her husband...let's say yes, but he deserved it. The game doesn't ask if he deserved it, but I know.
She's still inclined towards logic and planning through. Maybe my next character will be a practical minded, impulsive tomboy.
ok I am pretty into responding to Zarad's flirtations by replying to each in a sexy tone with a matching insult.
...and the romance choice as he kisses your hand goodbye is to pointedly wipe your hand on your dress?? o.O
Like, how often does Valya get to charm someone by being an asshole, this is 100% her jam. And he is also a manipulative charmer so they feel well matched. Even if it crashes and burns that'll be fun to watch.
Oh god do I want to pursue Jarrad too. He's so awful but I feel like she would, and he's kind of entertainingly awful, and into being manipulated and bossed around.
Hmm. Gonna make a save point here so I can maybe come back and pursue him properly some time, and instead go for friendship, which seems safer long term.
Haa meanwhile the way to impress Gisette is by giving a charming, empty response that hides any true feelings. Ha and then to say, and mean, "it's a pity someone as charming as is inconvenienced by all these peasants dying". CAN I DO IT?? Is Valya that much of an ass? My other options are to say it but be lying, and to try and defend the peasants. And I don't have enough manipulation to pull off the lie.
Dammit this is frustrating me so much I'm going to make my character again and make sure I get ALL the manipulation points. The manipulation stat is hidden so it can be hard to keep track of, hooray for guides.
Ahhh successfully manipulated Gisette that was 100% worth it. I seem to have lost some charm points along the way which are limiting my choices a little but I can live with that.
Impressed Avalie with my manipulation skills too :D And then went and charmed all the other delegates including Emmet and Penelope because it was what Valya would do. I did avoid the romance flags with Emmet, I don't want to break his heart, just have a useful Earl friend.
Ok Valya is way more into Claremont than Lian was. She doesn't want to be, he's very politically inconvenient, but he's all wry and traumatised and they bonded about that one cold winter in Revaire when they were young.
But Zarad is also a lot more fun now, too. The boundary pushing flirt versus proper lady dynamic hits different when she seduced and then murdered her previous husband :D And he may not know about the murder but he does know she's been married, so there's no 'taking advantage of inexperienced girl' vibe.
Avalie showed up to the Zarad date to try and imply Zarad was meeting her, but she was amused when Valya figured it out and while idk if Valya is into it, I sure am.
Zarad: It is my understanding that you can't get to know anyone if you don't ever talk of anything that matters.
Valya: What a dangerous confession. Do you want to get to know me then? Properly?
Zarad: Would it surprise you if I could honestly answer that question yes?
Valya: It might if that was an answer and not a hypothetical.
Zarad: If I admit surrender, would you allow me to talk seriously?
Valya: All that is required to talk seriously is talk of a serious subject.
Zarad: *significant, serious look*
Valya: *slow, sensuous smile*
Zarad: ...my condolences on the loss of your late husband.
Valya: ..... :) *internal screaming*
Gisette asked Valya to ruin some innocent girl's reputation with a fake story and the game didn't even give me the option to say no. Guess my vague gestures towards not being a total asshole have been a little too vague >.>
Oops I totally forgot to prepare for the horse ride and all of Valya's people skills were totally useless in the face of physical danger and a spooked animal. But since Zarad was watching her he rushed in and saved her at the last minute, how romantic :)
But I did see some secrets! Afaict the reason Gisette tries to kill the MC is that she's paranoid about threats. Which is more justified with Valya than a random foreign nobody like Lian, but even Valya has no specific plots against Gisette right now, geeze.
Valya is on track to a political marriage with Lisle that would BORE HER OUT OF HER SKULL. Hopefully Zarad will rescue her from that too. Or she can have Gisette as a mistress on the side that could be FUN.
Blain spills juice on Valya's dress so she slips something he has a mild allergy to into his soup, and Gisette gets a servant to spill tea on him. Power couple.
Looks like Valya failed to nab Lisle, probably for the best. Her options for husband are Claremont and Zarad. Zarad is more appealing but I might come back and check out Claremont later.
