Disco Elysium

Some people are slow readers, that is not a charge that could be laid at my doorstep. Admittedly, I am slow when it comes to many things (such as updating this blog, to name one example),  but reading is not one of them. 

I am, however, a slow gamer. It can take me weeks, even months to finish a game that take other people mere days, if that. Part of that is due to the fact that I'm not a terribly good at videogames, the other reason is because of laziness and procrastination. I have several games on GOG and Steam that I installed, played for a bit and then uninstalled thinking: Eh, I'll finish it some other time. It was not that I thought the games in questions were bad, I just wasn't in the mood, at the time. 

However, I recently finished a game and it wasn't one I had played before and that game was Disco Elysium and so, here are my thoughts about this game.

Now, you might be wondering what kind of game Disco Elysium is? Disco Elysium is a RPG created by the Estonian developer ZA/UM. It was originally released in 2019, followed by an updated version called The Final Cut in 2021. It's this version that I played.

Art, featuring the game's main characters: Kim Kitsuragi and Harry Dubois. The Woman in the background is Dolores Dei, one of the world of Elysium's most influential historical figures.

Disco Elysium takes place in the city of Revachol. Once the capital of Elysium, the world of the game, Revachol is now under the control of the Coalition of Nations. You play a man who has just woken up in a hotel room, with a massive hangover and no recollection of who he is. You soon learn that you're Harry Dubois and that you're a member of the Revachol Citizens Militia (that is, you're a cop). A man has been found hanged in a tree and it is up to you to find out whether or not it was suicide or murder. You are not really feeling up to the task, but fortunately you've been assigned a partner from another department: Lieutenant Kim Kitsuragi. Will you pull yourself together, solve the case and maybe redeem yourself in the eyes of the world? Or will you continue on the downwards spiral you're currently on? Or will you do something else entirely? Its all up to you, what kind of cop you're going to be. 

Disco Elysium is unique among the RPG that I've played in that it dispenses with traditional combat. I'm sure that this reveal just caused some of the more conservative-minded RPG fans among you to run for the hills (or to the nearest forum/social media platform), but personally I'm all for it. Don't get me wrong; I have nothing against combat in an RPG. I expect (and accept) it, just as I expect inventory-based puzzles in a point & click adventure game. However, I see no reason why something should be mandatory, simply because its ubiquitous. 

However, if you assume that the absence of combat mean that you can not die in this game, you'd be mistaken. There are plenty of ways to get a 'game over'  in Disco Elysium, including dying of a heart-attack or 

As is common for the genre, Disco Elysium, gives the player a set of skills, which they can then level up by talking to people and solving quests.This is, of course nothing new; what makes Disco Elysium stand out is that each skill also make up different aspects of Harry's character and is, therefore, equipped with a personality of its own. As such, your skills will frequently interject to comment on something, bicker with each other and so on. 

Throughout the game, the player will come across skill-checks, the outcome of which depends on the points assigned to the skill necessary. Most of these are white skill-checks and can be retried once you've leveled up sufficiently. Red skill-checks, however, does not offer that opinion, so you may want to be absolutely certain before you try to tackle one. 

Disco Elysium does not provide the player with a huge, sprawling world to play around in. This does not mean that the game is small, however. My first play-through took me a total of 40 hours and afterwards I felt as if I hadn't uncovered half of the game's secrets. 

If there's one area where Disco Elysium truly shines, its in the player's interaction with the people of Revachol. Some of the people like aging cryptozoologists Lena and Morell are friendly and open, others, like Klaasje are secretive or downright hostile. Regardless, Disco Elysium presents the player with some of the most fully-realized, well-written characters in all of gaming. 

If there's one character that deserves to be singled out its your partner, Lieutenant Kim Kitsuragi. A strong contender for best sidekick in a game, Kim serves as the straight-man your often weird or eccentric behavior. During my play-through, earning the trust and respect of this fictional character became one of my top priorities.

I came into Disco Elysium with high expectations and those expectations were more than met. This is a game that has earned its place among my personal favorites. Revachol is a place I will definitely revisit and I'm interested to see what else ZA/UM has in store for the gaming world. 

The Reunion

 One day in spring, three friends and companions; a rat, a weasel and a dog, were hanging out together in one of the Vinolian capital's many back-alleys. Although these three were technically not criminals, having never been dragged in front of a Judge and charged with any crime (though there had been times when they had escaped the patrols only by the skin of their teeth), their fingers were among the most nimble to have ever picked a pocket or cut the strings of a purse, that could be found within the city walls. 