There's a scene in Zarad's last romance scene before the matchmaking decision where he 'proves he knows everything' by giving a sweet, flattering description of the MC's backstory. Which in this case involved saying that he knows, and understands, that she married someone she didn't like to help her poor, feckless family and made the best of a bad deal. And like...he doesn't SAY he knows she murdered her shitty husband and is cool with it, but I am taking that as his polite way of doing so, because it's sweeter that way.
And now Gisette is subtly suggesting that Valya and she be lovers while married to convenient men. Let's see what happens if she agrees!
Valya asks the Matchmaker why the Isle natives put up with all this and she says that Katiya convinced them everyone would benefit from the resulting peace, but these days more and more people doubt it's worthwhile.
Haaa asking the matchmaker about Gisette gets the reply "You can't get married and she cares more about politics than love, so I can't see how she can be relevant to your happiness"
...lost my nerve, went back and told Gisette we should just be friends. I want to do Zarad's romance properly first, I think. Gisette is such a trainwreck.
Aww if you pick the right choice she's all stoic and bittersweet about it. Otherwise she hates you forever lol. HOORAY FOR WALKTHROUGHS.
The equivalent of Lian being poisoned is Valya being blackmailed to murder someone like she did her husband. Which she objects to mostly because the blackmailer is so incompetent they could both easily be discovered haha. And so she decides to hunt them down :D
Zarad don't flirt with other girls in front of Valya AT YOUR ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT >:( She very clearly doesn't like it and stomps on his foot, which he is into.
He says he's a terrible singer but his father decided to make Zarad's mother his second wife because he heard her singing and wanted to keep her voice to himself. Then Zarad sings love songs to Valya very badly and she is entirely charmed.
Awww I figured out who murdered the servant but even with a walkthrough didn't have enough knowledge to get him to explain and confess :( Another game!
Haha aw Valya finds Zarad cheating servants at cards, but only so he loses and they win. Also he figured out the murder weapon by investigating the dead body, which Valya was too squeamish to do herself.
And it was only at this point that I realised that one reason I like Zarad/Ambitious Widow is it reminds me a little of Gen/Irene from The Queen's Thief.
Avalie, just before the trial: I can't remember the last person I've been so excited to dance with. And to finally get you as my dance partner...but for a song I have no interest in dancing to.
Valya: Then we shall have to accept this song is not ours and dance again soon.
Avalie: I will look forward to a proper dance :)
:D
Awww. Gisette voted innocent! Because she loves me! Also, afaict she's the real murderer, but that's kind of by the by. With their different sets of skills and flaws, Lian and Valya did about equivalent jobs of proving the legal case, but Valya also used her manipulation skills to get a 11 to one innocent verdict by appealing to the jury's emotions :D
Time for the play. Hmm. Cynical main character or villainous minor character...lets be the cynic with a heart of gold, with Zarad playing her love interest.
Valya has discovered who was blackmailing her! It's...Count Grellwyd!!!
Who the game has never mentioned before but apparently he's some Revaire noble she hates. Sure. Oooh and I have to decide if she wants to murder him. Let's not, Zarad would know and be sad.
Haaa so I just got a subtle shovel talk from Lisle regarding Valya's friendship with Penelope. Looks like he noticed what an asshole she is haha. Guess that's why he didn't want to propose. Fair!
PLAY SUCCESS! Valya had great fun making everything run like clockwork with a few well timed snarky remarks, and Zarad had fun helping out as her love interest. She had some stage fright but not enough to ruin things, and I like how her slight tendency to nervousness shows up from time to time.
And of course now the dumbass is attempting to dump her for her own good. And like, yes, the Corval court does sound pretty cutthroat, but Valya is from Revaire. He's all I AM NOT WHO I SEEM MY HANDS ARE STAINED YOU DO NOT KNOW THE THINGS I HAVE DONE and I can just imagine her grabbing his face and hissing "Are you under the impression my husband died of natural causes?".
Him talking about not having believed love was a thing before was pretty cute though. This would all be a lot more annoying if Valya was some sheltered ingenue instead of also a manipulative murderer.
Now to choose between "Attempt to convince him that you aren't bothered by what he's done and are happy to join him in the dark" and "Attempt to convince him that whatever he has done, he isn't the terrible person he thinks he is, and together you fill find a better way"
Because, like, Valya isn't against murder, but she would rather avoid it if possible, and it seems to make Zarad sad. Let's see if the game thinks she's nice enough to pull off number two.