Right now, however, the trio had decided to take a break from any criminal activity and instead amuse themselves by playing a game of dice. It was the weasel who had proposed the game and, after having inspected his dice and made sure they were not loaded, the others had agreed. 

They took turns rolling the dice. At this point, the game had been going for awhile. Currently, it was Lucien, the weasel, who held the dice. He turned to Rachel, the rat and asked her to pick a number, but received no reply. 

"Hey, Rach!" He said, tapping her on the shoulder. "Did you fall asleep or something?"

"Sorry" Rachel said, running a paw across her face. "My mind was elsewhere, what is it?"

"Its your turn, pick a number."

"Right. Seven."

Lucien shook the dice and let them roll. The First landed on a five and the second on a three. 

"Too bad" he said, smiling. "I'm afraid that's another coin in to the bank, i.e. me."

Rachel took a coin from the small pile next to her and handed it to the weasel, sighing as she did so.

"Don't take it so hard" he said, as he added the coin to his own pile. "You'll get a chance to win it back."

"It ain't about that" replied Rachel, with a dismissive gesture. "Let's continue with the game. Whose turn is it now?"

The Two males looked at each other, they knew what it meant when their friend behaved this way.

"You were thinking about him again, weren't you?" The Weasel asked, while Bruno, the dog, could only grunt sympathetically, being incapable of speech. Rachel nodded, then stood up and pocketed her money.

"I'm going to go for a walk, I'll see you guys in a bit."

"What about our game?" Lucien asked.

"You guys continue without me."

She left the back-alley, the weasel was about to follow her, but just as he stood up,  Bruno pulled him down, wearing an expression on his face that said more than words.

"Fine" the weasel said, resuming his squatting position on the cobblestones. "Girls" he remarked, spitting into the distance. 

"Orrg?"

"Of course I miss the guy, too, but let's be realistic: Its been over a year, if he's not dead, he's in jail."

"Rrrogr."

"I agree that he was talented, best one of us all, in fact. That was his downfall; he got too big for his breeches. Hubris, they call it. I mean, stealing from a dragon, what was he thinking? Rach even told him that the Royals are off-limits."

"Mmrf."

"Bloody stupid. Anyway, let's continue. It was your turn to bet, I believe. So, what number do you choose? Eleven? Alright. Too bad Rach took her money with her, otherwise we could have used that to gamble with."

The Game continued and the two players soon found themselves so caught up in it, that they did not notice at first, that another person had stepped into the back-alley. 

"Excuse me" said this person, whose voice was coming from above the heads of the players. "Is this a private gambling session, or can anyone join in?"

"Sure, you can join" said Lucien, not taking his eyes off the dice. "As long as you've got money. Just wait a sec, while we..." He paused, uncertain. That voice, he had heard it before. No, it couldn't be...

Slowly, He raised his head and looked up into a face he had never expected to see again. He shook his head, an expletive passed over his lips.

*****

After having wandered around aimlessly for a bit, Rachel came to a bridge. Here, she stopped to gather her thoughts, while staring down into the river, just as a branch from a nearby tree came floating by. She was just about to continue on her walk, when she could hear a familiar voice, calling her name. Turning around, she saw Lucien, making his way through the crowds, heading towards her. 

From his heavy breathing and the way he leaned on the guardrail, it was clear to Rachel that the weasel had been in a hurry to catch up with her.

"What's the matter?" She asked. "Has the Boss sent for us?"

Lucien took a few deep breaths, then shook his head.

"It's him" he said. "He's back."

When she first saw him, Rachel almost couldn't believe that the fox who had appeared in the back-alley was actually Lorenzo. His fur shone with a healthy gloss and had evidently been washed quite recently (was it just her imagination or did she detect a faint smell of lavender in the air?). His clothes, which ran in the colors of green and gray, were evidently of good quality and, finally, he was clearly someone who got three square meals á day, every day. However, as soon as he opened his mouth, any lingering doubts Rachel might have had regarding this fox's identity were dispelled.

"Rach!" He said, baring his white teeth in a wide grin."It's great to see you."

At first, the female rat only stood there, staring at Lorenzo. Then, anger welled up inside of her: That Jerk! How could he just disappear like that and then show up out of nowhere? I...We all thought he was dead!

She raised her left paw high in the air, but Bruno, who had guessed her intentions grabbed her wrist.

"Let me go!" She protested, trying to wriggle her hand free. "I'm only going to slap him once, maybe twice!"