NOPE. Oh well, into the dark we go!
Valya: Your worries are unfounded. My hands are already dirty, Zarad. I understand doing the harsh things. I don't judge you for it. You said you were looking for a partner. Well you can have one in me. A real partner. One who understands. One who doesn't flinch.
Zarad: I suppose it's fitting that the fact you never said or did that most people would which I always liked so much about you would come back to bite me in the end...or not the end. I don't know.
He gets uncharacteristically flustered and leaves, saying he needs time to think.
This isn't the most beautifully written romance I've ever played, and the writing tends to assume Valya is rather more Feisty Nice Girl than she actually is, but the dynamic is still great. There needs to be more otome where you play a woman who killed her husband.
Week 6
Ooh, to run the ball or not run the ball. Let's see what stats are required and if they're attainable.
...ok this is super confusing, but eh, failing didn't hurt too much last time.
Aww letter from little sister Emmaline saying the parents are lying about needing more money and Valya should go off and find happiness instead of always sacrificing herself for the family.
Cute letter from Zarad's little sister saying she hopes Valya is a good sister, or at least 'a good bad sister'. "I tried to sneak on the ship with this letter but I got caught. Now I am in TROUBLE. I hope you come and save me soon!"
Aww Zarad apologies for dumping her and explains that he was sure she wouldn't marry him if she knew the truth about him, and wanted to forestall that rejection. He's Corval's spy master, but beyond that, secretly prioritises Corval ahead of his father and elder brother, so being his wife would be super dangerous. But Valya is up for that!
Spent SO MUCH MONEY ON THE BALL, including a large amount of the extra gold I coerced out of the butler on extra finery for Valya.
Lunch with Avalie! She is not sure how to just hang out, but warns Valya she doesn't want to talk about girls or boys. She seems to be aroace! Which is not exactly ideal representation, imo, but she is at least pretty unapologetic about it.
Awww Valya admits to being worried about being a bad dancer at the ball, so Avalie drags her into a dance, not only taking the man's part but playing at being so boorish that Valya keeps bursting into laughter.
Alas I lack the prerequisite knowledge to become her political ally, having failed to see a few important scenes, so I will be COMING BACK TO THIS. Instead they have a cute game of this universe's equivalent of chess/go.
WAIT. ZARAD WRITES THE SATIRES. AMAZING. And you can help him come up with ridiculous plots on a date :D
Zarad it's very cute you created a distraction so you could sneak into Valya's window to offer a good luck gift of pretty earrings for the ball, but she already bought the most expensive pair available using money she embezzled from the ball fund.
Eh, she can wear those later.
WTF
I JUST....
Ok before I get to that, Avalie lured Hamin and Claremont to the ballroom with a note about adventure and being in distress, respectively, and then persuaded them to take turns helping her practice dancing, and now I kinda ship it. Aroace people can have exceptions ;P
ANYWAY.
AFTER THAT.
Valya faced the assassin, so I got her to try to seduce him, and I think she just got STABBED???? AND THEN AN ACHIEVEMENT CAME UP SAYING SHE WAS DEAD?????
OH MY GOD SHE DID DIE
NEGOTIATIONS COLLAPSED. WAR. BLOODSHED.
WTF??????
I scrolled back and saved before the choice once I saw which way the wind was blowing, and thankfully if I picked "Scream bloody murder" he once again tripped and died like on Lian's path.
But I hope that's a bug! Valya should be able to try seducing people! She's very good at it and it usually works out great!!
Anyway. Time for the ball now she's not dead any more!
I didn't think Emmet and Valya would work as friends but it's actually pretty cute. She likes being able to relax around him, and he has no idea she's anything but a nice girl who enjoys his company.
Aw yess, Belle of the Ball. I should hope so, considering how much of the Isle's money she spent on her outfit.
Only a competent hostess?? She gave you people fancy food! Expensive decorations! Gisette brought wine and I don't think it was even poisoned!! Hmmph.
Week seven:
Thank god I can skip through more of the boringness this time.
Haha aww except the dialogue is different because Valya managed to manipulate everyone to be on better terms. Ok, suffering through all that bickering last time does make it more satisfying to see the delegates getting along this time.