If Lorenzo had been taken aback by Rachel's emotional outburst, he did not show it. Instead, he merely stepped in front of her, with a serious expression on his face.

"Look, Rach" he said, holding up his paws, fingers spread wide. "I understand why you are angry with me. Honestly, I'm a bit surprised that you are the only one. I should have let you know I was alright earlier, but a lot has happened since we last saw each other and I didn't get around to it, until now. Here's an idea; why don't I buy you all dinner? Both as a way of apology and to catch up with you. What do you say?"

Rachel relaxed. After all, deep down, she was happy to see Lorenzo again. Happy and releaved that he was alive and, judging by appearances, thriving. 

"Fine" she said, taking care to sound as though she was granting the fox a huge boon by accepting his offer.

"Great!" Lorenzo rubbed his paws in satisfaction."I know just the place."

*****

The Inn Lorenzo had taken them to was not the first one they had visited, but it was, by a wide margin, the nicest. As they followed the innkeeper to their table, walking on a floor which looked as though it was swept once a day, Rachel and the others noticed that each table-cloth was devoid of stains and that the bar shone, as if it had been recently polished. Lucien let out an impressed whistle and turned to Bruno.

"Check out that knife and fork" he whispered, as they walked past one table. "I bet we'd get a good prize for just one of them. What do you say, shall we try pilfering one set each?"

"Arroog."

"Yeah, you're right, wouldn't want Lorenzo to get into trouble. Let's just relax and enjoy the grub."

Their table was in a corner in the back of the inn, where a few other guests were busy eating their meal. This was the less exclusive part of the establishment, as evidenced by the fact that the cutlery was made out of steel with wooden handles, instead of silver, like that used at the outer tables. 

"We'll have today's lunch" said Lorenzo, as they all sat down. "I'll have beer to that. What do you guys want?"

Deciding to follow the fox's example, the other chose beer as well. 

Today's lunch turned out to be a fish-soup, served with bread and cheese. Smelling the soup, awoke the group's appetite and made them realize how hungry they were. 

"So", Lorenzo said, while dipping a piece of bread into his bowl of soup. "What have you guys been up to since we last saw each other?"

"Oh" Lucien said, cutting a piece of cheese. "Same thing as usual, but what about you? Obviously, you've done well for yourself."

"You can say that again" the fox replied. "I work for Princess Argath now. I'm her protegé."

"Protesh? What's that?" 

"It's kinda like what the three of you are for your boss, except I live in more posh surroundings."

"You live in the palace?" The Weasel leaned forward, eyes shining. "Have you seen the King?"

"Oh, His Majesty and I have exchanged words a few times" Lorenzo said casually. 

In truth, Lorenzo's interactions with King Sharan had been limited to moving out of the King's way whenever they happened to meet at the opposite end of one of the palace's many corridors. "Good day, Your Majesty" he would say and, often, the King would return the greeting with a "Good day, young fellow." However, Lorenzo saw no reason to mention this to his old friends. No need to be specific.

While they ate, he continued to regale the others with stories about life in the palace. It was like a small town within the capital itself, he told them, with hundreds of people working and living within its walls. He also bragged how much his new employer trusted him; "the Princess and I are like that" he said, squeezing his left paw into a fist. 

During all this, Rachel had been in deep thought, only listening with half an ear to Lorenzo's stories. Now, she suddenly put her spoon down.

"Lorenzo" she said, standing up. "I need to talk to you. In private."

"Sure" Lorenzo replied, after a moment of surprise. "Let's go outside. We'll be right back", he told the others.

"So, what's on your mind?" He asked Rachel, once the two of them were standing outside the inn. "You're still not angry with me, I hope?"

Rachel shook her head.

"Exactly how close are you and the Princess?" She asked. "Is she more than just your mentor, I mean?"

At first, Lorenzo wasn't quite sure what Rachel was getting at. Then, it dawned on him. 

"I see" he said, grinning. "You want to know if we..." He whistled and made an obscure gesture.

Rachel only nodded and bit her lower lip.

"Why, Rach" Lorenzo teased. "If I didn't know better, I'd say that you're jealous."

"Just answer the damn question!" Rachel snapped. "Is there something between you two or not?"

Lorenzo almost burst into laughter. 

Oh, Rachel, he thought. If you knew Argath like I do, you wouldn't have asked that question.

With some effort, he composed himself.

"Princess Argath is a remarkable person" he began. "She's taught me a lot, but there's nothing going on between us. Besides, there's only one girl for me."

He took Rachel's paws in his own and brought them to his lips. 

"How gallant" Rachel said. "Is that something you've picked up at your new home?"

"Sure is, I've seen courtiers pay homage to their ladies that way."

"You think I'm a lady? Rachel arched her left eyebrow. "That makes you the first." She snorted derisively, but a pink color suffused her cheeks.

"Believe me, if you were to appear at the court, you'd make all the women there green with envy." 

"Flatterer" Rachel muttered. 

Looking down, she saw a pebble at her feet. She gave it a kick and watched as it rolled out into the street. 

"Lorenzo?"

"Yes?"

"Do you remember that time we kissed?"

"How could I forget? It was a complete disaster."

"Sure was. So, do you want to give it another try?"

"W-what? You mean here? Right now?"

"Sure, why not. You've not turned timid, have you?"

Rachel's teasing words and saucy expression had the indented effect on Lorenzo and he pressed his lips against hers. Her mouth opening slightly to grant him access. 

"I think that went better than last time" he said, once they were done. "Don't you?"

"Well, you didn't accidentally bite my tongue this time. So,yes, a significant improvement" Rachel agreed.

"We had best return to our table, before our friends -and the innkeeper- start believing that we've skipped out on the bill. Besides, you want desert, don't you? Or was the main course enough?"

*****

Desert that day was lemon-cake. Having finished their portions, Lorenzo and the others left the inn. They wandered the streets, with no particular destination in mind, the trio keeping their eyes out for potential marks. Soon, they realized that they had a shadow; Lucien was the first to point it out.

"That lizard has been trailing us ever since we passed by the statue of that poet. You know the one" the weasel whispered. "Should we shake him off?"

By now, their aimless wanderings had taken them into a part of the capital where ramshackle buildings overlooked a narrow, empty street. 

"No" replied Lorenzo. "I'm kind of interested to find out what he wants."

"What if he's dangerous?" Rachel wondered.

"Dangerous?" Lucien said. "Look at the guy; he's walking with a limp. Besides, there are four of us and only one of him."

They stopped. A look of what could be interpreted as gratitude, or perhaps relief, appeared on the lizard's face and he hobbled up to the group.

"You finally decided to stop" he wheezed in a reedy voice. "That's good. Good for me that is. I don't know if my poor feet could take much more of this."

"What can we do for you?" Lorenzo asked coolly. "I warn you, if its money you want, there's none to be had here."

The Lizard shook his head.

"No, no money. I was paid to deliver a message." He pointed at the fox. "To you."

"A message?" Lorenzo was surprised. "What is it?"

"This!"

It all happened in a flash. Before anyone had time to react, the lizard lunged at Lorenzo, driving a long needle into his eye.

Lorenzo could feel the inside of his head explode with a pain more intense than any he had felt before or since. It coursed white-hot through his body and came out of his throat as a howl of pain.

*****

Slowly, Lorenzo opened his eye. At first, his vision was blurry, but soon it became clearer. The Fox sat up in the bed and looked around. His surroundings and the smell of disinfectants told him that he was in a hospital. 

That, and the fact that someone had removed his clothes and dressed him in a gown of sorts.

Rachel and the guys must have brought me here, he deduced to himself. 

He became aware that his sight was partially obscured, by something that covered half his face. He touched that something and realized that it was gauze. 

Just then, a gorilla wearing the white coat that is the uniform of healers and medical professionals everywhere stepped into the room.

"Ah" he said. "Our patient is up. How are you feeling?"

"A bit disoriented" Lorenzo admitted.

The Gorilla nodded.

"That is normal. A side-effect of the anesthetic. It'll pass."

He pulled out a chair and sat down on it.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news, young fellow" he said, with a solemn expression." Your eye was badly damaged. I'm afraid it couldn't be saved."

Lorenzo was not sure what to say to this. What's the appropriate response when someone tells you that you've permanently lost a body-part? He decided to say nothing and only nod, to show the doctor that he had understood what he had just been told.

"My friends?" He asked. "Are they still here?"

"They are. Do you want to see them?"

Lorenzo answered in the affirmative and the doctor walked over to the entrance and made a beckoning gesture. Immediately, Rachel, Lucien and Bruno rushed into the room and swarmed around the sickbed. 

"We were told by the doc about your eye" Rachel said, throwing her arms around Lorenzo's neck. "I'm so sorry for you."

"At least I'm alive" the fox said. "Thanks to you guys. By the way, what happened to the lizard?"