Haha oops trying to improve human rights in Corval just heightened tensions. Guess Valya is stuck with living in an orientalist harem stereotype :/
Still she did successfully encourage a strong union between Corval and Hise, which will directly benefit her and Zarad. There was also the option to send asshole Blain as a peace ambassador, I am definitely going to have to play an evil warmonger at some point.
And now she has the chance to TORPEDO CORVAL COMPLETELY by REVEALING ZARAD'S SECRET SPY WORK, wow. Pretty sure you only find that out if you're engaged, that is a HARSH MOVE and she is NOT DOING IT.
Haha oops Skalt and Wellin still hate each other though.
Oh hey the game broke, turns out the broken variables only show up when you screw up, it was just that Lian screwed up every time >.>
Haha oops but Lian did have the ability to make suggestions based on medical/historical etc knowledge, while every time Valya tries she is revealed to not have the knowledge to back it up. Point one for nerds.
So Valya just...says a bunch of empty but charming pleasantries. And it works! Point one for empty manipulators :D
Haa oops a tournament was a bad idea since the Wellin men can't handle the idea of being beaten by women.
Avalie don't sneak into Valya's room with wearing a mischievous expression and bringing breakfast, you are breaking my heart.
Avalie: You look terrible, darling.
Valya: As always your tact astounds.
Avalie: My honesty is the greatest compliment.
Valya: I know.
They spend an hour gossiping and cheerfully trying, and failing, to discover each other's secret plans. Aww.
Haha aww Gisette shows up in Valya's room and says she has always seen herself in Valya: they are both intelligent, ambitious, underestimated. Just what Revaire needs. Gisette's favour is the reason Valya was chosen as delegate.
Gisette: You have been able to see things I have not, meet people I have not. If you are the woman I think you are, you will know what is important. You will know the things I need to protect our future.
Valya: *bewildered expression*
Gisette: *sigh*
I'M SORRY GISETTE. MAYBE MY NEXT CHARACTER WILL KNOW WTF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
Valya has no more clue than Lian where all this conflict between the Revaire delegates is coming from, and so has no way to fix it. Though she is at least more aware how odd it is, since everyone was chosen for being on the 'right' side. Good time to move to Corval, I guess!
Avalie if you keep complaining that you never encounter anything scandalous when you unexpectedly visit Valya, she and Zarad are going to stage a tryst just for you. There may be a goat.
Awwww she just wanted to say she trusted Valya and sees her as a friend, and got all self conscious about it and ran away afterwards. I bet she would have great fun working with Zarad when she visits Corval like she said she will.
Awww and there's a cute shared breakfast because Valya is friends with all three unromanceable female delegates. Avalie said her next stop will be hanging out with Penelope in Wellin, that'll be interesting.
Haha Avalie points out that there's something unique about anyone who can be friends with her and Penelope and get Cordelia to open up and be herself.
Having enough influence to actually change things made week 7 less boring. Mostly things ended up much the same but Corval and Hise are forming a joint merchant fleet, and Corval got the better end of a bunch of agreements. Valya didn't focus enough on her own interests enough to build much personal extra wealth, but she's a rich baroness marrying a prince. She'll be fine.
THE END
Luckily encouraging Zarad to the dark side didn't seem to affect anything, though I can see it coming up in the epilogues once they're written.
Plans:
Jasper romance + Weaver scenes + Avalie allyship
Gisette romance (evil, manipulative sheltered princess?) after knowing all her secrets
Make a lot of bad decisions and see what happens
Try creating characters to romance Lyon and Claremont, they seem like they could be fun with the right mindset
Jarad, god help me?
Lisle, just for research for the Cordelia/Penelope fic I'm vaguely pondering? With Ria on the side?
I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WEAVERS EVEN ARE, just that they seem important. And Jasper seems tied up in...whatever that is, and you need those scenes to be Avalie's ally, so. Seems like a good thing to go for next! Unfortunately all the Jasper guides I could find have gone offline, so I'll have to figure out the requirements and choices from the general spreadsheet.
Actually let's see what achievements I've done and what are left. Especially because sometimes the notifications goes too fast for me to read.
Feel free to stop reading now, this is long and boring, and I don't say anything interesting afterwards.
Not Done:
Made a character with Hise background
Made a character with Corval background
Made a character with Wellin background
made a character with Arland background
You received all the possible invitations during your first week
Successfully completed Hamin's week one event
Successfully completed Jarrod's week one event
Successfully completed Lyon's week one event
Hosted a very successful afternoon tea
Hosted a perfect afternoon tea
Hosted a very successful musical
Hosted a perfect musicale!
Hosted a very successful Lecture.
Found all possible week one secrets
Met your unfortunate end after falling to save yourself during the challenge: group ride (Challenge mode)
You were saved by both Prince Zarad and Prince Hamin during the challenge: group ride
You were saved by Hamin during the challenge: group ride
You lead your team to victory during the Ship Race
Your team won during the ship races
You discovered all the secrets you can find in the second week.
Received every possible present in week 3
Proved yourself excellent at picking presents.
Impressed the Matchmaker with the friendship you have inspired.
Impressed the Matchmaker with the romance you have inspired.
Impressed the Matchmaker with the respect you have inspired.
Impressed the Matchmaker with your perfect insight.
Failed to impress the matchmaker during the third week and you were sent home in disgrace. (Challenge mode)
Impressed the Matchmaker during your second interview.
Completely impressed the Matchmaker during your second interview.
Successfully uncovered who was behind your first assassination attempt.
Invited Lyon for a successful day together.
Invited Clarmont for a successful day together.
Invited Ana for a successful day together.
Invited Hamin for a successful day together.
Invited Lisle for a successful day together.
Hosted a successful Game Night.
Hosted a perfectly successful Game Night.
Hosted a successful Midnight Picnic.
Hosted a successful Midnight Picnic.
Hosted a successful Girls night.
Hosted a perfectly successful Girls night
Unlocked Lyon's Romance Path
Unlocked Hamin's Romance Path
Unlocked Lisle's Companion Path
Secured Jarrod's interest.
Secured the Grand Duke's interest.
Discovered all of the secrets during week three.
Done:
Finish creating a character
Made a character with Jiyel background
Made a character with Revaire background
Read the history of the Summit
You met with the matchmaker, it did not go well
You earned the maximum amount of insight during the welcome feast!
Successfully completed Anaele's week one event
Successfully completed Emmett's week one event
Successfully completed Lisle's week one event
Successfully completed Clarmont's week one event
Successfully completed Zarad's week one event
Successfully completed Gisette's week one event
Hosted a perfect lecture
Succeeded in the first challenge: the self-introduction.
Succeeded perfectly in the first challenge: the self-introduction.
Successfully recruited a full team for the ship race
Successfully completed Avalie's first friendship event
Invited Emmett for a successful day together.
Invited Zarad for a successful day together.
Saved yourself during the challenge: Group Ride
You were saved by Prince Zarad during the challenge: group ride
Successfully completed Penelope's first friendship event
Succesfully completed Cordelia's first friendship event
Impressed the Matchmaker with the approval you have inspired
Unlocked Clarmont's Romance Path
Unlocked Zarad's Romance Path
Unlocked Ana's Romance Path
Unlocked Emmett's Romance Path
Secured Gisette's interest.
Secured Ria's interest.
...and then there's SEVERAL MORE PAGES not in the list I'm working from, and I have almost none of them /o\ The ones I do have are to do with the ball and play, finishing the Revaire blackmail plot, and finding out about Zarad's writing. Also, dying, yay me.
Ok, I'm too sleepy to figure this all out now. Tomorrow I have a date with a spreadsheet. Fun!
no subject
Date: 2021-10-01 08:29 am (UTC)I never thought of that, that's a very good point.
I like the widow background a lot for how flexible it is, but sometimes it just makes me crave a game with a more unapologetically dark and morally ambiguous heroine, just like you said. An MC who killed her husband and is completely unapologetic about it.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-02 09:52 am (UTC)Yeah, I wasn't trying to play Valya as a SUPER terrible person and still hit points where the dialogue felt too nice. I mean I must admit to being too much a sook to be terrible to pixel people most of the time, but it's nice to have the option.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-03 04:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-10-04 05:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-10-07 11:31 am (UTC)I'm going to suggest it on the VN writer discords I'm on maybe I'll inspire someone.