"That bastard got away" Lucien said, bitterly. "I have never seen someone run so fast, almost as if he was an antelope."

"I see, so the limp was fake. Too bad, I would have loved to have a word with him, or better yet, whoever paid him to deliver the message."

"Any idea who it could be?" Rachel asked. "Have you made any enemies at the palace?"

"No, I can't think of anyone."

"But I can!" 

Everyone looked at the direction the new voice had come from. Standing in the doorway was the person to whom Lorenzo had pledged his allegiance. 

Argath strode majestically into the room and stopped by the bed.

"Leave us" she said imperiously, not even looking at the trio. "I wish to speak to my protege in private."

Rachel was just about to say something, but Bruno stopped her with a shake of his head. As the trio left the room, Rachel glared at Argath's back, as though she wanted to burn a hole in it. 

"How did you know I was here, Princess?" Lorenzo asked, as Argath sat down on the chair previously occupied by the Doctor.

"Simple" the dragoness replied. "I gave you the day off, provided that you returned to the palace at sunset. Well, the sun has set and you were nowhere to be found. Since I know that you would never disobey me, I figured that something must have happened to you. I was just about to send people to look for you, when a nurse requested an audience with me. She told me about what had happened to you and, well, here I am."

"Your Highness said that you have an idea who's responsible for this." Lorenzo pointed to his bandages. "If so, tell me. I beg you."

"Think back; a few months ago, the two of us were in the garden, discussing your education. Do you remember?"

Lorenzo thought for a few seconds, then nodded.

"Good" Argath continued, "and do you also remember that you made a witty, but rather disparaging comment about a certain member of the Royal Family?"

"Yes, I also remember that Your Highness found it very amusing."

"I do not deny that. However, I fear that somehow, your witticism must have reached the ears of Prince Thekros, who is not dumber than that he figured out that it referred to him. Rather than sending for you and demanding a formal apology, he decided to pretend as if he was unaware and strike at a later date. Taking his revenge when you least expected it."

Lorenzo stared at the female dragon with an open look of disbelief.

"Oh, don't look so shocked" Argath said, with a hint of annoyance in her voice. "I told you once that my half-brother is a greater scoundrel than all of this country's criminals put together. Remember?"

"Yes, but I thought Your Highness was exaggerating. I know that there's no love lost between you and your brother."

"Half-brother. So, do you still believe that what I said about Thekros was hyperbole?"

Lorenzo said nothing and merely shook his head.

"I thought so. Now, listen to me, Lorenzo: At this moment, you are likely thinking of how to avenge yourself on Thekros. If you have such thoughts, than I order you to forget them and I'll tell you why..."

Argath leaned forward, until she was so close that Lorenzo could feel her hot breath on his face. 

...."Thekros is mine" she continued, in a voice that was hardly more than a whisper. "His life belongs to me. I have already decided on the day that he and everyone else who has wronged me will receive their comeuppance. Don't worry, you shall have a role to play in this, the nature of which I will reveal to you in due time.  However, you are going to have to be patient. Is that clear?"

"As crystal, Your Highness."

"Good." An approving smile appeared on Argath's face, and vanished just as quickly.  "Now, I'm heading back home. I'd take you with me, but the doctor wants to keep you over night for observation. Frankly, your friends should have brought you directly to the palace where our own doctor could have examined you, but I suppose this one is competent enough. I'll see you tomorrow."

With those words, the Princess left. Shortly after her departure, a nurse entered the room.

"My friends, the three who brought me in. Are they still here?" Lorenzo asked.

"I'm afraid not. They had to leave because its not visiting hours. Doctor Marus only let them in to see you because they had been waiting for so long."

"Oh."

The Nurse than asked Lorenzo if he needed something and after he had declined, she, too left, to look after other patients. 

It became a long night for the fox. Alone with the dull, aching sensation that had appeared under his bandages (the effect of the anesthetic was beginning to wear off) and his thoughts. 

His Princess had told him to wait and he would obey  her command, as usual. How long would he have to wait, though? That was the question.

 ****

Twenty Years Later.

"King Sharan is dead."

The Words of the Royal Physician spread like wildfire through the banquet-hall, repeated by everyone who was present. All the guests gathered around their fallen monarch; grief, shock and horror were written on their faces. Concealed behind a pillar, another figure had witnessed the scene that had played out on the events. It was not, however, the King's death that had caught his attention, but that of the King's second son. As Thekros had thrashed on the floor, destroyed by the poison that had entered his body, Lorenzo reached under his eyepatch and smiled with satisfaction.